22 Best Neck Knives of [2020] – Reviewed

Sometimes, you don’t want to carry a knife on your hip. Maybe your hips are already loaded up with other gear, like a canteen or pair of field glasses. Or maybe you’re trying to find the best-concealed carry knife available as an everyday carry.

There are plenty of reasons to want to carry a necklace knife. They’re easy to access and can be easier to draw than a hip knife depending on your setup. And that’s why we decided to review the best neck knives on the market.

When making our choices, we considered a variety of factors. Quality of construction, grip comfort, ergonomics, and sheath quality all played important roles. We also considered quality-of-life factors, like whether the blade arrives sharp or requires some honing. And of course, we looked at a broad price range.

Ready to see what we came up with? Let’s check out some knives!

The 22 Best Neck Knives of 2020

1. Stone River Gear

The Stone River Gear is engineered from a single piece of white ceramic.

Key Features

• 4 ½-inch paracord-wrapped ceramic handle
• 2-inch flat ceramic skinning blade
• Lanyard built into the handle
• Includes Kydex sheath

The Stone River Gear Ceramic Skinning Neck Knife is purpose-built for just what the name implies — skinning game. It features a 2-inch ceramic skinning blade that’s wide and flat for separating connective tissues under the skin and a paracord-wrapped handle that won’t slip even in rain or mud or blood.

Like any ceramic knife, this one isn’t designed for prying, or for being dropped. It’s made to be sharp and hold an edge, not take a beating. The only thing we didn’t like was the metal riveting in the sheath, which could dull the blade.

Pros

• Sturdy single-piece design
• Arrives razor-sharp
• Excellent edge retention
• Large, comfortable handle

Cons

• Metal rivets in the sheath
• Not useful for prying

This skinning knife is perfect for field dressing small game.

2. MTECH USA MT-665BG

The MTech MT-665BG is a variant of their MT-665 that features a high visibility green handle.

Key Features

• 3 ¾-inch green G10 nylon handle
• 3 ¾-inch powder coated stainless steel karambit blade
• Large thumb hole on the blade
• Includes nylon MOLLE sheath

This 7 ½-inch karambit knife is a special variant of the MT-665 we started our article with. In most respects, it’s the same knife, with the same full tang and generous finger guard. It also includes the same sheath, which provides top-tier retention.

The reason we gave this knife its own entry is the high visibility green handle, which makes it easy to find if you’re rummaging through your gear.

Pros

• Good sheath retention
• High visibility handle
• Sturdy full tang design
• Affordable

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip
• Needs honing out of the box

This is a solid budget knife that’s easy to carry.

3. MTECH USA Mt-665Bk

The MTech MT-665BK is their standard karambit neck knife.

Key Features

• 3 ¾-inch G10 nylon handle
• 3 ¾-inch powder coated stainless steel karambit blade
• Large thumb hole on the blade
• Includes nylon MOLLE sheath

The MTech MT-665BK is a 7 ½-inch karambit knife that’s half blade, and half handle. The G10 nylon handle features a full tang that’s going to take some abuse. The stainless steel blade offers a wide ricasso, which protects your fingers from sliding forward.

We really liked the MTech’s nylon MOLLE sheath. It grips tight to the ricasso and will hold your knife in place in any carry position. That said, this is a budget knife, so there are a couple of issues. The flat grip is a bit narrow for larger hands, and the blade needs to be honed right out of the box.

Pros

• Good sheath retention
• Sturdy full tang design
• Affordable

Cons

• Flat grip
• Needs honing out of the box

This well-built budget knife is a good baseline for comparison to other neck knives.

4. DevilFish New Hawkbill Karambit

The DevilFish New Hawkbill Karambit offers a long, 4-inch handle that’s great for larger hands.

Key Features

• 4-inch ABS plastic handle
• 3 ¼-inch carbon steel karambit blade
• Large thumb hole on the blade
• Includes ABS plastic sheath with lanyard

The DevilFish New Hawkbill Karambit is a 7 ¼-inch knife with a 3 ¼-inch carbon steel karambit blade and a 4-inch plastic handle. This is one of the largest handles on our list, well-suited for people whose paws run on the larger side. Unfortunately, it’s made of cheap ABS plastic, which makes us concerned about its long-term durability.

Everything else about this knife is great, especially for the price. It locks securely into the molded sheath and is easy to attach to your neck with the pre-installed lanyard. The blade itself is razor-sharp right out of the box — no honing required.

