Are wrist lanyards dangerous?

B

bowieknifenick

Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
71
Just wondering, is putting a wrist lanyard on a knife dangerous? I'd rather have the knife go flying somewhere else than come back at me. I was doing some work one day, and my knife, a big bowie knife, slipped out of my hand and went flying....right into the ground next to my boot nearly missing my leg. It was a pretty hefty swing. Even if it would have hit me, it would have glanced off. But I can't help to think that if I had the knife secured to a lanyard that it would have swung around my wrist and impaled me.

What are your thoughts?
 
I'd be far more worried about the quality of the person swinging the knife than the lanyard the were using.
 
Knives are sharp. They can cut you when you do something foolish. Don't care to use lanyards on knives. I cut the crap out of my hand looking at a Puma SGB in the store..... wasn't paying attention and it slipped out of my hand and like a fool I tried to catch it. I felt compelled to buy the thing since it had my blood all over it. It is an okay knife if you like 440A.
 
I find that I like to have lanyards on all my knives...
To prevent losing them, to quickly draw them.
To use them at times to intensify a chopping action...
Also, just because you have a lanyard doesn't mean it has to be around your wrist.
At work I would at times be way up in the air, or looking down into a large vessel, or tanker, etc.
After a few dropped wrenches, I tied a line onto most things.
But, you and the others have a point...
So many different scenarios...
I guess think about possible dangers before doing whatever.
That would be the PC version of advice I got while working on an oil service rig...
"Don't put your fingers anywhere you wouldn't put yer pisser"
Still have all my parts...
Good to think about Nick!p
 
I feel that the purpose of a wrist lanyard is to improve grip by wrapping said lanyard around the user's hand while the knife is in use. If done properly, the knife is essentially attached to your hand and there's much less risk of injury.

I don't know how to do it properly. :D I have one small fixed blade with a lanyard on it, and it's partially for decoration and partially to help me get the knife in hand faster.
 
A lanyard is handy for wrist attachment in camp kitchen, fish cleaning and other non-stressful duties as well as trying to operate a blade with totally numb hands. It allows you to drop the knife yet keep it within grasp while within a project. Also when doing anything over water or dropoff.

Other than the hassle of putting it over and then back over your wrist each time, the only time it's "dangerous" is when something may grab at it, pulling at the wrist. Obviously combat of any sort, around machinery, a more momentary task, etc. In which cases the lanyard should be wrapped around the thumb and, optionally, across the back of the hand back to the pommel. Much easier to disengage from the lanyard this way.

I have rigged a few of my outdoor fixed blades with smaller loops right out of the lanyard holes to put my little finger through during use--the most minimal way of keeping your knife attached to your hand when in doubt.
 
There safe ways and there are dangerous ways to use a lanyard. Many people do not know the proper methods for using a knife with a Lanyard. If one doesn't know the difference, it probably shouldn't be used as it can make chopping with a knife dangerous.
 
Spyder59 said:
There safe ways and there are dangerous ways to use a lanyard. Many people do not know the proper methods for using a knife with a Lanyard. If one doesn't know the difference, it probably shouldn't be used as it can make chopping with a knife dangerous.
Click to expand...

I would be quite interested in any links or information regarding how to properly use a lanyard. I'm going to put one on my BK9 .
Great Steel
 
IIRC, chopping contests require the use of a lanyard to prevent the knife from flying off in an unexpected direction if it accidentally slips out of the chopper's hand.
 
They have their applications, but also their dangers. In most circumstances with chopping tools I choose to avoid them, and encourage others to likewise because they commonly give the user the false feeling that they can safely continue working as they become increasingly fatigued. If you are too tired to safely retain the chopper with your hand alone, you need to stop and take a break.

The around-the-back-of-the-hand method causes any swing of the dropped tool to go from left to right instead of front to back (or at least severely limits that kind of motion) and should be a very snug fit. It also allows the user to deliberately disengage it from their hand easily in the event that it's somehow snagged/grabbed. When I do find it advantageous to do one, though rarely, I use that method.
 
Great Steel said:
I would be quite interested in any links or information regarding how to properly use a lanyard. I'm going to put one on my BK9 .
Great Steel
Click to expand...

There are a number of threads on the topic on the Blade Forum, if you don't mind doin a search. [emoji41] The main thing to remember is know how to adjust the lanyard so it is snug. Too loose of a lanyard can turn into being like swinging a knife on a rope if the knife deflects off a limb or tree, literally. A snug lanyard will also keep slippery bloody hands from sliding down onto the blade of a knife if your cleaning game. There are several techniques or tricks on ways to snug up the lanyard while keeping it easier to get on and off, the bain of using the lanyard.
 
I've got a pinkie lanyard on my ESEE 6. It gives me a more positive grip, and doesn't so much catch the blade when it goes flying, but rather prevents that situation in the first place.
 
There are some good links - videos and other info on this thread that I started basically asking the same question - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1367037-Wrist-lanyards-on-machetes-or-choppers-good-idea-or-not

TexasTactical has a video that was informative.

After reading the replies I did attach a lanyard to my chopper and within 10 minutes of some work in the back yard I took it off the chopper. I felt that it was serving no useful purpose and more to the point it was a distraction. Yes - they wear lanyards on choppers in chopping competitions but that is not my scenario. I am not running around on a timed course and flying through my chopping objectives. My woodswork is more controlled and deliberate. No one in sight (usually) and I am by nature an attentive tool user. No lanyards on choppers for me.

