Neck Knife

[Patrick]

#6835

I have been considering getting one for a while, but never saw anything I really liked…until now: A Bark River Adventurer. Just to see how comfortable it is (or not), I wore it to work today (Shhhh…don’t tell anyone!). I’m liking it so far! I’ll be swapping out the paracord for a leather cord as soon as it arrives.

The sheath has “rare earth magnets” built into it, which definitely lends to a sense of the knife being very secure.

[Doc Nock]

#55273

Patrick wrote: I have been considering getting one for a while, but never saw anything I really liked…until now: A Bark River Adventurer. Just to see how comfortable it is (or not), I wore it to work today (Shhhh…don’t tell anyone!). I’m liking it so far! I’ll be swapping out the paracord for a leather cord as soon as it arrives.

The sheath has “rare earth magnets” built into it, which definitely lends to a sense of the knife being very secure.

I’d have liked to see that. I’m rather partial to neck knives.

My friend, Ed Schlief at AK Bowhunting Supply used to have a neat neck knife for sale…had 1000 yr old walrus jaw bone handle and laminate over the sheat… very sharp. I also have one made from a think band saw blade another guy gave me. Both are so handy.

The “rare earth” magnet intrigues me as mine are in there only by friction of the sheath.

Photopuke won’t let me see the pics… constant issues with them…!

[Patrick]

#55297

Doc Nock wrote: I’d have liked to see that. I’m rather partial to neck knives.

My friend, Ed Schlief at AK Bowhunting Supply used to have a neat neck knife for sale…had 1000 yr old walrus jaw bone handle and laminate over the sheat… very sharp. I also have one made from a think band saw blade another guy gave me. Both are so handy.

The “rare earth” magnet intrigues me as mine are in there only by friction of the sheath.

Photopuke won’t let me see the pics… constant issues with them…!

Hmmm…I edited the post. Hopefully that helps. Not sure why it’s showing.

A 1000 year old walrus jaw bone handle would be pretty dang cool!

[jpc]

#55298

As long knifes exist we wear them at belt

When a dick nife ?

[Patrick]

#55310

jpc wrote: As long knifes exist we wear them at belt

Not this guy. 😉

jpc wrote: When a dick nife ?

Need you to clarify that one.

[Doc Nock]

#55311

JPC,

NECK…the “other” is a bit farther south… 😯

As I understand it, and I’m no historian, is that the neck knife evolved from the “patch knife” whereby early mountain men would have raw ticking cloth in their “possibles” bag, charge the flinter, stuff a ball into the ticking and then grab the patch knife around their neck to cut off a suitable size “patch” around the ball, so it was a “patch knife”, and as repeters and breech loaders came on the scene, the “patch” knife remained in use around the neck as a Neck Knife!

I have a bunch of sheath knives…all good ones, but whenever I’d sit down anywhere, they’d stab me in the kidney with the straight handle… went to lock back folders in a sheath on my belt, which was a grand improvement (for me)… and carry the sheath knives in my pack for more involved tasks.

I found the neck knife really does all purpose… mine isn’t terribly long, couple short inches, but hey… it has gutted and skinned a few deer and other critters!

Hope that helps! Preparing for moving, all that stuf fis packed away, or I’d post a pic of that walrus bone handle..it was buried in the AK beach somewhere and is speckled black (mineralized) so it’s pretty interesting! Only AK natives can use it and Ed would have them do the handles to a custom knife makers work…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#55335

I’ve looked at those new Adventurers – it’s great looking knife and a nice size. Dyed maple burl on that handle?

Here’s mine – a Blind Horse “Frontier Trapper:”

Bone handle

D2 steel

6″ overall

2-3/8 blade

[Patrick]

#55454

Smithhammer wrote: I’ve looked at those new Adventurers – it’s great looking knife and a nice size. Dyed maple burl on that handle?

It was described as “Brown Gold Crosscut Maple Burl”. Not sure if it’s dyed to be honest. I really like the size of it. Not too big/heavy and not too small.

Smithhammer wrote: Here’s mine – a Blind Horse “Frontier Trapper:”

Really nice looking knife ya got there.

[James Harvey]

#55466

Both good looking little knives fellas.

