Neck knife people, I want to hear from you.

[Bastler]

Nothing I could do would keep the chain concealed under my shirt. It would ride up the back of my neck and annoy me. I do like a Brisa Necker in my pocket. I secure the sheath to my britches with a watch chain to keep it handy while I use the knife.

 

[PirateSeulb]

For me I wear a neck knife when I can't carry a pocket knife, no pockets or too likely to fall out of pocket, or belt knife so it is a limited use mostly something I wear when I go on a trail in workout gear so mostly warmers months. I do wear it under the shirt I don't like it bouncing around so easily which the shirt helps it do less.

 

[herisson]

I just realized that I carry a neck knife every day, sometimes I even sleep with it. Don't notice it anymore. It's really nice to have at least one knife when needed.
My current favorite. This one has been sticking around for long now, although I have many others :

 

[Blues]

I've been wearing a neck knife at least part of the day...pretty much every day since the middle to late 90's. On the job, off the job, walking the dog, traipsing around.

I find them useful either alone or with a folder in the pocket. Just depends on the day and the program.

Not for everyone, and not every knife works well in the category...but those that do are great.

This one gifted to me by Darrel Ralph years ago, (420v / S90v), gets worn pretty much daily...though I have many, many others.

 

[herisson]

The fact is a lot of very nice small knives disqualify for neck carry because their sheath doesn't work. In my opinion, a neck knife is to be carried handle down (tip up). At least, that's what works best for me. And this requires a (very) safe retaining action combined with a (relatively) smooth release. Few makers achieve that, sadly. Well, you can still carry it in your pocket. It works but it limits the scope of application. I make an exception for the Muela above because it's a cutie but, honestly, it irks after a few days and it goes back to the drawer.

 

[rhino]

For those who don't like ball chains for their neck knives, but are concerned about risks of using paracord: you can either use a knot that will slip and release when pulled really hard, or use one of those plastic barrel clasps that pull apart when you pull too hard on them.

 

[Blues]

One that my late dear friend Rob Simonich and I designed together in the late 90's which we named "The Talisman" because I got it right before a hurricane hit Key Biscayne where I was living at the time.

 

[Heimdall82]

I've tried some options so far as neck knives: CS Bird & Trout, CS Bird & Game, CS Mini Pendleton Hunter, Boker Nessmi, Bradford G3, Mora 2/0, Mora Eldris, some small puukkos, Terava Mini Skrama 80... My favorite is the CS Mini Pendleton Hunter, mini Puukkos and Mora 2/0. If i got a bag (backpack or satchel/messenger bag), i prefer to put the knife on the shoulder strap, the Mora Eldris is carried on my coat/jacket chest pocket with the "button slot" on the plastic belt loop. I'm not the biggest fan of neck carry but it's useful around the camp, i put it under my shirt when moving around, then put it over my clothes when needed. i always use a "quick disconnect" snap on my paracord/leather lanyard around my neck for obvious reasons.... I carry my CS MPH handle down in a kydex sheath and my puukkos handle up in their leather sheath. I NEVER pull out my knife from under my shirt... (risk of injuries when you pull out and push the knife back in the sheath) i don't carry these blades as defensive blades, only for outdoor activities.

 

[Blues]

I NEVER pull out my knife from under my shirt... (risk of injuries when you pull out and push the knife back in the sheath) i don't carry these blades as defensive blades, only for outdoor activities.

I have retrieved the knife from under a shirt many a time without incident. A modicum of care prevents mishaps. (Like drawing a firearm from appendix.)

And, as with firearms, re-holstering and re-sheathing, require more concentration and care.

I respect your decision to limit how you retrieve the knife, but I would not make it a blanket policy.

 

[David Mary]

Pardon my imminent verbosity; I have much to say about neck knives, given that I am very fond of them. Several of you have made excellent points, and also raised some good objections, and I would like to offer my current thoughts on these points.

I've tried a neck knife on a few different camping trips, and it never lasted long. Ultimately, I didn't like having something hanging around my neck, and since I'm tall, whenever I was stooped over to do something like fire or food prep, the knife would swing into the way of whatever I was trying to do.

