Neck/Boot Knives Best Features

C

Confederate

Joined
Sep 5, 2005
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Recently a few friends have asked me about neck knives or boot knives, and admittedly it's something I don't know much about. Who usually carries such knives and are they used much for anything?

I know cops usually want a blade close by for weapons retention and Massad Ayoob especially likes Spydercos for that and self defense -- something that will open quickly, easily, and that will save one's bacon when the chips are down. Given the concealable nature of such knives, I suppose they can be clipped almost anywhere.

Two blades I've recently become impressed with are the Cold Steel K4 neck knife with serrated blade (below, top) and the FGX Skean Dhu (below, below). The latter is a fiberglass reinforced blade that is tough, vicious and light. In fact, both knives are very light, the K4 having an extremely effective cutting edge and a very thin blade that seems like it would penetrate very well. At about $20, it seems as though it would be hard to beat.

k4-neck-knife-large.jpg


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What do you guys think of these two choices? Would they have the features you're looking for or are other attributes called for that I've missed? I know the K4 comes in plain edge, but while that might be good for cutting tomatoes, onions and the like, the serrated model seems like it would be the better self defense tool. I particularly like the Kraton grip and blade guard that keeps the knife secure in the hand.

I've never seen the need to spend a lot for such a knife, nor the need to have super steels. Also where would be the best places to carry such knives? Around the neck and between one's shirt and vest? Or sideways, where it's resting under the arm? I'm also curious to learn if anyone has ever been saved by the fact that they were wearing a neck knife, or do you know of any cases where someone has saved themselves?

Finally, what would a neck knife do that a regular knife with a clip wouldn't or might not do?

Thanks!

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The concept of having a knife hanging on a chain or rope around my neck has always eluded me.

I own one , the Buck Hartsook but , I would carry it in my pocket before hanging it on my neck.
 
I carry an Izula neck knife everyday. It's like a piece of jewelry in that I always have it on and it just looks like ball chain dogtags or necklace. It's handy if I forget my pocket knife or if I'm camping I usually leave it hanging outside my shirt for easy access. I also take it out at lunch and lay it on my desk because it's great for food prep. No nooks and crannies or mechanism for food to get caked in. Wipes clean easily. It's my most useful traditional knife by far.
 
One can always point to The Onion Field, but in such a case a knife concealed in one's belt, pocket or somewhere else will be equally, if not more, useful.

I suspect the neck knife is based in the supposition that if someone is totally disarmed, the neck knife can be utilized. It's doubtful that a thorough search would not detect the neck knife or, if it is not thorough, that a pocket knife or clip knife also would escape detection.

Remember the movie, Cliffhanger? The good guy's hanging from the cliff and the bad guy's stomping his fingers? The good guy reaches down, pulls out his trusty Spyderco and plants it in the guy's leg, sending him plunging to his death. If you'll recall, he pulled the knife out of his pocket, not from his neck knife.

But neck knives sell, and they're used. It's just one more type of concealment, though. People can always use pocket knives for daily chores and such, where a concealed neck knife pretty much is good only for last ditch means of saving one's life.

If one is taking a walk or is expecting that he or she may have to use a knife and draw it suddenly, neck knives make splendid sense. My K4 draws quickly and cleanly, faster than I can get to any other knife. If wearing a jacket, one can deploy a neck knife with blinding speed and precision. Alas, many such knives are small and good only for quick slashes. Smith & Wesson's boot knife is formidable, but it's more of a boot knife and is very heavy for neck use. Still, it can be so deployed.


ColdSteelK4_2.jpg


The K4 comes with a very nice Secure-Ex sheath.

CS49HK.jpg


This CS Mini-Tac is $45!


SWHRT2.jpg


This mean little neck knife is $22.


M05340.jpg


This Meyerco is a splendid double-bladed knife
and goes for $4.99!

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if i buy a neck knife i carry it on my belt or in my pocket, im afraid of skewering myself if it comes loose
 
I gave an AG Russell Woodswalker in a neck sheath a fair trial. It's handy for a sitting position, and I'll try it again if I ever get back to canoeing seriously. Makes a good patch knife if you happen to be shooting a muzzle loader. Other than that, the neck carry did not seem to have any advantages. I've moved on to the hip pocket sheath. Like it much better. I'll probably have a try with an AG Russell Hunter's Scapel before too long. Like the looks of the sheath on that one much better.

Candidly, some of the stuff you have been looking at seems to me to be serious legal trouble waiting to happen. I've carried knives all my life and seen my share of trouble. When it comes time to tell it to the judge, I'd far rather be explaining a common and useful tool than an obvious weapon.
 
I'm curious about Neck knives also. I've not understood the attraction, but I think I am beginning to.
 
A neck knife is an easy way to carry a smallish FB. They can be useful, but there are some issues about them.

Being worn around the neck, it's position isn't going to be at one place, possibly making it difficult to get to it easily & quickly.

You're giving up quick access for extreme concealability.

Check with your local & state laws. Many places just plain don't allow them.

Having said that, my 3 favorite of those type of knives are:
HAK (HideAwayKnife)
Emerson La Griffe
Spyderco Swick (& the SPOT, but they're discontinued & harder to find now).