I also put one on my Baker Viper which is a 4-1/2" fixed blade. Tried some of the various wraps as shown in the links of my thread. As I have NEVER used a lanyard on a knife or other hand tool (I am a 30+ year woodworker) this lanyard was an experiment. My conclusion is that when using a knife in a situation that dropping it will mean losing it - a lanyard is essential but for day to day and around the camp type stuff the lanyard is just an accessory. I am now intent on developing a lanyard that can be attached and removed with a clip. I would have this with my gear as a safety item to be used in questionable situations but otherwise the knife would not have a lanyard attached.

Now I know someone will likely comment here that you never know what a "questionable situation" might be. Accidents happen. I admit that my choice to use or not to use will be calculated but I trust my instincts. If my little voice says - lanyard time - so it will be. Otherwise I will go along blithely lanyard free, as I have always done.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I have a Bk9 coming in the mail today, and have several other large knives that I regularly chop with, just for fun, you know.

I have been looking at youtube videos for the BK9 and I see people put lanyards on their wrist when chopping. Scares me when I see that. If your knife slips out of your hand midswing, that lanyard might save you from searching in the woods for your knife, but it'll swing around your wrist and hit you, and it won't be pretty. Only had one knife come with a lanyard, I think it was my Ontario SP10 Radier bowie, went to chop with it, and that dang lanyard keep hitting me, so I cut it off. Never liked lanyards, they are annoying when not in use, and dangerous, well at least to me.
 
Spyder59 said:
There are a number of threads on the topic on the Blade Forum, if you don't mind doin a search. [emoji41] The main thing to remember is know how to adjust the lanyard so it is snug. Too loose of a lanyard can turn into being like swinging a knife on a rope if the knife deflects off a limb or tree, literally. A snug lanyard will also keep slippery bloody hands from sliding down onto the blade of a knife if your cleaning game. There are several techniques or tricks on ways to snug up the lanyard while keeping it easier to get on and off, the bain of using the lanyard.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting your reply !
Great Steel
 
RayseM said:
There are some good links - videos and other info on this thread that I started basically asking the same question - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1367037-Wrist-lanyards-on-machetes-or-choppers-good-idea-or-not

TexasTactical has a video that was informative.

After reading the replies I did attach a lanyard to my chopper and within 10 minutes of some work in the back yard I took it off the chopper. I felt that it was serving no useful purpose and more to the point it was a distraction. Yes - they wear lanyards on choppers in chopping competitions but that is not my scenario. I am not running around on a timed course and flying through my chopping objectives. My woodswork is more controlled and deliberate. No one in sight (usually) and I am by nature an attentive tool user. No lanyards on choppers for me.

I also put one on my Baker Viper which is a 4-1/2" fixed blade. Tried some of the various wraps as shown in the links of my thread. As I have NEVER used a lanyard on a knife or other hand tool (I am a 30+ year woodworker) this lanyard was an experiment. My conclusion is that when using a knife in a situation that dropping it will mean losing it - a lanyard is essential but for day to day and around the camp type stuff the lanyard is just an accessory. I am now intent on developing a lanyard that can be attached and removed with a clip. I would have this with my gear as a safety item to be used in questionable situations but otherwise the knife would not have a lanyard attached.

Now I know someone will likely comment here that you never know what a "questionable situation" might be. Accidents happen. I admit that my choice to use or not to use will be calculated but I trust my instincts. If my little voice says - lanyard time - so it will be. Otherwise I will go along blithely lanyard free, as I have always done.
Click to expand...

Lots of information and Thank you for the link !
Great Steel
 
RayseM said:
There are some good links - videos and other info on this thread that I started basically asking the same question - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1367037-Wrist-lanyards-on-machetes-or-choppers-good-idea-or-not

TexasTactical has a video that was informative.

After reading the replies I did attach a lanyard to my chopper and within 10 minutes of some work in the back yard I took it off the chopper. I felt that it was serving no useful purpose and more to the point it was a distraction. Yes - they wear lanyards on choppers in chopping competitions but that is not my scenario. I am not running around on a timed course and flying through my chopping objectives. My woodswork is more controlled and deliberate. No one in sight (usually) and I am by nature an attentive tool user. No lanyards on choppers for me.

I also put one on my Baker Viper which is a 4-1/2" fixed blade. Tried some of the various wraps as shown in the links of my thread. As I have NEVER used a lanyard on a knife or other hand tool (I am a 30+ year woodworker) this lanyard was an experiment. My conclusion is that when using a knife in a situation that dropping it will mean losing it - a lanyard is essential but for day to day and around the camp type stuff the lanyard is just an accessory. I am now intent on developing a lanyard that can be attached and removed with a clip. I would have this with my gear as a safety item to be used in questionable situations but otherwise the knife would not have a lanyard attached.

Now I know someone will likely comment here that you never know what a "questionable situation" might be. Accidents happen. I admit that my choice to use or not to use will be calculated but I trust my instincts. If my little voice says - lanyard time - so it will be. Otherwise I will go along blithely lanyard free, as I have always done.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this. I just use a lanyard on my edc, for aid in deployment from deep sheaths or pockets. I do keep a lanyard on my camp knife (kukri) just in case I feel might need it, depending on case by case, for one reason or another.
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I can't speak to whether they're dangerous or not, because I don't ever use them. I see absolutely no purpose for having one on a folding knife, and I make my own sheaths so I don't need help deploying a fixed blade either.

And regarding retention of the blade during use, perhaps it's different for someone in active combat or something but for us normal folks, if you're unable to grip your knife you should either get yourself a better knife, or rest until you're able to get a better grip? Seems like either situation (slippery knife or tired user) is a cause for concern in and of itself.
 
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