4 Best Deer Gutting Knives

Why Do We Need A Specialized Gutting Knife For Deer?

A gutting knife or a gut hook skinner is a knife that is used to handle the more delicate aspects of skinning. It is used to separate the skin of the animal from the actual meat without blemishes.

Hunters use a gutting knife to field dressing deer

Although most people don’t see the need to purchase a separate gutting knife when they can use a regular skinning knife, the need for a separate specialized tool exists nonetheless.

These tools were designed to unzip the game quickly without slicing open any muscle or intestines.
They help the hunters with gutting deer effortless, and that is arguably the most crucial part of dressing in the field.
An excellent gutting knife comes with a razor sharp blade, and that can be used to skin the prey if its ever required.
In rare occasions, the gutting hook has been known to be sharp and strong enough to cut through bones effortlessly.
In short, they were made specially to cut through the belly of any prey without ruining the delicate meat that is under all that skin and fat.

When you are unzipping or gutting your deer, and you are elbow deep in fat and blood, an excellent gutting knife could be the single tool that completely changes your gutting experience and cuts the entire process in half.

What Is The Best Deer Gutting Knife 2021?

Choosing the best of anything with a specific prey in mind is never easy. It takes a lot of research and objectivity to ignore some of the features of a knife that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

After much deliberation and careful consideration, I’ve chosen the best of the best for deer and explained what set them apart from the rest of the other blades on the market.

Here are the 4 best gutting knives for deer hunters:

The knives above are of high quality, good performance, reasonable price and possess the attributes of a top hunting knife for field dressing deer, elks, antelopes or hogs:

Specialized gutting hook or blade
Made of high-quality steel
Sharp blades, easy to sharpen
Easy to manipulate
Safe for use
Convenient to carry

These tools can all help you unzip your favorite game at a glance. This is an essential tool for hunters in the field.

Gutting knife comparison chart

You see, each knife has its advantages and disadvantages. This one is right for you, and the other is not.

Therefore, to be more satisfied with your choice, dive into our detailed reviews!

Our first choice is a top-notch folding knife with a fantastic upside-down guting blade…

1. Outdoor Edge Folding Knife with Gutting Blade

[Best gutting blade]

Our rating:

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Why did I pick it?

This hunting knife of Outdoor Edge made our list because of its peculiar build. It’s a flip blade with two interchangeable blades. When I saw this knife, I couldn’t entirely stop myself from trying it out. Despite its questionable build quality, the blade proved itself in the field.
I effectively unzipped my deer with the 3.1” gutting blade of the knife. This is an innovative blade, overcoming the disadvantages of traditional gut hooks.
I have complete peace of mind when using this blade to open the belly of deer. This particular design of Outdoor Edge helps it to slide gently under the animal’s skin without cutting through the hair or anything inside. All my cuts are straight and clean
Another drawback of traditional gut hooks is that they tend to be filled with hair when working because their space is too small while the gutting blade of Outdoor Edge is extended and open.
I also appreciate the replaceable RazorPro blades of this folding knife. They are especially convenient and can be replaced at a glance. With the design and equipment included, the Outdoor Edge deserves the most versatile and valuable knife for any hunter.
The rubberized handles held out quite well, and I had no cause to readjust my grip during the entire process. The knife weighed about 8.3 ounces so I could cut through hide more freely and then the blade itself was about 3.1 inches- just enough length to ensure that there were no accidents.
Although all these features were great, I think what ultimately stole my heart was just how easy it was to transport. The Outdoor Edge knife is lightweight, compact and comes with a carry-on Mossy Oak holster.

Outdoor Edge’s disadvantages

Although this bad boy is quite the catch, the blade switching mechanism still bothers me a bit. It’s quite functional, but it looks like it would be easily damaged.
The blades of this hunting knife might be the sharpest I have held in a while, but they don’t last very long. They usually become blunt after their first duel with a wild beast.
And of course, a folding knife is harder to clean than a fixed blade. It is not as strong.

Final thoughts

I highly recommend Outdoor Edge RazorPro folding knife with a unique gutting blade for ardent deer hunters. The upside down blade with a blunt tip has many advantages over traditional hooks for gutting deer.

In a nutshell, this folding knife is a valuable tool for you to field dressing deer quickly, efficiently, and safely. It is also very versatile, flexible, and handy to carry with you while hunting.

