Informal neck knife poll

k_estela

k_estela

Co-Moderator, Wilderness and Survival Skills Forum
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Just wondering for my own research here, what is your ideal neck knife? All I'm looking for in your replies are

1. Overall length
2. Blade Length and handle length
3. Blade thickness and width
4. Blade shape
5. Any other desireable features such as steel, sheath, etc.

Post them here.
 
I have Becker necker, but never use it as a neck knife. I guess I just hate having anything around my neck (except a beautiful woman's arms). I AM willing to learn though!!
 
1. 6 to 6.5 inches
2. 2 to 3 inch blade...the rest handle
3. 1/8th thickness and 1 inch or less for width
4. Drop or Spear point are best....warny has its uses though.
5. Kydex sheath simply for the many options it allows, Stainless steel may be preferred being right next to the skin in some instances...thought I do love O1. G-10 or Micarta scales are my favs. Lanyard hole. Light weight for sure:thumbup:

I must say, I am partial to the knife I make in my avatar:)

Craig
 
1. Around 6 or 7 inches, depending on the particulars of the design.

2. Blade should have 2.5 to 3.5 inches of cutting edge, and the rest should be handle, which should be long enough for a proper grip with all fingers.

3. Ideal thickness and width will vary, depending on the particular knife design.

4. Lots of good options... I'll say drop point.

5. Preferably not stainless steel.

Take a look at some of the thinner versions of the Busse Game warden, particularly the skeletonized versions. I like that design a lot.
 
1. Overall length = 6 -6.5"
2. Blade Length and handle length = equal
3. Blade thickness and width = 1/8" thickness, 1 - 1.25" width
4. Blade shape = drop point.
5. Any other desireable features such as steel, sheath, etc. = scandi ground, carbon steel, skeletonized handle with scales (G10 or Micarta), lanyard hole, contoured handle, kydex sheath.

Specific enough? ;)

All the best,

- Mike
 
k_estela said:
Just wondering for my own research here, what is your ideal neck knife? All I'm looking for in your replies are

1. Overall length
2. Blade Length and handle length
3. Blade thickness and width
4. Blade shape
5. Any other desireable features such as steel, sheath, etc.

Post them here.
Click to expand...

Not really a big fan of them, they have to be just right. That said, I use the hell out of my Scott Gossman PSK, and have been pairing my Stomper Hikers Backup with it. Other than my Victorinox huntsman, the PSK sees the most work of all my knives.
 
Rockywolf said:
I have Becker necker, but never use it as a neck knife. I guess I just hate having anything around my neck (except a beautiful woman's arms). I AM willing to learn though!!
Click to expand...

I fully support this response! :D

The Necker is my ideal knife, and am so thrilled that they are back in production. I too prefer to where it on my belt in a TDI clip. I really like the design and size with a 3" blade. I think if I wore a consistant neck knife I would want it really small like an Alert by Tops, or a Buck Hartsook in S30v. I really don't want stuff bouncing around my chest so I would have to secure it across the front in a way where it is always where I can reach an get it at a moments notice.

AI
 
I am starting to show love for the necker. I think a good necker and a SAK will handle most woods tasks just fine.:thumbup:

Great thread!!


OAL 6.5

3in blade 3.5in handle

5/32-3/16 thick, 1.25in wide

carbon steel

Kydex neck sheath

drop point/ bullnose

no scales

Pics will follow as soon as mine is done;)
 
1. Overall length
2. Blade Length and handle length
3. Blade thickness and width
4. Blade shape
5. Any other desireable features such as steel, sheath, etc.

1. 6.5"
2. 3 and 3.5
3. 1/8th " and 1"
4. spear/drop
5. Overall weight can be an issue.

This is basically my list, in reality. I had Scott Gossman make it to the above specs.

BearClaw-2.jpg
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
1. Overall length
2. Blade Length and handle length
3. Blade thickness and width
4. Blade shape
5. Any other desireable features such as steel, sheath, etc.

1. 6.5"
2. 3 and 3.5
3. 1/8th " and 1"
4. spear/drop
5. Overall weight can be an issue.

This is basically my list, in reality. I had Scott Gossman make it to the above specs.

BearClaw-2.jpg
Click to expand...

OMG! THAT is a dream knife for me! :thumbup:
 
I don't have a neck knife, but if I did, I'd go for something quite small with an overall length of 4.5" (2" blade, 2,5" handle), 3/32" thick, skeletonized handle for lightness, a little less than an inch wide with very thin but grippy canvas micarta scales for a flat profile and also a drop point blade.
 
