Should a Neck Knife be part of Survival Kit?

D

Dahsyat

Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Messages
264
Hello everyone,

A very good friend of mine made me this small knife the other day. The blade is ATS-34 (leftover scraps from another project) with Rusa-Deer handle.

I made a neck sheath for it, so it can be with me at all times when I'm in the woods. I never had a neck knife. My question is, should a neck knife be part of a survival kit, or should I even bother carry one?

Thanks in advance...


NeckKnife1.jpg


NeckKnife2.jpg
 
They're handy, concealable, and if you're more likely to have a knife on you by wearing a necker, then by all means, a necker is the way to go.

Practically speaking, lots of folks who canoe or kayak like them. Easier to get to than a hip-riding blade.

Paracord is generally a no-no for the necklace portion. Given that it can support 550 pounds, should you get into a sticky position where it's twisted around your neck, chances are you're not simply going to break the cord. To reduce any chance of choking, most folks go with some sort of break-away suspension system.

For a survival kit though, I'd rather have something a bit more substantial. Still, combined with a chopping implement, you can go a long way with a small fixed blade.
 
SHould it be part of a survival kit? That's up to you. Could it be part of a survival kit? Most definitely.

I am a big fan of rendundancy with some items, especially edged tools. Although for a neck knife, I'd rig it on some sort of break-away lanyard to minimize the possibiliy of inadvertantly hanging yourself. one thing you can do is make a closed loop out of a piece of paracord by making a 3-4 turn slipnoose knot around a plain end. I usually burn the plain end so it mushrooms a little, just to give it a little bit of resistance before it slips through the knot.

The Mora knife on the right and the CS Master hunter in the center both have break-away lanyards attached to them for neck carry.
SimpleKits.jpg
 
Yeah, I think neck knives can be usefull (anything that can cut is usefull ina survival sit.) what I like about neck knives is that a they can always be with you, (and the best survival knife is one you have on) and B) they can be easily accessed while you wearing a hip belt for a pack...
 
I have wore one every day for years sometimes even go to sleep withit on.
I carry a crkt fixed falcon with a flint attached to the sheath. I think it is a great last resort knife to have just incase.
Bryan
 
That is a great little knife and would be a useful tool on a hike. It is certainly as much a knife as an SAK (Swiss Army Knife) in terms of cutting ability and there are thousands of hikers who go into the woods with SAK's and nothing more.

IMHO, there is no one perfect survival knife. The question is what tasks will you ask of the knife. It would be perfect for cleaning small game, cutting line, making repairs-- a sharp tooth and claw for monkeys without. :)

It would certainly fill the bill for the smaller blade in a trio of survival tools: a small blade for repairs and chores, a larger blade for heavy duty tasks, and a machete, axe or saw for cutting wood for shelter materials and firewood.

I agree with others here about hanging paracord around your neck without a break-away. Here are some options I have come up with:
  • Tie loops in the ends of the paracord and join it with a short loop of chain.

  • Gut the last 1" of the cord ends and slip them through a short peice of vinyl tubing or heat shrink and then melt the ends to form balls on the ends to give a little resistance to sliding through the tubing.

  • Check a bead shop for commercial necklace clasps. I've been looking for the perfect pastic fitting for neck lanyards.

  • My favorite is to run a chain through silicone aquarium air tubing. You can use the tubing for drawing water from cracks and seeps. It spreads the weight out on your kneck and doesn't absorb sweat and body oils like paracord will.

Your friend gave you a wonderful knife-- great photos too.
 
I believe I actually have more neck knives than any other style of knife. I love them, and carry and use one daily.

Oh, and I don't listen to those that say a neck knife should have a breakaway chain, or somebody will use the paracord to strangle you. If somebody is close enough to grab my paracord from behind and attempt to strangle me with it, then they are also close enough to get stabbed in the forehead.
 
Danbo said:
.....Oh, and I don't listen to those that say a neck knife should have a breakaway chain, or somebody will use the paracord to strangle you. .....
Click to expand...

I'm more concerned about getting the paracord hung up in brush or branches in a fall and hanging myself on the thing. I'm thinking wilderness rather than city stuff.
 
Thank you folks for all the comments.... :thumbup:

I can see how not having a breakaway clasp can very quickly ruin the day... :eek:

I looked around and found that even my ID card holder from the last conference has a breakaway clasp. Well...., goodbye ID card holder.

I have made the adjustment as suggested. Here is the new set up with the safety device installed.

Thanks...


NeckKnife3.jpg
 
Anyone know where to buy those spring loaded cord clamping things similiar to those in Dahysat's picture?
 
My breakaway neck lanyards are lampwicking. A few simple breakaway stitches and you have a reserve source of tinder. It is also very comfortable. Bulk rolls may be purchased from SIR mailorder in Canada. An EBAY seller was selling shorter lengths. Do a search for Martinni knives and he is the biggest seller.
 
I like the neck knife for the bush. I have never had a problem using paracord as the knife stays inside my shirt. Yes it could be a problem. If I ever think I may put myself in a position that it may get caught on something it is a simple procedure to take it off, loop it through your belt and stuff the knife in your pocket. Hiking in open grassland or in alpine meadows it's hard to imagine getting it snagged. In the jungle its inside my shirt unless I'm stopped and using the knife.

Here's a shot of my first neck knife PSK. At the time I only had a Livesay Woo so I used that as a "proof of concept" experiment. The supplies have been removed and are pretty self evident. I wrapped the handle with #4 waxed polyester line.
woosurvivor1ob6.jpg


I liked that concept enough to upgrade to a better blade. This is my current neck knife PSK, based on a Livesay NRGS and it see's alot of use. This is how I carried it on my Alaska hunt. I vary the contents as to where I am. The LED light poking out the bottom of the rubber sleeve is a real handy at night as it is pointed at the ground. The whistle is right there at the top ready to use all the time. A whistle attached in that position also prints against a T-shirt letting everyone know you have a whistle as it lifts the shirt away and keeps the knife from printing.
nrgssurvivorzk3.jpg


The knife in your post is a real sweet looking little blade. it looks a little on the small side but very well made. The neck knife concept works for me. All I can say is try it.

Whenever I wear my neckers in the city I use a break away chain. Mac
 
That is one fine-looking, little knife you got there.

A neck knife can be part of a survival kit. But I see something like that as more of a extra knife to your back-up knife. With knives and the Wilderness, you always want redundant capability.
 
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