Review: CRKT Carson Neck Knife

Razoredj

Razoredj

Joined
Feb 22, 1999
Messages
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I purchased a Carson Neck Knife recently. The blade is 2.5 inches long, the handle 3 inches. The little knife is a little over a quarter of an inch thick through the handle. As small neck knives go, there's nothing at all wrong with it, and it was nice and sharp out of the box. My review must, however, be largely negative, because the sheath that came with the knife is very poor.

The plastic sheath -- which reminds me a bit of the Companion sheath, which so many people seem to dislike -- is absolutely HUGE considering the size of the knife itself. It's wide, which is okay, because you could thread it through your belt like a slide holster, but it's absolutely too thick for a neck knife sheath -- or, for that matter, any sheath designed for a knife this small.

With the removable molded plastic belt/boot clip attached, it's a full inch thick. Removing the clip slims it by about a quarter of an inch, but it's still terrible. By comparison, the kydex sheath for my arclite is less than a quarter of an inch at its thickest point. To top it off, the knife wobbles back and forth when secured in the sheath.

I'm not sure what this knife is good for -- it's not a bad blade by itself -- but as issued, I'm not going to be stringing it through its bead chain any time soon, unless I want everyone to ask me what's lurking beneath my shirt like an alien getting ready to burst forth.
 
I had been considering one of these. I really like the custom version. Looks like I may get something else. I appreciate the honest review.
 
With a neck knife, obviously the sheath/carry system is about as important as the knife itself. Too bad it was not better thought out. Thanks for the candid comments.
 
Originally posted by aramis
I'll bet someone can make a kydex sheath thats pretty sweet for that knife.
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If you can somehow get a hold of the same Frank Sigman made sheaths that fit Kit's custom F4's, believe it or not the CRKT F4 <i>will</i> fit inside of the custom sheath perfectly. I have tried this with both versions of the F4 that I have.
 
The sheath is very important. Too bad Columbia River couldn't have done a better job on it. I hate to pay more for the sheath than I did the knife. Guess I'll just stick with the original.
 
The Frank Sigman sheaths are great. Small, unobtrusive and have adjustable tension. I love both of my custom F4's.
 
Razor,
Good comments and I appreciate them.

When I began working on the CRKT version of the F4 I asked quite a few people how they would like to see the sheath made. Neck and pocket wear (with a clip) were the common answer. I figured, knowing knife people like I do, if they wanted it just for neck wear they would remove the clip and cut the raised portion off. Then it would be the same thickness as the Sigman sheath I use on the handmade version.

I have received 10 or so of them and was happy with the way they fit into the sheaths. I'm sure CRKT will replace it if it is loose and doesn't hold it in properly.

Still curious of how many carry it in their pants pockets utilizing the clip.

Feedback is good:) I'll be talking to CRKT next Tuesday.
 
I picked one up the other day and really like the knife. The sheath is a bit big, but I have just been using the sheath clipped inside my jeans pocket. It works pretty well this way and has not drawn any attention from the people at work...
 
Razoredj,

IF you REALLY don't like that CRKT Carson Neck Knife and sheath, I have a Cold Steel Para Edge (spear-point) neck knife that I'd be willing to trade you.

Email me if interested.:).
 
CRKT Carson Neck Knife is a true bargin at $20.00. You can throw away the sheath and it is still a deal. You can have a custom kydex made for it.
 
I ordered F4 about two weeks ago from Cumberlandknives.

Hasn't got it yet - it seems that because of these awfull happenings there is still a delay in delivery.
(Off topic: regulary packet arrival from US to here, Finland, takes (believe it or not) from three days to about a month. And this is using USPS.)

So, can't say anything about the sheath myself. Only sit and wait the moment Eric begins to produce sheaths for these.

Glad to hear the knife itself - as I thought - is great. :)

Tuhkis
 
Originally posted by Razoredj
it's a full inch thick.
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My God! This kind of thing is acceptable on the companion, but for those of you who have a bear claw... great knife lousy sheath. I'd pay more for kydex, and I think lots of people would...
 
Thanks for being so gracious about this, Kit. I really don't want to sound like I'm mercilessly cracking on the knife; I like the blade itself. A couple of people have offered to trade for or buy it, but I really do feel inclined to keep it. I might have a kydex sheath made for it, or make some other kind of arrangement.
 
Razor,

Just a thought - do you have a Dremel tool or have access to one? If so, you can cut off the rectangular channel that holds the clip, this should cut down on that strange bulge under the shirt :) Use the cut off wheel and go at a low speed. Hope this helps!
 
Honestly, I don't see the knife as a bargain at $20 without the sheath. This kind of knife relies entirely on how the sheath works. Moreover, it's really just a sharpened piece of metal once you toss the sheath. Is it AUS-6? (Not that I have nearly the problem with AUS-6 that most people do...)
 
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