Neck knife question

jdm61

jdm61

itinerant metal pounder
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
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I am looking at the possibility of making a few fairly reasonably priced one off neck knives out of .117 115W8 German tool steel. This is an old metal cutting bandsaw blade steel that is very tough and also takes a nasty edge. It would be a fair step up from the typical 1095 @ 56-57Rc found in many production "neckers" IMO.
What, in your collective opinions, is a good size for a knife of this type. Is the ESEE Izula at the larger end of that range? the 1 inch blade with of the Izula seems ideally suited for stock of this thickness. I am also looking to do a little kydex sheath and handle scales made from Micarta or G10. What scale thickness would be ideal? Thanks for your input.
 
I think a slim blade of 3 to 4 inches in length is preferable. It's important in my opinion to ensure that the user can get a solid four finger grip. The ESEE Izula is slightly too small for me and I find its handle uncomfortable.

I think textured G10 is a better choice than micarta. I think it would be ideal to ensure that the knife is as thin as possible, with a maximum thickness of 1/4" thick at its thickest point.
 
My Izula:

imageavc.jpg


My Candiru:

imagevrj.jpg


I actually prefer the Candiru...
 
4 inches is well into hunter territory.
Kwon Kwang said:
I think a slim blade of 3 to 4 inches in length is preferable. It's important in my opinion to ensure that the user can get a solid four finger grip. The ESEE Izula is slightly too small for me and I find its handle uncomfortable.

I think textured G10 is a better choice than micarta. I think it would be ideal to ensure that the knife is as thin as possible, with a maximum thickness of 1/4" thick at its thickest point.
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I'm not able to down load a picture at this moment but I really like the size and shape of the neck knives Murray Carter makes. Mine is approx. 7" over all, just shy of 3" of sharpened blade before the choil, and approx. 3 3/4" overall handle. About .86" spine to edge at the widest point. The overall handle thickness is about .55" at its thickest point. Comes with a Kydex sheath. Mike
 
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Form follows function. Look at the job you want it to do, and base your design on that. What exactly are you looking for this design to do? Does it need a spear point? A tanto profile tip? Something completely different? Is this meant to be a small knife for general use on a daily basis? Something for dressing game? Or something that is a last-ditch hold out knife for personal protection? That, more than anything, would be what I used to determine the blade length. I agree with Kwon Kwang that the handle has to be large enough to get a good, solid grip on. But other than that, you need to figure out what you are looking to do with these before you settle on a blade shape or size.

-Mb
 
Never worry me about making a tanto point knife. :D Think drop point blade, probably full height flat grind.
The_Monkeyboy said:
Form follows function. Look at the job you want it to do, and base your design on that. What exactly are you looking for this design to do? Does it need a spear point? A tanto profile tip? Something completely different? Is this meant to be a small knife for general use on a daily basis? Something for dressing game? Or something that is a last-ditch hold out knife for personal protection? That, more than anything, would be what I used to determine the blade length. I agree with Kwon Kwang that the handle has to be large enough to get a good, solid grip on. But other than that, you need to figure out what you are looking to do with these before you settle on a blade shape or size.

-Mb
Click to expand...
 
Mike157 said:
I'm not able to down load a picture at this moment but I really like the size and shape of the neck knives Murray Carter makes. Mine is approx. 7" over all, just shy of 3" of sharpened blade before the choil, and approx. 3 3/4" overall handle. About .86" spine to edge at the widest point. Comes with a Kydex sheath. Mike
Click to expand...
Mr. Carter makes some neat little knives. With this steel that I am using, i would be able to get them fairly close to the high hardness that he uses, but without having to use laminated steel. This 115W8 is still quite tough at high hardness. The German fellow that I got it from joked (but he was not really joking) that you can leave it at 64Rc for kitchen knives, but if you want to hammer it through bolts or roofing nails, then you should probably back it off to 62Rc!!:D These would also cost considerably LESS than $350. ;)
 
Kwon Kwang said:
It is, but it's only one inch longer than the Izula, and I have no problems with my 4" Tokyo Spike from Cold Steel.
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That is 33% longer. Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and you were 8 feet tall!!!!;)
 
jdm61 said:
That is 33% longer. Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and you were 8 feet tall!!!!;)
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Yes, but I have several neck knives from Barry Dawson that have long thin blades in the 4-4 1/2 inch range. They are well-proportioned, and don't seem overly-long. On the other hand, they are almost triangular in cross-section, so I don't know how that would translate into a flat-bladed knife like you are considering.

-Mb
 
jdm61 said:
Mr. Carter makes some neat little knives. With this steel that I am using, i would be able to get them fairly close to the high hardness that he uses, but without having to use laminated steel. This 115W8 is still quite tough at high hardness. The German fellow that I got it from joked (but he was not really joking) that you can leave it at 64Rc for kitchen knives, but if you want to hammer it through bolts or roofing nails, then you should probably back it off to 62Rc!!:D These would also cost considerably LESS than $350. ;)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure even $350 will get you one now, but from what you're saying, I would be interested in one of yours made in that style. I personally like that Murray's neck knives are more "cutlery" or "mainstream" looking than "military" or "tactical" for my everyday purposes. Mike
 
I find everything about the izula perfect except the blade is a tad short for my liking.

The other neck knife I really like is the tom krein pocket bowie. Course a slightly larger blade and handle would be ideal for myself.

I also prefer micarta to g10.

Guess I should also mention I carry neck knives in my pocket, not around my neck as I find it cumbersome and less useful than having a small fixed blade in my pocket, ymmv and I expect that.
 
Izula, Eskabar blade length is good. Heck, a slightly shorter blade but a little more handle would be ideal in my opinion.
 
Can you give me any information about the composition of this steel. Google isn't doing it for me. It even tried to give me W8 which it isn't I assume? It sounds like an interesting steel.

Thanks,

Joe
 
6 1/4" OAL, 2 3/4" blade, 3 1/2" handle. Total thickness with handle scales - 1/2". Sheath should be drilled top and bottom for paracord attachment either inverted (neck) or normal (pocket carry with paracord belt attachment. It'd also be nice to include a snap strap like Keith Murr and some others do on their smaller kydex sheaths. This allows easily concealed horizontal belt carry and quick attachment on either side.

Haven't really thought about it... just my preferences.
 
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