The Nealy carry system is perfect for self-defense.

Fixed blades have certain obvious advantages over folding knives for self-defense applications.  Fast deployment, reliability, and strength are all benefits of a blade that has no major moving parts.  Folders, however, are more "pocket friendly," closing to smaller packages that are generally more accepted as utility tools within society.  Many fixed blades would be too obtrusive or too uncomfortable to tote regularly as working or "fighting" knives.  What, then, is the martialist who desires a daily carry fixed blade to do?

The answer – or one of them – is the Nealy carry system.  Designed by Bud Nealy and offered with several knives (including the Boker Specialist and Escort pictured in this article), the Nealy system is a flat Kydex sheath that ships with mounting screws, flanges, a neck chain, and a belt loop.  Using these materials, the owner can modify his or her mode of carry as needed for changes in apparel and activity.

The sheath also incorporates powerful magnets that serve as the retention system.  There are no outer snaps or closures.  The knife practically leaps into the sheath as it contacts the magnet (and remains there securely) but also deploys quickly and easily with a mild but audible rasp.

The two knives with which I've used the Nealy carry system are the Specialist 1 and Escort.  My favorite is the Specialist, while the Escort is a budget-friendly alternative that can be had for half the cost of its black-coated sibling.  Both are slim, guardless knives ideally suited to comfortable concealed carry.

The Specialist has a 3.5 inch double hollow ground 440C stainless steel blade coated in titanium nitride.  It is 7.25 inches overall and has a textured G10 handle (into which holes have been drilled).  Grooves are strategically placed at the forefinger indent, on the spine of the blade (for the thumb in a forward grip), and on both sides aft on the handle.  The slightly smaller Escort has a 3.25 inch 420 stainless blade (it is 7 inches overall) and a fiberglass-reinforced Delrin handle bearing circular indents along its textured length.  Neither knife has a guard;  both have subtle indentations for the forefinger in forward grip (though the Escort's indent is much shallower than the already shallow indent on the Specialist).

There was a time when I would not buy a knife that had no guard.  I've since come to appreciate the concealment options such a clean design offers, but the tradeoff is the increased chance that my hand will slide into the sharp edge.  If your hands are large enough, you can mitigate this risk by "feeding" the knife – bracing the butt of the handle in your palm.  I have large hands, so I have no problem doing this.  The tackier the handle material, however, the better off you are regardless of grip.  The Specialist's textured G10 handle is very secure in my mitts.  The Escort is more slippery and lacks the grooves of its more expensive counterpart (but it still isn't too bad and it's extremely light).

Bracing the handle against your palm before closing your hand...

...helps mitigate the risks inherent to a guardless knife.

Both knives were sharp out of the box and easily cut and stabbed test media such as cardboard and plastic.  The Escort's drop point pierced more deeply than the Specialist's Americanized tanto blade.  Neither blade has what I would call a lot of belly, (the tanto has none, but its secondary point is good for scoring).  Both are more than adequate for cutting and thrusting in self-defense.

The Escort's drop point made it an excellent penetrator.

Carrying the blades as part of the Nealy system is easy regardless of climate.  I must offer a few words of caution, however.  Regardless of the sheath accessories used, the retention systems in the sheaths are powerful magnets.  Guard your computer equipment and magnetic media accordingly!  It wouldn't do to come home from a hard day at work, slip off your tactical vest, and dump your keys and Nealy sheath on top of your scanner or your wireless router.

Another possible risk of the magnetic retention: scuff marks on the
blade.  If you're carrying these tools as working blades or
pragmatic self-defense tools, this isn't a big concern.

The Escort and Specialist ship in neat boxes containing cutouts for the sheath and its accessories.  Mine came to me with Kydex flanges installed.  The flange screws to one end of the sheath and forms a loose clamp with the open end pointing towards the knife handle.  This is perfect for inserting the sheath in the inner pocket of a vest or jacket (particularly if the pocket has a zipper closure so you can snug it up to the exact width of the sheath).  With the handle inverted and ready, it draws extremely quickly.

The Kydex flange is perfect for inverted carry outside an inner pocket.

A secondary belt flange can be installed on the sheath, permitting horizontal carry.  I didn't prefer that method with my Boker/Nealy knives (I did not find it very stable), but you might if your body type or activity levels differ from my own.  A standard ball chain is provided that can be used for neck carry (the lightweight Escort works particularly well in this role but is a little large compared to some neck blades).  I quite liked the simple belt loop for IWB (inside waistband) carry when wearing an outer concealing garment. It attaches using one of the provided screws.

The IWB carry option is simple and functional under an outer shirt.

The blades handle very well thanks to their streamlined designs and light weights.  I showed the Specialist to one of the instructors at my Kung Fu school and he absolutely loved it, drawing it and flowing through a series of mock thrusts and cuts.  I'd be lying if I said I hadn't done the same on occasion.

The Boker/Nealy Specialist 1, a tanto with titanium nitride coating.

The budget-friendly Boker/Nealy Escort, which has a Delrin handle.

While the Nealy system can't be all things to all people (though it tries) and while there will be those who do not prefer these designs, I like them a lot.  These are well-executed blades ideally suited to concealed carry that can be deployed quickly.  Having multiple carry options at your fingertips makes it easy to adapt your methods to your choice of wardrobe (rather than leaving the blade home in a drawer).

That is reason enough to consider Bud Nealy's innovations.