Knife sharpening

robsguns

I've been wanting a nice knife for skinning and with a gut hook, I think I've found one I like. Now, how do you guys sharpen your gut hooks, with a diamond rod, or what? Is it hard to do, obviously I've never had to do it. I've been doing without a gut hook for years, do you think its worth the expense of a new knife? I've never used a gut hook either.

---

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

robsguns

ive been working on sharpening up a couple of my knives with my smith's sharpening kit. and i can get it pretty sharp. sharp enough to shave some hair from my arm.
BUT, id like to get it really sharp, like, sharp enough to shave my face,
the knives i am sharpening are a Buck 186 and an american angler fillet knife



how do you all go about sharpening your knives?

robsguns

Anybody got a good recommendation for a knife sharpener? I've got a couple of diamond steels that I use to touch up the blades but would also like a set-up that I can use to bring some older used and abused knives back to life with.

Thanks

whiteclouder

Gut-hook? I was taught 50 years ago that you don't mess with the guts in any way, shape or form if you can help it. They come out as a package. What is called a gut hook is actually used for skinning, kind of. Get a good skinning knife and a good gutting knife. The skinner is short and wide and has a pronouced 'belly'. The cleaning or gutting knife is straight with a slightly dropped point. Both are SHARP. This is the way I do it, many will differ. The gut-hook is a gimmick as far as I can see.Clouder..

robsguns

Well, I never used the hook, thought it might be quicker when slitting up the belly on a deer, always used my hunting knife for gutting, skinning, and cutting up the deer, you know, one knife does all, but thought I might be better off with something else, no?

---

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

will270win

Two words, Wyoming Knife.

---

Eat healthy, exercise, avoid smoking........Die anyway. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

robsguns

270, you got a link or will it pull up on a web search, I've never heard of it.

---

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

whiteclouder

The 'wyoming' is a gadget the looks like a cross between a reversed blade letter opener and the point off a broken skinner. Everybody has to make a living but this is a doozy. Don't get me wrong, some swear by them. First thing that came to mind was how do I get through the pelvis with that little blade.Use 'google' or 'dogpile' and search for 'wyomeing knife'. Easy to find.Clouder..

posh

I've always wanted one of those gut hooks to cut the strong ligaments that hold some of the internal organs in place. It would be so much easier and less likely to cut myself or an organ that releases contaminants into the cavity. If you get it let us know how it works out.I've never sharpened a gut hook, but as to sharpening curved edges generally, I use a worn chain saw file (worn because it won't cut too much blade away too fast).

simonbs

I have and use one. I've had it for three years and haven't had to sharpen it yet ('course, its only skinned 11 deer).I sharpen the blade after every use, but never the hook.It works great.

whiteclouder

posh:You're kidding right? A chain saw file? And you sharpen an ax by dragging it along the highway. Naw, yer kiddin'.Clouder..

Iconoclast

robsguns -I gotta go w/ will on this one. A Wyoming knife is slicker'n a trout for opening up a belly. You won't slice an intestine nor yourself using it. I'm not terribly impressed w/ the opposite side, which is a short, curved triangular blade which, IMHO, doesn't function as well as a traditionally-shaped blade.

will270win

Cabelas has them thar Wyoming knives http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0006369&navAction=push&navCount=93&indexId=cat20889&parentId=cat20889&parentType=index&_DARGS=/cabel as%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=0006369What a long address!

---

Eat healthy, exercise, avoid smoking........Die anyway. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

buddyb

The wyoming knife is great for what it is made for and that is all which means you have to carry it and a real knife.

Ron H.

Whiteclouder; That is what I use [chainsaw file]Made my own gut hook on an ol homemade knife using a elect. chainsaw sharpener, finished it out with a GOOD hand file.When you can cut the full length of a notebook paper,it is sharp enough. Of coarse I have been sharpening saw's 25years.[in the bus.] It works slick.I still prefer to use my little 2" lockblade OLDTIMER.It is just long enough to do poopchute an just right to work gutsack out.[quick with no cut fingers] but you need to be a little aggresive going up ribcage. I'm a little homemsde but it works for me. P.S. You can use the same file to touch that ax up to.

---

IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY NOT FRIENDS, THOUGH I'D RATHER DO BOTH[This message has been edited by Ron H. (edited 01-03-2002).]

robsguns

Thanks for all of the great advice, let me see what I can do about making a decision, now. Rob.

---

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

posh

Ron H: Good idea. I'm going to quit wishing and start looking for an old knife to make a home made gut hook. You're right about the Oldtimer knves too and Walmart has them at a good price. I gave them to my son and son-in-law this Christmas as stocking stuffers. Now all I have to do is convince them to clean and butcher their own deer. Whiteclouder: No, I wasn't kidding. Chiansaw files are cheap and they work on small interior curves. Try a good one like Ron H. recommends since he's in the sharpening business. But if I bought an expensive knife, I'd stick close to the manufacturers' recommendations.

Ron H.

I use that same little OLDTIMER to skin deer out with to. Some of you will know this trick, most of you won't beleive it. Tie your deer off by the head to a good solid tree limb.Take your hacksaw,cut legs off. Take your knife cut around neck,work hide down about 5"or6", now take your knife, cut a slit on top of front legs to your cut to top of rib cavity.Now find a rock about the size of your fist,put it under rolled down neck skin on backside,take a good nyon rope tie around skin an rock make sure there is skin around entire rock when knot draws up. Hook rope to truck,quad,I even used a lawnmower once.Just pull easy, hide will come right off without a hair on the meat,except around the neck of coarse.

---

IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY NOT FRIENDS, THOUGH I'D RATHER DO BOTH

CAndres35

WELL THIS DISCUSION WILL PROBABLY NEVER COME TO A CONCLUSION AS EVERYBODY HAS THERE FAVORITE KNIFE AND WAY TO CLEAN GAME BUT MY 2CTS. I HAVE USED A GUT HOOK ONCE OR TWICE AND FOUND THEM TO BE MORE TROUBLE THAN THERE WORTH. IF YOU RUN YOUR FINGERS UNDER THE BELLY FLAP AND FOLLOW THEM WITH YOUR REGULAR SKINNING KNIFE YOU WONT CUT THE INTESTINES. WHY USE A GUT HOOK AND HAVE TO GO TO THE FRONT OF THE ANIMAL AND PULL?? AGOOD SHARP KNIFE IS THE SECRET. I HAVE BEEN SHARPENING KNIVES FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND YOU WOUDNT BELIEVE WHAT SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER SHARP???? I HAVE BUTCHERED OVER A HUNDRED DEER AND I DONT KNOW HOW MANY RABBIT,*,POSSUM,HOGS,CATTLE,ETC. AND SEE NO REASON FOR A GUT HOOK THAT MAKES A KNIFE HARD TO CARRY HARD TO HANDLE AND IS OF NO ADVANTAGE. AS I SAID JUST MY 2CTS. CARL

robsguns

Carl, Thanks for saying that, cause I'm almost to the point of agreeing with you, just from the comments here, and the fact I have never used one myself. Thanks for your 2 cents.

---

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC