Neck Knives - Use and Versatility?

R

RedLynx

Joined
Aug 5, 2011
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Hi guys,

I've never been interested in neck knives as they're really small fixed blades, and I'd prefer a bigger folder or if going fixed, a "proper-sized" fixed blade. But recently a couple of neck knives have caught my eye, and look really good,, and not too much money. Cold Steel makes one I like the look of.

But anyway, I was wondering, for those that use them, how useful do you find them? And when you carry them, I imagine you must always be wearing an untucked shirt, and have to reach under in order to deploy it? I assume this is the only way neck knives are typically deployed, but if there are other ways I'd be interested to know. I don't always wear such a shirt so at times it would not be a good knife to carry, it seems.

Just interested in how useful and versatile you find them. Thanks guys.
 
I am also interested in the carry options for small fixed blades. I am a folder guy, but I have seen a couple neck knives I wouldn't mind owning. I would think belt or pocket carry might be a good option. I would be open to pocket carry a small fixed, but getting the knife in and out of the sheath without having to remove the whole set up from my pocket would be ideal.
 
I'll try to take pictures and post at some point, but I occasionally pocket-carry an Izula with a NiteIze eCLIPse sheath-mount. The clip keeps the sheath in place on my pocket and i use thumb-pressure to deploy the knife... but honestly it's putting the knife back that keeps me cautious, which is why i usually stick with folders at that size, as the knife is "sheathed" before if gets anywhere near my pocket. I occasionally pocket-carry my Rodent Solution - just a pouch sheath hung from my belt into my pocket - but I am more deliberate when drawing and re-sheathing a knife that size and bigger. I still don't get the appeal of hanging a knife around one's neck or even mounting near one's chest..
 
I'm a sucker for neck knives but have managed to keep my inventory down to only 5 or 6 (mostly ESEEs) for this very reason. I like 'em but I just don't find them that useful. I'll always whip a folder out of my pocket before I'll reach for the necker.

I tried carrying one on a bead chain around my neck (under my shirt) thinking it might come in handy. Never used it. I also tuck them away in the pocket of my ruck or other bag but they just get ignored.

Still, if it's the only knife you are carrying then its usefulness goes up tremendously.
 
They really shine as a lightweight backpacking knife because they're more robust for splitting kindling and the like. For around town they're not all that useful. I carry mine in my front pants pocket.
 
I prefer them on the belt or right front pocket. I fashioned a pocket clip to my Scrapivore sheath using an old gun holster's belt clip. It works pretty good, but could use a better screw to hold it in place. Somedays it will eventually loosen up and the clip will start to wiggle. It doesn't fall out or anything and the flat head on the Leatherman Squirt puts it right back in place.

 
Many of our employees carry and use neck knives (especially at shows and events)
As we are based here in California, we usually wear them outside the shirt so they are easy to reach and use.
Some of the guys also use them in conjunction with a Tek Lok adaptor and wear them on a belt
I've also seen them simply tucked into a boot or put in a pocket.

I often carry one of the old "Beaver Tail" neck knives in the inside pocket of my jacket when wearing a suit as it's thin and lightweight, it doesn't print on the material and it packs a lot of cutting power into a small package
that's the good thing about a well designed neck knife. It's thin and light and it's useful. Gotta love 'em :)


Here's a short video of Andrew and John from our R&D team talking about neck knives that might be of some interest...
 
A good friend of ours also laces two Mini Tac Skinners into the front of his snake boots. It looks pretty cool :D :thumbup:
 
Thank you Cold Steel and thank you everyone else, you've given me a lot of useful information. Those of you that prefer to modify it to pocket carry, I certainly hear you on that. But Chiral you make a good point about caution when putting it back this way (or for that matter if it was around the neck, I'd certainly need some practice either way.

Cold Steel, do you wear them outside the shirt just at work, or are they okay to wear like that just anywhere? Do you feel comfortable having it hanging round your neck in the open no matter where you are? I am curious. Thanks much.
 
