Neck knife users: prefer para-cord wrap or scales on your handle?

Deinos

Deinos

Joined
Feb 7, 2016
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Question is in the title. Just curious what you guys prefer and why.

Just picked up a BK24 awhile back (just before they disco'd) and starting to carry it as a neck knife. So far, I just wrapped it in a thicker para-cord pattern that fits the hand well, but obviously doesn't quite have the grip of g10 or micarta scales.

Thinking about picking up a set of scales, but was curious what long time carriers think of the trade-offs on size/weight and if you are actually carrying necker-style or tek-lock/horizontal belt carry (or some variation there of).

Thanks!
 
I like para-cord. I carry the izula in my pockets on occasion. Para-cord keeps it nice and flat. I only use it when I just want to slip a knife in my pocket. Handles add to much bulk.
 
Don't like cord wrap because I like my handles to be flush with the spine.
My preference is ultra small blades without scales.
 
I think the answer to your question really depends on the design of the knife. I have a ton of neckers. Some I like wrapped, some I like with scales and some just straight up empty skeletonized tang
 
To keep the necker as light as possible, I prefer the empty skeletonized tang. The grip is enough for what I generally do with my necker (light stuff). However, some knives have great potential so the option of scales or paracord wrap is tempting ! Here under, some of mine. From top to bottom : Becker d'Eskabar, Blackjack 155, Böker Beauty Steel (not a necker, comes in a pocket clip sheath), Fred Perrin Mini Bowie, Böker Nessmi.

 
Para-Cord.

I let one of my boys do it. They have a good time. It looks like hell sometimes, but it makes them happy.

Makes it nice and light, and if I bust a boot lace out mushrooming, I got it handled. (ugh, bad pun).
 
It depends on what you use the knife for. Light use, probably no wrap at all. More all around knife use, scales/handles. I dislike paracord wraps because they really don't give much cushioning using the knife and they get dirty. I'm too lazy to re-do it. Plus I'm not very good at it.
 
22-rimfire said:
It depends on what you use the knife for. Light use, probably no wrap at all. More all around knife use, scales/handles. I dislike paracord wraps because they really don't give much cushioning using the knife and they get dirty. I'm too lazy to re-do it. Plus I'm not very good at it.
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I tend to agree with this. Though I am good at it, I don't really prefer it for the sake of ergonomics. 550 tends to shift around (even slightly) and makes me unsure of the grip. I also prefer a deep finger choil on a neck knife and the cord lessens the effect of those. Cord wrap is also a bit more bulky on the small knives than the scales would be. So, yeah I have some knives that I took the scales off and wrapped, but I greatly prefer G10, wood, or micarta. Plus, it looks wayyy nicer, cord wrapped knives always look unfinished to me.
 
I just got a Blackjack 155 in the last month with micarta handles. I am always checking to make sure I have a proper grip on the thing and I won't cut myself just holding it.

I have a BK-24 with ranger green TKC G10 handles. It doesn't add all that much bulk/thickness to the knife. I find sharpening the BK-24 a pain in the butt even with diamond stones. It just never is quite as sharp as I'd like it to be.
 
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22-rimfire said:
I just got a Blacjack 155 in the last month with micarta handles. I am always checking to make sure I have a proper grip on the thing and I won't cut myself just holding it.

I have a BK-24 with ranger green TKD G10 handles. It doesn't add all that much bulk/thickness to the knife. I find sharpening the BK-24 a pain in the butt even with diamond stones. It just never is quite as sharp as I'd like it to be.
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Was having a look at those very scales. You guys make a good point about the cord being difficult to clean and getting soiled over time.
 
None. I like it without scales of any kind to keep it as flat, thin and light as possible.
 
I got an Izula and when using it as a necker I like the G10 scales, the paracord didn't do it for me, it's a lot comfier with the scales. I'm not concerned about thickness too much, it's usually hiding under a jacket and such so I can even have a mini Bic lighter attached to it using a homemade kydex rig, which makes it a bit thicker.
 
Krey-Ex

top knife in photo (only carried when I ride my bicycle to work for defense from dogs).



I have never understood the paracord wrapped knife, at least for EDC. I wash my knives for food prep or after they get dirty / goopy. Just seems like the wrong place for soggy cloth.

Hard scales, if untextured, too slick . . . at least for a small knife that can slip out of your fingers. For my uses Krey-Ex works pretty well.

Ha, ha it just occurred to me that I can carry my last "Project" knife as a neck knife. So It helped me out to look in on this thread . . . thanks !

I thinned out a Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter
PS: I know the para cord is all wrong for neck carry / photo from another thread.

 
Here's a pic of my setup:
xEKaevi.jpg
 
22-rimfire said:
It depends on what you use the knife for. Light use, probably no wrap at all. More all around knife use, scales/handles. I dislike paracord wraps because they really don't give much cushioning using the knife and they get dirty. I'm too lazy to re-do it. Plus I'm not very good at it.
Click to expand...

My thoughts and experiences as well. The dirt gets trapped and I use mine in humid/watery environments a lot, so often the result is a kinda wet paracord that stays cold and wet, is hard to dry and it's just plain uncomfortable

20160211_162938_zpso4s1wjog.jpg


I also hate the looks of paracord wrapping.

20160102_092754_zps4dpsxvsa.jpg


So, in my case I only have skeletonised neck knives (light users, such as the KaBar Piggyback) for watery conditions

20160102_091439_zpsub95yich.jpg


or with nice scales, like the Minimalists (micarta), ARK (FRN) or faux-G10 (Cold Steel's Spike) that add grip, comfort and nice ergos/looks

20160102_090918_zpsxsiap1un.jpg


Soft rubber, wood and grivory/nylon based polymers also work fine, as does kraton or GRN. Micarta wins, though:

CAM03742_zpsvpjg4a9a.jpg
 
I like neck knives for the thinness, and only carry skeleton handled ones carried in pocket tethered to my belt. If I use paracord, it's just enough to aid in drawing the knife.
177a89672d1602906b972ec3ae40cbf1.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I took 3 or 4 strands (can't remember) out of standard Para cord to get the desired thickness. Wanted handle material as thin as possible but still useful.
20160801_182601_zps8zbgd71m.jpg
 
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