BK14 Handle Up Neck Carry w Factory Sheath

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FreebornErik

Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Messages
191
Ok, so I've done some searches, and seen lots of customized BK14s, lots of great photos, and tons of threads about the BK14. Maybe its information overload, but I haven't found anywhere that answers my questions.

Does the factory sheath support neck carry with the handle up? If so, does it also support handle up neck carry with scales installed? How about with the grip wrapped? With aftermarket scales?

If it doesn't, any recommendations for custom sheaths that would support handle up neck carry? Even if it does, any recommendations for handle up neck carry aftermarket sheaths?

Thanks,

Erik
 
I dont see why it wouldnt support it. Theres holes near the top of the sheath on both sides. String some pcord through them and there ya go. Whether or not it supports scales or wrapping is more of an opinion. Do you like having a bulky knife handle under your shirt? I dont think that the 14 is bulky at all but the scales would obviously add bulk to the handles. Wrapping will too but not nearly as much--it still maintains a pretty low profile.
 
i've seen ethan becker on youtube vids with his carried handle up around the neck it should work just fine!
 
I guess I'm crazy... I don't see a problem with handle down carry with the BK14. The sheath has plenty of retention to keep it in place.... much more handy that way too. *shrug*
 
Exactly, I'm wondering if it's center of gravity with scales on is above or below the top rivets in the sheath. Actually, I'm most interested in the BK24, but figure there's not likely to be much difference, and there's a lot more experienced BK14 users in the group.

FWIW, inside the shirt isn't an option, but a discussion on that involves politics.

I've been neck carrying small fixed blades in the woods for years. Belt carry interferes with the pack waist belt. Pack strap carry separates me from my knife when I'm most likely to want it, i.e. when I've got my pack off, so starting in the late 70's with a Gerber Pixie, on up to now with a Knives of Alaska Bear Cub, I've been neck carrying my primary knife. I like the Bear Cub, which is D2 steel, but being a caping blade, it's a little small for bush work, I was thinking the BK24 might just be my next neck knife.

As far as handle up or down, I guess its a preference thing, but I know I'm more comfortable with handle up carry, I've got a couple knives designed for neck carry whose sheaths are made for handle down, and I inevitably either mod/replace the sheath, or stop using them.

Erik
 
tfields said:
i've seen ethan becker on youtube vids with his carried handle up around the neck it should work just fine!
Click to expand...

Cool, I'll have to do some searching, the only one I've seen with Ethan shows him with a scaleless BK11 tucked partially into his shirt. Does the BK11 balance the same as the 14? They look like they share the same sheath?

Thanks,

Erik
 
FreebornErik, have you considered some type of baldric style carry? A good way to carry a little bit larger knife without having the weight hanging on your neck. A lot of people use leather for that. I like using a braided paracord strap. It's comfortable, and also allows me to have quite a bit of cordage available if I need it.
 
FreebornErik said:
Cool, I'll have to do some searching, the only one I've seen with Ethan shows him with a scaleless BK11 tucked partially into his shirt. Does the BK11 balance the same as the 14? They look like they share the same sheath?

Thanks,

Erik
Click to expand...
Same blade and sheath, differant grip.
 
easy solution -- get a thin piece of leather or some webbing and some chicago screws.
use the screws to attach to the top of the necker sheath and punch a couple holes in the top of the piece of material to run your beaded chain, cord, or leather thong through -- now the hang point is definitely above the balance point of the BK11/14 no matter what scale material you are using and it can't invert itself.

an even easier solution would be to use a foot long section of the piece of paracord that comes with the knife to do the same thing.
attachment.php

overhand knot in the middle, feed through the hole and knot on each side -- or weave something up magical so you don't have to cut the 6' piece of cord, just in case...

tn_102_2944.jpg
 
Uncle Malice said:
FreebornErik, have you considered some type of baldric style carry? A good way to carry a little bit larger knife without having the weight hanging on your neck. A lot of people use leather for that. I like using a braided paracord strap. It's comfortable, and also allows me to have quite a bit of cordage available if I need it.
Click to expand...

No need to be so formal, just Erik here, a long time ago, I "think" I was on this forum as Freeborn, which is a handle I've used since the listserv days of the internet. A while ago, I started thinking about updating my steel, so I came back to the forum, and couldn't remember the password or email for Freeborn (maybe the Freeborn user here wasn't me), so I started over as FreebornErik.