[Ralph]

#55531

“The sheath has “rare earth magnets” built into it”

Duncan, that’s the knife that needs the compass on it. 😀

[Patrick]

#55668

R2 wrote: “The sheath has “rare earth magnets” built into it”

Duncan, that’s the knife that needs the compass on it. 😀

Better hurry too…they’re rare, ya know. 😆

[Ralph]

#55674

Ha! Patrick I’m showing my age uh. 😀 You knew my wires were crossed. 😳

Nice knife by the way.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#56608

My other neck knife, and probably the most useful small fixed blade I own – a Bark River “Mini Canadian:”

[Doc Nock]

#56652

Great knives, guys!

Mine is a top draw, too, like your Canadian, Bruce. I wish mine weren’t all packed “somewhere” I’d love to share mine… if this thread is still around in a couple weeks, when I get moved, maybe then…? LOL:lol:8)

[Patrick]

#58608

R2 wrote: Ha! Patrick I’m showing my age uh. 😀 You knew my wires were crossed. 😳

Nice knife by the way.

My wires are always crossed. 🙂

And thanks!

Doc Nock wrote: if this thread is still around in a couple weeks, when I get moved, maybe then…? LOL:lol:8)

I’ll keep it active for ya. 😉

Smithhammer wrote: My other neck knife, and probably the most useful small fixed blade I own – a Bark River “Mini Canadian:”

You like the handle on that Mini-Canadian, Smithhammer?

I wore my knife all weekend long. Only removed it to sleep. It’s very comfortable. Barely even realize I’m wearing it. That’s saying a lot considering I’ve never wore a neck knife before! Luckily the 4mm leather cord arrive on Friday. Looks much better than the paracord. The sheath is absolutely perfect.

[Doc Nock]

#58621

Patrick,

Thanks… I’ll look for it…but when it comes to this computer technology, starting over down in TN might take a while! 😀

I will be trying to get thru this from my new cell phone…know nothing about doing that but I have a couple GB of data / month till I get settled with an ISP provider…. choices are limited and I do NOT want Commie CAST as they’re just too freaky to deal with and I DO NOT want TV access! Waste of time…

Now that I’m done ranting… Mine is on some sort of wire with colored small beads… that hanges nicely around my neck… low enough for the top draw effect and a very slim handle… decent blade… one of those high # SS I believe…it takes an edge, but you work at it, but once it’s there, it lasts and lasts…thankfully. Thankful for my KME or I’d never get it sharp!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#58938

Patrick wrote:

You like the handle on that Mini-Canadian, Smithhammer?

Yeah, I do. Normally not a fan of finger grooves on a handle at all, but Bark River gets it right on the Canadians – it’s just enough of a groove to be able to ‘index’ the handle, but not enough to be obtrusive at all, in any grip style. And on the Mini-Can, it’s easy to hold it in a 3-finger grip, or choke up on it with a full 4-finger grip. Very versatile little knife. The whole Canadian series are some of my favorite Bark Rivers, for sure.

[jason samkowiak]

#62555

Something worth trying if you want to.

I carry a neck knife every day (have for last 5 years) but I don’t wear it around my neck. mine is a esee izula (about the size of the ones you guys are showing). I put a string thru the sheath like you would wear it tip up around your neck but I made the string shorter and put a loop in it. the string is about 3 inches long. I put the loop thru my belt and let the knife hang tip up/handle down in my front pocket. the string is long enough to let the whole knife down in my pocket but short enough that the knife doesn’t hit the bottom of my pocket. This puts the weight on my belt and I never feel it there. when I want to deploy the knife I hook my thumb behind the string and pull. the knife and sheath come out of my pocket into my hand and I just pull the knife out of the sheath when the handle gets to my hand. to put the knife back in the sheath I just stick the tip into the sheath and then push it against me as it goes into the sheath. very fast, very comfortable, and my favorite way to carry a knife.

[wojo14]

#10172

I picked up an Asbell armguard with knife.

Very impressed with the knfe and armguard. He sells neck sheaths for the little knife

[wojo14]

#10176

Jason, That is clever. I am going to get me a sheath and do the same in the pocket!!!

[Doc Nock]

#14941

Jason is FULL of such great ideas!!!

