looking for advise on a gut hook

Evan Miner

Evan Miner

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Nov 24, 2011
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I've been asked if I can do a gut hook on a knife? I've tried once to some success but it was of standard size. the catch with the one this person wants is he wants it to be larger then average. Iv drawn up a sketch for the guy and he liked what he say so know time to try and make it real any advise on how to go about making would be great full. im looking a forging out the basic shape wondering if it would be better try and forge in the hook or just forge the blade to where I leave a good chunk of metal across the top, then use files and or dermal cut in the hook.DSC_0240.jpg here is the sketch of the knife the hook itself is 1/2" tall from top of spike to top of spine. let me know what every one thinks
 
so how would I attach it to the freshly forged knife after I removed it from my leatherman, wait I got it Il forge weld it that should work right. : )
 
My advice to anyone who asks this question is to buy a dedicated gut hook with replaceable blades. That is the only gut hook that will work well for more than one deer.

Putting one on a knife blade is not really a great idea. If you feel you have to make one for the customer, make a separate gut hook "knife" with no edge...just a gut hook and matching handle to the hunter you will make him. That way the fellow can un-zip the deer with the gut hook, set it aside, and get on with the skinning using a proper knife.
 
I like the idea of a separate gut hook and match the handle making it a set pair Ill run that by him and see what he says thanks for the idea
 
Evan Miner said:
I like the idea of a separate gut hook and match the handle making it a set pair Ill run that by him and see what he says thanks for the idea
Click to expand...

If you do end up making a gut hook, this is how I did mine.

I profiled my blade to include the gut hook. I then used a chainsaw file to file in the hook. I got a good hook in, then I used some sandpaper on dowel to sharpen it up.
 
That's pretty much what I had in mind the only difference is I need a 1/2in round file or half round to make it constant with the size he wants
 
I find that after preliminary filing, using a diamond cylinder burr ( HF) makes the hook very even. The HF diamond burr kits are about $15.
From there I switch to cratex cylinders in the same size.

1/2" is a really BIG hook. 1/4" would skin an elephant.
 
Thank you all for the advise I'll pick up a diamond burr kit this weekend and give that a shot. As for the 1/2 that's what he wanted
 
As someone who has dealt with customers for 30+ years, I can tell you that what a customer wants and what he needs are often not the same thing. As a skilled craftsman, it is your job to educate and guide the customer into wanting what he needs.

The first question to ask in this case is, "What will you be skinning with this?"
Then, after he replies "Deer.", you ask, "How thick is the skin on a deer hide?" ( about 1/4")
Next, you explain that a gut hook only needs to be the width of the hide, as it should guide the skin into the cutting edge. If it is larger, the hide will roll and bunch up....preventing smooth cutting." The mouth can be a bit wider, but the actual hook should be no bigger than necessary.
 
Stacy, what kind of deer do you have down there ?? Up here the hides are more like under 1/16" !! I've never needed a gut hook. I have one on a nice Benchmade rescue tool for cutting seat belts. Fortunately not needed for me or others. I wonder if he could get one of those to practice on before messing up a good knife. Teach him also how to dress out a deer with a plain knife.
 
The challenge with a gut hook is the hair, they always get clogged with hair, the bigger the hook it helps the hair roll out away from the blade, never found one that worked well enough to use it again. The other challenge is the cutting edge is up, bad deal.

There are a couple on the market that are like a upside down knife, only thing ive found that works.
 
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