direct answer to OP
Posted by: Steve_in_Idaho
on Feb-24-13 7:47 AM (EST)
Forget the Neckolas. I have one, and seriously - I can't think of a good use for it. The sheath is pretty pitiful, as a clip-on. There is no good way to attach it to a pfd, and I don't care to use any kind of neck-knife while paddling. I have come to the conclusion that I don't like serrated blades. While I can tolerate partial serrations, the fully serrated blade has limited use (and questionable at that). And to top it off, I am unimpressed with the way the knife clips into the sheath.
I haven't tried the Bear Claw, so I can't really comment on it in either form (serrated or not), but I view it as something of a gimmick. The curved blade has to be a bit tricky to sharpen.
Personally - I like to keep a rescue-hook type knife on my pfd, and I mostly use it to cut fishing line. It makes a nice safe way to either cut my own line or remove snags that I come across (often with usable tackle attached). I like the CRKT Extrik-8-R. It has a positive-locking sheath that attaches easily to most paddling pfd's, is easy to handle with wet hands or gloves, isn't difficult to sharpen (using a sandpaper-wrapped dowel), and doesn't get in the way.
I carry a "normal" knife,less accessible, for camp chores.