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EVERYDAY CARRY FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY

Ⓒ Gallantry 2024

BEST FISHING KNIVES 101: THE EDC KNIVES THAT ARE ALSO STURDY FISHING KNIVES

BEST FISHING KNIVES 101: THE EDC KNIVES THAT ARE ALSO STURDY FISHING KNIVES

David Spielman
13 minute read

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Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 1Gallantry Man Legend Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) prepares to get his angle on in A River Runs Through It.

We all know how important it is for any Gallantry Man like yourself to have (at least one, at the very least) a sturdy everyday carry knife on your person at all times. Meanwhile, as if the obvious reasons to own one of the best everyday carry knives on the market (translation: an everyday carry knife from Gallantry) weren’t already plentiful, we would nevertheless be remiss if we didn’t point out the fact that many of these knives also make for some of the very best fishing knives.

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - Bro Summer 2Brian “Bro” Brosdahl of Minnesota is one of the most widely recognized and respected anglers in America. In other words, this multispecies angler got his Gallantry Man Legend nickname for a legit reason – he’s an absolute beast when it comes to the sport of ice fishing (and he definitely everyday carries a fresh fishing knife from Gallantry at all times).
Photo Credit: Brosguideservice.com

In other words, if you enjoy fishing, a good knife is a fun, must have tool of the trade.

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - Tamas Trexler 3Legend Tamas Trexler caught this massive 31-pound, 7-ounce roving coral grouper in the read sea in Egypt, setting the IGFA All-Tackle Record for the species. Did he use a sweet fishing blade from Gallantry during his catch? We don’t know, but we also kind of do, you know what we mean?
Photo Credit: BroBible.com

While the pros may carry separate knives for each fishing-adjacent task, the truth of the matter is that for 99.99999% of the Gallantry Man populace, having just one extremely solid everyday carry all-purpose folding knife is all you really need.

So whether you’re getting ready to cast your very first line in that serene nearby pond or you are a highly seasoned fisherman with the ability to deep sea fish blue marlin, trophy bass, trout, tuna, mahi, tarpon, sailfish, or you name it while kayak fishing offshore with one eye completely closed, hit the water with us as we break down why you need a rock solid everyday carry knife when you go fishing and what you should be looking for in said knife.

The time to step your fishing kit game up is right now, Gallantry Man Legend!

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 4“You know you need a fire everyday carry knife from Gallantry to keep it tight when you go fishing, right?”

WHY YOU NEED THAT EDC KNIFE WHEN YOU GO FISHING

(NO, BUT SERIOUSLY, YOU DO)

Having your go-to fly rod, wheel, and line on you when you’re getting ready to cast and catch in the great outdoors is an absolute must, sure, but so is having a great everyday carry fishing knife.

Here are just some of the reasons why an everyday carry knife that you can use when your fishing should be a staple of every Gallantry Man Angler’s life…

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 -Todd Spangler 5Even if you just want your catch to be a trophy, like Todd Spangler, who broke North Carolina’s 61-year-old fishing record for Speckled Seatrout, you’re going to have to cut lines at some point.
Photo Credit: Field & Stream

CUTTING LINES

Though fishing line is pretty durable, and likely won’t snap in your fingers or in the mouth of that huge fish you’re about to catch, it nevertheless may need to get cut to release a stuck-line, free that jumbled tangle, or get rid of that excess. With the right everyday carry fishing knife, you’ll be an instant problem solver with the ability to slice right through the most heavy-duty lines around like warm butter.

SLAUGHTERING FISH

If you’re planning to honor that catch you know you’re going to score by chowing down on it, you’re going to have to make sure your fish really sleeps with the fishes, you know what we mean?

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - Luca Brasi 6Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes, like the ones that dare to cross your path.

You should make sure that your everyday carry fishing knife has a no-nonsense handle and a sharp as heck blade so that you’ll be able to whack your catch before cutting through its head, neck, belly, and good ol’ gills.

PREPPING THE BAIT

Ready to lure those hungry fish on your blue water expedition yet? With the right everyday carry fishing knife, you’ll be able to efficiently (i.e. in less time) cut large chunks of your bait into perfectly sized portions without making a giant mess in the process.