Pros

• Sturdy full tang design
• Good blade retention
• Generous grip
• Arrives razor-sharp
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Flimsy handle material

This budget-rate neck knife arrives razor sharp and ready to rock.

5. MASTER USA MU-1120PK

The Master USA MU-1120PK is exceptionally durable for the price.

Key Features

• 3 ½-inch stainless steel handle with pink plastic grip
• 3 ¼-inch stainless steel blade
• Large thumb hole and 3 small lanyard holes on the handle
• Includes ABS sheath with lanyard

The Master USA MU-1120PK features a single-piece forged stainless steel design, with a 3 ¼-inch blade section and a 3 ½-inch handle. The handle does have small pink plastic grips bolted on for comfort, but these are just small textured pieces, not a full grip. This makes the knife well sized for small hands, and comfortable to carry thanks to the large thumb hole.

We liked this knife because it’s inexpensive and sturdy. However, it arrives dull, so you’ll need to sharpen it before putting it to any use. The sheath also offers retention that’s best described as “questionable”.

Pros

• Single-piece design
• Sized perfectly for smaller hands
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Poor sheath retention
• The blade needs honing out of the box

This knife is an affordable concealed carry choice that gets the job done.

6. Rapala Ceramic Utility

The Rapala Knife features a large, comfortable, paracord-wrapped handle.

Key Features

• 3 ½-inch paracord-wrapped handle
• 2 ¼-inch ceramic tanto blade
• Lanyard built into the handle
• Includes Kydex sheath

The Stone River Gear Ceramic Tanto-Style Neck Knife features a single-piece ceramic design. The 2 ¼-inch blade portion is a razor-sharp tanto blade, while the 3 ½-inch handle section is wrapped with paracord for a secure grip.

As a ceramic knife, this piece offers exceptional edge retention and sharpness. However, it’s prone to breaking if you drop it on concrete or use it for prying. The Kydex sheath also uses metal rivets, which can potentially dull your blade.

Pros

• Sturdy single-piece design
• Arrives razor-sharp
• Excellent edge retention
• Large, comfortable handle

Cons

• Metal rivets in the sheath
• Not useful for prying

This ceramic knife is sharp enough to shave with, right out of the box.

7. KA-BAR BK11

The KA-BAR BK11 is sharp, sturdy, and includes a Kydex MOLLE sheath.

Key Features

• 4-inch powder coated stainless steel handle
• 3 ⅞-inch powder coated stainless steel blade
• Includes a Kydex MOLLE sheath

The Ka-Bar 1117 is forged from a single block of stainless steel, ground down, and powder coated for more durability. It features a 3 ⅞-inch blade that arrives sharp enough to cut copy paper, and a 4-inch handle that’s little more than a frame. We recommend wrapping it with paracord for comfort.

The sheath on this knife is a valuable addition. It has no metal parts whatsoever, so it won’t dull your blade. And it has MOLLE slots and lanyard holes for easy mounting.

Pros

• A sharp blade with good edge retention
• Sturdy, single-piece design
• High-quality sheath

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip

Ka-Bar does their name justice with this slim profiled neck knife.

8. Meyerco MANKR

The Meyerco MANKR has an eye-catching, blunt tip serrated blade.

Key Features

• 3-inch glass-filled nylon handle
• 3-inch 440 stainless steel blunt tip serrated blade
• Includes nylon sheath with belt clip and lanyard

The Meyerco MANKR is a survival knife that’s built for one purpose: cutting rope. It has a unique, blunt tip blade with large serrations on the cutting edge. The handle features a full tang for durability and stability and has a diamond grip that’s easy to hold on to.

This is a budget knife, so it isn’t perfect. In this case, the sheath has very loose retention. We can heartily recommend this as a belt knife, or for pocket carry, but it’s liable to come loose during a day of hiking.

Pros

• Sharp serrations
• Full tang design
• Cuts heavy rope like butter
• Affordable

Cons

• Poor sheath retention

This is a cheap, lightweight blade that’s perfect for cutting the rope in a pinch.

9. Tactical Warrior Tanto

The Bud K Tactical Warrior Tanto features an emergency signal whistle built into the sheath.

Key Features

• 3 ¾-inch full tang handle with ABS grip
• 3-inch 440 stainless steel tanto blade
• Includes ABS sheath with lanyard and built-in whistle

The Bud K Tactical Warrior Tanto has stainless steel, full tang design, with a 3-inch tanto-style blade. It’s sturdily built, with a basic ABS grip that’s slim, but fairly uncomfortable. We recommend wrapping it with paracord for everyday use.

