I went to an outdoor survival and skills class with a "now do what you learned" part of it and the teacher always wore his knife around his neck and he uses Mora knives which are inexpensive and actually nice looking. He primarily used the shorter ones with the wood handles and no guard. In his book he outlines why that is a great place to carry it and why Mora are his choice. I thing his name is Mors Kochanski and it is a book called Bushcraft. It is a truly easy to read and completely illustrated guide for how to get by with very little and what you really need to get buy for a couple of days assuming you have learned how to use the stuff! Any wilderness fisherman/hunter should read this! After his class I carry a TON less than I used to and can always use some of what he teaches. Clothing, food, fire, all of it is in there. He has an impressive resume over decades of knowledge and teaching. Thought a few of you might be interested in something like this...
Mors Kochanski is the real deal, knows of what he speaks through experience. I've had the pleasure of being in one of his seminars would love to do a multi-day course with him. While not my favortive knife I do have many Mora's and if yea ask me to borrow you a knife it's more than likely to be a Mora.
I just staryed to carry or wear a necker, one I made from a blank I got from Dryad [Hella]. I find that it is reall kind'a handy to have it right in front you all the time.
I could never cotton to something swinging from my neck so never owned one.
I use them alot when I do, what is referred to as "Historical Trekking", which is basically camping, using woods skills, and tools that were available in the 18th c.
I LOVE my neck knives!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I have a small necker that was made by Frank Scukanec(sticshooter) and given to me by my "Brother" Drew Reniff(drewsbow) that goes with me on just about EVERY outdoor trip. Also, My "Brother" Ken Mowrey(adkmountainken) gave me a BEAUTIFUL knife with Moose antler scales that was made by Matt Lesnewski of ML Knives. It came to me with a single slot "mountain man" style sheath. Last night I just finished making a neck sheath for it that acualy came out VERY nice,if I must say so myself. The knife is about 9" overall,which most will think is too big for a necker. However,it was very common for Native Americans to carry a "trade knife" in a neck sheath.(trade knive came in several lengths,with blades up to 8" long) I also have a Norwegian "Rover" knife(like a Swedish Mora) that I carry on a leather thong around my neck. This knife however, will soon be leaving me..... ;)
I have carried a Becker Necker for quite some time. It is the one in this picture. The other knife is the Heat from Camillus before they went out of business and of course my Leatherman wave. The mag block and striker fits in my Leatherman pouch.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s14/tsturn/Knives-1.jpg)
Hi All,
Fred Asbell has a nice article on neck knives in the Oct/Nov 2009 issue of "Traditional Bowhunter" magazine. A good read!
Been carrying neck since before neck knives were cool - lol. Don't like wearing a belt knife with a tree harness so I used to carry my knife in my daypack. One day I realized how useless that would be if I were ever hanging from the tree. Started carrying one ever since. I can tell you that the neck knife saved my butt on the Moose John when a dry bag strap hung up in a sweeper and was about to swamp the raft or worse. Yes, I'm a fan of neck knives.
I like'em, too. A Puuko knife is very well suited for the task. Marttini makes a pretty good utility Puuko knife.
I have looked at a lot of knives for a knecker and found one that I liked but it was made to go with a bow a guy built and I never have found one for me.
I will keep looking for THE knife.
Tim
Tim, Someone needs to give you a knife Man!!!!!
Knives are very special. Years ago,a knife was themost important thing that a man owned. If a man gave you his knife,it was the greatest of honors!!!!! That man gave you his most important possesion,and it was considered Good Luck to be the reciever of a knife,and that knife was considered a Good Luck Charm. Almost every knife that I own has been given to me,and I have given many away over the years.
I guess what I'm getting at is..... Stop trying to find the perfect knife for you,and start carrying a good knife around.(hopefully one that someone gave you would be nice) See how quickly you become VERY attached to it!!!!!
I would like a nice necker. I probably wouldn't use it a lot but it would be there for when I need it.
Here is one of mine, sorry for the large pic
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d78/stickbowguy/019.jpg
I purchased a "STIC" necker a short time back. It makes me smile every time I pull it out of the sheath. Do I need one? No. But it will be in the woods every time I am.
I also purchased a blade from Helli and a cocobolo block for the handle. Am in the process of making my own knecker.
I don't really understand neck knives for bowhunters.
They swing out when you bend, they interfere with your binoculars, hit your bowstring, and a pocketknife will do all the things a neckknife will.
I guess that's why we love America-- to each his own.
you can always tell if someone knows how to use a knife in a couple of ways...
is it sharp?
is the tip still there or does it look like a screw driver now?
if it is a folder, how easy does it open, or is it choked full of pocket lint?
and the list goes on....