CLEANING AND FILLETING

Once you’ve straight up slaughtered your fish like the champion that you are, you’re going to need to clean ‘em off and remove their guts.

With a handy everyday carry fishing knife, you’ll be able to carry out all of the steps of this process easy peasy.

CAMPING/COOKING/BUILDING FIRES/THE LIST GOES ON…

If you’re an angler, chances are you also enjoy camping, cooking outdoors, and enjoying the full spectrum of living off the land and water. Use your everyday carry fishing knife to set up your legendary Gallantry Man campsite, prep a fire, cook your freshly caught fish like a boss, you name it.

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 7“You know the deal, boys. It isn’t just about why you need a good everyday carry knife that doubles as a fishing knife, it’s about what to look for in the knife. Everyone knows this.”

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD EDC FISHING KNIFE

Every Gallantry Man Angler (like this legend HERE) has his own preferences when it comes to his everyday carry fishing knife.

Here is a list of some of the qualities you should be on the lookout for when you’re ready to hit the trail for some tail and need a brand new everyday carry fishing knife…

A FRESH BLADE

The blade of a fishing knife should be easy to keep sharp, durable, very resistant to rust and salt water, and, of course, powerful enough to perform any of the possible tasks that you plan to demand of it during a fishing trip.

A+ MATERIAL

Remember, when it comes to steel, more carbon equals a harder, sharper edge, while more chromium equals a higher resistance to corrosion.

Since you’re going to be using your fishing knife for some seriously dirty jobs, durable, corrosion-resistant or alloy steel blade materials like 420 steel (basic stainless steel that offers superior sharpness and moderate corrosion resistance), 5Cr/7Cr steel (all-purpose stainless steel with high corrosion resistance that can be sharpened well), and powdered steel (extremely strong steel with high corrosion resistance that can be sharpened well) are reliable first round picks.

THE PERFECT EDGE. THE RIGHT GRIND.

When it comes to fishing, one type of blade edge may be more suited for a specific task (i.e. gutting) than another (i.e. bone cutting). It’s why fishing knife blades come with many types of edges, each with their own varying levels of flexibility and rigidity.

When it comes to fishing knives, some of the popular grinds include hollow (this thin blade curves in sharply at the spine, so while it may dull somewhat quickly, it is incredibly sharp at first), flat (this blade has a symmetrical grind that starts at the top/spine of the knife and tapers gradually to a point, so it is ideal for the angler that doesn’t want to have to sharpen their blade every other day), asymmetrical (this blade has different shapes on either side of it, so it is an excellent choice for the angler looking to use a single knife for multiple purposes), convex (with a slightly curved edge that is at first moderate, then severe, this blade may require professional sharpening, but it is remarkably durable), and v (the point of this blade is shorter, as it starts further from the knife’s spine, so it is easy to sharpen and maintain despite require more frequent sharpening).

POINT BREAK? MORE LIKE POINT SHAPE.

Similar to blade edge grinds, fishing knives also come with a variety of point shapes. However, the only two point shapes that really need to know about (at least for now) are the clip point (these blades start sloping closer to the top of the blade, about 1-2 inches from the point) and, of course, the drop point (these blades start sloping right from the handle).

A LENGTH THAT WORKS…FOR YOU

Shorter, more versatile blades are great when it comes to storage, however you may want a longer fillet knife blade between 7.5” and 9” if you think cutting really thick line and massive bait are going to be on your fishing trip menu.

A HANDLE THAT YOU CAN HANDLE

The handle of your fishing knife is incredibly important, so that means you’re going to want one that sits firmly in your hand, even in the face of insane slipperiness, and one that is made from really durable, non-slip material that isn’t easily affected by water.

For our money’s worth, a handle made from treated wood, metal, rubber, cork, or a hard plastic like nylon is the move.

MIDWEIGHT IS A GREAT WEIGHT

Your knife should be light enough (in the ballpark of 3 to 8 ounces is a pretty clutch ballpark) to be comfortably everyday carried, but also have enough heft on it so that it can through what you need it to.

