Is a gut hook just a gimmic, or useful

I've played with several.

I find the vast majority of the ones that are on the knife blade largely useless. Too small - ok for small animals and maybe deer, but utterly useless on deer or moose. They clog with hair and fat way too fast and you wind up fighting with it too much.

There are a few i've used that are actually very useful. The extremely large guthook on the kershaw alaskan blade trader series is amazing, we call it the 'zipper' because it's like having a zipper on the animal. Up the middle, then around each leg to start it off and you're good to go :)

I've largely given up on having one on the blade of most knives, i'd rather just use the blade. If you're looking for a 'specialized' stand alone one, you can find some that are somewhat valuable.

I've really wanted to try the leatherman ukiah - THAT looks like a useable guthook to me.

I like the look of that swingblade too.
 
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I've been using this on caribou for the last ten years or so and I find it an excellent tool. The ulu shape is much kinder to arthritic wrists and hands than a straight blade and I have had no issues with the hook clogging with hair. I don't leave home (to hunt) without it! The hook can be a bit of a pain to sharpen at times, but it's worth it.

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Big ones work pretty well, the smaller ones that are normally on the back of knife blades are kinda useless...

You can buy a gut hook looking knife at the hardware store, I think carpet layers or something use them, they work pretty good.
 
Guess I'm of another generation my idea of a gut hook is found on a jacknife one clip blade and a gut hook often called a bird knife,the blade to open, the gut hook was for quick field disembowelling of game birds. Very handy kept the hands clean, the vest lighter and helped cool birds quicker.
 
I have used one for 15yrs + now, and think they work great. As mentioned, the small ones in a fold up knife jam up with hair.


AKD said:
I don't have one my self but a good friend swears by them when skinning for the cut around the anus.
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As for the deer azz, put away your knife and spend $10 on this.

deer-anus-remover.jpg


Now, I will admit I took some ribbing from my buddies when I first tried it :p, but I have to say it WORKS, and after doing a few deer with it, the guys thought it was great.
 
I found the gut hook works best on the legs of deer, and didn't work at all on the elk I tried to skin with it. Also, the edge is hard as heck to sharpen.

And I think Gatehouse might be refering to a "bananna knife". (Maybe in layman's terms?)
 
Thanks for all this.

It would be for Moose exclusively, so I know I'd need a big hook.

My bro used a $50 folding buck wiht a 3-4" blade last fall. No issues, just a bit slow, but he does a good job.

The SwingBlade looks more like the ticket.
 
As for the deer azz, put away your knife and spend $10 on this.
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I'd be worried about putting it down, accidentally sitting on it, then having to explain to the doctor how it happened.

"SSSUUUURRRE you were 'just out hunting, when... '"
 
Foxer said:
I'd be worried about putting it down, accidentally sitting on it, then having to explain to the doctor how it happened.

"SSSUUUURRRE you were 'just out hunting, when... '"
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Sooooooooo, does this kind of thing happen to you often?
 
I've got the Alfa Hunter as per the picture. It works great on opening up deer until you try to cut out the "back door" or get inside, then it starts to grab as you pull the knife out.
So after opening the animal up with the gut hook I use this little midget hatchet from Gerber it has a straight blade knife inside the handle (Crappy Tire $30.ish) that I keep sharp and use exclusively for gutting, then I use the little people axe to split the pelvis.
I also bought that orange shiitter cork-screw thing for a joke, but it actually works. Pulls out about half a foot of colon (with out the terd) so you can easily tie it off.
I've seen knives with multi blades, gut-hook and straight but it also had a ?saw? from Cabela's own brand.
 
Gatehouse said:
Big ones work pretty well, the smaller ones that are normally on the back of knife blades are kinda useless...

You can buy a gut hook looking knife at the hardware store, I think carpet layers or something use them, they work pretty good.[/QUOTE

It's a roofers or vinale tile layers hook knife.

Bob:)
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heavyBullet said:
I have used one for 15yrs + now, and think they work great. As mentioned, the small ones in a fold up knife jam up with hair.




As for the deer azz, put away your knife and spend $10 on this.

deer-anus-remover.jpg


Now, I will admit I took some ribbing from my buddies when I first tried it :p, but I have to say it WORKS, and after doing a few deer with it, the guys thought it was great.
Click to expand...

a ziptie works just as well
 
as a trapper I like to use a roofing knife witht the snap off blades for opening my fur bearing critters and deer. The blades are always sharp, just snap it of if it gets dull, and not much dulls a knife faster than fur, except bone.
 
One more vote for a snap off blade. Ever notice that you have to take time to sharpen your blade like 1 or 2 times during a skinning/especially if the animal is cold? Not any more, 50 pack of blades is durt cheap. And they are always razor sharp. Cant say the same about any of the good knives I have been mislead into buying, and then if you lose it, you dont ruin your weekend. Not beautiful, but so effective, I will never go back.
 
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