Made ya look, huh, Jase?!:D

Older gent who bought Dunn Knives would set up at the Harrisburg PA “Sport & Outdoor Show same as Mr. Dunn.

He had a bolster THRU his knife handle, and would wrap parachord around the belt so the knife, if it pulled outa the sheath, wouldn’t be lost… but Jason’s idea is slick too!!!

[Doc Nock]

#14944

I promised on this thread that when I got myself more organized, I’d post up my 1000 yr old mineralized walrus bone handled neck knife.

I can’t say I’m “organized” but I did stumble across my knife.

I haven’t posted a lot of pics and hope i did this ok…

I got this from Alaska Bowhunting Supply…which has changed considerably since Ed’s son took over managing the biz. The knives, gloves, silencers and other drivel I liked, have been removed from inventory… but it was a great knife, patterned on an early “patch knife” design of the frontiermen. It is made with some higher grade SS that is still sharpen-able, but really holds an edge…

Handle is a wee bit small, for my paw, but I find even wet with blood, this baby doesn’t slip. Perhaps its the grit like condition of the mineralized bone??

the sheath front is the same material as the handle… turns up on beaches in AK… but a lot of it turns to dust when hits the air…this is very dense… the mineralizing is what gives it strength.. I took with great camera phone, but reducing to fit here really took out the clarity and detail, but you get the idea…

[Ralph]

#14956

That’s pretty darn sharp :-)) my friend. I like it.

[Doc Nock]

#14963

Thanks, Ralph. It IS pretty sharp! LOL

I used to take a lot of Ed’s “snake oil” to shoots thru the summer and walk around campfires peddling it. He’d drop ship to me a nd I’d stockpile the stuff, then meet him at Denton Hill, where he had a booth, so he didn’t have to have it all shipped to him in Anchorage, then pay to get it to PA on a plane.

He wanted me to take out dealer % on what I sold…but I didn’t… he was a friend, for crying out loud… and it saved folks paying shipping from AK. Win-win!

One day, that neck knife showed up in my mailbox with a thank you note.:shock:

Now that they’re no longer available makes it even more “special” to me.

The sheath had baleen on it but it started to pup up in strips and jag me, so he took it back and put the walrus on the sheath, too.

Wonderful memory and a grand knife that has gutted a few deer and done the lion’s share of skinning them too..

[Doc Nock]

#14976

NOt a neck knife, but it easily could be…

My parents had friends from Norway & Sweeden… we kept their 3 kids at our place while the parents went back to the home country to visit family.

Knowing I loved the outdoors, they brought me a Mountain Knife.

I noted a guy from Sweden on another site and wrote to him and he had me photograph the knife, retype what was stamped in the sheath and he researched it.

Turned out to be an original Helle knife, with Ram horn handle wafers.

Since we’re sharing… takes one wicked edge, but I seldom carry it, having a host of other less personal knives to carry/use.

Ive had that knife for over 55 yrs…took it too a leather shop and had the top tang leather holder replaced as it was shot.

Thanks for letting me share that with ya’ll… (I’m in TN now so that is the proper plurality I believe):D

[Ralph]

#15207

Doc Nock wrote: NOt a neck knife, but it easily could be…

My parents had friends from Norway & Sweeden… we kept their 3 kids at our place while the parents went back to the home country to visit family.

Knowing I loved the outdoors, they brought me a Mountain Knife.

I noted a guy from Sweden on another site and wrote to him and he had me photograph the knife, retype what was stamped in the sheath and he researched it.

Turned out to be an original Helle knife, with Ram horn handle wafers.

Since we’re sharing… takes one wicked edge, but I seldom carry it, having a host of other less personal knives to carry/use.

Ive had that knife for over 55 yrs…took it too a leather shop and had the top tang leather holder replaced as it was shot.

Thanks for letting me share that with ya’ll… (I’m in TN now so that is the proper plurality I believe):D

We spell ya’ll, y’all around here. 😉

[Doc Nock]

#15226

R2 wrote: We spell ya’ll, y’all around here. 😉

WEll, I’ve noticed that the “TRUE” S’uthiners have a two-syllable sound to vowels… not that short-chopped Mex-Tex stuff, Ralph!:roll:8):shock:

[Doc Nock]

#15228

And y’all is what a plane or boat does when it pivots on its central axis, yes?:lol::D

[Ralph]

#15235

And u-haul is what you do when you move down south. Not uh-aul:D

Y’all here ya’ll there. I understand, I-40 runs a bit uphill as gets to y’all’s south.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/y’all

And when it comes to boats, they waller around.

