Best Fillet Knife (Buyers Guide)

Having the right tool for the task is the key to doing the job efficiently and getting the desired result. No matter in which situation you find yourself you always need an appropriate tool to do the job. The same applies when you are in a kitchen, especially when handling knives. And when it comes to filleting, having the Best Fillet Knife is the ideal way for a quick, easy, and efficient filleting process.

Top 8: Fish Fillet Knives

Getting a perfect and razor-sharp fillet knife is not as easy as there are many brands in the market that claim to offer the best fillet knife around but when you work, you might end up filleting yourself. Thus, choosing a knife is always an unnerving task for everyone, especially if you are a beginner. 

But now you don’t need to worry. Because, as always, our team went on a mission and crafted a small list of the world’s best filleting knives that will help you to find the best knife for your needs. So if you are short of time, we have put our chosen collection in a comparison table below the paragraph. A quick glance at the table can help you to pick the knife that suits best your needs. For getting detailed info on how to choose a filleting knife and in-depth reviews on multiple knives – keep reading.

What is a Fish Fillet Knife?

It may seem a childish question as the answer is very much in the name. Everyone that loves to eat fish, knows that a fillet knife is a kitchen knife that is specifically used for filleting. It is a very flexible member of the boning knives family that is used to prepare very delicate meat especially fish so you don’t swallow bones or scales.

The shape and blades are specifically designed in a way to provide a strong grip and move efficiently along the backbone and under the meat.

What is the Difference Between a Fillet Knife and a Boning Knife?

Generally, filet knives are a member of the boning knife family but still, there are some major differences between fillet knives and boning knives. Fillet knives are usually thinner and have more flexible blades that have extreme strength and length. They are specifically designed to separate the skin or fish from bones. You can use this knife to cut any small or big size fish such as salmon, tuna, and catfish.

Can you fillet fish with electric knife?

On the other hand, Boning knives don’t have blades as flexible as fillet knives. Their blades are specifically designed for speared bones. Boning knives usually come with semi-flexible and short blades, that’s why they are smaller than fillet knives. Benign knives are specifically used to deal with different kinds of meat such as beef and poultry.

What to Look for When Choosing a Fillet Knife?

If you really want to put your hands on the best fillet knife you need to look for some features before buying one for yourself. Here we have crafted some of the most important features that need your attention when buying a fillet knife.

Blade Material & Sharpness

First thing first! Whether you are buying a fillet knife or a regular kitchen knife, a blade with high-quality material and optimal sharpness should be your first preference.  Most filet knives are made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or high-carbon steel, as they offer high-end razor sharpness. 

Blades with stainless steel material are usually the sharpest and highly durable. You don’t need to sharpen the blades, because the edge remains sharp for a long time. These types of knives are usually strong, sturdy, and quite affordable. So, if you are a chef or cut fish regularly a stainless steel blade is an ideal choice for you. 

Meanwhile, carbon steel blades are quite expensive but they are easy to sharpen. These knives are usually lightweight and easy to handle. They are highly resistant to rust and corrosion.

Blade Thickness & Flexibility

Remember, if you are going to buy a knife pay close attention to its flexibility as this feature allows the blade to bend and make a clean, high precision cut. The flexibility of any blade lies in its thickness and size. Larger and thinner blades are considered more flexible and reliable as compared to shorter ones. A perfect fillet knife should have a thickness of approximately 1.5- 3.5 mm.

Size & Weight

You should also pay close attention to the size and weight of the knife. Fillet knives come in various sizes from 4 inches to 9 inches. So, you need to select the knife according to the size of the fish you want to fillet. If you are working with a small fish a large knife will not do help you. You should go for a knife with small blades.

Apart from the size, the weight of the knife also matters a lot. If you choose a large and heavyweight fillet knife, you may not handle fish well on the table. So, wisely choose the knife with high flexibility, lightweight, and wicked sharpness for fast and effortless filleting.

Price & Other Safety Features

Whether you’re buying home accessories or any other thing you always have to pay close attention to the price. Carefully determine your budget and choose the knife that comes with the most features at an affordable price. Most fillet knives come in a range of $10 to $50. 

Meanwhile, also check for the safety features in the knife. Since fillet knives are quite sharp and can cut any kind of fish bones and meat, you should pay attention to your safety while buying. Always buy a knife with a safety bolster or finger guard to protect your finger from sharp blades during fileting. 

After reading this brief guide now you have a good idea about fillet knives and what features you need to consider before buying a knife. Now let’s take a look at some of the top fillet knives that our experts have chosen for you.

Our Best Fish Fillet Knife Reviews

The KastKing Fillet Knife is at the top of our list with its wonderful features and excellent quality. This beautiful knife comes with a wicked sharp German Stainless steel blade that provides flexible and clean cuts.  These blades come in three different sizes – 6”, 7”, & 9” respectively. The 9” is considered the thickest and strongest among them, ideal for filleting large fish like salmon, tuna, and other meat.

Meanwhile, the handle is made of the most comfortable, slip-resistant polymer to provide a strong and sturdy grip on the knife during work. Also, the handle is easy to clean and stays well for longer. We know safety is the first priority of every customer when it comes to buying a knife. Thankfully, KastKing successfully provides a lightweight protective sheath to ensure your safety when filleting. That said, KastKing is one of the highly durable and flexible fillet knives to remove scales and cut through the bones, making sure your guests don’t have to swallow bones at dinner.

Wanted to get a taste of some traditional yet classic knife? 

Then, Rapala Fish ‘N Knife is the perfect choice for you. This elegant and classic knife comes with a highly durable stainless steel blade attached with a sturdy birch handle to provide wicked sharpness as a sword. 

