Benchmade Steep Country
Mid-size American-made fixed blade — the upgrade from a Buck 110 once you process more than ten birds a year.
Quick specs
| Category | Knives |
| Brand | Benchmade |
| Price | around $200 ($$$) |
| Beginner score | 4/5 |
| Best for | Hunters who process their own birds and want one knife for quail through deer. |
The review
The Steep Country is Benchmade's mid-size fixed blade hunting knife — 3.5" of CPM-S30V steel in a drop-point grind, Santoprene-and-G10 handle, and a Boltaron sheath that you can run on a belt or strap to a vest. It sits in the same space as the MKC Speedgoat (our top knife pick) but is widely available, replaceable in a week if lost, and doesn't require a wishlist signup.
Where it shines for upland is balance. A Buck 110 is great until you have a limit of five chukar to break down at the truck and your fingers get tired. The Steep Country has just enough handle to keep your grip solid through a long session, and the S30V holds an edge through twenty birds without needing a strop.
It overshoots for a hunter who only needs to do a quick gut-and-pluck on a couple of doves. It's right-sized for a hunter who actually processes — splits a pheasant breast, takes the legs cleanly, handles a coyote skinning if you ever pick one up. Benchmade's LifeSharp service (free factory re-sharpening) is the soft argument for going Benchmade over a generic competitor.
Where to buy
- Buy on Amazon
- Benchmade product page (brand-direct)
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