[Doc Nock]

#15253

AAAGGGGGGGgggghhhhhhh!!!!:D:lol::roll:

I give up!:lol:

[Ralph]

#15256

That’s another sharp knife David :D:wink:

Dang sure one not to take a chance of losing.

[Col Mike]

#15273

U uns crack me up. However a Yawl is a sail boat where the mizzen mast is stepped aft of the rudder post as opposed to ketch rigging.

The yaw maneuver can be down by planes and space ships but boats that try it usually end up sunk. Now a tank can pivot on it’s axis as most tracked vehicles can and that’s called a neutral steer.

Doc U’se stay safe down thar till u learn da ropes.

To keep us on thread–nek knife man I wor mine on da belt. :D:D time for some shine:shock:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#15274

Doc – that is one sweet puuko. Not sure I’ve seen one quite like that, with stacked ram’s horn before. But knives are meant to be used – carry that thing!!

[Ralph]

#15290

Mike, I think all the above describes me when I’m stumbling around.:) My old legs ain’t as good as they used to be sometimes.

Back in my old life I might have added some wallerin to the stumbling after a few too many of the hops.

Back then a neck knife might of upset my balance, made me top heavy. 🙄

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#17189

Another way I sometimes prefer to carry a smaller fixed blade, when I don’t want one on my belt or I’m wearing a pack with a waistbelt:

These pocket sheaths ride nice and slim, and keep your knife upright in the pocket. I usually either carry it in a front pants pocket, or the side pocket of a coat.

[Patrick]

#17195

Doc Nock wrote: I promised on this thread that when I got myself more organized, I’d post up my 1000 yr old mineralized walrus bone handled neck knife.

I took with great camera phone, but reducing to fit here really took out the clarity and detail, but you get the idea…

You can’t tease us like that! I want to see that handle up close and personal! 8)

[Ralph]

#17425

I have a vest of many pockets that I always wear when hunting and I have several knives with about 3″ blades. I used to carry just one but I was always reaching in the wrong side pocket for my knife. So since they don’t weigh much I carry one on each side now.

Great for an absent minded person if you know any. 😀

[grumpy]

#17513

Is that kinda like the Lone Ranger with 2 six shooters.

Youse guys crack me up.

[Ralph]

#17546

I can’t find mine right now. Not because of moving or anything, I just put it somewhere safe I guess. 😀

[Ralph]

#20504

I find:D I’ll have to attribute the misplacement to old age. I never put things where they belong.

It’s Solegen with a 2 1/2″ blade that I bought when I was in Switzerland in 1963 I think it was.

The sheath looks a little handmade:D

[Patrick]

#20607

R2 wrote: I find:D I’ll have to attribute the misplacement to old age. I never put things where they belong.

Was it around your neck? 😆

[Ralph]

#20764

Shhhhhhhhhhh!:D

[Doc Nock]

#21471

Smithhammer wrote: Doc – that is one sweet puuko. Not sure I’ve seen one quite like that, with stacked ram’s horn before. But knives are meant to be used – carry that thing!!

Had to Google PUUKKO, but found it. This isn’t FINNISH…Its got NORWAY stamped on the sheath…also fjellkniven if any of you are into Norwegian!

And Bruce… I’ve had that knife for oh… probably 50+ yrs… Way I loose things, I doubt I’ll ever carry it in the woods

Blade has S & S (big script, guess it’s an S) Helle, Norwary. Some staining on the blade, from the tanning stuff in the sheath all those years!

I thought the lady who gave it to me, lo those many, many years ago, said it was Mountain Goat horn, but the guy from Norway who researched it for me said it was Ram’s Horn or Sheep Horn…dunno…

Me likey!

[Doc Nock]

#21477

Patrick wrote:

You can’t tease us like that! I want to see that handle up close and personal! 8)

Sure, nuff, Patrick! You “c’mon down’ to Greeneville, TN and you can fondle it all you want… I got slobber cloths! 🙄

[Doc Nock]

#21483

R2 wrote: I find:D I’ll have to attribute the misplacement to old age. I never put things where they belong.

