After any successful waterfowl hunt, the real work begins—cleaning and preparing your hard-earned birds for the dinner table. Whether you breast or pluck your birds, every hunter needs a good knife. Lately, we’ve seen the classic bird and trout knife make a big resurgence. Several companies have taken these old-school fixed-blade knives and modernized them with new-school materials and blade steel. While any company can put the “bird knife” label on a blade and market it to waterfowl hunters, we wanted to know what actually worked. Over the last couple of seasons, we tested five new bird knives to find the best waterfowl knives for cleaning birds.
What Makes a Good Bird Knife
While just about any knife can be used to clean a bird, certain characteristics make the job easier.
Blade Length
The first and most important characteristic to look for is blade length. Ducks, especially teal, are small, and a large blade doesn’t leave you with much room to work. Blade lengths in the 2.5-3 inch range are ideal. These blades allow you to work around tight areas and get the most out of your birds, rather than a larger blade, which can be unruly and unsafe.
Blade Shape
Blade shape is another important consideration when looking for a waterfowl knife. I’ve found that a combination of a sharp point and a long belly on the short blade works best. You want the point for making precise cuts and working around the top of the breast, while the belly works well for making longer cuts down the length of the bird.
Blade Steel
There are more blade steels on the market than I care to keep up with. That said, do some research on the blade steel your knife comes with prior to purchasing. For a bird knife, I prefer a blade steel that holds an edge and is fairly easy to resharpen. If you’re cleaning a lot of birds in a year, edge retention is everything.
The Best Waterfowl Knives, Tested and Reviewed
Best Overall: Benchmade Flyway
Benchmade Flyway
Key Features:
- Blade Length: 2.70″
- Overall Length: 6.96″
- Blade Steel: CPM-154
Pros:
- Added jimping along the blade for extra grip
- Perfectly sized blade
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Added grip along the handle would be nice
The Benchmade Flyway has quickly shot to the top as my go-to knife for cleaning birds. This small fixed blade features a 2.70″ blade, which is right in the sweet spot for birds of all sizes. In addition, it comes with jimping along the back of the blade. This allows you to securely rest your finger along the back of the blade for precise cuts, something other knives do not have. The base model is made with CPM-154 blade steel, which holds an edge well and can be touched up in short order. The base model also comes with a blaze orange G10 grip and a matching colored sheath. This takes the guesswork out of “Where did I put my knife?” when you set it down in the field. Like all Benchmades, it’s made in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty and sharpening service to ensure your blade is ready to go season after season.
Best for Large Birds: Montana Knife Company Freezeout
MKC Freezeout
Key Features:
- Blade Length: 3″
- Overall Length: 7.25″
- Blade Steel: Magnacut Stainless Steel
Pros:
- Grippy Handle
- Excellent blade steel
- Comes with a secure sheath that can be worn on a belt
Cons:
- Not great for small birds
Montana Knife Company is another USA-based knife maker known for its hunting-specific knives. The Freezeout falls into this category as their newest bird-specific knife. This knife features a 3-inch blade, which is on the longer side of the bird knives we tested. While it can be a little cumbersome for birds like teal, it shines when working through a pile of honkers. The larger blade lends itself well to making longer cuts along birds like geese and cranes. I do wish there were some sort of blade jimping along the knife spine, but the textured G10 handle does help add some grip. Of the knives we tested, the Freezeout is the only one that features Magnacut steel, renowned for its edge retention and corrosion resistance. For waterfowlers who beat up their gear, this is a welcome addition.
Best Value: Williams Bird Knife
Williams Bird Knife
Key Features:
- Blade Length: 2.75″
- Overall Length: 6.75″
- Blade Steel: M390 Steel
Pros:
- Budget Friendly
- Plenty of color options
- Versatile blade length
Cons:
- The handle is on the bulkier side
The Williams Bird Knife is a great all-around waterfowl knife for those looking not to break the bank. It retails for just $150, and you get a lot of great features for that price. For starters, the Bird Knife has a blade length of 2.75″, which is great for all types of waterfowl. It features a long belly, which aids in making short work of breasting out birds. The G10 handle is definitely on the thicker end of the bird knives we tested, but that doesn’t affect performance. Williams chose to build this knife with M390 steel. This stainless steel won’t rust and holds an edge incredibly well—the only downside is that it can be tough to resharpen. For waterfowlers wanting a waterfowl knife that speaks to their taste, Williams offers this model in 10 different color combinations.
Best Classic Bird Knife: New West Knife Works Bird and Trout
New West KnifeWorks Bird and Trout
Key Features:
- Blade Length: 2.625″
- Overall Length: 6.5″
- Blade Steel: CPM S35VN
Pros:
- Classic styling
- Great blade length
- Comfortable Handle
Cons:
- Not as sharp as other blades out of the box
New West KnifeWorks is a boutique knife maker based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Their story began over 25 years ago, with premium handmade cutlery. Since then, they’ve added to their lineup, including a line of hunting knives featuring the Bird and Trout Knife, an ode to the classic knives hunters grew up with. The blade length is 2.625″, which is perfect for ducks. The handle fits my hand well and has the classic styling and materials that make you feel nostalgic. I do wish this knife came a little sharper out of the box, but a few passes on a honing stone will get this knife razor sharp.
Best Folder: Benchmade Mini Taggedout
Benchmade Mini Taggedout
Key Features:
- Blade Length: 3.04″
- Overall Length: 7.12″
- Blade Steel: CPM S45VN Steel
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Versatile option for hunters
- Secure locking Axis Lock
Cons:
- Not a true bird knife
Every hunter needs a good folding knife to carry in the field, and one that doubles as a bird knife is even better. The Benchmade Mini Taggedout fits that bill. This knife is a cousin to the original Taggedout, but in a size-down form. For waterfowl hunters, this translates into a blade length that works well for ducks and geese. The Mini Taggedout is available in several versions, but the OD Green is our favorite. This version features a G10 grip and a thumb stud, which helps it double as a great everyday carry option. It also features Benchmade’s Axis Lock for secure opening and operation.
Final Thoughts
While you can clean a bird with just about any knife, dedicated waterfowl knives result in cleaner cuts and less time behind the blade. If you’re looking to add a new knife to your tool kit this season, consider your budget and needs before making an investment. The knives we tested are all designed with waterfowl in mind, with proper blade shape, length, and blade steel.