Guthook knife?

[Redwood03]

Anyone use or recommend a good lightweight guthook knife for skinning animals? I'm talking like ca guthook for cutting the hide so I can use the "gutless method" to break the animal down for packing out. Is it even worth it to have a knife with this feature? Anyone use a small folding guthook knife? Ideally I would like to find one with a thin blade so I can easily cut the meat off the bone. All the guthooks I have seen are on "skinner" style blades. Thanks

 

[bsnedeker]

Anyone use or recommend a good lightweight guthook knife for skinning animals? I'm talking like ca guthook for cutting the hide so I can use the "gutless method" to break the animal down for packing out. Is it even worth it to have a knife with this feature? Anyone use a small folding guthook knife? Ideally I would like to find one with a thin blade so I can easily cut the meat off the bone. All the guthooks I have seen are on "skinner" style blades. Thanks

I played around with guthooks for a while before I gave up on them. I wanted to use them stricly for hides as you describe. I had a vision in my head that I would take out the gut hook and very quickly unzipper the hide all the way down the back and legs, and then pull out my skinning knife. What I found is that the hook invariably gets clogged with hair so I end up cutting a couple inches, removing the hook, cleaning out the hair, cutting another couple inches...lather, rinse, repeat.

They work fine cutting the short hairs on the belly when being used for actually gutting the critter, but are worthless on every other part of the animal where the hair is longer and/or the hide is thicker (worthless on bull elk neck hide for example).

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[NB7]

Outdoor Edge Zip-Pro. I've used it to gutless method three deer and an elk and it's still razor sharp. Not the lightest I guess, but makes quick, neat work on a hide and really does act like a zipper.

ZipPro | Folding Gutting Blade for Hunting | Outdoor Edge

The ultimate gutting knife to open game and fish like a zipper. Guides and professional hunters around the world prefer Outdoor Edge’s signature gutting blade because it cuts underneath the skin without cutting hair, and the blunt tip prevents punctured internal organs that can spoil fresh game...

www.outdooredge.com

Edit to add, #bsnedeker makes a good point, it did bog down just a little on the mane hairs on the back of the elk's neck, although I had no problem running down the spine, the body hide and the leg hide with it.
Also, it does mean you're carrying another knife, which if you're cutting ounces may be something you consider. for me it's worth the weight

 

[Dented]

I use a small folding utility knife with the hooked carpet blades. When the blade dulls, I throw it away. I can find blades anywhere, it's cheap, it's light, and if I want a larger handle I switch to a regular utility knife.

It's not high tech and it doesn't come in the latest camo fashion patterns... but it works great!

 

[robtattoo]

I never understood the point.
Just turn your knife over & use it edge up with your finger along the spine *shrugs*

 

[CRJR45]

^This , two fingers for gutting .

 

[Bubblehide]

I use Robtattoo's method, but if you really want a gut-hook type thin knife, check out your local autoparts store and look for those plastic seatbelt cutters that have a razor blade in the hook part. They are super light. I saw a buddy use one. He made a small slit in the hide, it easily inserted and did it's job well. He views them as disposable and cheap.

 

[InteriorAKPopsicle]

Anyone use or recommend a good lightweight guthook knife for skinning animals? I'm talking like ca guthook for cutting the hide so I can use the "gutless method" to break the animal down for packing out. Is it even worth it to have a knife with this feature? Anyone use a small folding guthook knife? Ideally I would like to find one with a thin blade so I can easily cut the meat off the bone. All the guthooks I have seen are on "skinner" style blades. Thanks

I've done the gutless on 4 Caribou now and I don't use a guthook - the Moose hide is too thick for them and the knife manufacturer I purchase from refuses to make them anyway.

I've done 4 Caribou now Gutless and the hook wouldn't really help. When you go down the belly just go slow down a step or two and you'll be great. Alaska has a cool PDF about the Gutless method too - you can find better videos online but I did download it as I was trying to explain it to a couple guys.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/pdfs/field_dressing_big_game_gutless_method.pdf

 

[InteriorAKPopsicle]

Having said that - if you were going to use a specialty tool that ProZip up top would probably be the best.

 

[robtattoo]

I have a friend that doesn't know any better, swears by the Pro-Zip

 

[Redwood03]

I have a friend that doesn't know any better, swears by the Pro-Zip

Ok I will check it out. Thanks

 

[Redwood03]

Having said that - if you were going to use a specialty tool that ProZip up top would probably be the best.

Thanks for the reply. Great animal, beautiful knife.

