Have you tried cleaning up a carcass, just to unexpectedly puncture the guts?
Performing so will not just unleash a terrible smell, but it could further exhaust your kill. That is why you necessitate learning the decent gutting method.
Instead, you could apply a gut hook.
The gut hooks make the application game very much quicker and easier. But, like everything other we talk about here, it lacks to be razor-sharp. But now are you wondering How to sharpen A gut hook? do not worry we at BestDamascusKnife will give you ultimate guide on How to sharpen A gut hook Let’s find out.
What Is A Gut Hook?
What Is A Gut Hook
Hunting is one of America’s most famous hobbies. According to Statista, above 15 million people go hunting every year in the US  only.
If you are one of those, you understand that hunting is very difficult. You have to be attentive, alert, and you further require the best tools. Without suitable tools, you may just be wasting your time out in the forests.
One of the important tools is a knife – a reliable, handy knife that has a gut hook.
The gut hooks are hooks you see at the top of some hunting knives. They are small but very useful for cleaning up your hunt.
Owning a gut hook will execute your hunting activity a lot great. Plus, they are further very varied. You can utilize them for various jobs at your campsite.
The gut hooks were created through the 1960s. They were blunt and were used for raising coffee cups from fire. The hook enabled them to get the hot scoop without using their hands.
Since then, the gut hooks have become a long way.
The people very soon discovered that apart from choosing up pots, it could be further used for cleaning entertainments.
Back then, a single way to perform this was to learn the precise method for gutting animals. The people would have to train and prepare before they made this right.
That is why the gut hook was a gift.
With it, also beginners could eliminate all the intestines and organs without penetrating any of them.
Plus, people additionally began using these tools to cut ropes, pry nails, and peel the fruits. That is why several hunting knife makers started including gut hooks.
Guide: How to Sharpen a Gut Hook
Guide How to Sharpen a Gut Hook
There are two means you can apply to hone a gut hook.
- Â Sharpening rod
- Â Small belt-sander
Let us take a glance at each one.
How to Hone with A Sharpening Rod
For this process, you necessitate a thin sharpening rod. Regular sharpening rods are very wide, therefore you would not be capable to utilize those.
You necessitate a sharpening rod that your hook can cover around. It is a great plan to get a tapered rod. This means, no matter how broad or narrow your hook is, you can make excellent sharpening.
The tapered rods are further great because they are additionally simple to take along. If you are out tenting, you do not need to bring big, heavy sharpeners do you? A little tapered rod can suit your pocket.
To utilize this, your initial lack to know whether you have a single or double-beveled gut hook. Then you necessitate examining the angle.
Making the perfect angle is simple. All you have to make is rest your sharpening rod on the angle and modify it until the rod is even upon the whole bevel.
Then, there are two methods to sharpen. You can either push the rod down from up or drag it from below.
Whatever you prefer, always remember that you need to push or pull up on the edge. Nevermore push or pull towards it. This will destroy both your rod and blade.
Additionally, make assured you sharpen the whole curve of your hook. Several people just sharpen the center area, which is a huge mistake.
As eternally, feel for a burr to understand when you can stop. Burr comprises a sharp edge. Once you observe it, flip your knife over and begin working on the opposite side.
Once that side is finished, do not omit to end off with stropping. Take a leather strop, or your belt if you don’t have one, and rub your hook against it. This will not just raise the burr, but it will further polish your knife.
Then you can go! After stropping, your gut hook should slice through thick skin without any difficulties.
Do not have a tapered sharpening rod? There is one more method.
How to Hone with A Belt Sander
The belt sanders are especially helpful machines. Even if you are not into woodworking, there are numerous methods that you can utilize.
One means you can do this is to hone knives. The belt sanders can be used to sharpen gut hooks. Are you wondering How can they do this when their belts are straight? Great question. The trick here is that these belts are bendable.
When you are placing the belt, do not stretch it too much. You need it just loose sufficient to adjust to the state of the hook.
Be cautious not to do it too loose though. If you do, the belt might drift off when you use your machine on.
Once it is the precise tightness, it is time to hone. Hold your knife upon the belt till it adjusts to the shape of the angle.
Then, use your belt sander on at a moderate speed. This will rub off metal and get your edge super sharp repeatedly. Do not forget, hone away from the edge, not towards it.
Be cautious when utilizing a belt sander. These tools can eat steel fast. It just needs several seconds to get a sharp edge, therefore does not take too long.
Once you finish, feel for a burr. Then flip your knife and go on the other side. If your knife is single beveled, you will be able to go.
Do not neglect to strop for the finishing touch.
How to Apply a Gut Hook
The gut hooks are fabulous, no doubt… but how do you utilize them?
The central idea of the gut hook is to slice the stomach of your kill without cutting any organs. You can apply this for deer, elk, fish, or any other critter.
To accomplish this, you will first necessitate a hole. Utilize your knife to make a tiny hole at the bottom of the stomach.
Then hook your gut hook into this gap and drag across the whole belly. This should cut the carcass in one fluid motion.
Plus, it will nevermore slice the organs. Just the hook is sharp, the topside of the knife is dull. It is an original design.
Though, you might see that several expert hunters do not use gut hooks. What is this all about?
For them, the gut hooks are not needed. They have gutted many animals the tough way, they can do this with their eyes closed.
But for newcomers who do not need to destroy their hunt, gut hooks are the means to travel.
Though, no matter how able gut hooks design is, it is no use if it is blunt.
Can you think of attempting to skin thick skin with a dull hook? You will drag and drag, and you would not cut anything.
It is very important to hold your gut hook razor-sharp.
Sharpening Difficulty
Do you have a problem… How to sharpen a gut hook?
One look is enough to show you that conventional techniques would not work.
If you attempt to utilize a sharpening stone, you will end up damaging your gut hook. The gut hooks are thin and round, indicating your sharpening stones are not reliable here.
Those pull-through sharpeners are not reliable either. Also, how are you also going to get your hook into one of those?
The great news though is that it is not that hard to sharpen a gut hook. All you necessitate is the best tool.
Some pieces of Advice for Sharpening Gut Hooks
As ever, here Is my cheat sheet sharp Your gut hooks:
•First you should Verify if your gut hook is single or double beveled first
• Use a tapered sharpening rod for the most reliable results
• Always Wear gloves for protection
• See the angle by holding the rod on the bevel
• Hone away from the edgeÂ
• Feel for an angle to know when it is sharp
• Flip the knife over and work on the opposite side
• Eternally strop after honing
For the belt sanders, you will need to:
• Make assured the belt is not too tight or over loose
• Always wear gloves for protection
• Touch the hook upon the belt until it adjusts to the shape
• Hone away from the edgeÂ
• Spread the belt at the slow speed
• Feel for a burr, then go on the opposite sideÂ
• Strop once you are finished
Just one more advice, make assured you wash your gut hook after every use. This means you would not have to bother about wear and corrosion anymore.