Can someone recommend a good neck knife?

M

manikdepression

Joined
Oct 14, 2010
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I'm looking to get a neck knife. Obviously I'd like it to be lightweight. I don't really care about the steel because I just want it as a last ditch tactical option. One thing I'm very concerned about is getting something with a good kydex sheath. I wanted to get the cold steel urban pal but I've heard that the knife will not retain in the sheath after putting it in/out of the sheath 100 or so times. One other option I was looking at was the Becker Necker. If you actually carry a neck knife please let me know if you actually get use to carrying it or if you always know it's there.
 
Well, I'm getting an Izula with the "survival kit", which comes with a whistle, fire-steel, some slip rings and paracord.

Anyway, it's 2.8 ounces with the sheath ( 2 just the knife itself ), and from what I've seen the sheath has some pretty tight retention--I haven't heard anyone say there's doesn't retain anymore.
 
IMO, a neck knife is probably the worst system for deployment especially if it's under your shirt. Talk about a waste of precious seconds if your life depended on it. Also, if you're having to draw it on the run, the knife will bounce around all over your chest.

I much prefer a teklok. I can easily conceal my fixed blade. If I do draw it, it's in the reverse grip ready to go.

Here's my Coye Ridgeback next to my DDR HTM folder.
edc01.jpg
 
harkamus said:
IMO, a neck knife is probably the worst system for deployment especially if it's under your shirt. Talk about a waste of precious seconds if your life depended on it. Also, if you're having to draw it on the run, the knife will bounce around all over your chest.

I much prefer a teklok. I can easily conceal my fixed blade. If I do draw it, it's in the reverse grip ready to go.

Here's my Coye Ridgeback next to my DDR HTM folder.
edc01.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't see how the neck knife being under your shirt is any different than a belt knife being tucked under your shirt. You pretty much have to spend the same amount of time getting your hand under your shirt.

The bouncing idea might have a little credence, but I've never noticed things like whistles bouncing too much when helping coach football practice. I could always manage to grab on to that when following the guys down the field.

Just my $.02
 
KennyB said:
I don't see how the neck knife being under your shirt is any different than a belt knife being tucked under your shirt. You pretty much have to spend the same amount of time getting your hand under your shirt.

The bouncing idea might have a little credence, but I've never noticed things like whistles bouncing too much when helping coach football practice. I could always manage to grab on to that when following the guys down the field.

Just my $.02
Click to expand...

A neck knife under your shirt rides much higher than a belt knife, don't you think? There's very little I have to lift to have access to my belt knife. Then again I wear fitted shirts, not excessively baggy shirts.

cziv said:
RAT Izula

Becker Necker
Click to expand...

Add to that Eskabar and Swamp Warden (for the budget minded). Otherwise I still recommend a Coye Ridgeback.


EDIT: I forgot to mention that a knife is probably the worst idea for a self defense tool there is. So easy for you to get yourself stabbed with it. I once had that same mind frame about a knife being the next best thing to sliced bread for self defense. I probably made a few posts myself regarding recommendations. Without proper training, you're as likely to get it used against by force. My knife really is last ditch (it sits either in front of or behind my hand gun). What it is to me, is a tool that I use quite often at work to cut tape, plastic ties, boxes, etc.

But I probably derailed the thread. My bad. It is food for thought though.
 
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harkamus said:
A neck knife under your shirt rides much higher than a belt knife, don't you think? There's very little I have to lift to have access to my belt knife. Then again I wear fitted shirts, not excessively baggy shirts.



Add to that Eskabar and Swamp Warden (for the budget minded). Otherwise I still recommend a Coye Ridgeback.


EDIT: I forgot to mention that a knife is probably the worst idea for a self defense tool there is. So easy for you to get yourself stabbed with it. I once had that same mind frame about a knife being the next best thing to sliced bread for self defense. I probably made a few posts myself regarding recommendations. Without proper training, you're as likely to get it used against by force. My knife really is last ditch (it sits either in front of or behind my hand gun). What it is to me, is a tool that I use quite often at work to cut tape, plastic ties, boxes, etc.

But I probably derailed the thread. My bad. It is food for thought though.
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It's higher up, but not higher up to really account for that much time lost. I think the bigger issue is that the shirt will become tight as you reach your arm up to grab the knife, whereas you can deploy a knife off of your belt much quicker. I wasn't really debating your point entirely, just that deployment from a neck knife isn't really any slower, it's just more difficult for the user than off of the hip. I actually agree with you, and I carry my EDC blades horizontal in front of me when I hike; usually under a fanny pack with other stuff like a PSK.

I also agree with you about using a knife about self-defense, but I don't think anyone should look at a knife as being the primary defensive weapon. It should always be a last resort to me in that regard. I mean, it's disadvantages are many, but it's big advantage is that you can use it for so much else so you usually have it on you all the time anyway. That's really its only defensive strength in my opinion, but it is a large one.
 
The Perrin neck bowie and LaGriffe come to mind, as do the Spyderco SPOT and Swick.
 
This knife has and is still used by undercover and special ops. It is highly recommended.

knifearchallylg.jpg
 
People have mixed feelings about the company, but I still think HAKs are the best neck knives out there. Nothing else offers that much control of a small knife. There are some similar designs out there, like the CRKT Ringers or Emerson LaGriffe, but they're still no match IMO.

Knives like the Izula and Becker Necker I consider too big as a neck knife. It's definitely possible and I've done it without discomfort, but as a last ditch knife the concealment factor is huge to me. As small and light as they are, they still print through your shirt easily.

Some other choices I've tried include the Buck Hartsook and Nemesis Hellion, but the Buck sheath is terrible and the Hellion doesn't offer much for a firm grip since the handle is tiny. I've tried the Spyderco Swick as well - great option but again, the HAK is smaller.
 
Izula with no handle scales is so light I have to tap my chest to remember if it's on or not. I find neck carry very easy to deploy. Just run my thumb under the chain and grab the other side of chain. Pull whole assembly up out of my shirt then down on knife.
I still prefer a clipped pocket folder for constant use but neck carry is so effortless to me why wouldn't I have an Izula for a back up blade?

I've tried a few other neck knives that I like but keep coming back to the Izula for a number of reasons.
 
I agree that trying to deploy a knife that you have hanging around your neck is hard to do. I went with the bravo necker 2 from bark river. I wear it on my belt horizontal and it is very easy to deploy. The necker 2 is also lighter than the izula and has a longer blade. Here is a link to the review I did on the Necker 2. There are a bunch of pictures so you can see what you can do with this knife.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=771057

Hope this helps
 
Izula II with its longer handle should be, IMO, the ideal necker. I had an Izula and forgot I was wearing it most of the time. I sold it because the handle was about 0.5" too short. Regarding deployment, how many times have you actually deployed your knife in a s/d situation? If you intend on having it be your primary s/d weapon then wear it outside your shirt or go with another carry option. Your primary weapon should be your brain. You've got a better chance of getting away unscathed using your brain than using your knife.
 
Some great knives already mentioned. I have a TAN Izula on the way, but dought I will be carrying it around the neck. The CS urban pal stuck me almost bad when it came out, lost it in a parking area, so that made me decide not to carry a knife around the neck except if one can carry it like the old scandi knives where the sheath lets the knife hang tip down...like normal belt sheaths.....but thats not really for fast deployment etc.. But have read great things about the Izula retention.

here is one more you can look into (made on order and as far as I know all done by hand for $65 shipped).
http://www.plan-a.org/mmhw/cutnrun.htm
 
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