It’s Solegen with a 2 1/2″ blade that I bought when I was in Switzerland in 1963 I think it was.

The sheath looks a little handmade:D

My turn to return the compliment, Ralph. That is one serious looking li’l pig sticker! Fine, fine steel over those countries! Took their time and did it right…

Paid to put in time organizing all your drivel after months of hunting and slinging stuff all over the truck, garage, man cave, etc… HA!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#21612

Doc Nock wrote:

Had to Google PUUKKO, but found it. This isn’t FINNISH…Its got NORWAY stamped on the sheath…also fjellkniven if any of you are into Norwegian!

And Bruce… I’ve had that knife for oh… probably 50+ yrs… Way I loose things, I doubt I’ll ever carry it in the woods

Blade has S & S (big script, guess it’s an S) Helle, Norwary. Some staining on the blade, from the tanning stuff in the sheath all those years!

I thought the lady who gave it to me, lo those many, many years ago, said it was Mountain Goat horn, but the guy from Norway who researched it for me said it was Ram’s Horn or Sheep Horn…dunno…

Me likey!

Doc –

Yup, strictly speaking, “puukko” is a Finnish word, but it is a common knife style throughout Scandanavia, esp. in the north country. Helle (Norwegian) makes a number of “puukko-style” knives, as does Mora (Swedish), Fallkniven (also Swedish), and a host of others. I like the handle size/blade ratio on puukkos, and I bet yours is a slicer!

[Ralph]

#21640

Too much sahti cause that too. puukko mucho. 😀

[Doc Nock]

#21662

AGgghhhh…all this knowledge my frazzled brain is trying to absorb!

Thanks, Bruce… come here and get an international education! Excellent!!8) I be smarter now.

Those horn scales appear very porous at this point, and to use it on a critter would soak that handle in blood…Bird’s head is polished, but the “wafers” are pretty porus and looks like leather spacers. The wafers have already absored oils from the leather sheath over the many decades and darkened…

Thanks for the information… I was told that fjellkn-beginning word meant “mountain knife” in Svveditch! Dunno… I just like it and the memories…

Ralph, you ain’t right in the head, Hoss! You need some wind blowing thru those ears to dust out yer cranium!:lol:8):shock:

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#21693

R2 wrote: Too much sahti cause that too. puukko mucho. 😀

Here’s a simple little pocket slip sheath I made today, to go along with a Case Trapper for a Christmas present for a friend. Helps keep the knife upright in your pocket, and keeps it from getting scratched up against keys, change, etc. and lint-free. I have one of these in my pocket just about everyday, and barely notice it.

[Doc Nock]

#21705

Slicer Bruce? As in sharp or a larger knife?

Mine is 7″ from tip o f blade to end of handle…blade is exactly half that at 3.5″.

More googling to find out Sahti is a beer…makes more better sense now… thought it was Ralph going batty using/inventing Mex/Tex languages

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#21730

Doc Nock wrote: Slicer Bruce? As in sharp or a larger knife?

As in a thin, “slicey” blade.

[Doc Nock]

#21867

Smithhammer wrote:

As in a thin, “slicey” blade.

Thanks! Wonderful Language English, but it can be non-descriptive at times

Blade is approx 3/32 thick and is 3/4″ at the deepest part at the bolster.

My KME put a razor’s edge on it — I might oil rub those horn wafers or something… tongue oil would dry hard and build up coats… preserve the horn so it doesn’t absorb blood and guts etc… hmmm…

Like I need another knife to drag to the woods…

[Fallguy]

#31809

Here is mine, the blade is only a 1/16 thick at the spine. The handle is Juniper. It weighs 650 grains, light for a knife but reasonable for a arrow.

[Doc Nock]

#31826

What’s not to like! That looks like a workhorse! Full tang… light weight comes from the handle I’d guess…

Sweet looking tool! I like it!

