Neck Knives

P

preventec47

Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
58
These knives were recently mentioned in another thread and the whole concept
of neck knives is new to me. I'm just guessing the important considerations
are being as light as possible without subtracting too much function.
I guess also there has to be good protection so you dont cut yourself yet
it must be easy to access and remove from the neck for use as backup in
the event the main carry knife is lost etc.

Buck Hartsook
Atwood
Strider ED
Tom Krein Dogfish

I have no idea what these are but if there are others recommended I'd
like to look at em and see what they are like. Also would appreciate
the best places on the web to see these knives and any other comments
as to what other criteria are important.
Thanks
 
Unlike regular knives, neck knives are last ditch implements. They don't have to be made by Emerson, Strider or SOG. In short, there's little reason to buy an SOG Mini-Pentagon for $55 when a Smith & Wesson double-edged neck or boot knife will do just as well. Neck knives are intended only for brief periods, usually high stress, when your primary weapon, be it a firearm or a larger knife, is unavailable.

Neck knives come in all shapes and sizes and can be had for $20 and under. The S&W boot knife is especially tough, comfortable and dependable. In fact, most of the expensive neck and boot knives are made from the same type of cheap, low carbon, high chromium steels as the cheapies. You just pay for the name.

The Spyderco Swick (left) for $78 is no better than the $20 S&W HRT (right).

515748_oi.jpg
image.php
 
+ for Snody.

Also there are some makers on this forum like butch and Barker that make pretty awesome neckers.
 
Fallkniven WM1, good price, good handle, nice sheath, good reputation, not that combat looking and works really well. It has good steel and really good edge retention. Actually a hunting knife for small game but works as a "survival" knife too. You can get it with a plastic handle or just a blade.
I have one in my EDC-pack.
The spine is "sharp" enough to get good sparks from a firesteel.

One idea is to get a scout size firesteel, cut off the handle and make a small hole in it (requires warer cooling). Put some cord through the hole and attach it to the sheath. Tape the steel to the sheath. Now you have everything you need in one place.
 
Technically, of course, a neck knife is a knife hung around your neck. :-) If you are back-packing, then a knife around your neck is likely to be available easily without taking off the pack, or having the knife hang up on straps. So here a neck knife is general purpose and any general purpose knife that suits you is fine.
If you're wearing it under clothes for 'last ditch protection' it may well be a concealed weapon and put you in danger of a prison sentence should you use it.
So open or concealed carry makes a big difference.
Having to unzip a jacket and/or unbutton a shirt, (or even worse--raise a T-shirt up to your neck) to get at it makes it very 'unhandy' and leaves you in a very vulnerable position. I know the response my self-defense teacher recommends for a hand going somewhere, and an elbow in the chest while you are holding a sharp knife would not be pleasant.
I'd want stainless because any neck knife is likely to get wet, either sweaty or drinking while hiking.
I'd want a good Kydex sheath. Falling on a sharp object, or having it slammed into your chest could be fatal if it cuts through a leather sheath. It also needs to stay in place, especially as it's probably hanging handle down, and come out easily.
I guess all you can do is buy what you feel suits your purpose.
I just bought a Benchmade Snody 210, but it's going to sit on my belt most of the time. It is a very small, handy knife that will take hard work.
Greg
 
Confederate said:
. In fact, most of the expensive neck and boot knives are made from the same type of cheap, low carbon, high chromium steels as the cheapies. You just pay for the name.

The Spyderco Swick (left) for $78 is no better than the $20 S&W HRT (right).

515748_oi.jpg
image.php
Click to expand...

In fact, I didn't realize S30V steel used in the Spyderco Swick is "the same type of cheap, low, carbon, high chromium steel as the cheapies." Wow fascinating. You are free to feel the cheap S&W with 440C is the same thing ok. BTW where was it made, the Swick was made in Colorado.
 
I see neck knives as primarily light utility. In fact, since most utility is light utility, a necker is a good general-purpose knife. Self-defense is a last possible use for one, -- just as it is for any knife in a civilian context.

Wearing a necker under a t-shirt makes for slow access, until you learn how: grab the chain and pull up. The knife pops out over the shirt, ready to deploy and use.

Of course, where I live in New Jersey, it's not illegal in that configuration. And small necker under 4" is legal when concealed in New York City. Laws differ.

