THE NECK KNIFE
A preamble to part of my lecture called:
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT meets SHOW & TELL
By Richard Busch. March 16, 2021
JPFO Ambassador, FOAC Life Member
As you probably know, the regular presentation of the neck knife is to lift up the entire shirt with the left hand, reach up with the right hand, grab the knife, and then pull down to fully deploy it. My original handling is much faster and has many other advantages. But before you even look at the pictures and short movie clips, something must be said again and again, as a reminder, so it will never be forgotten. Just as one must never ever draw a gun unless you absolutely believe there is a direct, immediate, and otherwise unavoidable threat of death or grave bodily harm against you or someone you are with, it's even worse with a knife! We're talking "up-close and personal social work" as I like to put it, an ultimate CQB (close-quarters battle). And a neck knife is much smaller than an EDC (every day carry) knife.
To be clear, we're talking about a back up's back up to a back up. A last ditch to a last ditch you never want to be forced to use. Just as you never ever want to be in a situation where you must draw and fire your gun, a neck knife is even worse, if such a thing is even possible. In theory, in such an intimate altercation with a blade, one person bleeds out, the other goes to the hospital. There are no winners here, only who loses more. The three magic words are always: avoid, avoid, avoid. This is what the guaranteed winner always finds a way to do. In this tutorial, I am using a lanyard, suggestive of a hidden name tag. Feel free to substitute a cord or beaded chain.
Here are some advantages of my original handling. (1) If you have neck pain issues, my approach features a profound behind-the-collar comfort. (2) The standard access technique requires both hands. One for the shirt, the other for the knife. Mine only uses the right hand, so it allows for a much more compact motion, from start to finish. (3) It's faster with less visual choreography to tip off your opponent that you are preparing a surprise defense. (4) It frees up the left hand and arm to initially grab, block, or otherwise defend. (5) There is no worry about having to reach for and lift up a falling shirt either a first or second time, if you need to grab, block or otherwise defend. (6) If your right hand or arm is held midway, dropping the knife in the sheath allows for a short controlled fall onto the shirt and your stomach. From there, it may be recovered. (7) In total, the right hand holds the actual knife for less time and that means, there is less time for it to get knocked away to the ground. (8) If you can't get to the knife, as with the original handling, at least its presence is more likely to remain a secret. As such, the blade is less likely to be used against you.
All in all, a neck knife is a worthy back up's back up to a back up and is well worth your consideration. Just as it will not suit everyone, it will similarly not suit every shirt you will be wearing from day to day. Still, with dedicated practice to create a smoothly flowing presentation and reliable draw, plus honest care when dressing for the day (or night), a neck knife that will easily fit through the opening between the buttons of any particular shirt may well be a good secondary option to add to your personal arsenal for responsible self-defense.
The six sequence images below demonstrate access and draw of the neck knife.
Click on any image to enlarge (Left to Right).
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Below are three short video clips showing subtle variations on draw and presentation.
Having said all this ballyhoo, I hope you will never ever need to use your neck knife! It's very small, like an 1880 derringer in the Old West. At best, it's a last chance holdout. At some point, is it better than nothing? Of course it is. But still, because of its undeniable concealability and sudden availability, it clearly retains a very noble purpose! And I have the same hope for your more often carried primary EDC choices. May you never ever need them either! When it comes right down to it, self-defense tools are like fire insurance ...
You should have 'em!
You should carry 'em!
Never leave home without 'em!
And hope and pray, you never need 'em!
All of our inalienable rights, including the right to self-defense, come from
G-d, not man. These self-evident rights including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit
of Happiness must never be allowed to be taken away by bad, man-made law
nor those who would fancy themselves by being on the wrong side of it.
Live Well. Live Safe. Live Free.
And always remember ...
'NEVER AGAIN' IS A VERB
A CALL TO ACTION TO SAVE LIVES!
© 2021 Copyright Richard Busch