Hi all, I'm looking for some opinions on neck knives, such as when and why you would carry and use them, how you'd carry, i.e. in our out of the shirt, how long you would string your cord (or how much clearance you leave for your head to pass through), what your ideal weight and stock thickness is, what style of knife you are most likely to neck carry, and anything else you would like to say on the topic of neck knives. Thanks!
Well, that's a lot of questions there ! But it's a thorough approach and I have a serious answer (opinion) for all of them !
When ? All the time. It's the first knife I take up in the morning and the last I put down when I go to sleep.
Why ? I like to always have a knife on me. The necker is the solution, IMO.
Use ? To cut anything that can be managed with a smaller blade (99 % of my cutting tasks nowadays can be managed with a necker).
Carry ? In shirt (when I wear a shirt). I agree it's rather a summer thing. In winter, I have enough pockets to carry all the knives I want. And I don't see the practicality of rummaging around in your clothes to take out a knife.
Length of string ? I like the loop to be long enough that the knife can be drawn easily (handle at stomach height, more or less).
Clearance for the head ? Easy to put on without scraping the nose or brushing off the glasses.
Weight ? As light as possible. In my experience, 3.5 oz (100 grams) would be the maximum for comfortable carry all day long.
Stock ? Thin. I have no need for prying bar thickness on a necker. So, around 1/12" (depending on grind and length) would be perfect.
Style ? A versatile blade (any drop point, clip point or upswept pattern) and a slim, flattish handle.
I'd like to add that the sheath is of the greatest importance. The knife should be relatively easy to draw but, most of all, the retaining action must be totally reliable. You don't want to loose your knife, or worse, puncture your gut.
