Carrying by bails and lanyards

P

PythonDR

Joined
Sep 20, 2005
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A while back I saw a neat old Boy Scout belt with the knife hanger, and a Scout knife hanging from it. I thought that would be a workable way of carrying an EDC folding knife - kind of Finnish, I guess, but with an American twist.

Naturally I wondered if anyone still carried a knife via a bail or lanyard these days, so I did a search but didn't really come up with what I was looking for.

So, how many of you actually carry your knives suspended, partially or wholly, by the bail or a lanyard? I've seen references here and there, but I'd like to hear (and perhaps see?) from folks who do it on a regular basis. Can be in a pocket or outside, but the important thing is that the bail or lanyard is materially contributing to keeping the knife in position.
 
I have many knives that I carry using a lanyard, mostly Scout knives and SAKs but usually if it had s bail or a hole for a lanyard I put one on it.

Right now I have an 80s Case Scout knife with a simple paracord lanyard.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I have many knives that I carry using a lanyard, mostly Scout knives and SAKs but usually if it had s bail or a hole for a lanyard I put one on it.

Right now I have an 80s Case Scout knife with a simple paracord lanyard.
Click to expand...

Do you hang them from your belt?
 
I usually carry my keys on a small karabiner clipped to my right-side belt loop, so if I have a knife with a lanyard I often clip it into the krab, and slip it into my front right pocket, where it is suspended mid-pocket.

I usually carry my clasp knives clipped to a chain and in a belt pouch.

 
I like a lanyard with a small flashlight. I carry my SAK Tinker in my pocket with the flashlight hanging out to make things easier to get hold of and out of the pocket.
Rich
 
I don't like a knife going sideways in the bottom of my side pocket. Years ago I used a lanyard suspended from a belt to hang it vertically in my pocket. You have to unclip the knife to use it and it gets a few looks sometimes.

From there I went to back pocket and/or watch pocket carry which are both comfortable.

Recently I was looking at pocket hangers and decided to make my own. The clip hangs the knife vertically from the edge of your side or back pocket, it's unobtrusive, and you just pull the knife out by the clip and use it with the thing still attached.

Now I'm back to liking slipjoints with bails or lanyard holes again.

 
I have a few methods that have worked for me aside from lanyards which I use one some knives, I have these;

SAK belt hanger.


I don't recall the name of this one, but it just looks like a ballpoint pen top when clipped to your pocket.


And the TEC7 pocket clip hanger that also works on bails by using the split ring or they come with a carabiner type release like the SAK connection above.
 
Very nice set-ups, Bob! :thumbup::thumbup:

I'll chime in here with a testimonial for Dave's pocket hanger. It's incredible! :cool::cool: Dave sent me one a while ago and I've been using it daily ever since. I typically hang both a Minichamp and a full-size SAK (Tinker, Pioneer, etc.) from it and slip it over the edge of my left front pocket, where it functions absolutely flawlessly!! Wonderful design; thanks, Dave, for the prototype. :D

I also have a #2 Nite-Ize "S-clip" carabiner that I've used to hang a knife in my pocket, but it's too hard to unclip from the pocket. I think I'll try clipping it to a belt loop and clip a lanyard to it that allows knife to hang in my pocket, similar to what Jack described and to Bob's solutions.

- GT
 
I was going to say I've never seen that sort of pocket clip, but it's pretty similar to the belt clips on drugstore watch-chains. I'll bet I have a few lying about.
Thanks to all for the brainwave.
I always liked the idea of an Ellsworth Jeager type lanyard, but feared to be hoisted like a petardier.
 
I like bails my first 3 pocket knives growing up had them so maybe it set a tone?

Here's my 68 white owl with a bail and leash setup



Pete
 
When I go huking, I often carry a SAK attached to my belt with a Victorinox chain.
I find it rather useful.
As for my daily knife, I carry it loose in my pocket and don't feel the need for anything else :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Way back when I was a young Scout I tried carrying my knife on the little brass belt loop knife hanger that came with the Scout web belt - never liked my pocketknife flopping around when I walked. I've kept my pocketknives in my pockets ever since. We did make knife lanyards at camp which you could loop around your belt, fasten the other end to the bail, and drop the knife in your pocket - I made some and tried that but never took to any appendages on my knives - I don't even care to carry a knife with a bail. OH
 
Rich S said:
I like a lanyard with a small flashlight. I carry my SAK Tinker in my pocket with the flashlight hanging out to make things easier to get hold of and out of the pocket.
Rich
Click to expand...

