Need advice on new hunting knife for whitetails

[donedidit]

I've got the itch to ask the wife for a decent hunting knife for Christmas this year.  I want a fixed blade and will use it primarily to field dress deer.   Looking to keep the price around $100 or so.  From Cabelas' offerings, I am looking at the Alaskan Guide Alpha and the Gerber Freeman knives.

I am wanting to know if there are other hunting knives out there that you folks have had good luck with.

Also, I've never used a knife with guthook.  Do they work well?  Is this something I should consider?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Joel]

Glad you asked this question, 'cause I got to go to Cabela's site and see that Buck has switched over to S30V on that series of knives, rather than that crappy 420HC they've been using.  Plus they're giving the steel the whole treatment.i.e. Cryogenic cooling, HT by Paul Bos, Nitride coating. Nice.  However.......everytime I look at that Alfa my teeth grind.  To me, it's a goodawful looking blade, what with those misplaced serrations everywhere, and the minimal wood handle.  Cold on the hands, I would think, and it makes my hand cramp just looking at it.  They must sell a lot of them though.  My pick would be the Vanguard.  I have a Zipper that was bought for me years ago as a gift when they first came out with that model, and while the blade/knife was a nice design, I never could get that Guthook really sharp after it dulled the first time.  I tried splitting sanding belts to fit, and an Arkansas stone, but I just couldn't get them as sharp as original.  To be truthful, maybe I didn't really want to.  Always had the uncomfortable feeling that they were kind of "cheating".  Doesn't take much skill to zip open a hide with one, but then again a lot of folks aren't all that much interested in being skillful that way, and they buy a bunch of guthooks....must...they still make a lot of them.   Difference between being a knife user and a knife "freak" I guess.  If it wan't for the top of the line heattreat that Buck gives that series of knives, I  would personally pick the Gerber.   The drop point, not the guthook.  Great looking knife and the same S30V steel, but no mention of Cryogenic treating, which is something that enhances the performance of just about every type of stainless steel out there.  It will still perform quite well I suspect.  I'm testing a Spyderco "Native" in S30V that isn't Cryo'd either.  I sharpened it on the 17th of November(the factory edge sucked) and it still doesn't need sharpening even though I"ve given it a pretty good work out.  So, my advice to you is to take your choice.  If you want to use a guthook, and put up with the hassle of sharpening one...have fun.  Both brands look like nice knives.  Can't believe the decent prices.

[Wynn]

My wife gave me a Vanguard a few years ago with the rubber grip and no gut hook. I love it! It takes and holds a edge and is easy to touch up after a guttting and skinning job. I used mine to butcher a gator this year and even with the tough hide, I made it through the job without having to hone it.

[ronbow]

Vanguard - yes. I have skinned and quartered two deer and mine still shaves the hair on my arm - not as much as it did but it is ready for more deer. I love this knife. Mine is about 6 years old - zipper (gut hook) model.
Matter of fact I think I'll go and re-razor it. Doesn't take many strokes to do so on my Lansky. I use the 30 degree angle. Great knife at any price.

[donedidit]

Looks like I better take a closer look at the Vangard or the Zipper.  I agree that the added heat/cryo treatment on the Buck knives edges out the Gerber. But boy that Gerber is a good looking knife; nicely shaped blade and a nice looking wood handle...I've got some thinking to do.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[JJ79]

I've got the itch to ask the wife for a decent hunting knife for Christmas this year.  I want a fixed blade and will use it primarily to field dress deer.   Looking to keep the price around $100 or so.  From Cabelas' offerings, I am looking at the Alaskan Guide Alpha and the Gerber Freeman knives.

I am wanting to know if there are other hunting knives out there that you folks have had good luck with.

Also, I've never used a knife with guthook.  Do they work well?  Is this something I should consider?

Thanks,

Jeff

this is the one I use...love it!!!  holds an edge well, and cleans up easily

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail.asp?value=017G&cat_id=322&type_id=670