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - Scale Season 8 #ScaleSeason #GutLife #GoneFishin #FilletTime

TIME TO HAUL IN YOUR CATCH OF THE DAY

Like so many things in life, sometimes simple really is better.

While many types of fishing knives exist, the only 3 fixed blades that you really need to know about are manual fold pocket knives (outfitted with a hinge that allows the blade to collapse into a protective space within the handle, this type of knife is easy and safe to grab from your vest or pants pocket in a jiffy), fixed blade pocket knives (while this type of knife cannot be folded, it is very durable and, of course, readily available), and, last but not least, fillet knives (thin, long, and slightly curved for seamless fillet separation, this type of knife may not be as versatile, but it is perfect for the angler that wants a cut that is consistently precise).

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 9“If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in life, son, it’s this – don’t ever, and I mean ever, even think about purchasing your next everyday carry knife that’s perfect for fishing from anywhere but Gallantry.”

Gone fishing? Almost there, old sport. So close.

The best part about owning an everyday carry knife that you use when fishing is talking about the fact that you own an everyday carry knife that you use when fishing. So now that you’re informed, all you have to do is grab one of our stunning, perfect-for-fishing everyday carry knives and you’ll be on your way!

Remember, nothing epitomizes what being a Gallantry Man Legend is about quite like owning one of these bad boys, and, with the right one, you’ll no doubt be hooking more than just the fishes in your local pond (if you catch our drift)…

Go stand in a lake? Hey, don’t mind if we do.

IT’S FISHING TIME!

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A  River Runs Through it  10 “If someone brings up angling, prepare to start dangling Spyderco Sage 5 Compression Lock Knife from Gallantry. If they’re potentially Gallantry Man material, they’ll immediately admit that your blade is superior to whatever they’re packing. Trust me.”

THE SAGE 5 COMPRESSION LOCK KNIFE FROM SPYDERCO

SAGE 5 COMPRESSION LOCK KNIFE FROM SPYDERCO BLACK

With a full-flat-ground, leaf-shaped CPM® S30V® blade, an ergonomic handle design (which includes a textured forefinger choil and thumb ramp), and a reversible tip-up wire clip, The Sage™ 5 also highlights Spyderco’s own Compression Lock mechanism, which

allows the knife to be safely closed with only one hand.

The skeletonized stainless steel liners that form the framework of the Sage 5’s lock are nested into textured carbon fiber/G-10 laminate scales, while its reversible deep-pocket wire clip provides convenient tip-up carry on either side of the body.

With open-backed construction that reduces the knife’s weight and allows for supremely easy cleaning, The Sage 5 is an extremely capable all-purpose cutting tool.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Blade Length: 3.00" (76mm)
  • Overall Length: 7.17" (182mm)
  • Blade Steel: CPM S30VPocket clip
  • Closed Length: 4.17" (106mm)
  • Edge Length: 2.64" (67mm)
  • Lock Type: Compression
  • Tip-Up Carry Handle

Sage 5 Compression Lock Knife

Sage 5 Compression Lock Knife

$149.95

[tab-section data-sc-active-background="#ffffff" data-sc-other-background="#ffffff" data-sc-color="#555555"][tab title="Details"] Spyderco’s Sage Series™ features a full-flat-ground, leaf-shaped CPM® S30V® blade, an ergonomic handle design with textured forefinger choil and thumb ramp, and a reversible tip-up wire clip. The Sage™ 5 highlights Spyderco’s own Compression Lock mechanism. … read more

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 11“Just wait until you see the Zero Tolerance 0562CF Hinderer Slicer Carbon Fiber Flipper Knife that I just bought from Gallantry. Y’all don’t even know what’s coming!”

0562CF HINDERER SLICER FLIPPER KNIFE - CARBON FIBER FROM ZERO TOLERANCE

0562CF HINDERER SLICER FLIPPER KNIFE - CARBON FIBER FROM ZERO TOLERANCE CARBON FIBER

Designed by famous bladesmith Rick Hinderer, the 0562 features a flat-ground "slicer" grind paired with a CPM-20CV stainless steel blade. Meanwhile, its framelock construction, which includes hardened steel lockbar inserts and lockbar stabilization, will keep your blade secure when it is opened.