This neck knife is very inexpensive and offers excellent sheath retention. You can carry it for weeks without so much as a wiggle. That said, the blade arrives dull and needs some honing before you put it to work.

Pros

• Good sheath retention
• Sturdy full tang design
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip
• The blade needs honing out of the box

This is a good choice for an inexpensive EDC neck knife.

10. WJ Black Tactical

The WJ Black Tactical is the sturdiest neck knife you’ll find at this low price point.

Key Features

• 5-inch powder coated stainless steel handle
• 3-inch powder coated stainless steel blade with gut hook
• Includes Kydex sheath with carrying chain
• Large finger hole and a small lanyard hole in the handle

The WJ Black Tactical Neck Knife is a single-piece powder coated stainless steel neck knife, with a 5-inch handle section and a 3-inch blade section that includes a gut hook. This makes it ideal for cleaning fish or small game. It comes with a Kydex sheath that holds it securely in place around your neck.

This knife is very affordable, but it’s uncomfortable to hold. You’ll probably want to wrap some paracord around the handle if you’ll be using it frequently. It also arrives dull, so have your whetstone ready.

Pros

• Sturdy single-piece design
• Purpose-built for gutting
• Good sheath retention
• Affordable

Cons

• Uncomfortable grip
• Arrives dull

This affordable neck knife is designed for gutting fish or small game.

11. MTech USA

The MTech MT-20-27RB has a built-in bottle opener in the handle for helping you pop open a cold soda for lunch — or a cold beer with dinner.

Key Features

• 3.1-inch stainless steel handle with bottle opener
• 1.35-inch double-edged stainless steel blade
• Includes nylon sheath with carrying chain and belt slots

The MTech MT-20-27RB is forged from a single block of stainless steel. Since it’s all one piece, the 1.35-inch double-edged blade will never come loose from the handle. It includes a nylon sheath, which holds onto your knife like a vice. It’s so strong that you might want to replace the basic carrying chain with some paracord.

This is a cool-looking knife, but the bottle opener gets in the way of a comfortable grip. The handle isn’t as wide as it should be for bracing against your palm, but then again you probably have bigger concerns than comfort in a self-defense situation.

Pros

• Single-piece design
• Good sheath retention
• Small and easy to conceal
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Not very ergonomic
• Illegal in several states

This is a good choice for EDC, provided it’s legal in your state.

12. Rothco

The Rothco has a sturdy design, with a thick tanto blade and a full tang.

Key Features

• 3-inch textured nylon grip
• 3-inch partially serrated tanto blade
• Includes nylon sheath with carrying chain

The Rothco Neck Knife With Sheath is one of the smaller neck knives on our list. Its handle and blade both measure only 3 inches, making it a good choice for people with small hands. It arrives sharp, so you won’t need to hone it, and it’s affordably priced.

That said, the nylon grip is fairly smooth and the jimping is sparse, which makes us worry about safety in a survival situation. The sheath also holds the knife very loosely, so it’s better suited for belt or pocket carry.

Pros

• Arrives sharp out of the box
• Sturdy full tang design
• Well sized for small hands
• Affordable

Cons

• Slick grip
• Poor sheath retention

This is a good budget knife for people with smaller hands.

13. Benchmark

The Benchmark holds an edge much longer than a comparable steel blade.

Key Features

• 4 ⅜-inch composite grip
• 3-inch ceramic drop point blade
• Includes a nylon sheath with carrying chain

The Benchmark Ceramic Neck Knife sports a generous, 4 ⅜-inch composite grip, and a 3-inch ceramic drop point blade. It arrives razor-sharp and holds its edge exceptionally well.

If you’re looking for a skinning knife, or another knife purely for cutting purposes, this knife is a great choice. However, it’s ceramic, so you don’t want to pry with it. It also only has a partial tang, which is disappointing even at this low price point.

Pros

• Razor-sharp
• Comfortable grip
• Excellent edge retention
• Ideal for skinning and gutting
• Affordable

Cons

• Only a partial tang
• Not suitable for prying
• Not suited for self-defense

This is an effective, affordable skinning knife.

14. Schrade SCHF57

The Schrade SCHF57 offers an ergonomic paracord grip that’s perfect for smaller hands.

