Carrying by bails and lanyards

[Captain O]

I never have used either a lanyard or belt clip. On deck there's a need for that, but in the navy, I worked hangars and on flight lines. I usually kept my Colonial TL-29 (Navy electrician's knife) in my pocket.

Captain O

 

[PythonDR]

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.

Pretty neat idea!

 

[arizonaranchman]

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

I remember that clip! I remember proudly carrying my scout knife to grade school on that belt clip. My how the world has changed... Nowadays a kid would be taken down by a SWAT team if he came to school with a scout knife.

I agree, the knife flopping around as it hung like that was annoying.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Do you hang them from your belt?

Mostly I just put the knife in my pocket and leave a fob on the lanyard dangling so I just grab for example the little monkey fist on my Case Scout/Utility knife. I have a few on a leash like the pics below

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

If I'm going anywhere or doing anything that might catch the lanyard I tuck it completely in my pocket and its still easier to find if I need my knife.

 

[Exeter354]

I always used to just carry my pocket knife in my pocket...old school. But if I'm wearing something other than denim, I found that it occasionally slipped out of my pocket while sitting down, especially if the pocket was shallow. After losing a few knives this way, I decided I had to have lanyard holes and/or bails. The problem is...that eliminated a whole world of wonderful knives that didn't have holes or bails! So I came up with this silly idea...but it works wonderfully:

The knife is snug enough inside the leather holster to stay put, but easy enough to push/slide out when I need to use it. If it slips out of my pocket, it still remains attached to my belt loop. If you get a few old sterling silver pocket watch chains, you have something kinda classy dangling between your belt loop and pocket...win win win!

 

[Blake the Blade]

Became interested in lanyards a while back and put this one together from ideas on various sites I found online. Made of paracord it incorporates a spiralling cobra weave with Celtic button knots. The idea is the knife goes in the pocket and the buttons go underneath the belt for security. It actually works really well and the knife and lanyard can be released easily for use. I've attached much simpler lanyards to many of my knives, mainly for easy handling and retrieval rather than security, which I find very useful. :thumbup:

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

My Own Current Knives. by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

 

[Buzzbait]

My main pocket knife pretty much always has a bail, and is always tethered to me via a lanyard. I learned at a young age to always keep my knife tethered to me. Because of this, I almost exclusively buy knives with bails. Mainly scout patterns

I very much prefer my paracord lanyard. It uses a snake knot, with a clip at one end. I loop it through the belt loop in the front if my pants. For normal pants, the knife dangles into my back pocket. For cargo pants, the knife drops into the front slash pocket.

 

[PythonDR]

Became interested in lanyards a while back and put this one together from ideas on various sites I found online. Made of paracord it incorporates a spiralling cobra weave with Celtic button knots. The idea is the knife goes in the pocket and the buttons go underneath the belt for security. It actually works really well and the knife and lanyard can be released easily for use. I've attached much simpler lanyards to many of my knives, mainly for easy handling and retrieval rather than security, which I find very useful.

That's an interesting idea! Will the knife fall out from under the belt accidentally?

 

[PythonDR]

My main pocket knife pretty much always has a bail, and is always tethered to me via a lanyard. I learned at a young age to always keep my knife tethered to me. Because of this, I almost exclusively buy knives with bails. Mainly scout patterns

I very much prefer my paracord lanyard. It uses a snake knot, with a clip at one end. I loop it through the belt loop in the front if my pants. For normal pants, the knife dangles into my back pocket. For cargo pants, the knife drops into the front slash pocket.

Nicely done!

 

[PythonDR]

I'm really surprised at the good ideas I'm seeing. I thought, given the number of people in the Trad forum who say that they "hate" bails that I wouldn't find any inspiration.

Too bad GEC doesn't make more models with bails...

 

[PythonDR]

I always used to just carry my pocket knife in my pocket...old school. But if I'm wearing something other than denim, I found that it occasionally slipped out of my pocket while sitting down, especially if the pocket was shallow. After losing a few knives this way, I decided I had to have lanyard holes and/or bails. The problem is...that eliminated a whole world of wonderful knives that didn't have holes or bails! So I came up with this silly idea...but it works wonderfully:

I was about to say something about needing to buy a knife with a bail, but this would let me carry my favorite GEC 15. My wife used to be a holster maker, and maybe she can come up with something appropriate.

(That's not to say that I'd pass up buying a really nice knife with a bail, of course. Because we all know that would just be silly.)

 

[Blake the Blade]

That's an interesting idea! Will the knife fall out from under the belt accidentally?

.

Can't really happen, the top section of the lanyard slips under the tightened belt and the knots stop it from slipping back through :thumbup:

 

[bozack]

I put a lanyard on my Beer Scout Knife. It is 3 1/2" long. It really helps with finding your knife in your pocket. Even if the knife falls to the bottom, the lanyard still stand straight up and easy to grab.

 

[afishhunter]

I upgraded to the SAK knife chain. Much better than what I had before. The chain is long enough I don't have to take the knife off to use it.

 

[texasshipagent]

Not unless rock climbing or hoisting the sales on the high seas

 

[singin50]

I use a lanyard only when there's a bail involved.

 

[combatjiujitsu]

Pete you are killing me with pics of that Whiteowl! My eye starts getting that twitch and finger wants to start clicking buy button lol

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

 

[donn]

Generally don't use a lanyard as most of my knives don't have them. The only two knives I have proper lanyards on are two knives I rarely carry.
The Sheffield clasp knife I use when I need something a little more robust when working on the farm.
And my Wenger S.I. This hardly ever leaves the house as I'd hate to lose it. So on the rare occasions it does, it gets chained to me.

 

[swaybacksteve]

I keep my larger Schrade Old timer trapper in it's belt sheath..but the lanyard makes for easy pull.

 

[average gimp]

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.

Forgive my ignorance, but what knife is that?