Newbie Needs Input on Neck Knives

[craytab]

What's the difference between a $60 vs $20 knives when their both 1095, razor sharp, and around the same dimensions?

You have seen what everyone else has said about the difference between a $20 and $60 knife. I would also add country of manufacture. Schrade is made in Taiwan. ESEE/Becker are made in USA. I don't care about this myself all that much but it also helps to explain the price difference. All of the things mentioned about the difference between ESEE/Becker and schrade make the price difference well worth it in my opinion.

 

[G.Moll]

Id go with the izula. Ive had my izula 2 for over 2 years now and I absolutely love it. Its not just a 1095 blade with micarta handles. Esees warranty, heat treat, and edge geometry make it more than the sum of its parts.

 

[Knife Outlet]

OP. Give some thought to the blade material. The carbon steels will eventually get scratches in the finish and having a carbon steel under your shirt may promote corrosion. I normally recommend stainless steel for neck knives.

 

[Klutz]

I couldn't recommend a Bk 14 or an ESEE Izula more. The Bk 14 is the less expensive if the two usually.

 

[EDCBlader]

Whats your budget range?

I'm wanting to be around $25, but willing to go to $50.

Are you going to be carrying it on you all the time? Or are you going to be using it only when you are hiking/camping? My only advice would be to think about what task its going to be doing 90% of the time and tailor the grind/blade profile to that. My all time favorite production knives are the EnZo line of knives from Brisa. They have awesome heat treats, very practical blade profiles, solid grinds, and awesome steels.

That is their necker line. You can get a kydex sheath for them as well, with the choice of full flat or scandi grinds. I couldn't recommend them more.

I would also recommend the Enzo necker. Excellent knives for very good prices. And they can be found with micarta or curly birch scales too.

Thanks for the recommendation. How does X55 compare to 1095, and where would I buy this knife? I do not see it listed for sale on any of the big named websites.

OP. Give some thought to the blade material. The carbon steels will eventually get scratches in the finish and having a carbon steel under your shirt may promote corrosion. I normally recommend stainless steel for neck knives.

I figured that because most of the med range higher end knives ($50-$100) were 1095, that 1095 has the better blade material for the task.

 

[JCKT]

Thanks for the recommendation. How does X55 compare to 1095, and where would I buy this knife? I do not see it listed for sale on any of the big named websites.

http://www.thompsonsknives.com/enzonecker.html

If you need a kydex sheath with it just email brad at thompsonknives (its on the homepage) and if he doesnt have one in stock already he'll order you one directly from Brisa.

Edit: On the Brisa website it shows them being Sandvik 12c27 so either he has an older batch or he hasn't updated the website. If you want it in 12c27 I'd email brad and either clear that up or he can order you one in 12c27.

 

[Adrenaline_6]

There is also the Bravo Necker and Necker II in 3V steel. I don't have them but it's on my list. I do have a Spyderco Swick 3 though. I like it.