No Bubba Blade knife is going to win any awards for cool factor or innovation. But these are not the criteria that should be used to judge the brand.

They are designed for one thing and ultimately one thing only: function. They are ergonomic, comfortable in the hand, and offer a sure grip and control, in ways that few if any other knives can.

This is due to how they are designed, and what they lack in aesthetics they make up for, many times over, in downright utility.

These are all of the reasons to love a Bubba Blade knife, in one place.

Let’s Start with the Handle

Let’s start with the handle of a Bubba Blade, because that’s how you’re going to know you’re working with one, from a mile off.

Bubba’s signature is a fat, red, overmolded TPR handle with aggressive texturing and features. TPR, which stands for thermoplastic rubber, is a tough synthetic polymer. This stuff is often used for shoe soles.

But it’s not just about the physical durability of the grips. It’s about tactility. It’s sort of hard to describe the sensation of TPR, but it’s basically like a hard, gummy rubber. Imagine something like the tackiness of a basketball.

The end result is that the handles of these knives are extremely “grippy,” even under adverse conditions - say, what you might experience on the deck of a boat.

Ultimately this means that a Bubba Blade’s handle will offer you a sure purchase even if your hands are soaked, greasy, or bloody - which often happens when handling bait or processing fish - or when soaked in spray while on a boat.

The other thing is that there are even channels in the design of the handle that not only improve friction (thereby improving traction) but which allow grease, water and blood to drain away.

But it’s not just in the material, but in the shape and other features. Most Bubba Blade knives have handles that sport very broad, bulky patterns that fill the grip, ensuring a strong purchase on the knife.

And, they’re usually made with rounded pommels and deep choils, both of which prevent your hand from slipping, either backwards or forwards, respectively.

Some of them even feature special thumb or finger pads that improve traction and control when using the knife in more specialized grips.

Lastly, though this doesn’t have specifically to do with ergonomics, the signature handle color of a Bubba Blade knife - the calling card, if you will - is the bright red color.

This improves the visibility of these knives and makes it hard to lose track of one, which is another bonus, especially if you’re using one creekside and place it down for a moment among rocks or leaf litter.

And, a note on durability - being made of rubber, the handle of a Bubba Blade knife needs little maintenance, is easy to keep clean, will not absorb moisture or grease, is not subject to corrosion, and will not encourage the growth of bacteria or other pathogens.

The Construction of the Blade

Let’s also talk about the construction, nature and finish of the Bubba Blade itself. These knives are made in a variety of profiles and patterns, namely filet and bait knives, which are particularly useful to fishermen, specifically saltwater sportsmen.

The blades are made of high carbon stainless steel alloys that are both flexible and strong, and which can raise and keep a wickedly sharp edge - another thing that you will need as an angler.

But it’s the black, titanium finish of the blade that really offers value here, because there are a few distinct advantages of this aspect of design

One is that the titanium finish increases the dry lubricity of the blade. It discourages grease, blood and other substances from sticking to the blade, which makes it much easier to clean these blades off.

The other is that the titanium finish directly impedes corrosion. Even though the alloy is stainless to begin with, the titanium finish strongly discourages corrosion and serves as a powerful (and physically durable) barrier between the environment and the steel underneath, insulating it against corrosive decay.

On top of that, the blades are coated with Teflon, which actually helps the knife slide through big cuts of meat, and which also helps increase the lubricity, making it even easier to clean.

This next thing, while it is not necessarily an aspect of the blade, it is an aspect of the blade stock: Bubba Blade knives are made with full-tang construction, even though you can’t see it through the handle. This means the knives are physically tougher than smaller, flimsier, stick-tanged filet knives.

Another thing that should be noted about the steel used in Bubba Blade knives; though it’s not an expensive alloy (typically they use 8Cr13MoV) it offers good durability and can take a sharp edge. Even if it doesn’t come from the factory ready to shave, you can change that with a few passes on a good stone.

And it will hold that edge. More than one fisherman has been quick to note that even after cleaning a big haul, the blade was still sharp enough to call “shaving.”

So all in all, Bubba Blade knives offer excellent value, especially considering the price.

Who Should Get a Bubba Blade Knife?

Ultimately, the lesson here is not to just a book, err, knife, by its cover, err, name. Bubba Blade might sound like a gimmick but scores of fishermen agree that the construction and performance are absolutely top-notch, even if the name sounds a like gimmicky.

At the end of the day, any serious sportsman would be well-served by a stout Bubba Blade knife, and that includes freshwater anglers and hunters. But the bread and butter of Bubba Blade’s market is saltwater fishermen, for all of the reasons explored in this article.

If you spend a lot of time in the salt and eat what you catch, think seriously about getting one of these knives and don’t just add it to your collection; use it.