I guess I just don't get neck knives...

When I wear a neck knife, it is usually because I will be putting it in and out of the sheath often, and if I will be sitting or crouching. Usually if I am doing repairs or crafting something. I don't like to set my knife down for safety reasons, and hanging it around my neck on a bathtub chain is the best way for me. I tried using a dangling sheath from my wrist, but it got in the way.
 
The only time I could get used to it was while hunting. I carry a River City Sheaths neck sheath for a Spyderco Endura or Delica. The knife is folded but comes out fast. I find that with layering it is much easier to get to for field use. I also have had good success with putting the beaded chain inside 550 cord that I have removed the inner threads from. I melt the ends to the chain near the sheath to keep them from fraying. That way the chain will break if I am really getting choked by it (I hope) but it is not abrasive and my hairs don't get caught in the chain.
 
Fonly said:
Is 550 a good idea to wear around your neck?
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I've come up with a couple cheap ways to make paracord lanyards with break-aways.

  1. Cut a small peice of plastic tubing, run both paracord ends through and melt them to form small balls that will pull through the tubing. I used silicone aquarium tubing and I had to remove 1" of the inner strands to make the paracord small enough to pass through the tubing. I'n going to use heat shrink tubing next time. I imagine a short section of soda straw would do the trick too.
  2. Sew the ends together with a few stiches running only through the outer jacket. The ends can be overlapped or placed parallel (my choice).
  3. Tieing loops in the paracord ends and running a loop of chain makes a weak link break-away too. I've never gone to the trouble, but making true eye splices in the ends like you would for boat lines would be an elegant and finished way to do it.
    DB7.jpg
  4. I've also run chain through paracord outer jacket which makes the chain a little more comfortable on bare skin.
 
I carry my Necker with paracord. Instead of a knot or breakaway piece, I just melt the ends together with a candle flame. It takes a good, hard yank to get it to come apart that way, but it would definitely let go before you got strangled.

Running bead chain through a paracord "sheath" sounds like a good plan, too.

Like others said, neckers are great for when you're beltless/pocketless. Just because yer skinny-dipping doesn't mean you can't have a blade! :D Tinfoil-hat optional, of course.
 
I'm with you Gibson fan, I melt the ends together. It's nice and stong, but put enough force on it and it will break away. I'm in Memphis, so I'll tell the folks at the Gibson guitar factory you said hello!!
 
Rock on realstagman :thumbup: :D Tell 'em I said "Only a Gibson is Good Enough"

P.S. now you got my woman talking about going there and taking a factory tour ;)
 
I use a double-feed cordlock on paracord to secure my neck-carry knife (BM210TK). These cordlocks are the kind that clamp down on the paracord and you press a button which releases them. The double feed is a two-hole plastic cordlock wherein you feed one side of the cord through one hole, and the other through another hole. They're secure enough to hang the knife and to hold it when you unsheath, yet will quickly let go with about 15 pounds of force if you get hung up.

I like them because they're adjustable for moving your carry location up or down.

They cost about 2.50 for ten of them here:
countycomm.com/cordlock.htm
 
I'm not a big fan of neck carry either. I have 2 neck knives. My Becker Necker get's attached to my belt loop via snap link. I have another that I periodically carry by neck, but I don't like that as much./
 
Hi all, I carry a CRKT fixed falcon with a flint attacthed to it. I have carried a neck knife of some sort for years and have never had any problems with them comming out or getting the cord hung up on any thing. I really like having a fixed blade with me all the time.
With knife and flint it is the way to go.
My two cents worth.
Take care,
Bryan
 
k2009.jpg

These are my kydex SAK neck sheaths. Not a one hand rig. They were made for when I'm on my boat, usual in swim wear and don't have pockets.
 
I have a couple knives set up for neck carry, but I typically do not carry them that way. The knives are in various kits, and they get donned when needed. I use 550 paracord lanyards with a triple-turn slip knot tied around the other straight end. With a decent yank, the end slips through with no problems, and the setup requires a minute or so to reset if needed.

The knives I have set up for neck carry are of the Mora 4" size. I have a small cannister with PCBs and a ferro rod of some variety affixed to the sheath. I basically have these kits for emergency/unexpected use; and as back up to other cutlery I may already have on my person.
 
interesting thread guys, thx for the cons and pros, and the foil hat tip lol!
 
Though I like the idea of neck knives, I've had two concerns--the first being the aforementioned get-hung-up-and-decapitated issue. (On other threads, I've advocated referring to neck-knife rigs by the name of that Saddam Hussein cousin who accidentally got decapitated when the hangman miscalculated the drop--I forget the guy's name now.) Sure--not the sort of thing that'd happen frequently (or to any individual more than once)--but I've done enough outdoor recreation to know that you never know what to expect (which is why I usually carry a knife to begin with), and if I fall down a slope or out of a tree next time I'm out, it won't be the first time.

One solution I've used for that problem is to run the "neck" loop not just around my neck, but over one shoulder so that the knife hangs under the opposite arm. May get sweated on more there, but at least I know it's not going to pull my head off if it catches on a branch or rock or rear-view mirror or whatever.

Another issue, of course, is what happens if the retention device fails. With a knife carried point-down on the belt, if the snap fails, odds are the knife will stay in its sheath, and will fall past your leg and onto the trail if it doesn't. Your foot might be at risk, but that's about it. If it's point-up under your shirt, however, you could easily find yourself with a razor-sharp blade unexpectedly skittering around in the close environment of your heart, lung cavity, intestines, kidneys, and various other things that it might be inconvenient to get sewn up if you're 30 miles from the nearest blacktop. No offense meant to neck-knife aficionados, but my take on it is that it's an iffy risk for the benefit.
 
Return- It is funny- I have never lost a neck knife (and I have been carrying one for more than 10 years) but have lost a few belt sheath knives. I just make sure that the sheath is a tight fit and go with it. THe main reason I carry a knife around my neck is accessability. I work in a warehouse and you never know when you will need a knife or what hand you will need it in. The neck knife is the only ambidextrous carry for me- it is difficult for me to reach around to grab a knife in my opposite pocket, and besides, that is where my food knife sits!!

A quick question for non-neckers: Could your distaste in the carry system be due to mistrust in the sheath material? I just ask as most neck knives are Kydex/concealex and many non-neckers I know only trust leather sheaths.

To each their own!
 
I've carried a few neck knives and I can't say I have anything against them, as long as they can also be carried on my belt or somewhere else on my gear. I have an Ontario 'Nick' knife (which is a TOPS clone, come to find out :( ) and I've modified the sheath to sit on the right shoulder strap of my daypack. It's handy for when we've set up camp and shed our heavy gear to sit around the fire, whittle, etc. I usually take it off my pack and put it around my neck just to have a smaller knife close at hand since I don't usually carry a folder while camping.
As for carrying a knife around on your neck regularly or while hiking, it's not for me. I guess if you can tollerate the feeling of having ghetto bling around your neck all the time, then go for it. Just watch your nipples if you carry it under your shirt!
 
I prefer the Mercharness rig to neck knives myself. I carry my AUCK on a homemade Mercharness, usually along with a larger belt knife.
 
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