Made by Martini, this wonderful knife is used by more exports than any other fillet knife. The razor-sharp blades are made of stainless steel and are a little different from ordinary blades. These amazing blades are generally thick from the start and get thinner to the top for providing more flexible and easy cut-through meat. Moreover, it comes in three different sizes, allowing you to choose the one according to your taste and needs. 

Its handle is made of classic birch which is highly reliable and remains good for a long time. It provides a strong and sturdy grip on the knife during filleting. However, it is a little less slip-resistant as compared to the polymer.

Just like KastKing Fillet Knife, Rapala also comes with a high-quality traditional leather sheath to ensure your safety during the job. The premium designs provide a comfortable grip while you are handling the knife. 

One of the most important things about this knife that make it stand out on the list is the single-stage sharpener given with the knife.  So whenever you feel like your blades are not sharp, this free sharpener will be there for your service.

If you wanted to fillet a large fish such as tuna, salmon, tilapia, or catfish you should not go for a knife other than Kershaw Clearwater Fillet Knife. This wonderful knife comes with a wicked sharp 7-inch stainless steel blade that easily cuts through large fish. Also, the blade is highly flexible and bends at various angles without breaking. 

Unlike Rapala fillet knives, it provides a soft textured grip that is highly slip-resistant and excellent to use in wet conditions. Moreover, they also highly concur user safety and provide a long-lasting sheath with the knife. The knife precisely clicks with the safety sheath and doesn’t accidentally slip off to hurt the user. 

Not only this, it offers a very good price for the value. So if you wanted to enjoy more features at a lower price, then Kershaw Fillet Knife would be your real bargain, right?

After Rapala, Bubba Tapered Flex Filling Fishing Knife is another most popular fillet knife for which the anglers and fishers fall heads over heels. This eye-catching fillet knife accompanies all the features and charisma that you need for precise and flexible filleting. The high carbon stainless steel blade is coated with titanium nitric nonstick coating to make it highly rust and corrosion-resistant. 

The 7-inch blade is wicked sharp and works magically to give clean and precise cuts through the large fishes. Moreover, the handle is made of premium quality rubber that provides a firm, slip-resistant, and sturdy grip during work so the knife does not slip from your hand. Hence, you can comfortably work in wet conditions without worrying about accidentally hurting yourself. 

It also comes with a built-in hole in the handle and a protective sheath that makes it easy to carry for the user. No matter, whether you are an expert or a beginner this iconic style knife will make the filleting facile and effortless for you.

Looking for a knife with most of the features at a reasonable price? Dalstrong Gladiator is obviously the perfect choice then. This award-winning fillet knife is one of the coolest options in our list. This not only looks pretty but also performs well. 

Whether you want to cut bones, meat, scales, filleting, scaling, or trimming the wicked sharp blade efficiently performs the task. The inch-long blade is made of high carbon stainless steel and full tang with a hand polish edge that does not get dull easily. Hence, you don’t need to sharpen it on a regular basis, making it an ideal choice for a busy kitchen and outdoors.

Moreover, It provides extra protection to the user with its two leather sheaths; one to protect during outdoor adventures and the other for storing in the drawer. So, if you want to experience filleting outside you can safely rely on this incredible knife. Meanwhile, the Beautiful pakkawood handle offers a comfortable slip-resistant grip and the safety bolster protects your finger from accidental cuts. 

If there is a blend of strength and flexibility, Rapala4 Soft Grip Fillet is the perfect example of it. This popular fillet knife combines an incredible mixture of flexible stainless steel blades with soft grip handles that reflect strength and flexibility both at a time. The stainless steel blade is razor-sharp and effortlessly cuts through bones, meat, and any other large fish. While the soft grip handle provides a strong slip-resistant grip to the user.  

And one of the most important things that make it stand out on the list is the single-stage sharpener that they offer with the knife. So, if your knife gets dull after some use you don’t need to spend money on a separate sharpener. Moreover, it also provides a safety sheath that easily fits in your belt for safely carrying the knife outside.

Dexter has a long history of high-quality products that fishermen and commercial kitchens want to buy. With a simple and sleek design, Dexter P49812 is another addition to their ordinary knife line. The 8-inch straight blade is wicked sharp and effortlessly cuts through the meat, bones, and other fishes. So, if you are not fond of curvy knives, then this will be the right choice for you. 

The straight blade is made of premium high carbon stainless steel which is highly durable and rust-resistant. Meanwhile, the polypropylene handle offers a slip-resistant strong grip on the handle that makes your work easy and safe. Also, the hollow ground allows you to easily sharpen the blades when they get dull.

Absolutely you don’t want to miss putting your hands on this amazing four-star filleting and boning knife. With its highly durable stainless steel blade and a comfortable molded handle, his knife does it all. Whether you’re cutting strong bones, large fishes, or any kind of meat this ice-hardened knife can cut them effortlessly. 

The wicked sharp blades are strong, highly rust and corrosion resistant and remain sharp for longer. The super bolster provides proper weight and strength to keep the knife balanced during the work. The polypropylene handle provides a strong grip on the handle and is highly slip-resistant. Collectively, this iconic fillet knife is an excellent combination of strength and durability.

Conclusion – Which is the Best Fish Fillet Knife?

Choosing the best fillet knife will help you to get a precise and clean cut without any effort. Since, there are many brands in the market, choosing the best knife is challenging. Our favourite Fillet Knife is the KastKing Fillet Knife which has wonderful features and excellent quality For your convenience we have written a brief review of some of the best knives that can serve you best. Read the above review and choose the knife that is according to your need and budget. 

Hope! This article would help you. Don’t forget to share your feedback in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you guys.

Cheers!