what all around knife?

[viva_che1363]

 sorry if this topic has been gone over many a times, but my wife wants to know what to get me for Christmas, and im thinking a new knife might be nice, but im not sure what i want. im looking for a good all around knife that i can use to gut and skin deer. what are your opinions on gut hooks? it it benificial or not? and what would your recommendations be, i like the buck zipper but ive only looked at it online. anyways just looking on some sugestions from you guys with more experience in hunting knives.

[JakeLand]

I use a gerber with gut hook it is the only knife I use and have used it alot the gut hook is a must it makes it so much quicker and easier

[The Weazle]

Swing blade.

[Kamo2112]

Swing blade.

Agreed on the swing blade. Great knife for gutting, skinning, and everything else you want to do in the field. Or the flip and zip. Both same knives with small differences and both from outdoor edge.

[huntnphool]

Cutco serrated edge is my packing knife. http://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?itemGroup=5718

[Boss .300 winmag]

If you don't like sharping knifes try the Havalon ones, I have Piranta (skinnning), and Baracuta (filet). Love them both. They use removable surgical type blades. And the best part they are made in good ole USA. 

[blackveltbowhunter]

   The Zipper is a good knife .... I have had good luck with nearly every Buck knife I have owned. And they are what I currently carry. Personally I prefer to not have the gut hook built in.... Its more aesthetics than function tho. I really like the Zippers twin the Vanguard... very solid blade. Either knife would be a quality multi purpose hunting/ general use knife. As well as several other blades in the Buck catalog.

   If your not into sharpening knives, the havalon is definitley the way to go, great knives. I really enjoy sharpening knives and stick with more traditional blades myself. But I have used them and the performed great.  Nothing worse than a dull knife, and these make it easy to have a shaving sharp knife all the time.

   

[Blacktail Sniper]

Cutco cerated edge is my packing knife. http://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?itemGroup=5718

First year using this style and really liking it.  Used a Buck 110 folder for over 30 years before that...never had a complaint.  Best to hold some different models in your hand if you can to get the "feel" of them, then go from there.

[Arnbo]

Hen& Rooster makes great knives,A little spendy But quality made.

[sirmissalot]

I can't seem to get most gut hooks to work for me but the swing blade looks cool and would probably work well. I'm a fan of the bright orange handled knives as I have lost a couple, one was camo... Why do you need a camo knife anyways. I am a fan of fixed blade knives, with a medium size blade and not too hard of steel. I have a diamond blade knife, love everything about it but its very difficult to touch up in the field. All that said I would recommend one of the knives of Alaska knives in blaze orange. There is one called Alfa wolf or something that is my favorite blade design. I would also take a serious look at the swing blade in orange.

[HORSEPOWER]

I carry two-  a Cutco hunting serated edge and a Piranta skinning knife. I don't care for gut hooks.

[earlmarne]

you can get a knives of alaska set for a reasonable price.thats my do all knives at this point

[huntnphool]

I carry two-  a Cutco hunting serrated edge and a Piranta skinning knife. I don't care for gut hooks.

I was never a fan of serrated blades until I was given one of these knives as a Christmas gift, its been fantastic.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I do not care for gut hooks either.  Last two years have been using the havalon, but before that a buck 110 folder.  The folder w/ a stone is hard to beat.   I know there's much better steels out there but it works.

My bull in 2010 was gutted and boned with a kobalt multi tool.  The steel is horrible, but it was all I had on me (don't switch packs in the dark and forget to transfer your hunting knife over!).

[Boss .300 winmag]

I tested the V45 buck selector knife from buck years ago thru North American Hunting Club. I don't think they made very many of them,  the gut hook in the picture has been used on lots of deer and is awesome.