skeleton/necker knives?

[Manosteel]

Who uses skeleton/necker knives? How do you find them, what do you use them for and how useful are they? It's been a while since I carried a fixed blade knife into the field but at 1 to 2 oz's it might but time to try one. And which ones would you recommend?

 

[crazy_davey]

Carried this one this last season and it did a great job on many animals. A great companion to the Havalon... Swamp Rat Warden:

Not my picture but the same knife.

 

[TheRambler]

I carry the Kabar becker necker bk11. It is the best knife I have ever owned for $30. Without anything added to it it weighs 2.5oz. With some custom handles and a kydex sheath it weighs 4.2oz. You can find them lots of places, i think Amazon has the cheapest price right now at $30 with free shipping. I have been able to use it for absolutely everything, its been my everyday carry knife for almost two years now. For everything from cutting open boxes to splitting firewood and gutting an animal. And it seems like whenever I need a bottle opener the knife comes in super handy! (the knife had a bottle opener built in). Yes there are "better" knives out there. But I will tell you with 100% confidence that for the price there isnt a better fixed blade knife out there. Moras are nice and all, but they are two different animals.

For any cutting task i have had zero complaints, works like a champ and holds an edge well and isnt very difficult to sharpen. The one "flaw" i guess is since the blade is on the smaller side it limits your ability to an extent to split wood. It can do it, its just a little tricky if its a larger piece. I don't split alot of wood with a knife, so its not a big deal IMO.

View attachment 12473
Image from kabar.com

 

[Hunt'nFish]

What is the purpose or fad w/ these? What can they do that the Kershaw folder in my pocket can't?
Enlighten me.
Hunt'nFish

 

[TheRambler]

Its not that they can or cant do anything different. Really the only difference is the overall strength of the knife as a whole. A full tang blade is inherantly stronger. What sifference does that really make in blades of this size? little to none. Its really just personal preference.

 

[SHTF]

What is the purpose or fad w/ these? What can they do that the Kershaw folder in my pocket can't?
Enlighten me.
Hunt'nFish

Im like you mike, Ive never gotten the whole neck knife thing. Personally anything hanging from my neck makes me want to rip it off. =)

 

[Aron Snyder]

Im like you mike, Ive never gotten the whole neck knife thing. Personally anything hanging from my neck makes me want to rip it off. =)

I don't know anyone the keeps it on their neck, but I know a ton that use them.

The strength, weight and size make them handy for backpacking.

Again, neck knife is the name, but it's just a light weight knife. Although you can, and some do where them as a necklace.

 

[SHTF]

I don't know anyone the keeps it on their neck, but I know a ton that use them.

The strength, weight and size make them handy for backpacking.

Again, neck knife is the name, but it's just a light weight knife. Although you can, and some do where them as a necklace.

Cody Lundeen was the first guy Ive seen actively wearing a neck knife. I guess the only real reason to wear it there is to conceal it but then again its under your coat or shirt so getting to it would be tricky in a truely tactical type situation which I guess I could see that being a good way to carry. Just like a Boot knife. being able to have access to your knife in a down and prone position can change the tide of a bad situation. I do like to carry my knife on my Shoulder straps of my pack. its a nice way to carry it when Im wearing the pack and want to have easy access to it. Otherwise I use my folder in my pocket.

 

[Manosteel]

Thanks for the info.

I want to try this type of knife b/c doing camp chores with a dedicated fixed blade would fit my stle of hunting and it seems to me the strength, weight and size is perfect. Basically an ultralight replacement for my old buck fixed blade I used in my 20's

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks guys for the clarification. Strong, lightweight...got it.

I recall Chris "CWH" posted a pic on here of a necker knife w/ a kydex sheath he made.
DIY: Kydex Sheaths
I do see it as a useful mode of carry for those in the northern climates where they wear a ton of layers and digging for a blade might be a real pain.
Hunt'nFish

 

[CHAD PEZZLE]

I bought a few of the Esee IZULA neck knives as groomsman gifts. The guys seem to like them. They came with a small kit that included different ways of mounting or attaching to your gear. Best deals I found were from Knife Works. http://www.knifeworks.com/ESEEIZULASurvivalKitandConcealedCarryKnifeBlack.aspx

Esee has a lot of nice skeletonized knives if your in the market.

Chad

 

[Wrongside]

I really like the BRKT Bravo Knecker 3V I've been using for the last year and a half. For all the reasons Aron mentioned, as well as the fact that they're easier to clean up well if used for gutting or processing.