Do you like Lanyard holes? If so do you like them on all knives?

[Black Oak Bladeworks]

I was hoping to do a slightly scientific poll and see what the community thinks of lanyard holes.

I will interject my opinion later so not to skew the results.

I need to ask 2 questions, which is do you like them at all? And if so, what knives do you like them on?

 

[Brawny]

I have no need of them, but they don't bother me unless they make the clip wonky.

 

[gazz98]

I voted other, please specify. Honestly, I don't care if a knife has one or not.

I went thru a phase where I put some fobs on my pocket folders. Most of the fobs have been taken off. I like the splash of color they can add (I never used a bead of any kind) but rather have less stuff in my pocket. Now the only fobs I have are 1) small pocket knives to help fill out the hand, 2) sometimes on a fixed blade.

 

[Zulus]

I voted other, please specify. Honestly, I don't care if a knife has one or not.

I went thru a phase where I put some fobs on my pocket folders. Most of the fobs have been taken off. I like the splash of color they can add (I never used a bead of any kind) but rather have less stuff in my pocket. Now the only fobs I have are 1) small pocket knives to help fill out the hand, 2) sometimes on a fixed blade.

I concur

 

[tony281sc2]

I’ve never used a lanyard and probably never will. So I don’t care about them. Only reason I voted “hate em” is because sometimes the lanyard hole messes up the placement of the pocket clip. I like me a deep carry clip.

 

[Chronovore]

Most knives I carry have a pocket clip and that's how I carry them. The main exception is the Petrified Fish 719, which fits nicely into a cardigan pocket (sans lanyard) during colder weather.

The only time I want a lanyard is for smaller items that dip below the lip of a pocket organizer. Right now, the only qualifying item is my Leatherman Squirt and it attaches via the key-ring attachment as opposed to a lanyard hole.

The other main use might be in concert with a deep sheath, like the horizontal leather sheath you get with a Bradford Guardian 3. Generally though, I believe in getting a full grip on the draw with fixed blades and I prefer Kydex. Speaking of the Guardian series, that's yet another example of how lanyard holes can come with an ergonomic cost. Even a more innocuous example like the Civivi Elementum bugs me a little.

 

[Charlie_K]

I'll take lanyard holes when/where I can get them, if I like the knife they're attached to.

That doesn't mean I'll necessarily include a lanyard on them, but I can use it if I need to wrap the handle so it fits my hand better.

 

[T.J. H]

They don’t bother me but I’ve removed all the lanyards from my CRK’s except for one. I ordered my new Umnumzaan with a backspacer installed in place of the lanyard. My larger camp knives are a different story. I’ll probably put lanyards on all of them.

 

[shane45-1911]

I don't mind lanyard holes themselves, but NONE of my knives have lanyards through them.

They get in the way and I have never found any benefit to using them. If a knife gets away from me while using it (hasn't happened to me ever), I would much rather it fall to the ground than flail around uncontrollably on my wrist.

Some people use them to get more control over a large fixed blade when chopping, but if you think you need that extra "security", you are probably doing something with a knife that it wasn't intended for.

I do however, see their purpose on a smallish knife that might disappear into a pocket. It makes it a little easier to fish the knife out, I suppose. And then there are those that add them simply for decorative purposes. To each, their own - I still voted "hate 'em".

 

[Mister Coffee]

.

 

[Dergyll]

I put lanyards on:
1. If its tiny or hard to grip with out a la Minimalist or Dragonfly.
2. If it looks good with one. This one is weird, it's all about personal taste, I think certain ones look good with one, like Bark Rivers.

If I sell a knife sometimes I'll spend 10m tying one on, they can always cut it off if they dont like it.

 

[Roblues]

I agree with Mr coffee. I like having them in case some day I decide I need it, but I have never had a lanyard on any knife.

 

[Bob Denman]

I like adding lanyards to my knives. I've just got to do a better job of learning how to tie them!

 

[Stelth]

I think they are a great option. I prefer them to be on both folding as well as my fixed-blade knives.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Love lanyards/fobs, I’m trying to have one on every folder I own. I easily hate the lanyards holes, I could go with #1 option but went with “only on fixed blades” for obvious reason.

 

[sixplymaple]

Other… I don’t ever use them, but they don’t bother me at all.

 

[Mister Coffee]

.

 

[scdub]

“Other”

For me, certain pocket knives deploy more reliably with a fob. CS XL Talwar for example.

Tiny knives can have their grip enhanced by a little lanyard/fob.

Medium/large fixed blades can chop more efficiently with less fatigue when using a lanyard to hold your hand in a choked-back grip.

Don’t think I’d generally want a hole in a kitchen, hunting, or pure fighting knife, but for most larger pocket knives and outdoor fixed blades I like having the option of a lanyard.

 

[David Mary]

I voted other as well. I don't mind them, and I build them into most of my knives. The pedant side of me will say that there are no folding knives or small fixed blades with lanyard holes though. They are fob holes.

I don't really like lanyards on fixed blades, though they may have some use on choppers. I still won't use them unless I can't retain the knife otherwise. Small fixed blades like this one I shipped out last week go nicely with a fob, though.

 

[David Mary]

Also, I hate typing lanyard, because the muscle memory around those keys makes me type lanward, or lanyward almost every single time. Any time you see the word lanyard in a post of mine, you can be almost certain that the backspace was involved. Including even this last one now, believe it or not.