With a carbon fiber front scale and a stonewashed titanium back, the 0562CF can also slide effortlessly on Zero Tolerance's KVT opening system for a frictionless, satisfying open which can be easily deployed with a simple flip.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Made in the USA
  • CPM-20CV stainless steel blade for durability
  • Corrosion resistant, and wear resistant
  • Handle constructed from carbon fiber in front, stonewashed titanium in back
  • Reversible deep-carry clip
  • 3.5" blade, 4.8" closed length
  • 5.5 oz

Zero Tolerance Hinderer Slicer Flipper Knife

Zero Tolerance Hinderer Slicer Flipper Knife

$329.99

[tab-section data-sc-active-background="#ffffff" data-sc-other-background="#ffffff" data-sc-color="#555555"][tab title="Details"] Designed by famous bladesmith Rick Hinderer, the 0562 features a flat-ground "slicer" grind paired with a CPM-20CV stainless steel blade.  The framelock construction will keep your blade secure when open, including hardened steel lockbar inserts and lockbar… read more

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Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 12 “Didn’t I tell you I was going to catch something massive by way of just having The James Brand Chapter Knife from Gallantry on me? Shuck on this, boys!”

THE CHAPTER KNIFE FROM THE JAMES BRAND

THE CHAPTER KNIFE FROM THE JAMES BRAND BLACK STAINLESS

THE CHAPTER KNIFE FROM THE JAMES BRAND TITANIUM STAINLESS

Apparently, The James Brand was having a problem finding the ultimate knife to add to their everyday carry arsenal. So what did they do? You guessed it. The Portland-based crew went ahead and decided to make one, calling it “The Chapter”.

With a blade made from S35VN steel and a simple 6AL-4V titanium frame lock construction, this durable and functional folding knife is lightweight, portable, easy to care for, and, well, it just plain ol’ looks good.

If you want a useful knife that will last you for a lifetime, this is it.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • S35VN steel drop point straight blade
  • 6AL-4V titanium frame lock construction
  • 416 black oxide coated stainless steel hardware
  • 2.81" blade length
  • Semi-stainless
  • Corrosion resistant
  • Reimagined take on single blade folder

The Chapter Knife

The Chapter Knife

$185.00

[tab-section data-sc-active-background="#ffffff" data-sc-other-background="#ffffff" data-sc-color="#555555"][tab title="Details"] Apparently, James Brand has had a problem finding the ultimate knife to add to their everyday carry arsenal. So the Portland-based crew decided to make one and they called it The Chapter. With a blade made from S35VN… read more

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The Chapter Knife

The Chapter Knife

$299.00

[tab-section data-sc-active-background="#ffffff" data-sc-other-background="#ffffff" data-sc-color="#555555"][tab title="Details"] Apparently, James Brand has had a problem finding the ultimate knife to add to their everyday carry arsenal. So the Portland-based crew decided to make one and they named it The Chapter. With a blade made from S35VN… read more

Oh yeah. Did we mention that it also comes in all black?

THE CHAPTER KNIFE FROM THE JAMES BRAND BLACK BLACK

The Chapter Knife

The Chapter Knife

$185.00

[tab-section data-sc-active-background="#ffffff" data-sc-other-background="#ffffff" data-sc-color="#555555"][tab title="Details"] Apparently, James Brand has had a problem finding the ultimate knife to add to their everyday carry arsenal. So the Portland-based crew decided to make one and they named it The Chapter. With a blade made from S35VN… read more

Translation missing: en.products.product.sold_out

Best Fishing Knives 20220415 - A River Runs Through it 13

At that moment I knew, surely and clearly, that I was witnessing perfection. He stood before us, suspended above the earth, free from all its laws like a work of art, and I knew, just as surely and clearly, that life is not a work of art, and that the moment could not last.

- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

If the way to a man’s heart is through his fishing, the way to his soul is through his everyday carry.

#LETSFISH

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