Which Knife to Use Under Which Conditions?

When you want to buy or gift a knife, you don’t know which one to choose. Bread knife, boning knife, steak knife and so on. Now how to make the right choice? Discover the functions of the different types of knives that are available in the market.

check this out on choosing the size of a knife!

Knives used for hunting

Here are some hunting knives

Survival knives

Intended for survival purposes in a wilderness environment, often in an emergency when the user has lost most of his/her main equipment. Most military aviation units issue some kind of survival knife to their pilots in case their aircraft are shot down behind enemy lines and the crew needs tools to facilitate their survival, escape, and rescue. Survival knives can be used for trapping, skinning, wood cutting, wood carving, and other uses. Hunters, hikers, and outdoor sport enthusiasts use survival knives Survival knives are designed for work such as setting traps, cutting branches, carving wood, and skinning animals. Most survival knives have fixed blades that are 10 cm to 20 cm (3.9 – 7.9 inches) long with a full thick tang. Survival knives made by Aitor, Lile, Parrish, Randall, or Reeve have hollow handles, which allow the user to store additional equipment in the handle. Some of these knives feature a compass in the cap

Survival Knife vs Bushcraft Knife

Hunting knives

Are traditionally designed for cutting rather than stabbing, and usually have a single sharpened edge. The blade is slightly curved on most models, and some hunting knives may have a blade that has both a curved portion for skinning, and a straight portion for cutting slices of meat. Some blades incorporate a guthook. Most hunting knives designed as “skinners” have a rounded point as to not damage the skin as it is being removed.

How Do You Find The Ideal Hunting Knife?


Knives used for fishing

These knives can be useful if you plan to go on a fishing trip or somewhere flexible blade

The Essential Criteria for Choosing A Fishing Knife

Sole fillets (15 to 20 cm)

Knife with a narrow and flexible blade

It allows you to work the fish to lift the fillets and cut very thin strips.

Salmon knives with a smooth or dimpled blade (30 cm)

Knife with a long, very fine and very flexible blade with sockets

It allows you to cut very thin slices on large fish such as smoked salmon. Thanks to the cells, the slices do not stick to the knife blade.

Hams with a smooth or honeycomb blade (from 25 to 30 cm)

Long, thin and flexible blade, with honeycombs (or olives)

This knife is used to cut thin slices of dry or cooked ham. Thanks to the cells, the slices do not stick to the blade.


Boning knives

Knife with worn and rigid blade

Its thin blade makes it easy to debone game or a piece of meat.


Other kinds of knives that are common

These are some common type of knives. But they can be used for certain purpose while going on an outdoor trip or picnic

Kitchen knives (from 15 to 35 cm)

Slicing knife with a wide and rigid blade

Several functions:

Cut thick slices of meat

Cut vegetables, fruits

Chop and mince the aromatic herbs

Oriental knives

Wide blade knife with alveoli (or olives)

This knife can be used as a slicer or a cleaver. It allows you to cut slices of meat, cut vegetables or fruits, chop and mince.

You can also buy or offer this knife to cut poultry, work fish or shellfish.

The alveoli form air pockets that allow the flesh of fish or meat not to stick to the blade of the knife.

The slicers (from 20 to 30 cm)

Knife with a narrow and rigid blade

It allows you to cut meat or poultry, thinly slice fillets.

Very easy to use knife.

Steak knives

Narrow blade knife, toothed yatagan

A kitchen knife that can become table knives  to enjoy a piece of beef for example

The cleavers

Wide blade knife and very rigid due to its thickness.

It is a striking tool that allows you to cut, cut large pieces of meat, cut a rabbit, cut a bone, and separate a joint.

Tomato knives

Narrow blade knife with teeth

It allows you to cut or slice finely, without crushing, vegetables or fruits with tender and fragile flesh such as tomatoes, oranges, lemons.

It can also be used to slice a baguette and thus act as a small bread knife.

Carving knives

Narrow and curved blade

It allows you to cut meat or poultry, to thinly slice meat. This item can be used when cutting poultry at the table with a bayonet or curve fork.

Office knives (from 7 to 10 cm) 

Light, handy and very sharp knife.

Its short, stiff blade has a central point.

Ideal for cutting, peeling, preparing fruits and vegetables.

Thanks to its small size, it allows you to work as close as possible to the food in order to obtain a professional result.

Bread knife 

With a long, rigid blade and wide teeth.

It allows you to slice all types of breads, brioches, cakes.

The bread knife can also be used to cut or remove the thick skin of certain large vegetables or fruits such as pineapple.

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