Gut hook knife

L

LEE IN VA.

Joined
Jul 3, 2011
Messages
48
I'm looking for a gut hook knife for deer skinning. I'm wondering how well the hooks work on back of the standard knife blade or getting one of the separate just gut hook only blades? I'm thinking the gut hook on the back of a blade would get in the way when cutting out loins or de-boning hams in the field. I'd like to keep cost under $80, but not totally set on that price.
 
My personal opinion is I hate them. If anything pick up one of the kershaw gut hooks or bench made, whatever different one you like for under $30 and give it a shot. If you don't like it you saved yourself a good chunk of money. If you do then you could proceed to find a knife with one you do like. They look ugly on a knife to me. I have used one, but I am almost as quick with a straight blade so I feel ik have no use for an extra instrument in the field. Just my opinion, but I hope it helps.
 
I'm a fan of gut hooked knives that have unobtrusive hooks. They make skinning a lot quicker. If you want to give one a try without breaking the bank, you can pick up the Buck omni hunter 12 point for $40ish. I like mine. It's Buck sharp, and the hook doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.
 
I love them. I have lots of knives and almost always find myself grabbing my buck alpha hunter folder anytime i go in the field. It holds excellent edge and will open a deer in seconds.
 
I hate them.. If you cannot open a deer without one, then go for it. Whatever works.

When you use one, just remember the edge is facing directly at you when your slicing open the belly.

I am in no hurry when I am in the field.. A few seconds quicker make no difference to me. I like using a 3-4 drop in 52100 steel on my animals. I have field dressed hundreds of animals with many different steels.. 52100 cuts the best IMHO.

Now that's coming from a die hard Dozier D2 guy.

I can't help but thinking guys that use gut hooks are newbies or don't know much about knives for tools in the field. My own bias, I know.. I feel the same about guys that use 5-7 inch blades for their hunting knife.
You don't need much blade length to Handle North American game.. Moose is the only animal that a longer blade makes sense to me..
I helped my guide skin my 10 foot brown bear in the field.. He used a 3" slip joint for the whole job.. I had a couple Crk one piece knives and we had it bagged and tagged in 2 hours.
 
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