PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) JON WHITTLE, BILL DOSTER, JON WHITTLE, RANDY VANCE (3)We noticed that a great number of readers swing a fishing rod nearly as often as they swing a helm.
At the same time, sitting next door to our sister publications Sport Fishing and Saltwater Sportsman,
we see there is an extraordinary number of choices for anglers in fillet knives — far more than the
days when a Finnish Rapala knife clattered in the bottom of a tackle box.
So, with blades costing as much as $60 and seafood too expensive to waste a bite, we wanted to
know which knife was most adept at rendering fillets.
Fillet Knives
Titan Technologies
7-inch Curved
$89.95; TITANKNIFETECH.COMBLADE: Tungsten steel with a tungsten
carbide-bonded laminate ground to a convex
edge, the laminated carbide edge wears
inward as the blade cuts to promote self-
sharpening. This was a relentless rope cutter.
GRIP: Glass-filled polymer handle is sub-
stantial with an oval shape for easy gripping
and angle control. A flat metal plate at the
blade’s tang deflects bones and spines. Grip
was unimpacted by the dish soap.
IN THE BOX: Ballistic fabric sheath with hard
interior shell is built for the bench.
BEST FOR: All fish, especially with heavy rib
bones, as well as commercial cutting.
CUTTERS’ REMARKS: Jose and Justin agreed
this was the most ergonomically helpful
handle, promoting a secure, controlled grip
that let them power the sharp blade. This
was Jose’s go-to blade during the test, but he
would’ve preferred more of a drop point than
a trailing point — the option is available.
Strokes to cut ½-inch hemp: 1
Strokes to cut hemp after resharpening: 1
Strokes to resharpen: 6
Sharpness after honing: Best
Slip resistance: Best
Corrosion resistance: Best (Actually, none at all!
The colored edge is the tungsten carbide.)Penn
7-inch Standard Flex Fillet
$19.99; PENNFISHING.COMBLADE: The flexible blade’s German stain-
less steel is ground to a 24-degree beveled
edge. A 168-hour salt-spray test shows its
nickel-titanium coating protects the blade’s
back and sides from corrosion. The blade is
coated for rust protection.
GRIP: Oval in shape with a distinct blade
guard, the handle is heavily contoured and
molded with soft rubber over polymer.
IN THE BOX: A durable polymer sheath with
swivel belt clip holds it in position, and a press
on the thumb grip releases the snap latch.
BEST FOR: Recreational fishing applications
with smaller fish with finer bones. It’s excel-
lent for skinning, but our cutters’ orders
called for skin-on fillets. The blade’s flex can
be handy when the size of the fish prevents
one’s hand from getting the blade level with
the fish’s spine.
CUTTERS’ REMARKS: Jose felt the edge had
good sharpness but too much flex.
Strokes to cut ½-inch hemp:1.6
Strokes to cut hemp after resharpening: 1
Strokes to resharpen: 12
Sharpness after honing: Good
Slip resistance:Good
Corrosion resistance: Good (did not impact
cutting; honed away about half in sharpening)Tungsten
carbideSHARPNESS SHARPNESS2RESISTANCESLIP RESISTANCESLIP2RESISTANCECORROSION3RESISTANCECORROSION233