1. Overall - 4-6"
2. Blade/handle - 2-3"
3. thickness/width - 1/8" max / 1"max
4. Blade shape - Spear, drop or wharnie
 
2&1/2 inch blade 3&1/2
inch handle scandi or covex grind
01,a2,or 1095
drop point or modified clip
THough most often I just wear a Mora as a necker
 
I'm not a fan of neck carry. I have tried this a few times and I do recognize that in some situations it is perfect. For example, when sitting in a fishing boat, the sitting position tends to make a belt knife less accessible or have it poke you in the love handles. A neck knife, while you are sitting down, is much more accessible. At the same time, I find that I like this size of knife quite a bit. So for the majority of time I carry my necker as a pocket knife with occasional use as a necker. This shifts my priorities a bit with regards to ideal knife specs.

1) total length, between 5.5 - 6.5" no longer, otherwise it sticks out of my pocket

2) blade length - I think 2.5" is ideal, I like it to be at least 1" wide. I'll live with 3" but that starts cutting into the handle length

3) Handle length - 3.5" - 4" preferred. Although, with a set of scales and good ergos, a 3" handle can be quite adequate. JK's kit knife is remarkably hand friendly even though the handle is only 3". You grip it with three fingers and the pinky rests securly and comfortably on the end. You wouldn't have convinced me that this would be comfortable to use before I actually had in my hands. I prefer handles with slabs rather than plain or skeletal.

4) Blade shape - drop or clip. The key is to have a good belly. The belly maximizes cutting efficiency and in a small knife that is where the majority of cutting is going to occur. Another thing to consider is a robust tip. These little blades are often in a situation where you will use it for purposes that you shouldn't use a knife for. Lets face, if you carry a little pocket knife all the time, at some point you'll use it like a scredriver.....You know you will....You know its wrong....But you will do it.....Just a matter of time.....

5) Weight - I'm less concerned with this than handle comfort. I tend to like having handle slabs better than skeletal. The slabs increase ergos and decrease maintenance aspects. I love the look of wraps, but the fact of the matter is they get dirty and have to be re-wrapped. The handle slabs should be thing (1/8") to keep the knife profile slim.

Here are my neckers. I like all of them.

JK-kit knife
DSC_0037-4.jpg

DSC_0039-2.jpg


Breeden Kat

DSC_0003-1-2.jpg

DSC_0005-1-2.jpg


Jimmi Wade necker
DSC_0001-17.jpg

DSC_0018-5.jpg
 
I see a neck knife as a backup knife you always have with you, not as a primary knife. Therefore it should be small so you always have it. I would say a BRKT PSK as a maximum and a Simonich Bitter Root as a minimum.
 
I vary a bit. for a traditional handle, about 6 inches OAL with a 2.5 inch spearpoint.

What I carry every day is just like this, but a bit more worn:

man-necker2.jpg


blade is closer to 2 inches, and the handle just fits in two finger. It's a very short, but secure grip. One person who carries this model used it to field dress a deer this year, and I use mine for dozens of chores daily. Since it weighs less than many jewelry pendants and has an OAL of under 5 inches, it's not a chore to wear.

oh, yeah-

.070 thickness
convex grind.
 
Last edited:
Sorry Kev but neck knives just don’t work for me.

That said I do like to carry a small fixed blade as a back-up to my main cutting tool, usual carried in a pocket of my pants or jacket.

Give me a 6” to 6-1/2” overall knife with a blade in the 2-1/2’ to 3’ range and I’m happy.

It doesn’t need to be very thick or wide, but it does need a good point and be made of a high quality steel that will hold a good edge in extended use.

Another thing I like in a small fixed blade is a full, well rounded, handle, one I can get a comfortable grip on; that might be another reason that traditional flat handled neck knives don’t appeal to me.



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
If they made a QUALITY version of this knife I would be all over it!!!===>
sw-990sheath.jpg


SW-990TA.jpg

S&W Neck Knife

SW-990
Length, Overall:

7"
Blade Length:

3"
Blade Material:

440 C
Handle Length:

4"
Handle Material:

Plastic
Weight:

0.91 oz
Sheath Material:

Zytel
Click to expand...
I love the feel and weight of it
The metal seems kinda brittle though
Maybe a high carbon steel version would be awesome....

I actually use this knife a lot and it only cost like 20 bucks :thumbup:

Also
If they made the Buck Hartshook neck knife a little bigger it would be better
 
i'm not really a fan of neckers, when i carry one it is usually with a figure 8 paracord rig with the knife under my armpit. this is much more comfortable for me.

1. 4-5"
2. 1-2" blade, 3-ish" handle
3. 3/32-1/8" thick x 1/2-3/4" wide
4. i like the swedish straight back, small amount of belly style, with a nice pointy tip
5. i my experience, the wider the handle the better for a skeletonized knife. when you don't have thickness, it should be made up for in width.
 
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