RE: Gut hook knife blades?
I used mine (wooden handled Buck like pictured above) for the first time this year and thought it worked ok. I had a bit of trouble getting it started, but once in it cut well. I could definitely see it not working on a deer with a lot of fat. Mine was a 120# doe with average fat. If the deer was any bigger or fatter I don't think it would have worked.
ps - as i stated before in another thread - the handle gets awefully slippery when wet and I don't think the rubbber handle (more like plastic) would be much better, needs to be a softer rubber that gives when you grip