I can't see how the plain-edge wharncliffe Swick is inferior in any way to a serrated hawksbill for daily use, either.
 
What Esav said. I have evolved in my thinking in the last year about neck knives. It is another convenient way to carry a fixed blade for easy access.
 
i dont like neck knives myself, i wear a gold necklace and would look odd with a ball chain around my neck too lol, so i have never really liked them. i prefer IWB carry for fixed blades.

that said the livesay woo is one of the better neckers(though disco'd and hard to find now), EKI lagriffe (or any of the other perrin designs) is also a good choice, bud nealy also makes some good ones ie the amoeba.

for a factory knife i would go with the lagriffe.
 
I've carried the Camillus, CRKT's and a HAK. For backpacking, in uniform on duty, or wearing LBE/vests,even jogging, it does well. It does not have to be hidden inside if it's behind an ID or otherwise attached to gear. It doesn't have to be a cheapy, nor expensive, just like any other knife.

I wouldn't get hung up about the last ditch weapon aspect as wearing it under clothing is probably where the coronor will find it on your gunshot body. :D But the utility aspect of a small fixed blade is very handy, especially one that doesn't require a lot of manipulation, thumbing, waving, etc.

Some even carry their neckers IWB, especially the flat models, and you can add paracord for a fatter grip. That's what's fun about them, they have lots of versatility.
 
The Becker Necker is a great neck knife, though the originals are hard to find and expensive due to Camillus going under.
I have read in a post in this forum by Ethan Becker himself that he has joined Ka-Bar and that he has a surprise in store for fans of the Necker. I'm anxious to see what emerges.

For other suggestions, I have carried and liked Cold Steel's Spike series and the CRKT Triumph N.E.C.K.
 
Someone needs to convince my wife that I need a neck knife! I've found several I'd like to have if you convince her!
 
A friend bought several Myerco neck knives for his daughters to wear while dating. Cost? Five bucks apiece and they're double-edged. Women also can be abducted in parking lots and stuffed in trunks and later raped. In most cases, this ends in the death of the victim.

A woman with a small, concealed knife and a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy can quickly turn the tables on an attacker (remember the movie, Cellular?)

ZenHeretic said:
In fact, I didn't realize S30V steel used in the Spyderco Swick is "the same type of cheap, low, carbon, high chromium steel as the cheapies." Wow fascinating. You are free to feel the cheap S&W with 440C is the same thing ok. BTW where was it made, the Swick was made in Colorado.
Click to expand...
Actually, I said "most" of the expensive neck knives. Perhaps I should have said "many," but I've run across some expensive neck knives made from AUS6 and 420J2 stainless. Also, my point was that emergency weapons like neck or boot knives should be made from these types of steels, because they're strong and resiliant.

There are blades for every purpose. All I'm saying is why spend a lot for an Emerson or SOG when you can get one that will suit your purposes for a fraction of the price?

This Gerber Guardian (left) has a 440A blade and sells for $48. The S&W HRT (right)
sports a 440C real double-edged blade and sells for $17.
G5803.jpg
SWHRT3.jpg

This SOG Mini-Pentagon also has a 440A blade and sells for $55,
while the bantum blade Myerco comes in at a mere $4.99.
SOGM14.jpg
M05340.jpg
 
Really didn't realise the Guardian and Pentagon were 440A :(
 
oldscrimmer said:
Someone needs to convince my wife that I need a neck knife! I've found several I'd like to have if you convince her!
Click to expand...
oldscrimmer, I think I speak for a lot of fellow knifenuts reading your post, what's in it for me?:D If you can't convince her that you need some neck jewlery, nobody can...goodluck;)
 
One other thing to keep in mind with a 'neck knife'... if you don't want to wear it on your neck, is that they are usually compatible with a merc-harness, like mercop sells, or something similar to that. I think that your imagination is really the only limitation when it comes to ways to carry a 'neck knife'... Coincidentally, I've got a Fallkniven wm1 on order from the pharmacy, (my first 'neck knife') so this subject has been on my mind a fair bit, lately.
 
The WM-1 is a perfect example of a knife that works well on a neck cord, on a belt, or even in a pocket. It's compact and light in weight, but it's not a miniature knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top