The Gut hook, seat belt cutter, utility hook blade thread

[LimuHead]

I just got a Sanrenmu SRM with one of those gut hook/seat belt blades and got a chance to play with the hook for a couple of hours last night.

It's lousy at cutting copy paper, but it's a blast to use on cardboard and plastic!

It's okay for cutting paracord and string but you get a much cleaner cut with a sharp knife or scissors.

Anyway, now I'm fascinated with gut hook style blades and their many uses so am wondering about how others use them.

I am also curious about sharpening techniques.

In your opinion which make is the best?

Which ones should be avoided?

I have read that some people find them redundant on hunting knives and really dislike them.

I have also read that they are wonderful on hunting knives and highly recommended!

Additionally, anyone want to comment on seat belt cutters or utility hook blades?

Looking forward to your responses!

 

[K.O.D.]

Hmm, I enjoy gutting my fishing hooks with them...though I'm guessing that is not the intended use?

 

[hiwa]

I don't hunt anymore, so don't need it on knives .When setting up camp I have a Benchmade rescue hook dangling from my neck to cut setup lines. It was a lot faster and relatively safer than having to pull my fixed blade in and out of the sheath multiple times. I wanted to buy a couple more , but they seem very over-priced now.

Also , I bought some other hooks that have a straight cutting edge and I feel that a curved cutting edge on a hook tool cuts a lot better and is a lot easier to sharpen with a small diamond rod.

 

[Wowbagger]

I have nothing to say about gut hooks.
I will say I use this Gerber utility hook blade often and it works like a dream on rubber and tightly stretched cloth and thin plastic.
I sharpen it with a fine diamond serrated blade sharpening rod (really just a small rat tail diamond coated rod) followed by a stone "slip".

As all my blades I go for a shallower edge angle than factory and then be careful with it.

For cutting a seat belt I would just use a REAL knife with a very sharp blade. Would be like cutting butter.
Who needs a special blade for THAT ?