Review: CRKT Nessmuk Knife

At a recent edged-weapons seminar, I watched the instructor reveal, one after the other, the 12 knives he had hidden on his person. Boot knives, belt knives, pocket knives... he had 'em all. But the coolest one was the small fixed-blade he had wrapped around his neck. Dangling from a snap-in holster, the knife could be secured and hidden under a shirt, and snatched quickly when exposed. When I thought about how many times my belt knife has fallen off—I lost my treasured army knife that way—I knew I had to get a neck-knife.

The Nessmuk from CRKT was the knife I chose, and I'm glad I did. This minimalist blade was made for outdoor applications, from cutting cord to cleaning fish to field-dressing a deer. It fits well in the hand, holds an edge nicely, and its design makes for nimble, precise cutting in all conditions. It's a great backup for hunting, camping, and bushcraft, and does the job well as a primary knife when fishing or hiking. And for those who prefer more accessibility and less concealment, the Nessmuk comes with a belt-clip, too.

$45; crkt.com.