Key Features

• 2.88-inch paracord handle
• 2.31-inch ceramic drop point blade
• Includes nylon fiber sheath with breakaway paracord neckband

The Schrade SCH406 is a classic skinning knife, with a wide drop point blade that’s equally well designed for precision cuts and cutting underneath the skin. The knife is crafted from a single piece of ceramic, with a 2.31-inch blade section and a 2.88-inch handle section that’s wrapped in paracord for comfort.

This is a pricier knife, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality. The nylon fiber sheath offers excellent retention, so you can run, jump and climb without losing your knife. Like other ceramic knives, it’s not suitable for prying.

Pros

• Durable single-piece design
• Great grip for small hands
• Exceptional sharpness and edge retention
• Good sheath retention

Cons

• Not suitable for prying
• On the pricier side

This small skinning knife is exceptionally sharp.

15. Ontario Knife 8871

The Ontario Knife’s Kydex sheath has a snug, secure fit.

Key Features

• 4 ¼-inch stainless steel handle
• 2 ¾-inch stainless steel blade
• Includes a Kydex sheath with lanyard holes and lanyard

The Ontario Knife Ranger Neck Knife is forged from a single piece of stainless steel. The 2 ¾-inch blade and 4 ¼-inch handle are one piece, so they won’t separate. The handle is curved for ergonomics and has three holes drilled in it for wrapping it with paracord.

The Kydex sheath cradles your knife securely in a glove-like grip. The blade itself comes with a “working edge”, so you’ll need to hone it if you want a tactical razor. It’s expensive, but you’ll appreciate the quality of the construction.

Pros

• Sturdy single-piece design
• Excellent sheath retention
• Ergonomic grip
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Needs honing out of the box
• Pricey

This is a tough, durable neck knife for EDC or survival use.

16. MASTER USA Mu-1123Sd

The Master USA MU-1123SD has a tough Kydex sheath with a built-in signal whistle.

Key Features

• 3 ¾-inch nylon handle
• 3-inch stainless steel drop point blade
• Includes a Kydex sheath with lanyard and built-in whistle

The Master USA MU-1123SD has a 3-inch stainless steel drop point blade and a full tang 3 ¾-inch nylon handle. It ships with a Kydex sheath, which provides surprisingly good retention and even has a built-in whistle.

Let’s be clear: this is a budget knife, and it’s not made for self-defense. Use it for gardening, opening packages, or food preparation and you’ll have no issues. It needs honing out of the box, but that’s to be expected at this price.

Pros

• Great value for the price
• Full tang design
• Comfortable grip
• Good sheath retention
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Needs honing on arrival
• Not a good choice for survival use

This is a good, cheap knife for everyday tasks.

17. Boker Magnum 02MB210

The Boker Magnum 02MB210 has a rubberized skeleton grip that’s lightweight and comfortable.

Key Features

• 3 ⅝-inch rubber coated stainless steel handle
• 2 ⅞-inch stainless steel blade
• ABS sheath

The Boker Magnum 02MB210 is forged from a single piece of 440 stainless steel, with a 2 ⅞-inch stainless steel blade and a 3 ⅝-inch rubber coated skeleton handle. It ships with an ABS sheath that holds your knife securely enough for any physical activity.

This knife will need to be honed on arrival. That said, it’s well-engineered, with a flat profile that’s easy to conceal. And the handle makes it easy to hold even in wet conditions.

Pros

• Tough, single-piece design
• Flat, concealable profile
• Ergonomic grip
• Good sheath retention

Cons

• Needs honing on arrival

This knife is durable and easy to conceal.

18. MTECH USA MT-664TI

The MTech MT-664TI is a vicious karambit with an ergonomic grip.

Key Features

• 4-inch stainless steel handle
• 3-inch karambit blade
• Thumb and lanyard holes in the handle
• Includes a nylon sheath

The MTech MT-664TI is a karambit-style knife with a single-piece design. It’s forged from stainless steel, with a 3-inch blade and a 4-inch handle section that features a large thumb hole and several lanyard/paracord holes for customization. It ships with a nylon sheath. While the sheath offers good retention, it has metal grommets which could dull your knife.

This is a very inexpensive knife, and it’s useful for self-defense. But it’s ill-suited for whittling, food preparation, or most other more mundane purposes.

Pros

• Single-piece design
• Good sheath retention
• Ergonomic grip
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Needs honing on arrival
• Metal grommets in the sheath
• Only useful for self-defense

This is a good choice if you need a cheap, reliable knife for self-defense.

19. Bark River Adventurer II

The Bark River Adventurer II has a beautiful micarta handle and leather sheath.