I EDC my HAK. It's on my keychain & I have it laying outside my pocket for quick, easy, & legal access (It's not covered by an untucked shirt).

If you do decide to neck carry anyways, I think weight is probably the most important thing to keep in mind (Along with a VERY secure sheath).
 
I'd prefer a necker that is more useful for EDC purposes such as an Izula. I'm sure that it's great for SD if you need something pointy in a pinch. To the untrained little me, there's little difference between pointy things for SD (except the longer and pointier the better)
 
wongKI has a point. A good necker should be like good EDC. Most dagger / double and or fance serated ones fail in that point. I like my Neck Knife, made my Michael Morris:

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Imho this type knife is one of the best what you can have for neck or boot knife. Solid small fixed blade with very useful blade shape and geometry,
 
If you look at it in a outdoor person way, a neck knife is the back up to the belt knife.
If you are canoeing, a neck knife is useful if you need to cut something.
One good neck knife/hunting knife is the Fallkniven WM1. The G1 is also a neck knife but since it is double edged it is not that good for bushcraft/ camping survival.

Rumours say that swedish special forces use the WM1 as a neck knife under their shirt.
You might loose your backpack, your chest rig, your boots and trousers but it is less likely that you loose what you have around your neck :) A firesteel and a small neck knife might be the difference between this and that.
 
I've always found the symmetry of boot knives to be sexy.
l_2c305cf52c3e4e35b4bf386f087e9d50.jpg
 
Tostig said:
The concept of having a knife hanging on a chain or rope around my neck has always eluded me.

I own one , the Buck Hartsook but , I would carry it in my pocket before hanging it on my neck.
Click to expand...

You might not want to do this in Ca. Any fixed blade regardless of length must be worn showing or you can be charged with felony concealed weapon. Note CLO1 mentions even his HAK he has hanging outside his pocket.

Unless you are willing to wear it outside your shirt and deal with all the looks that will get you, that kind of takes care of neck knives in Ca.
 
Yes, California is the closest thing to police state that we have. Glenn Beck said last night that the state is bankrupt and, unless it was bailed out, was looking at complete failure. The state has known this was coming for years and took no measures to rectify anything. Next year, I understand the state is going to increase withholding 10%, just so it can used the peoples' money tax free for a year. It sure has a lot more to worry about than whether someone's wearing a neck knife!

But I understand about the appearance. Having said that, the only way someone would know I had the knife is if I had to use it, then it would be moot. Any double-edged knife is illegal in California. The state even limits the size of pepper spray that can be carried to 2.5 ounces. Absurd!

Chances are if one has a clean record, has a responsible job and a neat appearance, having a neck knife won't make a difference. My EDC is a 5-inch Cold Steel Gunsite tanto, and it's superb; so I've never seen any need for a neck knife. If you do have one and are at close quarters, and under immediate threat, the knife has to be drawn and you must move in and slash, then concentrate on extraction. If the person is holding a weapon, that has to be the first target.

I've watched Cold Steel's new video on its Inferno pepper spray and think that might be a better way to go for personal protection. In some cases, though, I can see a need for a neck knife.

I still haven't read any accounts where anyone has actually used one. I'd like to see some circumstances in which they have been used.
 
I wear a necker outside my jacket or coat while hiking or snowshoeing during the colder months. It beats digging under layers to get my knife.
 
I wear carpenters pants almost every day, and I keep a SpyderCo knife in the right hip pencil pocket. I'm not sure what model it is, as I have had it for at least 10 years it doesn't say. It looks like a C14BK. I used it to cut my boss off of a forklift after an accident once. I'm not sure this was the kind of life saving incident you were looking for, but I know one guy who is really glad I always have it in my pocket. (well two including me).


For what it's worth

Peat
 
I carry a necker occasionally. It's ok way of carrying. I can find it easy enough if I'm not wearing too many layers.

Are we talking about open carry in the woods or concealed carry in the city here?
 
I have a Buck Smidgen (like a Hartsook), but I clip it to a beltloop with a carabiner rather than wearing around my neck.

I recently got a Landi PSK that has a neck sheath. I am more apt to carry it in a pocket sheath, but the neck sheath is handy when wearing winter clothing or maybe a pack with a hip belt when it is awkward to get at a belt-worn knife.

Both of these are edc utility knives, not tactical SD knives.
 
Confederate said:
Yes, California is the closest thing to police state that we have. Glenn Beck said...
Click to expand...
That's a ridiculous statement. They have a republican governator (Aaaarnold!!), weed is almost completely legal there, and residents are allowed to carry automatic knives [below a certain length]. And besides, Glenn Beck is just a right-wing Michael Moore (minus 200 lbs....).

Equally ridiculous is your notion that a neck knife is an efficient SD implement. Carrying something below several layers of clothing, in a retention system that constantly shifts position, while at the same time breaking laws in an easy-to-detect manner, is neither practical or intelligent.

An "ordinary" folder clipped to your pocket, or even a FB on your belt, will do the job reliably, consistently, and legally.
 
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