I've owned a Gerber Gator for God knows how many years, always loved and stood bythe knife. I've never used one with a gut hook. I can gut an animal faster without. However, I am of the mind that gut hooks are a real asset to younger, inexperienced, and older hunters. I feel that gut hooks are safer for the real young hunters out there, for inexperienced hunters I think that the gut hook will help them with their first few animals until they get "the feel" of gutting an animal, and I know for my father (an older hunter) the gut hook is helpful because his hands start shaking on occasion.