Anyway, sure I've tried what is now called baldric style, one of the most comfortable sling style carries I've used was a neoprene camera strap rigged up baldric style with a canteen a magazine pouch and a knife, it worked very well.

My normal load out for a hiking/backpacking includes a multitool or small visegrip, a small hatchet, a folding saw or bucksaw blade or a couple of sawzall blades (go well with the visegrip), and my neck knife. In addition, I've always got at least one folder in my pocket, usually either a congress or whittler pattern. If I'm hunting, more specialized steel will accompany me.

I've always got some cordage along, usually some polyester webbing, a carabiner, and some 550 or amsteel, maybe even some climbing rope and gear. I guess what I'm saying, is that when I'm in the woods, I've got the cordage covered and I've got plenty of "sharp" along without carrying something larger than my neck knife over my shoulder.

For me the choice of a neck knife is one of convenience, when I've got the pack on, its easier to get to than my pocket folder, and when I take the pack off its still with me, and even though its small, its larger than my pocket knife (which I really only carry because I enjoy whittling).

I do appreciate the suggestions, I'm always looking for ways to improve my kit. I'm a long ways from being a gear minimalist, but for the time being anyway, I sort of feel like my days of larger knives are behind me... of course that didn't stop me from tying a BK16 to my lumbar pack, but then, I consider the BK16 a large knife.

Thanks,

Erik
 
1066vik said:
easy solution -- get a thin piece of leather or some webbing and some chicago screws.
use the screws to attach to the top of the necker sheath and punch a couple holes in the top of the piece of material to run your beaded chain, cord, or leather thong through -- now the hang point is definitely above the balance point of the BK11/14 no matter what scale material you are using and it can't invert itself.

an even easier solution would be to use a foot long section of the piece of paracord that comes with the knife to do the same thing.

overhand knot in the middle, feed through the hole and knot on each side -- or weave something up magical so you don't have to cut the 6' piece of cord, just in case...
Click to expand...

Sorry for the edits, hope I didn't munge the quote, but I just didn't want to duplicate the photo unnecessarily.

Perfect, pictures are great for me, I tend to think visually. So in your photo, if you lifted the knife by the loop you've got tied, would the knife hang vertically blade down, or would it hang at some angle? Would the way it hangs change if it had scales attached?

Erik
 
lifting by the loop the bk11 hung vertically.
with scales, the BK14 hangs horizontal - but hung vertically against my chest.
with a relatively flexible 5/6 oz "outdoor grade" leather backer, it lays flat against my chest and free hangs about 20 degrees out of true vertical.
stiffer material such as thicker leather or even a scrap of pickle bucket would solve that.
attachment.php
attachment.php
attachment.php



tn_102_2948.jpg tn_102_2947.jpg tn_102_2949.JPG
 
1066vik said:
lifting by the loop the bk11 hung vertically.
with scales, the BK14 hangs horizontal - but hung vertically against my chest.
with a relatively flexible 5/6 oz "outdoor grade" leather backer, it lays flat against my chest and free hangs about 20 degrees out of true vertical.
stiffer material such as thicker leather or even a scrap of pickle bucket would solve that.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks, thats exactly the information I was looking for. Incredible, I almost can't believe you took the time to take the pics to answer my question.

Thanks again,

Erik
 
It took a lot longer to take the pics, resize, and post them than it did to find the scrap, trim it to shape, and punch the holes to make the carrier, that's for sure. :)
If you want the scrap of leather to try out, email me your address and I'll get it in the mail this week.
 
1066vik said:
It took a lot longer to take the pics, resize, and post them than it did to find the scrap, trim it to shape, and punch the holes to make the carrier, that's for sure. :)
If you want the scrap of leather to try out, email me your address and I'll get it in the mail this week.
Click to expand...

I'll definitely keep the offer in mind, first I have to procure a BK24, I do like D2 steel. :)

Thanks,

Erik
 
Hey Freeborn.....

I have never had an issue carrying the 11 or 14 with the stock sheath in handle up position........The lanyard as shown by Vik is comfy(twice the surface area around your neck means half the pressure) and if you need it there is always his clever leather fix.......I know I come at this with some built in bias but, I think you will find the 14/24 to be an amazingly capable knife.......Btw I agree with your carry analyses about 100%.......The small blade around the neck is best.......Soooo handy!!!!!.....

Thanks for your post......

Ethan
 
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