who here uses the guthook on their knife?

[Mr. Friendly]

do you use it or is it a good idea on paper, not so much in the field?

 

[shredder0]

I find it a useless feature.

 

[MiG25]

They're worse than useless.

 

[S1de8urnz]

I used it once, was more work then just using the blade. I keep my knives super super sharp. Like insane sharp. Surgically sharp. If thats a thing, and the gut hook is such a pain to sharpen. Before ppl ask, i use a Tormek T-4. Well Worth the 600$

 

[hawk-i]

It works excellent. ..it's not a necessity but if given the option I'll take it. ☺

 

[rral22]

Makes a knife harder to actually use. Won't have one.

 

[Longwalker]

A very small amount of training and skill will provide a hunter with a better solution. And his/her knife without gut hook will handle better and be more useful for other jobs. I won't use a knife with a gut hook.
We sometimes hoist animals guts-in, skin the carcass first then drop the guts in a tub at the slaughterhouse. For that job a gut hook is nice, but a commercial one with two finger holes in a plastic frame and a long razor edge works better than a small gut hook on a knife.

 

[nate123]

I use the gut hook on a Buck knife to open beer bottles actually... Does that count?

 

[sookie_69]

I usually carry both a large and small havalon as well as 2of the buck omni hunters. I find the guthook awesome for not only opening the stomach cavity but also to get under the skin at the hoof tendon and opening the fur all the way to the butt hole without knicking any meat. Great feature to have if used correctly.

 

[Trimmer 905]

It works excellent. ..it's not a necessity but if given the option I'll take it. ☺

X2! Like a credit card,I don't leave home without it. Mine will open up a Moose or Deer like a zipper.

 

[scruffee]

Depends which knife I have with me when I kill something, when I have a gut hook I use it, when there isn't one, I do without....

 

[vcmm]

They are only a marketing tool for rookies.

 

[Gatehouse]

I use the one on my Leatherman orten, but not for gutting animals. I guess it might work on a rabbit or trout

 

[bearkilr]

I've been using a hook blade utility knife for making the initial cuts on bears. Taxidermists have an easier time with stitching up straight cuts.

A Swingblade works good for gutting, but it's not a hook.

 

[sookie_69]

I've been looking at grabbing one of those swing blades. Does it work good or is it gimmicky?

 

[bearkilr]

I've been looking at grabbing one of those swing blades. Does it work good or is it gimmicky?

They're Swedish made knives, actually, the steel is Sandvik 12C27. Easy to sharpen, but gets dull quickly. Think I have 4 or 5 I've gotten as gifts. I wouldn't say they're gimmicky, but they're not super high quality. I'd say they're worth the money.

Edit: Apparently the Swedish EKA ones I have use a different steel than the Outdoor Edge ones sold here. Sandvik vs AUS-8. AUS-8 isn't a great steel, think of it as a Chinese 440 stainless.

 

[Gun hog]

I have used one for years on everything from wild hog to bison. It’s a quick way to open the belly and helps opening from hip or arm pit to knee. Ya I don’t need it but if I can save any time on a big job then I will.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Dont know if the question is poll worthy, but aside form that if one is at hand (guthook) I'll use it all day and every day.
Otherwise out comes the trusty Browning drop point.
Sharp blades with an edge require work and skill to keep sharp, especially when working on a moose.
More than one knife is needed along with a stone and a steel...not that I have every worked on more than one moose or anything.
A Good Blade to start with and dedicated for the task are a couple of points when choosing a knife.
Rob

 

[Magellann]

I do sometimes, it depends on which knife I'm carrying at the time. When its a good sharp hook, I find it works really well.

 

[brownie]

X2! Like a credit card,I don't leave home without it. Mine will open up a Moose or Deer like a zipper.

Me too.