Lanyard Hole

T

TedderX

Joined
Feb 8, 2017
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What's the point of a lanyard hole/attachment on a pocketknife that goes in your pocket? Not talking form, talking function.

The only way I can see it has some function is in the Case Backpocket because it is larger, goes into the backpocket and stands up right with the lanyard hanging out of your backpocket, and would allow you to grab the lanyard to pull the knife out instead of fishing around your wallet or having to pull both items out of your backpocket.
 
A true lanyard is a loop or other attachment intended to prevent you from dropping or losing your knife. It goes over your wrist or you loop it over your thumb and wrap it around your hand, or it is attached (on a long lanyard) to your belt.

A fob, on the other hand, is useful for pulling the the knife out of your pocket or keeping it from falling into your pocket if carried with the fob draped on the outside of your pocket (depending on how tight your pants are).

A third usage is just for decoration (which I call a tassel).

All three are perfectly valid uses.
 
I can understand the lanyard and fob as they have functions. A tassel, I just can't see.
 
It's for decoration. Nothing wrong with people wanting to do that. Multi-colored paracord, titanium or anodized beads. Not for me personally, but I do get the appeal it has for some people.
 
This same argument will rise from this thread, "What's the difference between a lanyard and a fob?"

Any fob can extend the grip on an otherwise shorter handle and make retrieving a knife easier from the pocket bottom.

It gets used all the time on this Lone Wolf/Loveless City Knife, you can see the wear on the leather fob and wood bread used for extra purchase when grasping the handle.

urhEidR.jpg
 
A lot of ingenuity goes in to making up lanyards and they're decorative.:cool:

That said, they don't interest me and on some small knives like the otherwise excellent GEC 83 lockback, the lanyard hole to me is absurd. Still, they're better than bails or shackles Try having them in your pocket, uh uh.:grumpy:

A lot of people also thrive on EZ-Open notches, even adding them to knives, they certainly have practicalities but they're a deformation to my eye. This is the great thing about Traditional knives: endless options, and opinions to match.:D

Thanks, Will
 
For a pocket folder, a lanyard hole, ring, or bail serve the same purpose. Really for a dummy cord to attach the knife to your body to prevent its loss.

Consider the scout pattern. Vast majority have bails for that purpose. Many owners remove the bail if they don't like them which is why so many vintage scout knives are missing their bails. With a lanyard holes on pocket folders, you can choose to use then or not with either choice requiring you to change nothing about the knife.
 
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jc57 has it right. have had the same rawhide boot lace lanyard on my Western 854 utility for as long as ive owned the knife. about 43 years. many times i have needed both hands and a knife handy. think striping wire or tying knots and cutting rope. i can drop the knife, use both hands, and still have the knife at hand. no need to see where i put it down it's just hanging on my wrist.
 
Ever try to fish a knife out of the bottom of a pocket with work gloves on? A fob hanging out of the pocket makes things considerably easier, and an EO notch or a high-riding blade allows you to get a pinch grip to open it. Speeds things up a good bit if you need the knife a lot during the course of the day.


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I use fobs on smaller knives 3" and under blades such as the Dragonfly, mini grips, delica, small Inkosi, Bradford G3
Lanyard on large knives, Esse Juanglas.
I made a D guard type ring on the Carothers LC.
 
I carry my Delica without pocket clip
As it is a small and light and fall deep in the pocket, the lanyard helps to retrieve the knife and to pull it out of the pocket

I also like it on my small sebenza as it provide some grip extension
 
Ratbert said:
Those all look great! The Russell, the bone and bead fob and the Peanut! Which color scales are those on the Peanut? Whisky Bone?
Click to expand...

Chestnut bone.

To the OP, I missed the purely function discussion. I use enough length to have a little string when needed. It can make retrieval easier. It can also be folded against the back spring to aid in grip.

Mostly decoration though.
 
Decorative to be sure, add some mammoth to the bead and you have a worry stone/bead of sorts, some folks just like having something ancient around that you just can't find elsewhere.

Braided leather and a custom bead set the knife off nicely, bead is half mammoth ivory

GEC-23-book23.jpg~original


Sometimes I'll add a lanyard/fob on there to aid in drawing the knife out of a sheath, but mostly, I just like having them on there.

Although on a SAK Pioneer, I did end up taking that off as for a small knife with multi-tools it was getting in the way, but a folder with just the blade, it doesn't seem to be a bother, to me at least.

G2
 
Thanks jc57 for defining lanyard, fob, and tassel. I like having a fob on my traditional knive's lanyard hole. I carry them in a pocket slip and the fob helps with removing the knife from the slip. Plus, I like the appearance of a fancy knot and bead.
 
TedderX said:
I can understand the lanyard and fob as they have functions. A tassel, I just can't see.
Click to expand...

Well, if you ever find yourself in a Burlesque House, you will see that tassels have a definite purpose.
 
As John said the lanyard hole can be used for a lanyard, a fob, or a tassel. You can further complicate matters by adding a bail to the lanyard hole and then attach your lanyard, your fob, or your tassel to the bail.

lmPw3VA.jpg
 
Most of my SAKs have a fob added to the keychain, makes it easier to fish out of my pocket or bag when I need it.

Gary W. Graley said:
Decorative to be sure, add some mammoth to the bead and you have a worry stone/bead of sorts, some folks just like having something ancient around that you just can't find elsewhere.

Braided leather and a custom bead set the knife off nicely, bead is half mammoth ivory

GEC-23-book23.jpg~original


Sometimes I'll add a lanyard/fob on there to aid in drawing the knife out of a sheath, but mostly, I just like having them on there.

Although on a SAK Pioneer, I did end up taking that off as for a small knife with multi-tools it was getting in the way, but a folder with just the blade, it doesn't seem to be a bother, to me at least.

G2
Click to expand...

Love that bead, where did you get it if I might ask?
 
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