Kaala Neck Knife - Love it! Anyone else?

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SPERRON

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Like lots of you, I have a great many knives in my collection. I don't use most of them. I use the ones that are practical to carry, useful to use, keep a good edge, and are very tough.

The Buck Mayo design Kaala neck Knife fits the bill, perfectly!

The Good Things:
I can wear it un-noticed (under a shirt)
It's bigger than other neck knives I've seen, so therefore more useful
It's made of S30V (holds an edge, strong and fairly corrosion resistant)
It's flat and light (I sometimes forget I have it on)
With practice it can be accessed quicker than a belted fixed blade
You can get one for $65 (very well worth it)

The Not So Good Things:
It is a skeleton frame knife so its gripping characteristics are not perfect
The chain it comes with snags my chest hair, I substatuted true paracord

Not many people seem to be aware of this knife. It's not mentioned in many threads (if any). I don't know why. I have knives that cost twice as much that I like half as much. Anyone else have one out there?
 
I just used mine yesterday to Dress out a 9 point buck a co-worker hit with his truck. I had a Robeson stockman in my pocket and the Kaala in my truck. It worked great!!! The coolest thing about it was how easy it was to clean up after. I will be bringing this one along for this years MI. deer season for sure!!!!
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A Kaala for deer doins.... now that sounds really interesting. Small enough to go inside without cutting up things you don't want to cut up. Mine will go with me to the deer camp! Thanks

You are supposed to use chest hair for sharpness testing.....after you run out of arm and leg hair....:rolleyes::eek::D
 
Hey Sperron...
I have one. I too like it for the reasons you stated.
And I wish the grip had beveled edges...but that's a small thing. Overall I love it.
Bummer is that here on the left coast I can't really carry it as intended :(
 
I've been close to pulling the trigger on one of these for a month or two now, just haven't done it yet. I do have the little Buck Hartsook neck knife and its decent for its size, but I'd like something bigger, and it sounds like the Kaala will fit the bill nicely.
 
Couldn't stand it - I have one 'on the way'. I'll report back later, after it arrives.

Stainz
 
I just threw this comment in to keep this thread alive. It has some good pics of the Kaala. Low trick, I know.

Like to see pics of modified Kaala knives.
 
I got my Kaala last Friday. Wrapped the handle, leaving the bitter ends of the paracord at the hole closest to the blade. As that is where the holster's pin securement passes, I thought 'friction' there would be enough. The pin is too big. Well, including earlier last week, I was wrong twice in a week. My 'Kaala-modified' shirt bears witness, though no self DNA samples were taken.

Anyway, until I get back to trying my next handle improvement, I'll mention only my first one - my wife's nailboards eased the handle edges. It helps protect the hand from those sharp edges - making the blade the only cutting edge. The knife is Buck-sharp, although not my razor-sharp standard AG-110 sharp. Close. The fan switch chain pull is in the kitchen junk drawer - it'll see duty this spring when I replace the whole house fan's cord. My replacement paracord neck strap is easy to forget, while carrying, as is the knife. While it can be presented in a brief amount of time, securing it afterwards is more time consuming. I don't know what it is, but a tact-cool knife it aint. Stuck in the boonies, it could prove useful, but that skeleton handle, eased edges and all, would hurt you quickly. At .121" max thickness, while the hollow-ground knife is 7/8" max width with handle humps just over 3" apart and the edge length is just under 3", it is a useful size.

I guess the Kaala is another novelty carry knife. Neater blade material than my Vic SAK "Skipper", but, like it, another novelty EDC - destined to open packages and pet food bags. The skeletonized pin on the Skipper makes me still long for a Buck 315. The 151 may be an early sale item here.

Stainz
 
Nice review, Stainz. I like how you took and posted all the measurements.

Truth is I don't carry mine every day, either. I tend to favor my Kershaw Blur (did I say that in the Buck forum, whoops). But when I go somewhere that I don't want everyone to know I have a knife of substantial size (or adequate size, anyway) I always take my Kaala. This includes formal events like funerals, meetings, weddings and such as well as bars, concerts and some sporting events.

It's biggest plus is concealed carry.
 
On downside I hadn't mentioned earlier: A self-defense instructor showed me just the other day that it is not a very good idea to put a noose around your neck.

He could have easily choked me out. I guess this goes for ties as well (something to think about).
 
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SPERRON said:
On downside I hadn't mentioned earlier: A self-defense instructor showed me just the other day that it is not a very good idea to put a noose around your next.

He could have easily choked me out. I guess this goes for ties as well (something to think about).
Click to expand...
Any neck lanyard should have some sort of break-away feature to be considered safe.
 
Me thinks I've been busy turning a my Kaala into a expensive paring knife. Poor quality picture but you get the idea.

 
Well, my Kaala was growing on me... wore it for a few days this week - with a paracord in place of the chain. Now I hear it is a noose! Good grief. I guess the OEM chain would break much sooner... perhaps a slip knot in the paracord? Hmmm, use the knife to cut the paracord-noose?

It is a comfortable way to carry a 'spare' knife... I just wonder what the legality is for such a device? When I asked the local Sheriff's Deputys, they said there was no county or state statutes limiting conceal carry of fixed blades existed - it would be up to the cities. I asked if there was a 'rule of thumb' - his reply was classic, "If you can sit down without doing yourself an injury, you are okay!".

Taking the 'edge' off the handle's edge made it much more comfortable to use. It is a handy size - any smaller in the handle, like shorter between the humps, and that wouldn't be the case. The blade is stout enough - and certainly sharp enough - for many EDC chores. Probably not the best 'bushcraft' knife there is, but quite handy thus far in/around my yard... it has promise. I remember getting caught in brambles once so tightly I couldn't retrieve my pocket 301 without scratching up my bare arm - it would have prevented that. Mine is a keeper - what a difference a day makes.

I gave up on wrapping mine partially - it's design is minimalist for a reason. I drank the kool-aid - and now understand. Neat knife - and it grows on you!

Stainz
 
Flatlander1963 said:
Me thinks I've been busy turning a my Kaala into a expensive paring knife. Poor quality picture but you get the idea.

Click to expand...

You gave me a great idea (I think). The design of the Kaala's handle is perfect for accepting custom made scales. I am buying another one and getting my old Dremel tool out and some nice wood. Just for the hell of it.
 
Sperron,

If you do...pick your wood carfully. That Kingwood is too oily and gummy. Looks great though. Be very careful about nicking your blade.

Most importantly DON'T use SS tubes like I did. Those things eat belts for lunch.

There is a better picture on the Kingwood Kaala thread. Good Luck and post a picture...don't forget you will be needing to do something about a sheath...the neck thingee won't work after your modification. Jack Rudder has my drawing and is going to do a inside the belt sheath for it. I'll post a picture of the final rig. Jack might be able to do you one if you like the result.
 
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