Since Cold Steel's company makes knives I'll bet they are a tad comfortable wearing them "at work". :D

Wearing a knife in public is not going to go over well in most places. Too many sheeple out there who will be intimidated.
 
addylo said:
Since Cold Steel's company makes knives I'll bet they are a tad comfortable wearing them "at work". :D

Wearing a knife in public is not going to go over well in most places. Too many sheeple out there who will be intimidated.
Click to expand...

Right, I mean I assumed they'd wear them openly at work, if I worked at a knife company there's much bigger ones I'd EDC openly. :D

I was just trying to gauge if they did elsewhere, because of the very people you suggest.

Although interestingly, where I am, I used to EDC a fixed Schrade a lot, even just going in to my local pizza place. I don't do stuff like that anymore, but it's interesting that where you are sometimes makes a difference. Some folks are just okay with things.
 
Many of our guys wear them in the warehouse, workshop etc and at shows and events
A couple of our crew openly wear them in the street. Here in Ventura there are lots of people who openly carry fixed blades, (I myself often carry a Bowie) so it's no big deal.
They are very popular. I personally don't like to wear a knife around my neck, but I will happily wear a fixed blade on my belt, in my boot, in a pocket or even on my wrist.
For me, all of the things that make a boot knife great also make it an excellent pocket or boot fixed blade. As I said before, if I'm wearing a suit, I've always got a neck knife :)

Here's some pics of our crew with neck knives that we've taken over the last few years

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Thanks very much Cold Steel (nice to hear you can wear a good, most likely large, belt knife and not catch flack for it, I didn't know that would be the case in CA.) Thumbs up.
 
I used to spend a lot of time in a clean room bunny suit, (tyvek overalls) so I always had a neck knife hanging on the outside of my suit for work.

Nowadays I keep my Small Sebenza 21 clipped to a piece of para cord hung around my neck, most times it hand out in the open and I forget it's there till I need it.
 
Never could wear paracord around my neck. I much prefer something that breaks away if it ever gets tangled up in a moving object or machinery.
 
I should have mentioned it has the center core removed and a ball chain in the middle so if I get hung up it'll break away.
 
I bought 1/8 inch bungee cord and wore the kydex sheath of a CRKT Minimalist on my arm for gardening. They make for an awesome gardening tool that's for sure. If I go back to one I might choose an Esee or more realistically one from HardEdgedKnives in the custom section of BF he has great prices! I'm waiting for spring time to come and going to pick one up for gardening and hiking. Sometimes you realize you really don't need all that much knife. Anyhow from my use of the CRKT when you have garden string wrapped everywhere its very handy having the kydex sheath stuck to the top of your wrist where you can pull it out sideways, cut your rope and then slip it back into the sheath.

RedLynx said:
Hi guys,

I've never been interested in neck knives as they're really small fixed blades, and I'd prefer a bigger folder or if going fixed, a "proper-sized" fixed blade. But recently a couple of neck knives have caught my eye, and look really good,, and not too much money. Cold Steel makes one I like the look of.

But anyway, I was wondering, for those that use them, how useful do you find them? And when you carry them, I imagine you must always be wearing an untucked shirt, and have to reach under in order to deploy it? I assume this is the only way neck knives are typically deployed, but if there are other ways I'd be interested to know. I don't always wear such a shirt so at times it would not be a good knife to carry, it seems.

Just interested in how useful and versatile you find them. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
 
Fishing in a small john boat I carry a necker. Hard to access a pocket knife sitting.
 
I love neck knives but I dont ever wear them around my neck( well except for the sake of this photo--lol)--I just find their size perfect for an edc blade---and prefer them over a folding knife---here are a few i have in my possession right now (not necessarily mine)---if you have any questions about them shoot me an email (happydadrpl@gmail)--none of them are for sale or trade---contact me only with questions---I dont have the appropriate membership here for selling/trading----
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20131117_020550_zps577130fb.jpg
 
Im not a big neck knife fan. While i do appreciate the strength and versatility that neck knives provide, i cant concealed carry fixed blades where i live. It's also socially unacceptable to open carry, so im caught between a rock and a hard place. If i lived in an area where i could concealed carry then id do it in a heartbeat. Ill take a small fixed blade over a "hard use" folder any day of the week.
 
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