6 Huge Mistakes New Outdoor Knife Buyers Should Avoid

In the market for a new knife? 

You should be, as a knife is one of the most essential tools you’ll need when taking on the Great Outdoors!

Aside from being useful for simple camp tasks such as preparing kindling for a fire or prepping food for dinner, having a good blade in your pack can also be a life saver if things take a turn for the worse and you end up cut-off from help. 

But with a new knife come a whole lot of costly (and painful) mistakes.

Here are 6 of the worst that every new knife user should do their best to avoid.

#1 Going for looks over function

A common mistake that beginners often make is choosing a knife based purely on its looks.

Sure, there is nothing wrong with a good looking knife, but it can be very easy to be caught by over-designed military style knives with blade sizes that would put Rambo to shame. 

What you’re more likely to end up with, however, is an oversized monster that will likely be too large and unpractical for simple tasks, and too fragile for heavy-duty work. 

The best thing is to keep it simple.

Ideally, choose a stainless steel knife with a medium length, straight edged blade with a decent thickness. And avoid serrations at all costs, they are the worst.

For more on how to pick the best knife, be sure to take a look at our Ultimate Outdoor Knife Guide!

#2 Wrong knife for the wrong use

Different knives are meant for different uses.

It’s important that you have a clear idea of what you’ll be using your knife for before purchasing it, so that you don’t end up with the wrong tool for the wrong job.

Here are the characteristics of the most common knife types you’ll likely come across:

• Hunting Knives

  These usually have thin, very sharp, mid-sized blades, and are ideal for hunting and skinning, food prep and light camp chores. They are easy to keep sharp, but the size and width of the blade make them unsuitable for heavy-duty tasks such as chopping. 

• Bushcraft Knives

  Thick, generally shorter blades make these knives the best choice when it comes to carving and working with wood. They are not as good at slicing as a hunting knife, but they are still alright for food prep.

• Survival Knives

  These large knives are meant as a single tool that can take on any challenge you might encounter in the wild. While the idea of one knife for every situation sounds good on paper, I would not recommend these for beginners. Large blades make them more dangerous to handle without experience, while the thickness and weight make them difficult to carry on longer excursions.

#3 Fooled by big-name brands

Don’t be fooled by well-known brands, as they are not always synonymous with great quality.

Many companies have moved their production to Asia in order to cut down on costs, and often rely on sub-par steel. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean that all products from these companies are of bad quality. Brands such as Gerber, Cold Steel and SOG still make amazing knives despite having shifted a great part of their operation abroad, but it does mean you should definitely do some research before purchasing.

Knives made in the manufacturer’s country of origin will generally be of much higher quality than those made abroad. 

#4 Not learning proper knife handling techniques

If you start using a knife regularly you’re almost sure to eventually get a few cuts on your fingers.

How many you collect will depend on you learning how to handle a knife safely, so here are a few tips:

• Keep your fingers out of the way:

  From personal experience, most accidents happen when cutting or slicing items. Take it nice and slow, and make sure to always have a flat, stable surface on which to work.

• Always keep control over the knife:

  When cutting through thick or durable material, the blade is liable to slip or shoot forward uncontrollably at any moment, so always have the knife facing away from you.

  If you feel that you’re loosing control, pause and re-adjust. 
  
  
  

#5 Not respecting the knife

It’s easy to get excited around a new purchase.

I do that every time, but you must never forget that your knife is a dangerous tool, and as such should only be taken out to be used or for maintenance. 

If you have a knife with you but don’t need it, keep it sheathed. If you don’t need to carry one at all, you’re safer off just leaving it at home. 

#6 Forgetting maintenance

If you want your new knife to last as long as possible, you’ll need to learn how to maintain it properly.

This is especially true if you decide to purchase a carbon steel knife, as a lack of maintenance will turn it into a block of rust in no time.

Aside from keeping your knife from rusting, you’ll also have to sharpen it from time to time.

This is not only to keep it functional, but for safety too. A dull knife requires a lot more pressure behind it to cut through material, increasing the chances of it slipping out of control. 

With that said, you’ll need to make sure to not over-sharpen your knife, especially for outdoor use, as a razor sharp blade will dull much faster. If you want to learn all the basics about taking care of your knife, don’t forget to head over to our maintenance post!

And there you have it, 6 mistakes that you’ll be sure to avoid from now on!

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I’ll see you on the trail and until next time this is Luca, signing off.

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