Does the flashlight have enough counter-weight to keep the knife upright? And does it wear on the pocket edge very much?
 
davek14 said:
I don't like a knife going sideways in the bottom of my side pocket. Years ago I used a lanyard suspended from a belt to hang it vertically in my pocket. You have to unclip the knife to use it and it gets a few looks sometimes.

From there I went to back pocket and/or watch pocket carry which are both comfortable.

Recently I was looking at pocket hangers and decided to make my own. The clip hangs the knife vertically from the edge of your side or back pocket, it's unobtrusive, and you just pull the knife out by the clip and use it with the thing still attached.

Now I'm back to liking slipjoints with bails or lanyard holes again.

Click to expand...

Yeah, the whole sideways-in-the-pocket issue is what I'm trying to get around; I've tried knife slips but they just don't work well for me. I like your clip - may try that myself. Thanks!
 
BigBiscuit said:
I have a few methods that have worked for me aside from lanyards which I use one some knives, I have these;

SAK belt hanger.
I don't recall the name of this one, but it just looks like a ballpoint pen top when clipped to your pocket.

And the TEC7 pocket clip hanger that also works on bails by using the split ring or they come with a carabiner type release like the SAK connection above.
Click to expand...

Somehow I knew you'd probably have some ideas! That SAK clip looks nice and very close to the old Boy Scout idea. The Tec pocket hanger looks nice too - very similar to Dave's idea.
 
Stich2442 said:
I like bails my first 3 pocket knives growing up had them so maybe it set a tone?

Here's my 68 white owl with a bail and leash setup



Pete
Click to expand...

Do you just clip that to a belt loop? Looks awfully long, though, to hang in a pocket - maybe I'm just too short?? ;)
 
You could get a key holder for your belt, and use that as an attachment point for the bail. There are various designs, but the sturdier ones are usually made for uniform belts so a good place to shop is at police gear web sites or uniform stores.

Good example of the cop style key holders:
http://www.bostonleather.com/products_all/key_holder&page=1?

If you prefer something more upscale looking than the police gear, then there are options like this web site sells:
http://www.tombarrington.com/leather-key-rings-and-fobs

Plenty of others, just search for "belt key holders".

I don't own any knives with bails so just trying to help with suggestions.
 
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I use a SAK belt hanger with a 2 piece key ring (not the SAK one, though, I have an old one from Home Despot, or somewhere that I bought 20 odd year ago) on my clasp knives. When I change knives I just take one off the split ring and put the other on. It helps keep the SAK or scout knife from contacting the other knife in my pocket.
 
davek14 said:
I don't like a knife going sideways in the bottom of my side pocket.
Click to expand...

I get around this by carrying my wallet in my front pocket, with the knife. Knife on the left edge, wallet next to it, chapstick next to that. The wallet keeps the knife (and chapstick) nicely upright, and I just adjust it when I take out/put back in the wallet.
 
PythonDR said:
Do you just clip that to a belt loop? Looks awfully long, though, to hang in a pocket - maybe I'm just too short?? ;)
Click to expand...

Having something tethered is great, but you have to unclip it to use it, this is for function can be clipped while in use, that's when you are more likely to drop it, this is long enough to work with but short enough to drop with blade open and not hit the ground, living around the ocean all my life I've seen too many things fall into the drink, can use fishing, kayaking, working on and around water, I can use this up on a ladder and if I need to drop it to gain balance or do another task, I can just let go or gently let it drop, do what I'm doing and pull right back up and use it again without having to put it away or worry about it falling or losing it, on land or water I can clip a variety of knives to it not have to worry.

Pete

Almost forgot yes clipped to belt loop and either carry knife in front or back pocket depending on what I'm doing.
 
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