Torn Between Neck Knives

R

Robot Mania Fu

Joined
Jul 21, 2007
Messages
167
Like the title says I really just cant decide. The knives in question were the obvious rat izula and the becker necker. I pretty much made my decision to get the izula...however, after looking for the best prices online ive also come across the bravo necker by bark river. I do have experience with the 1095 steel rat cutlery uses (seeing as I do have an RC-3), but I was curious if anyone has experience with bark river's 12C27 stainless?
 
Robot Mania Fu said:
I pretty much made my decision to get the izula...however, after looking for the best prices online ive also come across the bravo necker by bark river.
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I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either knife. They are both excellent small, fixed blade knives. (Personally, I just ordered a Bravo Necker this week, but I still may pick up an Izula, too).

I was curious if anyone has experience with bark river's 12C27 stainless?
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From the reading I have done, its considered one of the better stainless steels for knife making, with a reputation for very good edge retention.

Sandvik 12C27 is a martensitic stainless chromium steel with an optimised analysis for high quality professional knives application. After heat treatment the composition of carbon and chromium gives a unique combination of properties including:
- Very high hardness
- Good corrosion resistance
- Very good wear resistance
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Also, I read a rumor on here yesterday that there is a hybrid Becker Necker blade shaped, Izula handle shaped knife in the works from ESEE knives, the new RAT name. I have the Becker Necker and love it, and have held off on the Izula because it came out after I got the BK and serves the same purpose, I think. But the hybrid melds what I like most about both knives, having only seen pix of the Izula.
 
I see one advantage of the Becker Necker over the Izula: it's cheaper. Not taking that into consideration I really don't know what is the better knife in this fight.
 
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Sold my Izula and got this one, it's a much better knife IMHO.
I like the handles, I like the uncoated blade because is slice a lot better.
And i like the color combinations you can make.
Only downside is the Kydex sheath, it's not that great.

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But you can also solve that :cool:
 
I have an old REKAT neck knife I never wear cause basically I hate neck knives. They are always under something it seems when you need it. That being said the REKAT is 1095 steel as I recall with a cord wrapping. Now if I was going to carry a neck knife the one I would carry is the Cold Steel mini Pendleton hunter. Very nice kydex sheath, that has a belt loop attachment for carrying on ones belt. Has a full tang up through the grip which is a firm rubber handle that fits your hand exceedingly well. So you end up with 2 carry options. Also the kydex isn't so tight that it is a pain in the rear to get unsheathed. Now the thing I really like about this little devil is the thin edge in VG1. The grip is outstanding and the thing cuts like no tomorrow. Ok that's it. keepem sharp
 
I own 2 izulas and 1 bravo necker. Dont own a becker necker, but would choose the bravo necker and izula before it due to personal preference. Between the bravo necker and the izula, its a tough call. I think the izula is more comfortable in the hand. The lanyard area on the bravo necker digs in the palm of my hand a little while holding it, but not a big deal. I prefer the convex grind on the bravo necker. Bark River has an excellent heat treat on the 12C27 steel they use. It has very good edge retention and is very tough for a stainless steel (at least with bark river's heat treat). Shortly, you should be able to purchase handles for the izula which I am pretty excited about. Overall, I think I like the izula a little more, but it really is a tough call.
 
LUW said:
I see one advantage of the Becker Necker over the Izula: it's cheaper.
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That's true, but the OP was considering the BRKT Bravo Necker, which is actually the most expensive of the three. ;)

By the way, I got my Bravo Necker in the mail today and I really like it. Nice finish, very good edge out of the box, and a fits my hand nicely for such a small knife. I hope to give it a little workout in the woods this weekend. :thumbup:
 
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I really like the handle slabs on my Bravo Necker. But getting the handles puts you in another price range entirely. I can tell you that without any handles or wraps or anything, I think the Izula is far more comfortable in the hand than the Bravo Necker. The Bravo Necker will slice better than the Izula but I prefer the injection molded Izula sheath to the kydex Bravo Necker sheath. Two great knives, two great companies that stand behind their products.

Neither knife will disappoint :)
 
mdauben said:
That's true, but the OP was considering the BRKT Bravo Necker, which is actually the most expensive of the three. ;)
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Oops, my bad. GREAT knife, but indeed it's the most expensive.
Though I would be very tempted because of the possibility of upgrading the knife with handle slabs.
 
Thank you for all your suggestions. I do love the fact that you can put the handle scales on the Bravo Necker, however ESEE did just come out with handle scales for the Izula also. Over the weekend I was thinking about it and was almost dead set on the Bravo along with some scales, but I figure instead of that why not just buy both the bravo and the izula? :) I figure I will just cord wrap the izula for now and eventually pick up some sets of scales for both knives

Bladeforums always has a way of finding its way into my wallet.
 
Robot Mania Fu said:
Thank you for all your suggestions. I do love the fact that you can put the handle scales on the Bravo Necker, however ESEE did just come out with handle scales for the Izula also. Over the weekend I was thinking about it and was almost dead set on the Bravo along with some scales, but I figure instead of that why not just buy both the bravo and the izula? :) I figure I will just cord wrap the izula for now and eventually pick up some sets of scales for both knives

Bladeforums always has a way of finding its way into my wallet.
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let us know your opinions of both and if you sell either, I have an izula and love it, though the bravo necker is very intriguing. The fact that the scales are a third the price of bravo necker scales I think is keeping me from investing though.
 
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