I too read the article in TBM by Fred Asbell on the neck knife and thought I would give it a try. I had bought a small fixed blade knife years ago and had made a leather belt sheath for it. I modified the sheath with a neck strap and took it on a hunt. I found I actually used it quite a bit, especially to start holes for a dull set of tree pegs I have and to start holes for screw in bow holders. I tuck my neck knife into my coat so it doesn't get in the way when I am shooting. In the past I would struggle to get at my belt knife through all the layers of clothing during colder weather but having a neck knife gets rid of all that movement and struggle. I love mine.
i have one thats a green river blade my friend larry put together then i got a swiss army paring knife with a tom krien kydex neck sheath great combo. for shooting and anything else i put it under myshirt out of the way.
Well Ray, Now that's why I don't wear binoculars..... They interfere with my neck knife.
I don't like sharp things near my neck.
I keep mine down by my heart, stays away from the jugular that way :smileystooges:
A Blade Smith named Murry Carter, has a video on you tube where he talks and reccomends a neck knife, even over a larger belt knife, He even has about 10-12 free emails on knife sharpening tips the old school way. I found the video's very interesting and helpful.
QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Hammond:
I don't really understand neck knives for bowhunters.
They swing out when you bend, they interfere with your binoculars, hit your bowstring, and a pocketknife will do all the things a neckknife will.
I guess that's why we love America-- to each his own.
My thoughts exactly, a pocket knife and a big Bowie cover all bases.
Woodchucker,
Now I never thought of that!
Give up being able to see things you can shoot, so you can cut it when you don't shoot it! :bigsmyl:
Yeah, what he said,....no wait what he said.
Boy, if the Indians had only had binos! :D
Oh, I forgot to say, if somone wants to "give" me a necker, I will wear it.
Sound like I'm gonna have to give it a go.
You guys kinda got me pumped about it LOL
I would like to try one as well. Makes me a little nervous wearing anything around my neck, especially when I'm climbing trees, but I need an easily accessible knife in case I find myself helplessly dangling from my safety harness. A belt knife always seems to get pinched between me and my safety harness straps or is always buried under an outer layer.
Pocket knives can also be difficult to get to in a hurry, or they get twisted in my pocket and poke me :eek: . I don't want to be fumbling with a folding knife if I find myself hanging from my tree harness. A neck knife sounds like a good way to go.
Woodchucker: that was funny.
Ray, We are traditional bow hunters, we get close man, we don't need binos.
Thanks
Chuck; owner of the worlds finest austrian crystal and ZERO neck knives, but lots of folders,belt blades. And yes Matt, they are sharp and don't look like screw drivers.
P.S. did you see that guy cut down a 3-4" tree in about 5min with his mora nife? That was cool
I don't know if I'll like them or not, I have a Buck neck knife on order from Bass Pro Shop, it should be here tomorrow.
Frank
Two Tracks,
How do you get close?
If you hunt on the ground, and don't use binos, you're really hurting your chances.
I'm just sayin'.....YO.
I never really liked them.Thought they were impractical and regarded them as jewelry. Then somebody gave me this:
(These are thumbnails. You are supposed to click on them.)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Hunting%20and%20Camp/2009%20November%20Hunt/th_IMG_21561of2.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Hunting%20and%20Camp/2009%20November%20Hunt/IMG_21561of2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Hunting%20and%20Camp/2009%20November%20Hunt/th_IMG_21582of2.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/Hunting%20and%20Camp/2009%20November%20Hunt/IMG_21582of2.jpg)
Well, it was made from tool steel, and sharpened by a fella who makes his living using sharp things. It was also made from a really hard wood that grows near my birthplace in southern CA. The kicker is that it was made by a guy who commands the highest respect from me on a number of levels. And I have never met him, nor even heard his voice. Maybe he sounds like Don Knotts or Mortimer Snerd, but probably not. At any rate, he's a tremendously talented craftsman, a horseman, and a hunter who treads far from the beaten path and into true wilderness, and if he says "Try this" I jolly well jump.
So, yeah, I put it on and out I went for three weeks. Under the shirt, under the bino strap and the quiver strap. I really hate things around my neck. I never noticed it until I wanted a blade. There it was, handy and quick, and wicked sharp. You know what really bugged me about it?
When I came back, I couldn't wear it to work.
Post Office frowns on sharp stuff.
Killdeer :thumbsup:
Has anyone tryed one of G Fred's neck knives? I like the looks of one of them and was just wanting to know what others thought of them
Ray, I DO hunt on the ground,and SEEING things is the LEAST of my problems LOL!!!
You see, years ago I had Lazic surgery done on my eyes. Before the surgery,the Dr. told me that like every "40 something" year old guy,I was going to need reading glasses. Well, OK... What I didn't know,was over the progession of time that I was going to get even more FARSIGHTED!!! Now, I can see spikes on a buck 100 yards off and tell if they're the legal limit.(3") but I can't see the food in my plate right in front of me. Now seeing things is one thing, HITTING them is another.....
I couldn't hit water if I fell out of a boat!!!!!
I visited with Fred Asbell over the weekend at the Nashville PBS Gathering. He was apparently looking for a new hat:^) and had lots of questions about the Akubra Bushman I was wearing. On the other hand I couldn't take my eyes off the neck knife he had on each day. After two days of fighting the urge, I finally broke down and asked him for a demonstration. I bought two of his neck knives and sheaths and must say that I have no regrets. The ones I have are pretty simple, functional, and easy to sharpen. The curly maple handles and "antiqued" blades have lots of character - each one is unique. Did I mention that they're inexpensive? I think I'm hooked.