Yes, this is very much a problem for me as well. Being tall, and thus having to bend down frequently, a neck knife is a no go outside the shirt, but also an annoyance inside the shirt. What to do? Well, I have for a few years now taken to always wearing an undershirt, and something over top that either buttons or zips up. Even in the hot summer, I will, just with a lighter material. And the neck knife goes between the two, with the outer shirt, hoody, or whatever zipped or buttoned up only far enough that the knife doesn't swing around when I bend down, but still allows quick and easy access.

a neck knife never really feels handy if i am wearing a shirt

Likewise, unless I wear two as above. That means during a workout, for example, I don't.

I have found that after a couple days of wearing something more substantial, I never really noticed it any more than I did a lighter knife.

I tend to agree... to a point. My max weight is .... uncertain, but I currently carry a necker of my own making that weighs in at 1.9 oz, or 3.2 including the sheath, cord, and house key attached to it.

I carry one all the time, except for the time in bed sleeping and under the shower.

I carry mine in both those situations. The fact that it is LC200N helps with the latter situation. If I sleep with only an undershirt on, then this is the one time I tuck it in.

with a build in breaking point

Absolutely essential. Perhaps the odds of it getting caught and strangling me are less than the odds of being struck by lightining.... but people have been struck by lightning.

For those who don't like ball chains for their neck knives, but are concerned about risks of using paracord: you can either use a knot that will slip and release when pulled really hard, or use one of those plastic barrel clasps that pull apart when you pull too hard on them.

These sound like good solutions. Another alternative is to make your neck cord out of two lengths of paracord that have been melted together using a simple bic lighter. Just cut the two ends cleanly with your knife, melt them with the blue portion of the flame, and then press them together and roll in your fingers and thumb until you get a nice clean seam. From here, it can be broken and remelted and attached for a slightly weaker hold. That's my method, and I am satisfied with the strength of it, which holds up to the normal forces I subject the cord to when taking the necker out, but breaks with less force than would be required to hurt me.

Here is the necker I wore for most of 2021:





And a few more I have made since:

 

[herisson]

Well, that's a funny. I ALWAYS pull my necker from under my shirt, teesh, sweater or whatever I wear at the moment, because this is where it dwells. And I resheath it just the same. Fingertouch is enough.

I NEVER pull out my knife from under my shirt... (risk of injuries when you pull out and push the knife back in the sheath).

 

[dogstar]

Pardon my imminent verbosity; I have much to say about neck knives, given that I am very fond of them. Several of you have made excellent points, and also raised some good objections, and I would like to offer my current thoughts on these points.



Yes, this is very much a problem for me as well. Being tall, and thus having to bend down frequently, a neck knife is a no go outside the shirt, but also an annoyance inside the shirt. What to do? Well, I have for a few years now taken to always wearing an undershirt, and something over top that either buttons or zips up. Even in the hot summer, I will, just with a lighter material. And the neck knife goes between the two, with the outer shirt, hoody, or whatever zipped or buttoned up only far enough that the knife doesn't swing around when I bend down, but still allows quick and easy access.



Likewise, unless I wear two as above. That means during a workout, for example, I don't.



I tend to agree... to a point. My max weight is .... uncertain, but I currently carry a necker of my own making that weighs in at 1.9 oz, or 3.2 including the sheath, cord, and house key attached to it.



I carry mine in both those situations. The fact that it is LC200N helps with the latter situation. If I sleep with only an undershirt on, then this is the one time I tuck it in.



Absolutely essential. Perhaps the odds of it getting caught and strangling me are less than the odds of being struck by lightining.... but people have been struck by lightning.



These sound like good solutions. Another alternative is to make your neck cord out of two lengths of paracord that have been melted together using a simple bic lighter. Just cut the two ends cleanly with your knife, melt them with the blue portion of the flame, and then press them together and roll in your fingers and thumb until you get a nice clean seam. From here, it can be broken and remelted and attached for a slightly weaker hold. That's my method, and I am satisfied with the strength of it, which holds up to the normal forces I subject the cord to when taking the necker out, but breaks with less force than would be required to hurt me.