Key Features

• 4.1-inch micarta handle
• 3 ¾-inch stainless steel blade
• Includes a leather belt/neck carry holster

The Bark River Adventurer II looks almost like a high-quality kitchen knife. It has a 3 ¾-inch stainless steel blade with a tough full tang and a micarta handle that’s as tough as Kydex but looks like dark grained wood. The grip is ergonomic, with an ample front guard to protect your fingers.

This knife is expensive but exceptionally well-engineered. It’s made in the USA and comes with a leather sheath that won’t dull your blade.

Pros

• Tough, full-tang design
• Razor-sharp out of the box
• Ergonomic grip
• Attractive leather sheath and micarta handle
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Expensive

This knife is made in the USA, and ships to your door already razor-sharp.

20. Extrema Ratio NK3

The Extrema Ratio NK3 has a rugged design that will last you the rest of your life.

Key Features

• 3 ¼-inch stainless steel grip
• 2 ¾-inch stainless steel chisel blade with blood grooves
• Includes Kydex MOLLE sheath with paracord lanyard

The Extrema Ratio NK3 has a single-piece, stainless steel design with a 3 ¼-inch grip and a 2 ¾-inch chisel blade with blood grooves. The handle has a cutout for your forefinger, making it surprisingly comfortable for a hunk of stainless steel. It’s also 6.5mm thick, making it tough enough to use as a pry bar or chisel if needed.

This knife comes with a Kydex sheath that can take significant abuse without letting go of your blade. All of this quality comes at a price. But you’ll know where your money went the first time you hold it in your hand.

Pros

• Single-piece design
• Thick, rugged engineering
• Vice-like sheath retention
• Ergonomic grip

Cons

• Expensive

This blade is built like a brick house, allowing it to be used for more than just cutting.

21. Rough Rider Zombie Nick

The Rough Rider Zombie Nick has an attractive bone handle that’s a nice touch on an inexpensive knife.

Key Features

• 2-inch bone handle
• 1 ¼-inch powder coated stainless steel drop point blade
• Includes nylon sheath with lanyard

The Rough Rider Zombie Nick sports a pint-sized, 1 ¼-inch drop point blade with a full tang. The 2-inch handle is made from green bone and has an ergonomic grip that’s very comfortable to hold if you’ve got small hands. It comes with a nylon neck sheath, which secures it tightly enough for everyday use.

Needless to say, Zombie Nick isn’t long enough to be useful for self-defense. It’s primarily designed for everyday tasks like opening packages. If those are your expectations, you won’t be disappointed.

Pros

• Full tang design
• Ergonomic grip
• Good sheath retention
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Needs honing out of the box
• Very small size

This is a fun little knife for using around the house.

22. Bear OPS CC-400-B

The Bear Ops 1095 has a tacky epoxy coat on the handle for a gecko-like grip.

Key Features

• 3 ⅜-inch epoxy coated carbon steel handle
• 2 ⅞-inch powder-coated carbon steel blade
• Includes a Kydex sheath with carrying chain

The Bear Ops 1095 is a single-piece carbon steel knife, with a 2 ⅞-inch blade and a 3 ⅜-inch handle. The blade is powder coated, while the handle is coated with a tacky epoxy for extra grip. It ships with a Kydex sheath and carrying chain, although we were disappointed at how loose the fit is.

This is a carbon steel knife, which comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, it’s sharp, and it’s easy to sharpen. On the other hand, it’s not very corrosion resistance, so you’ll need to keep your edge well cleaned and oiled.

Pros

• Sturdy one-piece design
• Tacky grip
• Arrives razor-sharp
• Easy to sharpen
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Poor sheath retention
• Limited corrosion resistance

The Bear Ops 1095 is a good choice if you’re looking for a carbon steel blade.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many unique neck knives on the market that could potentially be considered the best. Which one is the right choice for you is going to depend on your own personal needs.

If you’re looking for the best neck knife self-defense option, a karambit blade is a good choice, due to the fact that the curve makes it ideal for both overhand and underhand grips. On the other hand, neck knives can also be used for a variety of utilitarian and survival purposes.

For small game skinning, use a knife with a thinner blade, preferably with a clip or drop point to make it easier to make finer cuts. For cleaning a fish, a small gutting knife will be just what you need.

We like to think we’ve chosen enough knives to fit any need or budget. We hope you found exactly what you were looking for today.

Check out all the other hunting gear articles put together by the expert team here at Guns & Safety Reviews;

• Trail Cameras
• Hunting Rifles
• Camo
• Crossbow Pistols
• EDC Knife