Gut Hook

[liamh]

Iv'e been commissioned to make a large knife with a larger than normal gut hook. I'm trying to figure out the best way to create this gut hook. Iv'e looked around and everyone is using a chainsaw file to create one, but it is too small. Any ideas?

[ThomasPowers]

Use a larger size round file?  Chainsaw files are just easy to source locally most places.  They do make larger round metalcutting files though you may have to search for them and order one.

[capnroo]

Check with harbor freight, or MSC(I think that's right). They should be fairly inexpensive.

Or maybe MC mastercarr?

[rockstar.esq]

Could you forge it instead of cut it?

[liamh]

Thank you for the responses, ill look for some large half round or full round files.

[John McPherson]

Search under rat tail files, I have seen them up to 1". 

[digger9523]

Does it Have to be a gut hook?

 

 Here in the UK I'm a semi pro deer hunting guide, i shoot between 200-300 deer a year from the tiny Muntjac through to the much bigger Red deer.  I used a knife with a gut hook (of the sort i think you're trying to make) twice before i decided it was almost entirely useless.  With 3 or 4 deer to dress in a short amount of time it was more trouble than it was worth.

 

 It's much more common here to use a tripe knife, here's one i made last year:

 

 

 

  We did a park cull and between us shot 64 Fallow deer, and that knife was used to unzip all of them, no fuss with snagging and no split guts.

 

 For your commission you've obviously got a specific brief, but if you ever get asked for something else for gutting, feel free to remember this little thing of mine.   :)

[Robert Yates]

Many of the Hunters round here are Now wanting the "New Gut hook Knife" and that is the one they are asking for like in your photo funny they have been around for ever.

 

Sam

[capnroo]

I have never liked gut hooks myself. I prefer my great grampas old timer sheath knife that was handed down to me. Keep it sharp and I barely have to use any force to skin with. I even use it to pop the joints out quickly and neatly. Other people using bonesaws and guthook knives are amazed when I'm done skinning before them. Thanks, big pawpaw. :)