Gut Hooks - good, bad or ugly?

[lineofsight]

Find them useful on hunting knives?

[betteroffishing]

as long as they are small and inconspicuous i like them my crkt has a small gut hook and its sharp as all get out.

[Rob]

Its what I started with, so yeah I like them.

[MIL720]

good , as long as it's sharp

[todbartell]

alot are too small to use on the thick hide of a moose

I like the Outdoor Edge SwingBlade, works well

http://www.chambleys.com/Images/knife%20swing%20blade.jpg

[Bow Walker]

I've never used a gut hook, either on a knife or by itself. I learned to do the job with a straight blade. That's the way I still do it.

[Steeleco]

I've only used one once, that was enough. A good upturned knife is what I was shown and it works the best for me.

[FlyingHigh]

i have a Buck Vanguard with a guthook. works good on salmon. haven't tried a deer or anything yet.

[Fixit]

i use one of the gerber gut hooks

http://i5.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/d6/7e/0164_2.JPG

blades are the HD razorblade inserts.. so "sharpening" is a breeze!

makes opening them up just like using a zipper! cuts through the sternum without too much effort too

[todbartell]

cuts through the sternum without too much effort too

you can cut through the brisket bone with that razor blade? :-o

[Dirty]

Must be shooting spikers.

[358win]

I prefer a good sized blade, upside down with no tip hook.
Once you get used to holding fingers split on left hand near the tip. It works as well.
The larger sized blade without a back serrated edge can be held with the Left hand to zig-zag through the upper brisket on all BC Deer.

Now Moose 'n Elk is different.
Axe time.

[martyonthewater]

I've only had one for last 2 seasons myself, a browning folding blade with some space age polymer super bonded using space age technology on the blade to produce a blah, blah, blah.. The guthook on the end has been handy a few times and 2 blades are sometimes better than 1. Just a buck 105 before that.

[Ambush]

Two years ago I was given a folding Gerber with a gut hook. Now I wouldn't be with out it. Open the hide on the body, end to end, and then down all four legs in a few minutes. Without dulling your main blade! But I don't use it for opening the cavity. I have some nice knives, but this one is for sure, always in my pack.

So, gut hook? Yes!

[lineofsight]

Thank you for the feedback gents.

I generally prefer fixed blades over lock blades (willing to give up form factor for strength & grip) but dislike what gut hooks do the blade profile/spine, however if useful could overlook it.

Think Tod's solution may offer the best compromise between having fixed blade characteristics and a good hook without the down side of the spine profile or too small a hook. So in this instance I understand Tod's preference for swingers.

Fixit's tool is pretty slick too though.

Having a look at pricing, the Gerber E-Z ZIP is ~15 and the Outdoor Edge Swing Blade ~65 but as already have one or two good knives will likely go for the Gerber, and then see.

Thanks again.

[todbartell]

So in this instance I understand Tod's preference for swingers


.........thanks...............I think







:mrgreen:

[guest]

I also use the single blade, split finger method, but my hunting partner uses his all the time and swears by it. I've used it but am not going to go out and buy one just for that purpose. They certainly could be handy for beginners.
CT

[lip_ripper00]

I have tried a couple and find them useless (on on moose), once I start from the sternum get your hand in and use olfa knife, cheap and easy like me:tongue:

[Phil]

I use a Buck Zipper and it works very well. I keep the hook ultra sharp and it unzips everything. The blade is also the ideal shape for all other skinning jobs.

[mcrae]

I use the swing blade from Outdoor edge as well...

Its worked really well for me the only complaint I have is I have not quite figured out how I am gonna sharpen the gut hook blade?

[Steeleco]

and use olfa knife, cheap and easy like me:tongue:

I use them for caping and it's worked great. A box of 15 new blades is in the pack at all times.

[Spitzer]

I use the heavy duty Olfa snap-off hook blades. Works great on moose hides.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/Spitzer/olfaguthook.jpg

[rocksteady]

I have one of the folding utility knives from Canuck Tire, blue metallic color..Came with straight blades, but bought a pack of carpet hook blades and it works slick....

Does not take up a whole pile of room, if the blade gets dull I just swap in a new blade....

Got the knife for like $5 and a 10 pack of blades for another $4, so 10 bucks and good to go for a lot of gutting.....


I also have had a Wyoming knfie like fixit posted the picture of and don't use it, found it was too cumbersome and not really effective....

[Steeleco]

I use the heavy duty Olfa snap-off hook blades. Works great on moose hides.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/Spitzer/olfaguthook.jpg

Where does a guy find those my good man????

[goatdancer]

Where does a guy find those my good man????
Just a regular Olfa with a carpet blade. Most hardware stores carry them. I never thought of using one but might just give it a try. Looks like it would get the job done. Great idea. Thanks.

[Steeleco]

Looks like it would work better on forelegs and such. Thanks.

[Chuck]

I use the heavy duty Olfa snap-off hook blades. Works great on moose hides.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/Spitzer/olfaguthook.jpg

I'll bet this would work great on unzipping fish too!

[lip_ripper00]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/Spitzer/olfaguthook.jpg[/quote]


I was just at Canadian Tire, Thease hooks come in 2 sizes picked large and small:idea:! I picked up both.

[lineofsight]

Revised plan - carpet knife blades. Try that, if like it will go with the swing blade (only carry one tool instead of two).

Have one of the blue folding/lock blades style Cdn tire knives, use it when dont want to use a better blade and when done, just swap in new, also nice and compact. On sale for 1/2 price or regular but with box of blades every so often too.

[troutseeker]

I've got a Kershaw blade trader. It's got a huge hook on the back of the skinning blade and it works surprisingly well.

[Ron.C]

I used a gut hook once and it worked good, but in the end a knife blade works just as well so I don't carry the gut hook anymore.