[David Coulter]

#31876

Fallguy, I really like the basic, sort of homemade appeal of this knife. Very nice. A basic simple tool and the beauty is in the simplicity. best, dwc

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#32457

dwcphoto wrote: Fallguy, I really like the basic, sort of homemade appeal of this knife. Very nice. A basic simple tool and the beauty is in the simplicity. best, dwc

What David said.

Fallguy – did you make that knife?

[David Coulter]

#32606

Here’s my neck knife, made by Bud Nealy, of Stroudsburg, PA. He made it for me with what he calls, “his poor first attempt at Damascus steel.” I’m happy with it. I guess I’m not as picky. It was a two knife set. The camp knife is the other piece. best, dwc

[David Petersen]

#32941

Well shucks, I guess I’ll say what I’ve thought forever about neck knives: they are jewelry, not utility. Nothing wrong with jewelry, mind you, but I hate anything hanging around my neck (reminds me too much, perhaps, of a hangman’s noose) and when I try to picture myself going for a knife in a split-second emergency, I never reach for my neck. I do love the little knives, but would rather wear them on my belt or an arm guard. Differing tastes–that’s what makes the world go round. Well, in fact our tastes, or anything about us, has zip to do with why the world “goes round,” which itself is a sloppy statement. Anyhow, life is short, toys are fun and artful toys even more fun, so why not stick you neck out for what you enjoy? 😛

[David Coulter]

#32995

That made me giggle. I rarely even wear a knife on my belt anymore. My pocket knife, an absolute essential part of my being since I was a boy, goes in my pocket. Sometimes, two, like an absent minded chain smoker lighting another with one burning in the ash tray. Sometimes two, because I can’t make up my mind which one to take. My sheath knife goes in the pack, unless I’m traveling really light and then it usually goes in my pocket. I’ve met guys who actually use their neck knife, but it requires two hands to put it away, safely at least. When my friend made this one for me, I had to ask what it was for. When he told me, I asked him wasn’t I suppose to keep knives away from my neck?

I’m honored to have these two pictured above made specifically for me and even named for me, but they pretty much stay in the safe. My boots are a little too scuffed and my car has too many dents in it to carry those things seriously. That said, I’ll probably get a more utilitarian neck knife someday and keep it handy in my pocket.

best, dwc

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#33122

In my experience, it’s a way of carry that may take a little getting used to, but I hardly even notice I’m wearing one anymore. It’s no more ‘jewelry’ than any other way of carrying, it’s just another option (and a less visible one). And no more hazardous than other ways of carrying, assuming you have the proper sheath/retention. I particularly like it when I want to carry a small fixed blade (which is most of the time), but don’t want to have a knife on my belt, for various reasons.

However, I only like small fixed blades this way – if it’s a full-sized knife, it either goes on my belt, in a pocket sheath in my coat, or in my pack.

[Fallguy]

#33540

Smithhammer, I did not make the knife but I did reshape the blade profile and I did make the sheath.

DWCPhoto,I always seem to use both hands when putting a fixed blade back in the sheath. The only knife I can use one handed is an assisted opening CRKT folder with a pocket clip.

I find the neck knife is handiest for me when I am sitting in my canoe. When I have life jacket on it is harder to get at my pockets and belt knives get caught under the jacket. It is also a very lite thin blade for delicate work.

Dave, maybe this one is more to your liking.

[Patrick]

#33718

One of the things I like about using my neck knife is that I don’t have to wear a belt. Generally speaking, I only wear a belt to wear my knife. I don’t know how many times I’ve had my knife on my belt, under other layers, which is difficult to get to. With the neck knife, I can wear it on the outside, or under my jacket. Either way, it’s easy to get to.

[David Coulter]

#34127

I used to wear my Swiss Army knife on a piece of rope around my neck when backpacking as my pants didn’t have pockets. It was not ideal but served the purpose of keeping it handy. With your comments in mind, this afternoon I put a lanyard from a game call on a small sheath knife. It’s more of a dagger than a hunting knife, but it’ll serve the purpose and I can give this an honest try. If I like it… I’ve always liked those Asbell knives so maybe I’ll have an excuse to order one. You guys are a bad influence. Dwc

[sinawalli]

#36310

Personally I don’t like anything around my neck. I made one for my daughter and she likes it. Fixed blade goes in my pack and if I need a knife, my Emerson is forever in my pocket.

[Author]

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