And woodchucker inspects rail cars! :goldtooth:
Yikes, frank!!!!
At least its not passenger trains!!!
Woodchucker, is that for real?? Maybe I should get that surgery!!! I can't see food on my plate OR bucks at 100 yards and tell anythign about them except that they are not hogs.
I never got into neck knives,But after being in the Marines I never go in the field without my K-bar IMO A good solid knife that you can use for everything from a hammer to a pry bar to skinning an animal.My K-bar worked great in the jungle,desert,and the mountains.Just can't think of that dangling around my neck.But I may try a small neck knife.
Nice looking knife, Kathy. I'm just a chicken. I've cut myself shaving too many times.
Well, Hmmmmm..... Actualy, They are passenger trains!!!!!
(I DO inspect them with my "cheaters" on though)
Yes Ray,It's "for real" LOL!!!!! I can count the seam tabs in the nieghbors roof shingles,and the brick joints on the front of his house,and he lives on the next street behind my house. (about 150 yards or so)
Last year I saw a deer about 80 yards away in the brush. He turned his head and I said to myself "it's a buck"..... He continued to walk and browse toward he untill he was about 5 yards away where he stopped to munch some acorns. Usualy this is the "slam-dunk" shot that I wait for..... But,it was my wife and I's anniversary and I promissed to be home by noon. So he got a pass,and continued to munch acorns for about another 20 minutes,before he wandered off never having known how close he was to dieing.
BTW, he had spikes as long as my index fingers..... ;)
QuoteOriginally posted by lpcjon2:
I never got into neck knives,But after being in the Marines I never go in the field without my K-bar IMO A good solid knife that you can use for everything from a hammer to a pry bar to skinning an animal.My K-bar worked great in the jungle,desert,and the mountains.Just can't think of that dangling around my neck.But I may try a small neck knife.
HooYah(Navyspeak for OOrah).
Check out TOPS knives, they are jammin.
I picked up one of the GFA Eastern hunter knives and neck sheath this winter. It was easy to sharpen, comfortable to wear and a good fit to my hand. I have found that smaller blades can be very useful, when kept sharp, and don't handicap you as long as you know how and where to cut. Didn't have a chance to use it on game this winter, but I am looking forward to turkey season and the fall. My wife thinks I am crazy for wanting to wear a knife around my neck, but she doesn't understand alot of the things I do;)
I too got one of G. Fred's neck knives at Denton Hill last summer. Absolutly love it. It made me a convert. Sharpens easily, takes a great edge, fairly thin blade is light weight around your neck. Cool looking, classic design. I don't go in the woods without it.
For everyone who is afraid they will accidentally cut their hearts out:
Everyone who has accidentally cut themselves while wearing a neck knife say something (unless you accidentally cut your fingers. :knothead:
I will have a necker soon enough. I want one with a 3" blade maybe less.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/carbon1.jpg)
i put together this neck knife with a short 2.5" helle blade and a handle i made out of red oak. i stuck it around my neck whilst hunting hogs in south carolina and i gotta agree with ray - don't work for me dangling around, just gets in the way and it don't feel all that comfy tucked away under a shirt or jacket. i put it in my my fanny pack or arrowmaster quiver pocket. where it did come in handy for field dressing and later butchering the hog in my avatar pic. :D
Rob,
What kind of leather did you use for the sheath??
QuoteOriginally posted by Teacher_of_the_Arcane:
Rob,
What kind of leather did you use for the sheath??
just some cowhide i had gotten years ago from brettuns village. about 6oz in weight.
6 oz is kind of light. Mora knives come with plastic, and my uncle used to forge knives and make the sheaths and saw one of the sheaths I made. The first thing he said was I used too light of weight leather. That was a hipper so it could get pushed through, but even around the neck I would go heavier with a welt for added protection. Gotta be careful! One more thing is with a more rigid sheath, you will find that you can get it out and replace it easier as well.
QuoteI don't really understand neck knives for bowhunters.
They swing out when you bend, they interfere with your binoculars, hit your bowstring, and a pocketknife will do all the things a neckknife will.
Add me to this list.
QuoteOriginally posted by SteveB:
QuoteI don't really understand neck knives for bowhunters.
They swing out when you bend, they interfere with your binoculars, hit your bowstring, and a pocketknife will do all the things a neckknife will.
Add me to this list. [/b]
I read Fred Asbel's article on neck knives a while back, and while I couldn't disagree with any of his points, I still can't get into the idea of using a neck knife. There's something about hanging a knife around my neck that makes me more than a little nervous. Maybe that's because I've always prefered folding knives.
The only knife a person gave me was a uncle when I was 7. It was shaped as a fish and I wore that one out. I was proud of that one.
I will keep looking Woodchuck.
Tim