I have an SAK picknicker knife with a serrated blade and i think this is the best for gutting a deer. I goes through the skin and hair like a hot knife through butter. I can sharpen an straight blade to a a shaving condition, but still the serrated blade works better on gutting a deer, and I agree on the other uses u mention, but I still carry a knife with an straight edge that I use for the rest of the jobs. I dont want the<br>serrated blade to loose its edge, since I dont know I can sharpen it well.