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What is your favorite "neck" knife and why?
- Thread starter Centurian
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,670
Arguably one of the best custom neck knives is the Simonich Pikuni in Talonite. I've got one with carbon fiber scales, it's got great handle ergonomics, stylish looks, and Talonite (what more is there to say? 
) Excellent fit and finish all around, as we all have come to expect from Rob. The only steel parts on that knife are the pins that hold the handle scales to the tang. So there is no worry about having the knife lie underneath your shirt during a hot and sticky summer day.
) Excellent fit and finish all around, as we all have come to expect from Rob. The only steel parts on that knife are the pins that hold the handle scales to the tang. So there is no worry about having the knife lie underneath your shirt during a hot and sticky summer day.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
- Messages
- 3,316
Here's a pair of great low price neckers in the $20.00 range:
The Cold Steel Spike (bare bones cord wrapped blade, great self defense piece)
and
The Camillus Cuda Arclite (a great do-all kinda blade)
But, my all time favorite is a hand made model from Lowell Bray. 3" 440C hollow ground drop point blade from 3/16" stock
Kydex sheath, ball chain and a fairly deep index finger cutout/guard. Even at that thickness it doesn't "print" much(if at all) when worn inside the shirt.
Of the two you mention, I have the Emerson LaGriffe and it is a very good low print blade. That is, the blade's outline is not too readily visible when worn inside the shirt.
Also, after it is in your hand, it's difficult to dislodge it or knock it out of your hand. "A great instinctive blade" I remember someone putting it. And it is, IMHO.
The Cold Steel Spike (bare bones cord wrapped blade, great self defense piece)
and
The Camillus Cuda Arclite (a great do-all kinda blade)
But, my all time favorite is a hand made model from Lowell Bray. 3" 440C hollow ground drop point blade from 3/16" stock
Kydex sheath, ball chain and a fairly deep index finger cutout/guard. Even at that thickness it doesn't "print" much(if at all) when worn inside the shirt.Of the two you mention, I have the Emerson LaGriffe and it is a very good low print blade. That is, the blade's outline is not too readily visible when worn inside the shirt.
Also, after it is in your hand, it's difficult to dislodge it or knock it out of your hand. "A great instinctive blade" I remember someone putting it. And it is, IMHO.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2001
- Messages
- 1,981
There is a real wide range of neck knives from which to choose, if you count all the handmade and manufactured knives. A good many are under $100, many under $50. In future, if you'll forgive me, when you ask such a question, try to add as much detail as you can in terms of how you see yourself using the knife you're inquiring about. It really helps folks focus their answers on what you need, instead of ranging all over the place -- like I'm so prone to do.
Given the two you mention, it appears you like the idea of an index finger hole. There is no doubt that such a design offers greater retention in a self defense situation, than virtually any other design. If you are perceiving the knife to be a last-ditch, self defense blade, probably even a backup upon which to rely when your primary piece has gotten out of the picture, then I think the blade steel is probably unimportant.
If "printing" thru your shirt is a concern, I believe the Bearclaw is a bit thicker. If not, and the steel doesn't matter, then for sure, I'd save the money and go with the Bearclaw. If you have the money, the real Fred Perrin neck knives don't have a hawkbill blade. Rather they're essentially flat on the edge. This would be much more utilitarian than the hawkbill, IMO.
If you perceive that your neck knife will be used fairly frequently in a utilitarian sort of way, then the scope of available knives really opens up. If budget constraints are there, I'd try to hang on until the CRKT collaboration with Kit Carson on his F4 hit the stores. It will have AUS6 steel, which isn't the best, but it is quite stainless, and sharpens easily -- which you might be doing fairly frequently. As mentioned by someone else, in the same price range, is the Camillus ArcLite. I have that one, and like it. I keep forgetting to wrap the handle and/or to sand off the edges of the handle and the lightening holes. But, I like it's handle better than the very popular CRKT Stiff KISS.
I'm real partial to my REKAT Fang. They have been discontinued, I believe, but have been sold on the sales forums reasonably often. It is the necker I carry most.
