How TO SHARPEN A GUT HOOK

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hellgap

Joined
Dec 17, 2008
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I could use a tip or 2 on how to sharpen a gut hook . This is what im thinking of trying after filling the gut hook use a dremel tool with a buffing tool and compound ????????? I need help. thanks kellyw
 
After filing and heat treating, I would move to sand paper wrapped around the file or a cratex type abrasive wheel/rod and finishing with paper moving up to 800-1000 grit or so.

--nathan
 
hellgap said:
I could use a tip or 2 on how to sharpen a gut hook . This is what im thinking of trying after filling the gut hook use a dremel tool with a buffing tool and compound ????????? I need help. thanks kellyw
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I feel your pain;) After making one and fighting it I noticed that a lot of guys make them big, like 1/2" diam. or so. Might make it a bit easier.
 
I'm just thinking out loud here, having never made or used a knife with a gut hook. :o But it occurs to me that you might want to keep it a standard radius so that your regular Joe Sixpack deerhunter will be able to touch it up easily. Like, whatever the most common chain-saw file is, know what I mean?
 
A small gut hook tends to load up with hair so that is why you should make them around a half inch. I make mine as sharp as i can while finish sanding the knife then touch it up with sand paper wrapped around a brass rod in a variable speed hand drill after the knife is done and sharpened then wrap some light leather around the brass rod apply some compound and strop the guthook.

Bob
 
I have made a couple and used a dremel with stones and finished off with a ceramic rod. I wont make one anymore because they are a PITA. Just dont go near the buffer whatever you do.
 
I have made 5 and only on custom order. I have never used one and never had any trouble gutting big game. A drop point used right will do the job w/o slicing into the innards.

I make them wide 3/8" to 1/2" and put the initial edge on with a Dremel and a tile cutter bit-Tungston Carbide. You can sharpen them pretty well with a .404 pitch chainsaw file.
 
I racked my brain on this one a few years back and decided to I do the final sharpening with a ceramic rod, that I included with the purchase of the knife.

You can get them super cheap at kiln/pottery supply stores like Axner
 
I have a benchmade rescue hook which is backed by tehir lifesharp guarantee, many other companies have similar guarantees including kershaw which makes many knives with guthooks, and many others. If my hook ever gets dull (unlikely because I don't plan on using it for everyday tasks) I would send it back to benchmade because they can get it sharper than I ever could. Instead of fiddling around with sandpaper or rods which are imprecise and unlikely to restore the hook to full sharpness, I think having the company sharpen it would be the best solution.
 
Thanks everyone for the help . There is always some one who has to also make a post that has no value to a thread. Sidecutter why bother posting if your not any help. my neighbour guts / skins over 20 deer a year several elk and moose each year . I have hunted with him for 4 years and I am excellent with a knife until I saw him in under 2 min gut a thousand pound elk the elk was loaded and we were hunting in 5 min . Gut hooks do work you just have to know how to use them. I until a few years ago never used one and have harvested over 50 animals deer moose /elk but have since learned they are not a useless tool.
 
hellgap said:
Thanks everyone for the help . There is always some one who has to also make a post that has no value to a thread. Sidecutter why bother posting if your not any help. my neighbour guts / skins over 20 deer a year several elk and moose each year . I have hunted with him for 4 years and I am excellent with a knife until I saw him in under 2 min gut a thousand pound elk the elk was loaded and we were hunting in 5 min . Gut hooks do work you just have to know how to use them. I until a few years ago never used one and have harvested over 50 animals deer moose /elk but have since learned they are not a useless tool.
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hellgap, i certainly apologize. was not my intention to offend. AND i would likew to see someone that really knows how to use that guthook. as usual, i learn something on this forum daily. ( balisong STILL useless ) :D
 
Sidecutter im glad to see you reply to my thread and accept your apoligy . I was never a guthook fan until i seen it in action. The ole timer i hunt with alot guts a deer the old way but does a hell of a good job but still pokes the gut sack one out of 10 deer . Up here we had a open season on deer shootin pretty much as many as you could for the last 4 years. So ive watched my neighbour in action alot the larger the gut hook the better so the hair keeps out but also to cut with the grain of the hair. It is really fast and keeps things really clean. kellyw
 
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