{"product_id":"damascus-gut-hook-skinner-elk-antler","title":"Damascus Gut Hook Skinner Knife with Elk Antler Crown Handle, Hand Forged","description":"\u003cp\u003eA gut hook skinner is for the work after the hunt, and this is the top piece in the batch. The blade is short and broad with a deep belly, and a sharpened crescent hook sits in the spine near the tip. The steel is Damascus over a high carbon core, and the handle is elk antler with the crown left on. A carved leather belt sheath comes with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.25 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.25 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched layer pattern, mirror polished bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle material\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eElk antler crown, brass pins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather belt sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLaser engraving, 20 dollars per blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Damascus is pattern welded over a high carbon core and etched, so the layers show. It is carbon steel underneath, so it darkens and can rust if left wet. Skinning is a sweeping cut made with the curve of the edge, not the tip, so the belly on this 4.25 inch blade is deep and the point sits low. The gut hook is the crescent notch in the spine near the tip, sharpened on the inside curve, and it opens hide from the inside out with the point kept clear of what is underneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eElk antler crown means the handle is cut so the rough burred crown of the antler is left at the butt. It flares there and it is knobbly, so the hand does not slide back off the handle when your grip is cold or wet. Every crown is different, because it is the part of the antler that grew nearest the skull. The tang is full, one unbroken piece of steel from tip to butt, with brass pins through the scales.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery knife in this batch ships with a leather belt sheath cut for that exact knife, and this is the dress sheath of the set. It is vegetable tanned leather, hand stitched, with a welted edge and a wide belt loop on the back so it rides flat. A strap crosses the handle and closes with a snap, so the knife stays seated while you walk. The face is hand tooled, a deep carved western floral pattern with a rose at the center. Most sellers in this category say leather sheath and stop there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the one people buy when they want the best piece in the rack rather than the cheapest. The hook and the deep belly make it a working knife, and the antler crown and the carved sheath make it something you would be glad to give to somebody. Nothing on it is there only for show, and every part still has a job.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHunters who field dress their own game\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who wants a gut hook\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomeone buying a gift for a hunter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather belt sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA free laser engraving quote on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll of it is done by hand, so runs stay small and no two pieces match. No two Damascus patterns repeat, and the color and burr of the antler crown are whatever that animal grew. Yours will vary from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWash and dry it by hand, never in the dishwasher, and never left wet in a pack. Dishwasher damage voids the warranty. Damascus darkens with use and that patina is normal. Oil the blade before it goes away for the season, and let the leather dry away from heat. Sharpen the belly on a whetstone at roughly 20 degrees per side, then strop, and the hook on a round rod. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per blade, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits on a blade, and a longer message sits better on the sheath. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Clean line art engraves cleanly, photographs do not. Free on orders of 10 pieces or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the gut hook for?\u003c\/strong\u003e It opens hide from the inside out, keeping the point clear of what is underneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is an elk antler crown handle?\u003c\/strong\u003e The rough burred crown is left at the butt, so the hand cannot slide off the back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is the point low?\u003c\/strong\u003e So the tip does not catch where it should not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this Damascus rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can. Dry it after use and oil it before storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it full tang?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, the steel runs unbroken from tip to butt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long until it ships?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days with USPS, free over 99 dollars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf the hook is not what you need, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-stag-antler\"\u003eDamascus skinner knife with a stag antler handle\u003c\/a\u003e has a plain belly, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-skinning-knife-rosewood\"\u003ehand forged skinning knife in rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e is the carbon steel option. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/skinner-knives\"\u003eskinner knives\u003c\/a\u003e, this steel runs through \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, and there is more antler in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/stag-horn-knives\"\u003estag horn knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44134060916854,"sku":"VEF-SKN-DAM-GH-159","price":229.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-gut-hook-skinner-elk-antler-crown_6b19f61d-acba-4938-8511-826be93a8647.jpg?v=1788736487","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-gut-hook-skinner-elk-antler","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}