The original F4 by Kit Carson, I believe sells for $135. I flat like his designs a lot. He has a unique ability to make knives that "work", IMO.
If you're going to look more widely, I'd check out the Fallkniven WM-1. It is just a great little knife.
Okay, I'll quit. Too many for 10 posts to cover, I'd say. Good luck choosing.
Given the two you mention, it appears you like the idea of an index finger hole. There is no doubt that such a design offers greater retention in a self defense situation, than virtually any other design. If you are perceiving the knife to be a last-ditch, self defense blade, probably even a backup upon which to rely when your primary piece has gotten out of the picture, then I think the blade steel is probably unimportant.
If "printing" thru your shirt is a concern, I believe the Bearclaw is a bit thicker. If not, and the steel doesn't matter, then for sure, I'd save the money and go with the Bearclaw. If you have the money, the real Fred Perrin neck knives don't have a hawkbill blade. Rather they're essentially flat on the edge. This would be much more utilitarian than the hawkbill, IMO.
If you perceive that your neck knife will be used fairly frequently in a utilitarian sort of way, then the scope of available knives really opens up. If budget constraints are there, I'd try to hang on until the CRKT collaboration with Kit Carson on his F4 hit the stores. It will have AUS6 steel, which isn't the best, but it is quite stainless, and sharpens easily -- which you might be doing fairly frequently. As mentioned by someone else, in the same price range, is the Camillus ArcLite. I have that one, and like it. I keep forgetting to wrap the handle and/or to sand off the edges of the handle and the lightening holes. But, I like it's handle better than the very popular CRKT Stiff KISS.
I'm real partial to my REKAT Fang. They have been discontinued, I believe, but have been sold on the sales forums reasonably often. It is the necker I carry most.
The original F4 by Kit Carson, I believe sells for $135. I flat like his designs a lot. He has a unique ability to make knives that "work", IMO.
If you're going to look more widely, I'd check out the Fallkniven WM-1. It is just a great little knife.
Okay, I'll quit. Too many for 10 posts to cover, I'd say. Good luck choosing.
- Joined
- Oct 31, 1998
- Messages
- 3,036
MY personal opinion is it is tuff to beat Bud Nealy neck knife systems.The multi-carry sheath system with the rare earth magnets are tops.I think Bud offers best all around multi carry concealment rigs.His stuff isn't cheap,but not over priced either.AS far as low cost neck knives,I really never bothered with the 20-50.00 neck knives,so I can't say anything good or bad about them.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2001
- Messages
- 2,491
My favorite is the Raker Little Blue 2. It is a skeletal design of 52100 steel, and absolutely scalpel sharp. The knife comes with a nice Kydex sheath and an elkskin thong--a nice change from parachute cord. Plus, Ray Kirk is a gentleman of the finest order, a pleasure to do business with.
It seems to me that by your post, you're looking for something fairly inexpensive. Bugs is right in that the old Rekat Fang was a good one and of course Dexter's mention of Rob's Talonite Pikuni is a winner. If you're looking for something inexpensive though, I think you can't beat the Camillus/Darrel Ralph ArcLite which sells for around $20.00! The Carson Family small F4 is a great choice but again, a little pricey, (and worth it!), but I know it's going to be released in a production version that should be a BIG hit! I know I'll be getting one for a beater.
Hey! Who stole my avatar?
Hey! Who stole my avatar?
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
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- 4,670
Gene, no kidding! I can't believe the price point on the production F4 - <i>$24.99 retail</i> Them things will be flying off dealer shelves. And yeah, the custom version is also my fave, kind of hard to pick between that and the Pikuni
Hey! Who stole my avatar?
Who, me?!
You'll have it later today!I've got two neck knives I wear all the time. Both are Talonite and both are well made semi-customs. One's a Rob Simonich NightHawk that is #6 out of 25 made, Talonite with CF scales, and the other's a Darrel Ralph Talonite ArcLite with CF scales. Both are very nice neck knives......
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 3,709
My favourite is the Camillus Arclite. It's very thin, lightweight, and very very easy on the wallet.
"Bring on the new Messiah, wherever he may roam."