About a year ago, I was lurking on this site and noticed a thread on neck knives. I got to be honest, the entire neck knife thing didn't seem to appeal to my personality (I'm a pretty dull laid back fellow) but it did seem to be a good idea to have one when hunting and fishing. My primary thought was I would just wear one under my shirt when bowhunting to cut myself out of a harness tether if I ever needed to...then I got to think about other uses.

Eventually I purchased a CRT Minimalist neck knife and I had a fellow that made me a couple from deer antler, turkey bone, and broadheads a little later. For those not keeping count, that's three neck knives from fellow that didn't think he had a great deal of interest in them.

But here's the thing...when I was looking at the original thread a while back, I noticed Gene Wensel had one made from petrified deer antler, wooly mammoth, and Damacus steel. That knife lit a fire of 'want' and I eventually contacted Herb Derr and waited a little less than a year for the below knife. It has a likely50,000 year old wooly mammoth handle made from tusk, a insert section of wooly mammoth bone with a crocodile sheath, and a damascus blade. The antler whistle is also made by the knife maker and I have attached for survival purposes.

Frankly, I just wanted to share a picture of his work. I'm afraid the pictures doesn't do the knife justice. It's a traditional work of art.

 

Very nice.  Just the history of the handle is Mind boggling. I can't wait to see it in person.

Love that knife!

Sweet knife...

Awesome blade and it'll be a great tool.

Very nice. I can think of just the thing to use a blade like that for.

That's sweet!

When I first saw this thread title I was interested in hearing your thoughts on the advantages of a neck knife as I have one I try to love but it worries me some
  But then I read about yours and saw the pics and all that chat went away, that is an amazing knife that I'd be terrified of losing.  Just the history and craftsmanship blow me away.     Congratulations Mark, that's just awesome

Thanks Dave!

Thanks for the info, Mark.

Your welcome Wudstix!

So how does it carry?  What keeps it in the sheath?   

Its carried while inserted in the sheath via a lanyard around the neck. The knife position is handle side down and is held in place securely (apparently) by a magnet inserted in the sheath.  It's very secure and the knife can only be inserted one way.

A magnet, that's interesting.

I also have a beautiful neck knife made by Herb Derr, of WV. He's a one-man show in that he not only makes the knives but makes his own Damascus and sheaths, consequently he can keep any middleman prices down some. I've owned close to a dozen of his and every one is unique, functional with outstanding craftmanship. My favorite one hangs handle downward in an open-front neck sheath with the blade held in place by a 15 pound rare-earth magnet. It's got a giraffe leg bone handle with a section of spalted maple burl between the handle and the nickel bolster/spacers. A couple years ago I sent it off to a gentleman in AZ named Dan Farrell (now deceased) and had him custom engrave the nickel with a leaf/vine scroll pattern for $100. It's absolutely gorgeous.
    Most neck knives hang point down and handle up so the normal draw is to hold the sheath in your left-hand and draw the knife handle upwards with your right hand. With the knife handle downward you can easily draw the knife by just pulling the handle straight downward with only your right hand (if you're right-handed) making it much quicker. I'm sure it's possible for any knife to fall from any sheath but I have yet to have my magnet-held blade fall from my sheath.
    Oh, one other possibly important factor I should mention, in December I had a pacemaker implanted in my chest. I heard that magnets COULD alter the settings on a pacemaker. I asked the doc about that and he said not to worry about it. But, that was just one man's opinion and we probably should verify it because maybe he didn't like me or was an anti.  I don't know how to post pictures but if anyone wants to see it just email me and I'll forward a photo. Thanks. BW   

Barry's neck knife...
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You'll have to ask him if that is his chest hair in the background.  I won't. 

Thanks for posting these pictures John. Apparently Herb Derr teaches the art of making Damascus at a local community college in WV. This piece is 2,500 layers. By the way, the photos as they come out on my computer screen are actual size of the neck-knife. And, the chest hair in the background is from the chest of a kudu. It's mine, so I guess it's okay to say it's my chest hair. 

Do I really need another knife!!!

Quote from: Wudstix on February 23, 2022, 11:50:30 AM
Do I really need another knife!!!

The answer is NO take it from a knife nut there is no such thing as too many knifes.