Folts named his knife that and CRKT offers a licensed copy. Is that the two SPEWs?
Any way, it was asked why carry a knife on a neck lanyard? A pocket clip version is much handier for EDC in my job, and highly useful.
I've worn knives on neck lanyards canoeing down the White River in Arkansas, when you want it fast and need it bad it's available right out in front of you without being trapped in your pocket sitting down in the thwarts - just the same as a pistol being difficult to retrieve when driving a car with seat belts.
Just the same rappelling off the local cliffs on Shoal Creek - with swiss seat or manufactured one, a knife at the belt or in the pocket is also trapped under the harness and generally useless when needed. If your clothing is snagged up in a carabiner, you just need to cutaway - no sense harassing the mud dauber wasps you are discovering face to face.
Miltary - same again. Using the older suspenders and pistol belt, or the newer LBV, a neck knife is there, on you, especially if the kit was dropped for sleep in a quiet area, bathing, etc. A knife on your gear ten feet away in a suddenly hostile situation isn't handy.
Same in public - either on leave somewhere about in a rear area where it's supposed to be safe. And that's when it begins to approach our normal life - CCW or not, that knife can be more readily accessible, or more a surprise when someone saw you didn't seem prepared. It's the natural tendency of someone preying on others to ambush them, and they usually pick those who might appear less able to respond.
Many of us might look look able, regardless or our training and experience, but it doesn't mean that we have to be subject to their aggression.
Given that the neck knife can and will be on you, all the while not that visible under a shirt, it allows you to choose utility knives that might not be as well designed for defense. Consider the combination I wore today, a MTech 667 necker, with a Gerber Mini Reflex for the openly conducted chores. I've used the Reflex enough not to give it any value in a defensive role as it's size makes it hard to open easily and the fingerhole too small to comfortably grip. The 667 is the opposite - actually larger with a positive grip that is more ergonomic and it actually works better cutting up boxes, etc.
If having a lark with other knives is important without degrading your personal security - go neck knife. I've collected a few and used them over the years, they have a purpose aside from just being a different way to carry. The knives themselves as a whole explore some interesting directions that a clipped folder can't do as well. A folding knife has demands on it because it must fold, and because of that it becomes restricted in it's design. A neck knife is free of those demands and can even use elements that some would expect to be misinterpreted or even offensive to public perception - just the same as some much larger fixed blades would be considered "commie killer combat knives" and inappropriate on the job or about in public, same as a gun might be unwelcome on the job.
The knife has a lot less repercussion if exposed, and won't be as likely a reason to get you fired.
And as many in law enforcement or military service have found, can be the edge in hand to hand grappling when the firearm is compromised. You have at least something in bad circumstances, which is, as they say, better than nothing when you need it.
I use a clipped pocket knife a lot more, and a small flashlight more frequently yet, but the neck knife not at all, and I hope not to under dire circumstance. It could be said the same for a carry pistol, too - but at least the knife cuts things better than the gun.
- and it isn't always convenient when you pull out your normal keys and a knife is stuck to them either.
