Carbon steel for a neck knife? You have to be joking!

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Jul 23, 2015
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Nope, believe it or not.

maybe your sweat eats steel and concrete, or you live in a humid haze, YMMV

I have made and tested this little necker out for myself. R&D carry, I call it.

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Been wearing it for a couple months now, have worn it on bike rides, while kettlebell swinging, club swinging, during absolute downpours, and have not so much as touched it with oil since the two coats of mineral oil I gave it the day I finished it.

The handle is unstabilized purple heart and zebra wood, deliberately secured with the least water resistant glue in my shop (gorilla glue ca, which is water resistant but not waterproof).

Aside from being a bit dirty, resharpened a few times, the obligatory scratches that come to all the knives I use at work, and some minor patina spots from the one time I cut chicken with it, it is in the same condition as when I finished it.

Do you wear a carbon steel neck knife? I’d love to see it so I know I’m not alone!
 
I would wear neck knives more, but for some reason they are considered more "tactical" and "weapon" than pocket knives. Which, if you think about it, is really wild. A pocket knife is much easier to access and depending on the pocket clip can be completely invisible. So for my job it is not allowed. In another job I had, I did wear multiple neck knives, and I did like them. I think the steel is a factor when choosing a neck knife, but moreso the necklace material is important. You want to make sure it's going to be comfortable if it's going to be around your neck all the time!
 
Don't they use 15N20 for the the whiter / shinier part of Damascus ?

So less rust prone , maybe .

Just keep some oil on it , clean if exposed to corrosives .

Or just enjoy the patina ! :cool:
 
I have neck knives in various carbon and tool steels. Only one had some rust under the handle, (D2),...but it was received that way.

Fred Perrin made his Griffes, of which I have a few, from 1095 and they never suffered for it.
 
I wear one from AK knives in M2 that has been great- no rust issues with wiping it down at end of chores. Another Dozier in D2 that I have worn on many rafting/flyfishing trips with no rust. I like neck knives when doing some chores where I may be kneeling/stooping and in lousy weather wearing gloves making it easier to access than one clipped in a pocket. Unzip the top of my raincoat slightly and I can access or tuck away the knife.
 
beeinak said:
I wear one from AK knives in M2 that has been great- no rust issues with wiping it down at end of chores. Another Dozier in D2 that I have worn on many rafting/flyfishing trips with no rust. I like neck knives when doing some chores where I may be kneeling/stooping and in lousy weather wearing gloves making it easier to access than one clipped in a pocket. Unzip the top of my raincoat slightly and I can access or tuck away the knife.
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Wear one pretty much every day...but this week has been raining every day, so under the rain jacket it has ridden. Handy if the dog gets into something or just for whatever needs doing. I don't want to mess with a folder in the rain when a small straight knife fits the bill.
 
I don’t use or possess neck knife.
I do like carbon steel, personally I’m beginning to prefer carbon over other performance steels.

Looks like a solid choice to me.
 
David Mary said:
Been wearing it for a couple months now, have worn it on bike rides, while kettlebell swinging, club swinging,
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Those make me sweat buckets.
 
I should send you a sweat sample. Forget rust. That thing will see nuclear fission.
 
David Mary said:
Agreed. If it's carried under the shirt, it's probably too slow. If it's carried outside the shirt, it's not secure. If it's light enough for neck carry, it's probably too small anyway.



Agreed, if that word means convenient and useful in your language. 🤨



Yes, by all means, please don't. ;)
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You dazzle them with your six pack and then stab them while they are distracted.
 
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