Looking for Skeleton knife recommendations...

R

ras

Joined
Jan 9, 2002
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1,533
I'm looking to find a high quality knife with no handle material, just a blade that turns into a handle. Camillus has their ArcLite and the Becker Necker, but are there other good blades that I'm missing? TIA
 
busse skeleton key. can usually find a urban camo version or if lucky a jungle green on the exchange forum for roughly $125. hope this helps
 
What do you want it for and how big a knife would you like? I have a Simonich Bitteroot which is great, but much smaller than the others.
 
  • Emerson La Griffe (great SD knife)
  • MoD Scorpion (wouldn't recommend this one though)
  • CRKT Stiff KISS (the M.D.P. version is more practical than the tanto)
  • CRKT Neck PECK (great Wharncliffe blade for delicate work)
  • Microtech Medallion (pretty pricey for what it is, but well-made)

And the Arclite you mentioned is an excellent choice at a very low price. The thin recurve blade slices like there's no tomorrow. I just wish Camillus would put a clip for belt carry on its sheath.
 
Excellent choices so far. Thanks.

Esav,
The Simonich Bitteroot is a nice knife but a tad small overall.
 
Oh, there's also the Cold Steel Bird & Trout, but this is probably to small for tastes as well. Just thought I'd mention this knife just in case someone else happens to use this thread as a reference (via the search engine).
 
i personally would rule out the Camillus Arclite... if you wont be cord-wrapping the handle, then the bare metal is just too "sharp" to put any sort of pressure on... it'll leave bruises on your hand in the shape of the handle edges...
 
BBTL, I know what you mean. But if a knife has metal edges that bite into your hand, take a ceramic rod, like a Gatco Tri-Seps, or a Spyderco rod, and buff those edges. You won't see much difference but you will feel how much "softer" they become.
 
I am going to wrap the handle and after all that I'm sorta leaning toward the ArcLite. Need to hang a few around my neck at the next gunshow to make a final decision. Thanks for all the input.
 
witchhunter said:
busse skeleton key. can usually find a urban camo version or if lucky a jungle green on the exchange forum for roughly $125. hope this helps
Click to expand...

I happen to be wearing my 'green meanie'. 3" blade, 1/2" wide, .165" thick and 7" OAL. I can get all 4 fingers on the handle, but my hands aren't that large. INFI steel of course and I've seen them for as little as $100.

Rob
 
Esav Benyamin said:
BBTL, I know what you mean. But if a knife has metal edges that bite into your hand, take a ceramic rod, like a Gatco Tri-Seps, or a Spyderco rod, and buff those edges. You won't see much difference but you will feel how much "softer" they become.
Click to expand...
that sounds like a great idea... when i bought my Arclite it was already wrapped, but i've noticed a bit of "spacing" between the wraps... when the spacing is more apparent than not, i really feel it bite into my hand when doing heavier cutting... thanks for the tip!

but, Ras, since you're planning on wrapping, i would highly reccomend the Arclite in D2 (no experience with the original version)... i've left mine around my neck during a heated game of basketball (i forgot i was wearing it), and it didn't even loosen from its sheath...
 
Buck 279 minus the rubber handle.No rough edges and for a stock steeled knife,looked cool,too.
 
BlindedByTheLite said:
i personally would rule out the Camillus Arclite... if you wont be cord-wrapping the handle, then the bare metal is just too "sharp" to put any sort of pressure on... it'll leave bruises on your hand in the shape of the handle edges...
Click to expand...

Hm, that seems to depend on the particular Arclite you bought...the handle's edges of mine are nicely rounded and it doesn't give me bruises at all.
 
How about a flat knife with thin handle material that could be readily removed? Check out the Benchmade 220 resistor.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.asp?model=220

I just discovered this knofe when lookig for a small fixed blade. If neck carry is what you intend this knife willprobably be a little heavy though It is one solid built small fixed blade though. I just knew I wanted a Ronin until I picked up this knife and felt how great it feels in my hand. I have a Legriff for a neck knife and it is a nice little knife that is feather light on the neck.
 
chris in mo said:
How about a flat knife with thin handle material that could be readily removed? Check out the Benchmade 220 resistor.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.asp?model=220

I just discovered this knofe when lookig for a small fixed blade. If neck carry is what you intend this knife willprobably be a little heavy though It is one solid built small fixed blade though. I just knew I wanted a Ronin until I picked up this knife and felt how great it feels in my hand. I have a Legriff for a neck knife and it is a nice little knife that is feather light on the neck.
Click to expand...

This one was going to be my suggestion, looks like a great knife, I am looking forward to picking one up.
 
I would get the Becker necker and put on the handle a 3M polyolefin heat-shrink tubing(usually found in electrical supply stores).

This way the handle remains nearly as thin(and light) as before but far more comfortable.
 
The Arclite was winning until I saw the CRKT Stiff KISS at the gunshow today. Even though it comes in CRKT's 56 Rc AUS-6M (similar to the Arclite's 420HC), it looks like a good neck knife and for $20 even if it turns out to be crap, it's only a back-up. I cord wrapped the blade anchoring the para-cord in the front two holes and then used a firgure-8 weave the length of the slot before tying the cord off with a wrist thong. A little more para-cord for a neck sling and I was wearing it. It's so light that after a bit you forget it's there.

I may still get an Arclite in D-2, but for now I don't need anymore knives ... at least until next month ;)
 
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