Good Neck Knives?

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Wolfeye

Joined
Apr 26, 2015
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Hey, everyone. Been a while since I was on here & wanted to get some suggestions on neck knives. I'm looking for a style which would keep my hand from sliding up the blade & preferably has a good grip- I also want a non-serrated edge. I guess some serrations on the back wouldn't be much of an issue & might be a positive (as long as I could put my thumb on the back at the beginning).

Lightness is important, but solidity is more important. It's also important for it to be something I can hold in whatever direction (ex: not having those super-pronounced finger grooves that make it so you could only hold it maybe one or two ways solidly).

One that's almost exactly what I'm looking for is the Master USA MU-1119 Series Tactical Neck Knife, 6.75-Inch Overall- if that front part of the handle was set back a little more (leaving a ledge at the top like a butcher knife) & was a little longer in the handle, that'd be the shape. It's kind of skeletonized, to be clear. Anyone know where to get something like that or get one made? That would be "right on the head" if it wasn't a three-finger knife & had the front part of the handle closer to the back section.
 
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The ARK from Spyderco is quite good. Tiny but still a good grip.
Also if neck carry is too obvious for security guards patting you down its so flat that it disappears between my thigh and my cell phone in my pant pockets.
 
My experience with neck knives (and I own almost a dozen) is that unless you are VERY large, anything larger than about 6¼" OAL is very difficult to conceal under a shirt once you add in the extra length and bulk for a sheath. Larger than that and you need to look at IWB or horizontal carry.
 
Very surprised that "Master" necker you mentioned has so many good reviews on amazon. (But so do all mtechs there):rolleyes:

Only neckers I own are Becker Bk14/24 and custom neckers.

What are you mostly gonna do with it and how much you wanna spend?
 
Jens Schuetz: Good idea, thanks!

SCWillson: I'm not that big of a guy, but I was more intending to carry it in the waistband & just have it either on a long necklace or looped through itself around my waist. Figure that should work if the whole thing is a bit bigger (7" or 8" maybe). I'm 5'3" & fairly broad-shouldered without a big gut. What size range would you recommend?

Ulf Krogstad: I was surprised, too. I think it might be the quality of the blade (at least for the prices). I intend it as an all-around "What if?" type of knife, but mostly a fighter with some utility ability. That finger ring is a good idea, as long as there's some kind of thing keeping your hand from sliding up the blade if you don't manage to catch it. Wouldn't mind it being double-edged, as long as there's a dull portion for my thumb (although I could always dull that area myself). Single-edged is fine, I'm honestly a little more concerned about the handle- a lot of them don't seem to be a very solid grip.
 
Wolfeye said:
SCWillson: I'm not that big of a guy, but I was more intending to carry it in the waistband & just have it either on a long necklace or looped through itself around my waist. Figure that should work if the whole thing is a bit bigger (7" or 8" maybe). I'm 5'3" & fairly broad-shouldered without a big gut. What size range would you recommend?
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Well, if you're going to wear it at the waist then my observation is moot. I was just speaking from my own experience (and I am a big guy at 6'3", 230 pounds) that large "neck" knives are difficult to hide when worn suspended from the neck. Bending over immediately "prints" the knife against the shirt front, and the bigger and heavier the knife the more visible it becomes. Square edges on the handle make it even more obvious.

I think I'd still stick with a knife in the 6-6½" range. Easy to hide, comfortable, and lightweight. In your circumstance I'd look at an ESEE Isula. Inexpensive, excellent quality, highly regarded, and lots of aftermarket accoutrements such as handles and sheaths readily available.
 
I bought one from attleboro knives made from 20cv that Im loving right now. I forgot the name of the model but they only make one neck knife. Good grip, hides well, and comes with an excellent sheath.
 
Good suggestions, guys. Those three (the Izula, the TOPS MSK, and the Dau Tranh) are all way too expensive for me right now, but I found the Condor Kickback & that one looks like it might be it. Too bad about the Mtech, but maybe I can have one made a little different (it wouldn't be too expensive to buy & sell or pay for the blacksmith to buy so it could be used as a template).

As for the CRKT, the S.P.E.W. looks good. Might be a little delicate in the tip, though. I have this in mind more for combative "What ifs" & there's the possibility of hitting something solid (possibly at an angle). Could probably afford both & see. Thanks for reminding me, as I only remembered the ones that are almost all finger groove in the handle & are three-finger knives to start with. Good for carrying, but I never got why they didn't just make them a full-hand knife with a straight handle (then it can be held however you need to with a better grip, gloves or not).
 
My favorite neck knife is my Emerson LaGriffe. Only time I wore it was during my afternoon runs. As it was worn while running it needed to be light so it didn't bother me bouncing around. Also needed to be easy to access fast as the intended use was for "Oh S#@t" moments. Tried a HAK, Spyderco Spot, and my LaGriffe. HAK was the slowest to access, with the Spot and LaGriffe about equal in time. Went with the LaGriffe as it was the smallest. After another neck/shoulder surgery I no longer neck-carry, but my Emerson LaGriffe or a CRKT Folts Minimalist rides in my waistband pocket.
 
The Ohta FK5 would make a great little neck knife. They also have a scapel type fixed blade (OFB) that would work.
 
Esee Izula II, Northwoods Hiawatha, and a custom cleaver style necker from a maker called Valencourt Custom.
 
Interesting ideas, guys. The Izula II looks like maybe like the one I'd go with (although that Northwoods Hiawatha looked good & was made of what I assume is very good steel- not sure about the overhanging ledge being enough to keep my hand from sliding up the blade, though). Either is too expensive for me.
 
The Hiawatha is made of S35vn, which is a fantastic steel. Its probably a bit too thick of blade stock, but it works. The guard is plenty to keep your hand back. But, if its not in the budget that makes sense, I won mine in an instagram giveaway.
 
I've never really got into neck knives, but I own both the BK-14 and BK-24 which are good little knives. To me they are better in a back pocket. I ordered the Blackjack neck knife as I want to mess with it and see if I like it. Apparently your budget is quite low....

I read through your responses and you seem to want a fighter which excludes the little Ohta FK5. I looked at these at the Blade Show. I'm not much help there other than to say any fixed blade can be a fighter.
 
42pixels: Yeah, I saw that in the close-up photos. It's way out of my price range, though.

22-rimfire: Yeah, I know. I just want a fixed blade that has a good grip, mostly. I think I found it in the Condor Kickback & maybe the CRKT S.P.E.W. or the Dragon. Those are less than $30 & seem solid all around.
 
Columbia River knife and tool or Boker might be worth looking at. Both have a few small neck knifes models that could suit you. The kabar becker bk14, bk24, and bk11 are all under $50. I have the bk14. I don't like it quite as much as my izula, but its still a quality blade and sees time in the rotation. Check the exchange and you can find them for around $35 sometimes.
 
I love my Silent Soldier. Perfect functionality to price ratio in my opinion. The CRKT Minimalist is also really nice. If you are looking to spend more you could also do an Alan Folts custom Minimalist.
 
I always thought the skeletonized fixed blades (read no scales) looked kind of cool. Saw quickly that the steel handles weren't real hand friendly for cutting anything beyond slicing an occasional box open or opening mail. Bought scales/handles. Suggest you do the same and purchase something that has aftermarket handles available for it. Wrapping with 550 cord is not the same.
 
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