Next is a handy set of knives to field dress deer effectively for any hunter…

2. Gerber Moment Field Dress Kit

[Best gut hook skinner kit]

Our rating:

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Why did I pick it?

The knives of this two-piece set complement each other quite seamlessly. The larger blade unzips prey like its supposed to and the smaller and more precise blade cuts through the parts of the deer that require a softer and more delicate touch.
The gut hook of Gerber is immensely sharp, and I have no issues with the handle of the blade. I know this might sound a little bit redundant, but I think that the supporting knife is the most advantageous feature of this field dress kit.
The small knife complements the gut hook skinner, and I can’t quite imagine myself gutting a large deer without some supporting knife beside me while I go through the entire process.
The blades are full tang, sturdy, and beautiful finish. They are made of 5Cr15MoV stainless steel to hold the edge well and can sharpen quite easily.
That sometimes makes our knives a little bit heavy while in the field, but this additional weight provides some degree of control and usually stops me from cutting in too deep.
The handle is one of Gerber’s strong points. Both knives have a sturdy rubberized grip that handles fat and blood quite well.
Besides, I am also very impressed with the price of this Gerber great knife set – it is very budget friendly!

Gerber kit’s disadvantages

The let down of this seemingly perfect hunting knife is its poorly made sheath. The sheath is made of a cheap nylon material that frankly defeats the purpose of having such an aggressive set.
The gut hook skinner is also a little bit heavy. It might not seem much of a problem at the beginning of a long hunt, but a few hours in, the knife really begins to slow you down.
Unlike the gutting blade of Outdoor Edge above, the traditional gut hook of Gerber cuts at the skin level. As a result, we will cut through many hairs and the hook that tend to be clogged by them due to its small area.

Final thoughts

The Gerber blades are astonishing, and they handle deer, hogs like a champ, I don’t see any sense in abandoning this knife set just because Gerber didn’t hire the most competent company to handle the manufacturing of the sheath.

In my opinion, Gerber is the best gut hook skinner kit for field dressing deer at an affordable price. This exceptional kit not only helps you unzip and skin the game hide effectively but also enables you to get the beautiful deer trophies.

See more at Amazon.com >>

This milestone engraved the name of a blade from Buck Knives – a famous brand about hunting knife. The zipper knife is crafted for professionals.

3. Buck Knives Zipper Fixed Blade

[Best gutting knife for Pros]

Our rating:

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Why did I pick it?

This Buck knife one of the high-end hunting blades on the market and it has built up quite the reputation with the more experienced hunters.
The Buck knife comes with the ideal gut hook construct, and I personally think that it’s one of the best zipper knives that I’ve ever used to date.
The Buck comes with a razor sharp 420HC steel blade for the skinning game that cuts through meat like it were butter and even though its drop point, I really have no complaints.
The edge rendition of the blade simply blew me away, and I couldn’t help but cherish the full tang construction and bolster.
The handle and gut hook were the biggest pros of this Buck knife. The gut hook didn’t prove too hard to sharpen, and the specialized shape just made easing through the skin so much faster and neater.
The handle of the Buck comes with a texturized anti-slip rubber handle that genuinely shines in sticky situations. Its handle design helps hunters to manipulate easily when dressing deer in the field.
Also, brass pommel and finger guard help you maintain balance throughout the entire process and provide the best protection for you.
The Buck knife comes with a durable polyester sheath build that simply outlasts all other nylon materials. Its integrated belt loop allows hunters to carry the knife securely and quick access.

Disadvantages of Buck Zipper

The Buck has almost no weaknesses except the general disadvantages of a traditional gut hook on skinner. We need a little skill to sharpen this small hook and don’t forget to choose the most suitable sharpening tool.
Also, of course, a high-end knife usually costs more than regular blades.

Final thoughts

The Buck zipper knife is a true marvel. It has everything an avid deer hunter should have.

I always appreciate the Buck knife. It is designed and built with top quality for hunters who need a specialized and sturdy knife to field dress quickly a number of their deer or wild boars.

Its skinner blade with gut hook is perfect for gutting, skinning, and quartering your harvests. And above everything else, this blade is for those that don’t mind spending a little bit extra for quality.

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Here is an excellent choice for budget and also suitable for those who want to test their skills…

4. Elk Ridge Field Dress Kit

(Best for money)

Our rating:

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Why did I pick it?

