Provided By: Brian Stephens, Co-Host of Ultimate Bowhunting TV
You put hours and hours into your prep for a particular hunt you have been waiting on for months and months. All your equipment is dialed in and you get to your destination. You have an awesome hunt and you are able to shoot a mature trophy animal. Then you pull out your knife to skin this animal and it’s dull or just not getting the job done! There is nothing more frustrating than a dull, non-functional knife. Outdoor Edge has solved this issue with a full line of knives and saws that are exceptionally functional and more importantly are sharp.
I have to say that I have not used an Outdoor Edge knife until recently. I remember when they first started and had a handful of skinning knives that seemed to be pretty good. Well, I have been blown away by the full line of small to large knives for skinning - knives for all-purpose use, combo knives/saws, axes, and much more. Outdoor Edge combines functional design with the sharpest, exceptional edge-holding steels, and hand craftsmanship to create quality knives and hand tools for the big game hunter. For now, I am going to specifically talk about the Mossy Oak Grip-Hook Combo that has a folding skinning knife with gut hook and wood/bone saw in a nylon belt sheath.
The first thing you will notice when you open the case is how well the nylon sheath is made. I love the way that both the knife and saw fit into the sheath without being really bulky. When you open the folding Grip–Hook Knife you will notice the handle has a great feel to it with a no-slip texture. I can see this being really important if your hands are wet or when it is raining. I also really like the size of the deep-bellied skinning knife because it is not too large. It is big enough to skin any deer or elk but small enough that you can even carry it in your pocket. For whitetail deer or hogs, I like a smaller knife to be able to get around bones and let the knife work. On top of the knife blade there is a no-slip ridge surface for your thumb, if you need to really apply pressure when cutting.
Next, is the wood/bone saw that is part of this combo. The saw is small enough to fit nicely into the sheath but big enough to cut through some nasty bone. I also really like its ability to cut wood if needed in the field. If you need a shooting lane cut quickly, you can do it in a few seconds with this saw versus having to dig for another saw in your pack (if you even brought one). The saw is very sturdy and well made. It can take on some tough jobs!
As I have done research on Outdoor Edge as a company, I have come to realize that a company that has been making knives this long and that has so many knives, saws and tools for the big game hunter, has it figured out. If you are 10,000 feet up on an elk hunt you have to have a knife, saw and tools to get the job done quickly to then pack it down safely.
The new Grip-Hook knife/saw combo includes the hunter’s two most important field tools: a deep bellied skinning knife and field saw for tough bone and wood. The gut-hook skinner is hand ground, shaving sharp from a premium AUS-8A stainless steel for exceptional edge retention and performance. The knife has a rubberized Kraton handle to ensure a comfortable non-slip grip even when wet. The wood/bone saw is strong enough to tackle the nastiest bone and is able to cut wood limbs when needed but small enough to pack away quickly and not take up too much room. One final thing that I really like is the orange colored handles of both the knife and saw. For me, this is key if you drop it in some brush making it easier to find. I also know to grab the orange (handle) to help prevent a cut to my hand or fingers.
Knife and Saw Specs:
- Grip-Hook: Blade 3.2" (8.1cm) Overall: 7.3" (18.5cm)
- Saw: Blade 4.4" (11.2cm) Overall: 9.4" (23.9cm)
- Sheath: Nylon Mossy Oak Break-Up
- Total Weight: 6.6 oz.
Each knife/saw combo comes complete with a belt sheath and lifetime guarantee. This is a great combo for virtually any big game hunter. For more information on the Mossy Oak Grip-Hook Combo go to www.outdooredge.com.
Next week, we'll take a look at the Fish & Bone knife from Outdoor Edge.
