Actually, I probably would have purchased the Yard Guard rather than the hook had one been available. The hook on the Yard Hook has something of a funky look, but I have grown accustomed to it. It is not a bad feature on a combat knife. The blade thickness on the Yard Hook and Brute are nearly the same but the advantage goes to the hook. I also give advantage by a wide margin to the hook on the handle, which is not as thick as the Brute's, but is much more comfortable and not as likely to slip when it's wet - the Brute's handle is some sort of matte finish hard plastic as opposed to the rubber-like material on the Hook.

When I bought mine, I also got one of Scrapyard's sheaths - a kydex liner in a cordura sheath. The web site says it is a six inch sheath, but it fits the Hook nicely, with a little room length-wise to spare.

I would classify the Brute as a chopper, not a cutter. The Hook on the other hand is both a chopper and a cutter and a combat knife as well. I just can't see the Brute as a combat knife, more of a short heavy machete, but in a pinch, I suppose it would do. Plus the Hook fits nicely in the bottom of my EDC/3-day bugout bag - a Maxpedition Tactical operator.