 

[Redwood03]

I played around with guthooks for a while before I gave up on them. I wanted to use them stricly for hides as you describe. I had a vision in my head that I would take out the gut hook and very quickly unzipper the hide all the way down the back and legs, and then pull out my skinning knife. What I found is that the hook invariably gets clogged with hair so I end up cutting a couple inches, removing the hook, cleaning out the hair, cutting another couple inches...lather, rinse, repeat.

They work fine cutting the short hairs on the belly when being used for actually gutting the critter, but are worthless on every other part of the animal where the hair is longer and/or the hide is thicker (worthless on bull elk neck hide for example).

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

You read my mind, how you described using the guthook is how I want to. I shot a great blacktail buck on the Lost Coast, CA and it was steep country. I used the guthook blade on a havalon and it worked, but I am trying to go to a "one knife" setup for weight. I want to get away from the havalon type blades as I find them brittle an I dont like snapping them off in a animal. I also wanted the guthook for speed in cutting hide, trying to get the animal broken down before it gets too dark or the bears start watching me. Thanks for your reply.

 

[realunlucky]

My hunting partner uses a seatbelt cutter works well for him.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[menhaden_man]

Outdoor edge is a steal. Just cut up one of my sons deer with the new wild skin. $20 can’t be beat. And I used the gut hook to skin. Maybe it’s wrong but I can have a deer quartered in 20 minutes.

WildSkin | Skinning Knife with Gut Hook | Outdoor Edge

This full-tang, deep-bellied skinner is ready to take on any big game task from start to finish. The 4.0 inch 420J2 stainless steel blade is precisely heat treated to hold a great edge and is hand finished shaving-sharp. For fast and easy field dressing, the gut-hook opens game like a zipper...

www.outdooredge.com

 

[Redwood03]

I use Robtattoo's method, but if you really want a gut-hook type thin knife, check out your local autoparts store and look for those plastic seatbelt cutters that have a razor blade in the hook part. They are super light. I saw a buddy use one. He made a small slit in the hide, it easily inserted and did it's job well. He views them as disposable and cheap.

Interesting. Thanks for the reply.

 

[InteriorAKPopsicle]

You read my mind, how you described using the guthook is how I want to. I shot a great blacktail buck on the Lost Coast, CA and it was steep country. I used the guthook blade on a havalon and it worked, but I am trying to go to a "one knife" setup for weight. I want to get away from the havalon type blades as I find them brittle an I dont like snapping them off in a animal. I also wanted the guthook for speed in cutting hide, trying to get the animal broken down before it gets too dark or the bears start watching me. Thanks for your reply.

Yeah just skip and go to a nice hunting knife - Benchmade Saddle Mountain or something similar.

 

[huntsman22]

compact little zipper....

I've never been a fan of having knives with fugly built-in gut hooks as most are fairly useless. But these little Gerber EAB Lite's make having a zipper knife always handy. I chitcanned the utility blade for a roofing hook. They have a belt/pocket clip that also works good for hanging it o...

www.24hourcampfire.com

 

[Macintosh]

I have an outdoor edge knife with a “fixed folding” blade, close the blade and a pro zip comes out the other side. I thought it was a gimmick, having always used the two-finger method, but man it is fast. Its a little heavy but I really like it. Mine came as a set in a sheath with a bone saw (which I use for branches more than bone).

SwingBlade | Flipping Skinning Knife and Gutting Blade | Outdoor Edge

The most innovative new hunting knife to hit the market in years. The SwingBlade is an international knife combining the design efforts of Outdoor Edge president David Bloch, EKA Knives of Sweden (founded in 1882) and professional Swedish hunter Thomas Ek

www.outdooredge.com

 

[Fatcamp]

I have an outdoor edge knife with a “fixed folding” blade, close the blade and a zip pro comes out the other side. I thought it was a gimmick, having always used the two-finger method, but man it is fast. Its a little heavy but I really like it. Mine came as a set in a sheath with a bone saw (which I use for branches more than bone).

SwingBlade | Flipping Skinning Knife and Gutting Blade | Outdoor Edge

The most innovative new hunting knife to hit the market in years. The SwingBlade is an international knife combining the design efforts of Outdoor Edge president David Bloch, EKA Knives of Sweden (founded in 1882) and professional Swedish hunter Thomas Ek

www.outdooredge.com

My wife bought me this knife and I rolled my eyes, but a gift means something to me so I used it. Very surprised at how well it works and has held an edge on both blades.

I have a bunch of knives but it's in my kill kit.