Here is the necker I wore for most of 2021:

View attachment 1734776
View attachment 1734773


And a few more I have made since:
View attachment 1734778
View attachment 1734779
View attachment 1734780
View attachment 1734781
View attachment 1734782
View attachment 1734783
View attachment 1734785
View attachment 1734784

Beautiful work. I feel that wharncliffes make a lot of sense in a small knife.

 

[Heimdall82]

I have retrieved the knife from under a shirt many a time without incident. A modicum of care prevents mishaps. (Like drawing a firearm from appendix.)

And, as with firearms, re-holstering and re-sheathing, require more concentration and care.

I respect your decision to limit how you retrieve the knife, but I would not make it a blanket policy.

Well, that's a funny. I ALWAYS pull my necker from under my shirt, teesh, sweater or whatever I wear at the moment, because this is where it dwells. And I resheath it just the same. Fingertouch is enough.

Like i said, i don't carry a neck knife as a defensive weapon, only for outdoor activities (camping/hiking/fishing/hunting small game) so i don't need to conceal it when i'm gonna use it and it's readily available when i need it so if i wear a jacket/shirt/coat, i don't have to struggle under all the layers to get it. I could retrieve it from under my shirt if i really need to do it, but i don't see why i would risk to injure myself if i can just let it hang over the clothes... i carry a belt knife most of the time anyway (on outdoor activities i mean) and i edc a folding knife in my front pants pocket everyday, so the neck knife is more of a backup. i still really love that size of knife for task around the camp (food prep, small game and fish prep, carving) and i think it's a useful size. Pulling a knife from under a t-shirt is one thing... pulling a knife from under a sweater, under a long winter parka (or an Anorak) with winter gloves is another level! hahaha

 

[David Mary]

Thank you D dogstar , and I agree completely about wharncliffes for a small knife. Less likelihood of slipping off a cut is so much more important with a shorter blade.

 

[toker]

So simply
Do not use neck knife

I don't. I simply listed the reasons why.

 

[David Mary]

I agree a neck knife isn't really the optimal choice for a defensive weapon, though I don't consider knives as defensive weapons (despite the very valid and sound approach of Mike Janich's MBC, which I have some training in, out of interest's sake). However, they sure do come in handy often at unexpected times, hence my desire to have one on me at all times. The truth is (don't laugh!) I sleep with a necker, my Resilience lightweight in my right pocket, and my O-light M2T Warrior in my left (my Klarus XT2C is on the fritz, otherwise that would be the one - functionally, until it started to go, it was the absolute best, most carriable, and most intuitive "tactical" EDC light I have ever owned).

 

[toker]

O-light M2T Warrior in my left (my Klarus XT2C is on the fritz, otherwise that would be the one - functionally, until it started to go, it was the absolute best, most carriable, and most intuitive "tactical" EDC light I have ever owned).

I'm a big fan of the Olight Warrior Mini 2 and the Baton 3.

 

[rhino]

These sound like good solutions. Another alternative is to make your neck cord out of two lengths of paracord that have been melted together using a simple bic lighter. Just cut the two ends cleanly with your knife, melt them with the blue portion of the flame, and then press them together and roll in your fingers and thumb until you get a nice clean seam. From here, it can be broken and remelted and attached for a slightly weaker hold. That's my method, and I am satisfied with the strength of it, which holds up to the normal forces I subject the cord to when taking the necker out, but breaks with less force than would be required to hurt me.

I forgot about that trick, thanks! I've never used it for an actual lanyard, but I have experimented with fusing the ends together like that. It would definitely work well and you don't need any additional pieces.

 

[GutWrench]

Neck Carry is cool at certain times. I never really worried about weight and choose the knife based off its length. I prefer a blade length of 3.5" and smaller. Keep the knife sheath or handle, depending on the setup riding just below my sternum.

 

[dogstar]

Here is a video I posted 10 years ago. I guess you can also use a paper clip, or a thicker gauge wire to make a "weak link." There are plenty of plastic breakaway lanyard designs as well if you are concerned about choking.