Sleek neck knives for unconventional carry.
Over the years, I have struggled with neck knives, because to call them such seems so limiting. A small, fixed blade has an abundance of uses, and as far as ways to carry one, they run the gamut. A small fixed blade can go from neck carry to backup, depending on how you tote it and what you intend to use it for.
Spyderco Ark
To a T, the Ark fills the classical neck knife niche. Spyderco offers a small, trailing-tip clip point with some belly, providing the knife with a longer cutting edge for the overall length of the blade. A hollow grind on the H-2 steel blade gives the Ark its edge and the steel itself endows the Ark with much-needed rust resistance. Neck carry can prove hard on a knife, exposing it to perspiration and body oils.
For the handle, Spyderco opted for an overmolded design of fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN). A solid choice for this type of knife and the chores it faces. FRN maintains sturdiness while keeping the knife light. And it is wispy. Spyderco lists the knife’s weight at .9 ounces. At the time of writing, my scale is broken, but the feel of it tells me the company isn’t stretching its heft. If you used one word to describe the Ark, it’d be “light.” As for the handle’s profile, it has a classic index-finger choil, flaring out to a larger two-finger section, providing a solid grip on the small tool.
As for the sheath, it is made from polymer and boasts a solid locking system. At no point do you have to worry about the blade working free as you move during activities. This is good, given that, like most neck knives, the carry position hangs it upside down. Deployment is easy and fast, even with the sheath’s solid retention. And carry is pleasant, almost a second thought, given the Ark is not a boat anchor hanging around your neck.
If you are using it for self-defense or just to have a readily available blade, it is more than enough for both. I did find the sheath a bit fidgety when putting the knife back in. Not enough to make it a deal breaker. The locking system makes it so you must line things up properly when you go to sheath it. I would say a person could get a lot of use out of this blade.
Ark Specs
Blade Length: 2.56″
Overall Length: 4.98″
Blade Steel: H-2
Handle Material: FRN
Weight: .9 oz.
Grind: Hollow
Sheath: Kydex
Country Of Origin: Japan
MSRP: $124
Ketuo Beetle
First off, this design has major bling. With multiple colors and a crystallized titanium finish, it’s a looker, alright. At first glance, it gave me vibes of the old CRKT Ashworth Turtle knife.
Due to its size, the Beetle’s role is best confined to small chores, like opening packages your EDC gear arrives in. As a necklace, though, it might not be readily available; it is very discreet. You basically have a knife that passes as jewelry; if a person isn’t familiar with what they are looking at, you won’t set off any alarms. If you needed a small, quick edge, then the Beetle would shine as a tethered blade or keychain tool.
With practice, even though it is small, and I mean very small, you can get fast with it. The blade is a small spear tip design made from M390 steel. How they managed to saber-grind such a petite blade is an engineering feat. In short, the major chore this blade is suited for is everyday unboxing … or possibly a street fight with an Oompa Loompa.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the pincers at the end of the knife double as a bottle opener. The company refers to them as the knife’s “foot,” but the idea of a trotter opening my beer is unappealing. Ketuo, feel free to steal “pincers” from me as a marketing idea. Overall, the knife has more bling than hardcore utility, but this wouldn’t be the first knife people bought based on flash over function.
Beetle Specs
Blade Length: .9″
Overall Length: 2.79″
Blade Steel: M390
Handle Material: Titanium
Weight: 1.09 oz.
Grind: Saber
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $95
Skallywag MK2
Skallywag has a traditional-style neck knife you could use as a neck knife or pocket fixed knife with a tether. It comes with a molded Kydex sheath. My sheath fit is spot on with a positive lock and no rattling for a quiet carry. As a blade style, it is a 2-inch-long stylized clip point with a thumb indent, so that you can drive some power into the blade.
The 420 blade is hollow ground with a black-coated, stonewashed finish. Made with a sturdy full tang, the MK2 is grippy thanks to scalloped G10 scales. Even with the positive texturing, I wished Skallywag had given me a bit more handle or lengthened the design. To be fair, I have large, beefy hands.
Some folks might turn their nose up at 420 steel, but this is a mistake, at least in the case of the MK2. The knife came razor-sharp out of the box and, in the long run, won’t rust like some of the other higher carbon steels. Best of all, 420 keeps this knife at a low price point. You can put it in a kit and not lament having a $100 bill tied up in a backup knife.
If there was any nit to pick, the MK2 is a bit on the heavy side for its size. When I took my calipers to it, I got 1/8-inch material thickness. Add the G10, and it is a neck knife you will know you are carrying. It suits my idea of a dependable small knife for quick, small jobs and at a great bang-for-your-buck price.
MK2 Specs
Blade Length: 2″
Overall Length: 4.7″
Blade Steel: 420
Handle Material: G10
Weight: 1.2 oz.
Grind: Flat
Sheath: Kydex
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $35
Civivi Baby Banter
The largest knife of the group, the Baby Banter, measures 5 inches in overall length. It has a flat-ground drop-point blade made from Nitro-V steel. Civivi uses a full tang design with G10 scales. The one they sent me has textured black G10 and blue liners. Keeping everything in place, the company uses mechanical fasteners to attach the scales.
On the spine, Civivi includes two jimping points, one for the thumb near the handle and the other toward the tip. The jimping toward the tip facilitates a solid purchase point for your index finger while using a pinch hold. The whole blade is done up in a black stonewashed finish. To extend your grip a bit, they include a blue paracord lanyard.
For carrying the knife, you have a couple of choices. You can use the bead chain for neck carry or the belt clip that the company includes. Given the size of the knife, to my mind, it would better fit as a little pocket or belt carry option. When I had it around my neck, it worked well, and the large size allowed me to clear my clothing to access the knife. Yet expect the knife to have a constant presence carried this way. The sheath is made from Kydex and the belt clip is fastened with two screws. When all is said and done, I plan to take the clip off and add an UltiClip to give it a bit more versatility.
All these knives came with bead chains. I would not put a knife or hang anything around my neck, for that matter, that did not have a fail-proof breakaway system. I don’t want to take a chance on being choked by my own knife. Neck knives are versatile tools. No one says you must carry them around your neck. In fact, all the best pocket-carry fixed blades I carry started as someone’s idea of a neck knife. If you haven’t carried a small, fixed-blade as an EDC, I would invite you to try it.
Baby Banter Specs
Blade Length: 2.39″
Overall Length: 5″
Blade Steel: Nitro-V
Handle Material: G10
Weight: 6.07oz.
Grind: Flat
Sheath: Kydex
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $68
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