Bails & Lanyards-- how dp you do it?

[Eric H]

I've been looking at vintage/older knives with nails recently--what is the proper way to use the bail with a lanyard or tether? What were used as lanyards in "the old days"? Were there everyday, work lanyards as well as dressy chains or lanyards?

 

[Campbellclanman]

I've been looking at vintage/older knives with nails recently--what is the proper way to use the bail with a lanyard or tether? What were used as lanyards in "the old days"? Were there everyday, work lanyards as well as dressy chains or lanyards?

Eric...thank you, as I have never actually used the Bail on a knife as well, and I'm thinking this must change...so a good question...it must be simple...something like a key ring..but I couldnt imagine a bulky lot of keys etc with my knife...so thanks for asking the question.

 

[cnas122]

I rarely use bails or lanyards these days. I have lanyards on a few knives, but really that's just because the maker built the knife with a lanyard hole and I like to twirl it on my finger I could imagine back in the day, a fella coming home after a long day and hanging his knife on a hook with his keys. When I used to rock climb and pack over rough country, I would attach a clip to my lanyard or if the knife had a bail, do a clove hitch with the lanyard and then attach a clip to that. I'd keep the knife in my pocket but attach the clip to my belt loop so I wouldn't lose it in those awkward upside down positions or when I took a tumble (which happened often).

 

[Modoc ED]

When I carry one of my knives with a bail, I wear a belt clip and simply attach the bail to the clip and let the knife hang free -- no lanyards, etc.. Now-a-days, I use a keyring type clip but I still have my old, brass, Boy Scouts, belt clip from the 1950s and do use it sometimes.

 

[Eric H]

Seems like I saw a pic here recently of an antique/vintage chain (like a pocket watch chain) that was meant for a pocket knife with a bail. I guess that's the kind of set-up I'm wondering about.

 

[300Bucks]

In the Buck world, if you talk bails, you are describing the model 315 Yachtsman knife. A stout sheepsfoot blade, along with a locking marlinspike. In the basic sense, it came in a bolstered version and a barehead version. The stout/flat bail can be used to help loosen flat headed threaded pins on sail boat rigging. Others that come to mind are Scout knives and TL-29 type knives. Someone correct me but I believe there were places to clip a baled knife on WW2 gear.

Here is a Buck 315 barehead version with a fancy rope tail for carry in deep pockets or to wear around you wrist. Good to have over water or as cnas suggested when upside down. Works well to help pull knife from sheath when your hands are slippery.

For those not in the know, the marlinspike or fid, is used to weave splices and other shapes in a layed or twisted type rope.

Most of the fancy braiding on bales I have seen is used on the water to keep your knife from going overboard. I am not a salt, but I was told this one puts the loop over your shoulder acroos your chest, with the knife in your pocket. The clip is use to clip to a safety wire that runs the length of the boat, so you don't fall all the way out and the boat sail off without you. Especially important if sailing by yourself.

300Bucks
One of the local forum experts on marlin spike knives is Sheperd Jim.

 

[Eric H]

I have a wooden handled Camillus TL 29 on the way.

Those yachtsman knives are great--I've always wanted one of the AG Russell sailors knives--maybe ill look for one of those Bucks instead.

 

[Hrafna173]

I've been looking at vintage/older knives with nails recently--what is the proper way to use the bail with a lanyard or tether? What were used as lanyards in "the old days"? Were there everyday, work lanyards as well as dressy chains or lanyards?

Victorinox sells a lanyard chain, I have several, but I only ever use a lanyard on my boat,, they also have a belt clip for keys and such that matches the chain,,

 

[Hrafna173]

When I was a kid we just used an old shoe string tied one end to the bail the other went around a belt or bely loop. this was when i was like 5 to 11 years old.

 

[Jack Black]

There's a whole load of discussion about this, including quotes from the US Navy regulations, in Charlie waynorth 's old Navy Knife thread

 

[Hrafna173]

In the Buck world, if you talk bails, you are describing the model 315 Yachtsman knife. A stout sheepsfoot blade, along with a locking marlinspike. In the basic sense, it came in a bolstered version and a barehead version. The stout/flat bail can be used to help loosen flat headed threaded pins on sail boat rigging. Others that come to mind are Scout knives and TL-29 type knives. Someone correct me but I believe there were places to clip a baled knife on WW2 gear.

Here is a Buck 315 barehead version with a fancy rope tail for carry in deep pockets or to wear around you wrist. Good to have over water or as cnas suggested when upside down. Works well to help pull knife from sheath when your hands are slippery.

For those not in the know, the marlinspike or fid, is used to weave splices and other shapes in a layed or twisted type rope.

Most of the fancy braiding on bales I have seen is used on the water to keep your knife from going overboard. I am not a salt, but I was told this one puts the loop over your shoulder acroos your chest, with the knife in your pocket. The clip is use to clip to a safety wire that runs the length of the boat, so you don't fall all the way out and the boat sail off without you. Especially important if sailing by yourself.

300Bucks
One of the local forum experts on marlin spike knives is Sheperd Jim.

I was not aware buck ever made boating knives..great pics.

 

[JSwann]

There's a whole load of discussion about this, including quotes from the US Navy regulations, in Charlie waynorth 's old Navy Knife thread

What a great ship-board photo! I especially like that one sullen soldier among all those swabs.

 

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