This Elk Ridge set is the most affordable in our line up, so don’t expect some phenomenal performance. The build of the blade is surprisingly impressive, and it was almost impossible to believe that they cost how much they did.
The gut hook performs wonder, and it is, in fact, sharper than the belly of the skinning blade itself.
The finger hole and ridges on skinning blade really help me keep control of the blade, especially while wearing gloves for field dressing deer.
Both knives function in unison, and they are quite beautiful when you pair them together and take on the big game. The blade size is especially suitable for large deer like Elk, Moose.
The handles are made of a patterned green plastic with a rubberized exterior so that slipping won’t be happening so often.
They will comfortably peel of different layers of the hide and save you the trouble of using a piercing or boning knife to deal with all the hard parts.

Elk Ridge Kit’s disadvantages

The first issue I experienced when I attempted to skin with this set was the edge rendition. The quality of the blade is the Achilles heel of this otherwise ideal blade. The edge of the blade needs to be continually sharpened, and I don’t see myself lugging around a sharpener.
The nylon sheath is also a letdown. It tends to stick to the blade and slow it down and often times I think it might actually dull the edge down a little bit.

Final thoughts

The Elk Ridge kit is the perfect choice for the inexperienced hunter who is still testing the waters. It’s very affordable, and I think the edge rendition is something that most people can get over quite quickly.

This may be a good investment, worth a try without thinking!

See more at Amazon.com >>

Conclusion

The knives and knife sets on this guide have many merits and are highly recommended.

They help us unzip hunted deer with minimal efforts, and they are surprisingly useful outside gutting,…

…but if I had to pick one, it would be Gerber knife set. Because the kit meets most of our hunter’s needs in the field at a very reasonable price. Also, the value it offers is superior to the rest.

But when I talk about hobbies, Outdoor Edge RazorPro is my favorite gutting knife! I prefer the way to open the belly of games from below the hide that its unique blade brings.

How to pick the best gutting knife for deer hunting?

This is anyone’s question, especially with new hunters while in the search for the best hunting knife for gutting deer. But you need not look too hard; any well-made will do just fine.

Some Useful Guide For Beginners

Here are a few things that any decent knife that can be used to gut properly must possess:

It must be made with the right kind of steel

In most cases, hunting knives are usually made from one of two metals. Carbon and stainless. Now both types of steels have their merits and demerits, and picking the better steel is almost impossible.
The carbon might be denser, and sharper but it doesn’t deal with corrosion well. Stainless steel is not as sharp or as thick as the carbon, but it does take a ridiculously long time for it to rust.
The blade must also be incredibly durable and hard. It must within the range of 56-62 RHC on the Rockwell scale. The hardness makes sure that it can retain its edge much longer.

It must have the right shape

All gutting blades must be short. The user needs a lot of room to maneuver and work their way into all the tight spots and joints that aren’t quite easy to get into If your blade is too large.
The blade must have a curved belly. The belly might not be of much use to the average hunter who purchases the knife for unzipping.
The gut blade must come with a curved Hook-like indentation or curve that is sharp and able to slice through the flesh with relatively little or no effort. The curve must also be sharp enough to cut no hair in the gutting process.
The tip of the blade must blunt. The entire essence of using a separate knife to gut the deer is to make sure that there are no blemishes or errors during the dressing process. A sharp tip will puncture something sensitive like an internal organ, and that can spoil the entire meat.
Any decent hunting knife should be full tang regardless of what purpose it was designed to perform. A full tang blade will always last longer because it’s just steadier.
The average blade with a gut hook is around 3.1 – 3.7 inches, anything longer or shorter is unusual. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the blade will be bad or inadequate.

Great handle

The blade must have an excellent grip. Most gutting knives are under 9 inches, and this means that their stems can be quite small and so the makers usually compensate by making the handles more ergonomically constructed.
They typically come with comfortable finger grooves and an indented spine for more stability.
The handle must be a non-slip handle, and it must be constructed with plastic or wood and never metal.

The price

As I said, most gutting knives are multipurpose. That means that they aren’t exclusively for gutting. They are also skinning knives too.
In the end, you have to get an excellent deal for the half gutting knife, half skinning knife combination you are about to invest.
The price must correlate to the quality you are about to pay for, and you must never compromise regardless of how well the product might appear.

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