Top 10 Best Gut Knives
for September 2023

The Mossberg Fixed Blade Knife is an efficient skinning knife for hunters. The 3-1/2-inch blade is made from stainless steel, which is designed to be used several times without having to sharpen it after every use. The knife is decidedly shorter than many other hunting knives, yet it still features a sharp gut-hook. The blade also features an anti-glare finish, so hunters won't have a hard time focusing on their game. The Mossberg Fixed Blade Knife features an overall length of 6-3/4-inches with the blade measuring 3-1/2-inches. The handle is sturdy, and the knife is lightweight, weighing in at 9.8 ounces. The included black Mossberg knife sheath is built to handle the demands of serious hunters, and the knife comes with a lifetime warranty. The Mossberg Fixed Blade Knife is one of the best hunting knives we've used, and hunters agree this knife is an excellent choice when it comes to skinning game, especially deer.

The Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Set is a high-quality set of fixed-blade knives that perform well, and for hunters, their camouflage design makes them especially useful in the field. The set comes with a straight-edge and a gut hook blade. The straight-edge blade has a black coating, and the gut hook blade has a green coating that matches the handle. The blades are sharp and well-made, and the blades are long enough for most hunting tasks. The gut hook blade is especially useful for skinning game. The set includes a black nylon sheath with a shoulder strap and belt loop, so you can easily carry your knives. The sheath is well-made, and the knives fit securely inside. The Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Set is a good choice for hunters who need a set of high-quality fixed-blade knives.

The Outdoor Edge WildSkin is by far the best skinning knife we've used, and it's ideal for big-game hunting. It's the only skinning knife we've used that can stand on its own, thanks to its sturdy, lightweight 420J2 stainless steel blade. The skinning knife's gut-hook design makes ripping out large game skin easy, and the deep belly allows the knife to dig into the animal's hide without piercing vital organs. The WildSkin also comes with a nice, thick, nylon belt sheath (which doubles as a cleaning brush). For the price, the WildSkin is hard to beat, and since it's made in the United States, it's made in the USA, too.

The BuckLite Max II is a large, heavy knife that feels great in the hand. The rubber handle is coated with a non-slip material, and the grip is comfortable. The blade is 420HC, so it's burly, but its 2.75-inch blade length makes it a little intimidating. The knife has a good balance, and the blade doesn't protrude much past the end of the handle. The knife is also easy to sharpen, thanks to the flat grind. The blade locks into place securely, and the lock is easy to access. The sheath, made of ballistic nylon, has a belt loop, a clip, and a stud for more secure carry. The sheath is versatile, as well. You can remove it and use it as a belt knife or attach it to a backpack or saddlebag. The BuckLite Max II isn't suitable for small jobs, but it's well suited for larger jobs.

The Maxam Gut Hook & Sheath is a high-quality gut hook knife for hunting. Its blade is made from 8CR18MOV stainless steel, which is rustproof and won't corrode easily. The blade is 5 inches long and 1.6 inches wide, and it's small, compact shape allows for easy control. The Gut Hook & Sheath comes with a comfortable sheath made from tough woven nylon. The sheath easily attaches to your belt for quick and easy access. The Gut Hook & Sheath is well-made and comes in an attractive black finish. Its blade has a straight edge, which makes it great for skinning and gutting, but the blade is too sharp for cutting rope. The Gut Hook & Sheath is ideal for hunters and anglers who need to gut and skin deer, elk, hogs, and other big game. It's small, compact, and simple, which makes it great for both indoor and outdoor use.

The Gerber Vital Zip is our favorite blade for backpacking, hiking, and other outdoor adventures because it keeps its edge even after countless trips through the wash. It's comfortable to hold, and the blade is sharp enough to lop off twigs and thin branches. The Vital Zip is also slim enough to be carried in a pocket. However, the rubber handle is slippery, so it can be challenging to shave off thick branches or shave with one hand. Deliriously sharp, our tester was able to cut right through a tree branch with the blade held in one hand. The blades don't last as long as some, but Gerber provides a two-year warranty. The sheath is a little bulky, but it's comfortable to hold when shaving, especially on long runs. The sheath also doubles as a hangable backup blade.

The Gerber Gear 31-001159N Hunting Knife Gear Myth Field Dress, Hunting Knife Set, Brown is a dependable hunting knife, whether you're hunting big game or target practice. It's lightweight, compact, and easy to carry, and it's sharp, so it can easily carve up game. The fixed blade is great for field dressing, and the carbide sharpener built into the sheath ensures it'll stay sharp. It also comes with two sharpening rods, so you can keep it sharp in the field. The only drawback is its fixed blade, which limits its versatility.

The Gerber Moment Field Dress Kit is an easy-to-use, compact, and lightweight hunting knife. The 4-inch stainless steel blade has a glass bead finish, a serrated edge, and a 1.25-inch thick sheepsfoot blade. The handle is textured rubber and feels sturdy and comfortable. The handle scales are large, which makes for a solid grip, and the blade is long enough for serious tasks. The knife also has a rubberized sheath designed for waist carry. The sheath is lightweight, but can be a bit difficult for smaller users to get on. The sheath also has a pouch for carrying a knife sharpener, which features 4 steel sharpening rods and a ceramic rod for sharpening knife blades. The sharpener is comfortable to hold, and sharpening knives with it is very easy. The sheath also comes with a carabiner can be attached to your backpack or belt.

The Old Timer Replaceable Blade Gut Hook is a great tool for skinning game or opening deep gut piles. It's sturdy enough to handle dense game, and the blades are sharp enough to cut through the thick hide of deer or elk without nicking or cutting into the meat underneath. The handle is TPE, so it's comfortable to use, and the blades are firmly attached, so they don't slide around when you're trying to hook them with a sharp rap. The replacement blades are easy to remove, and each one is marked with a sharp line so you can quickly identify which blade is sharpest. The gut hook is lightweight, too, so you can easily carry it in the field. The only drawback is that the blade length isn't adjustable, so if you're skinning big animals, you'll sometimes have to add additional blades.