Most knife injuries in the field don't happen during the hard part. They happen at the end of a long day, with cold hands, failing light and a dull edge. Here are the ten rules we follow, and how a well-designed knife makes each one easier.
Before you head out
1. Start sharp. A dull blade needs more force, and force is what makes a knife slip. Touch up your edge before every trip. Our guide: How sharp should a hunting knife be?
2. Match the knife to the job. A knife is not a pry bar or an axe. A 4.5" fixed blade like the Arbor handles field dressing and camp work. A compact fixed blade like the Venari excels at detailed skinning. Not sure on size? See our hunting knife size guide.
3. Check your sheath. Retention should hold the knife upside down and shaken. Olive sheaths are molded to the blade, with a secure clip and a drainage hole so they don't trap water.
In the field
4. Cut away from your body, and keep your free hand behind the edge, never in its path.
5. Keep your grip dry. Blood, fat and rain make handles slick. Wipe the handle often. Textured G10 handles help, but dry hands help more.
6. Slow down when you're tired. Most cuts happen at the end of the day. If your hands are cold or shaking, take a break before you finish the job.
7. Give yourself space. Keep at least an arm's length plus a blade length between you and anyone else working on the same animal.
8. Walk with it sheathed. Never carry an open blade while moving over uneven ground. Sheath it or close it, every time.
Back at camp and at home
9. Pass it handle-first, blade down and spine toward the receiver, and let go only when they say "got it."
10. Clean, dry and store it right away. Wash after field use, dry fully before sheathing, and store away from children. Stainless super steels like Elmax resist corrosion, but no steel likes being put away wet.
What makes a hunting knife safer?
- An edge that lasts: Elmax® at 61 HRC holds its edge through a full day of work, so you're not forcing a dulling blade.
- Control: a drop-point profile and full spine jimping (Venari) give you a place for your thumb and a predictable tip.
- Grip: textured G10 that stays secure when wet.
- A sheath you trust: molded retention and a secure clip, so the knife is either in your hand or locked away.
Every Olive knife is designed and assembled in the USA from components made in the USA, Europe and South Africa, and comes with a lifetime warranty and sharpening and service support, so your knife stays as safe on its hundredth trip as on its first.
Related: Fixed vs. folding hunting knives · How to choose an everyday carry knife
