Lanyard holes on folders.......are they really useful?

I've found that having a lanyard increases the chance of NOT DROPPING the knife. As a fisherman, it gets expensive sending knives to Davy Jones' Locker!

All of my folders now have lanyards.
 
ToddM said:
In my mere 50 years of life, seeing thousands of people carrying pocket knives, not once in that entire time do I remember someone actually use a lanyard hole on a folder as a retention device. Unless it's to put on a paracord bead that's become popular fashion accessory.

However you know what lanyard holes are really really good at........ruining pocket clip placement and reducing the length/thickness of blade that can fit in the same size handle. So many knives where the pocket clip could be placed for better deeper carry if the lanyard hole was not in the way.

I will support that argument with the following.......

Companies are selling probably tens if not hundreds of thousands of deep carry pocket clips every year because customers want to alter the clip location on their knives. I don't think I've seen a single "Lanyard hole" kit in my entire life, heck even lanyard hold plugs are becoming popular now.

I will also propose a compromise, offer backspacers that have a lanyard hole in them that extends from the rear of the handle for those that need/want them.

I will say I have used them on some folders where I didn't want to use a pocket clip and just used a tag that hung out of the pocket to grab onto, but that was some time ago, also to lash to packs, but these days packs seem to have 50 pockets to put things into without the need.
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I’ve used a “Shock Cord” lanyard numerous times during my 29 years as a US Army. I was in the Infantry and the last thing want is to loose a piece of gear during Airborne operations or while moving at night through overgrown vegetation.
We were taught to attach one end of the cord to our pocket knife and the other end to our belt.
The elastic shock cord gave enough so you can easily deploy your knife.
We called them “Dummy Cords”. I still attach Paracord “Snake knot” lanyards to my pocket knives.
 
I’m definitely a fan of fobs/lanyards on my knives just for added purchase when drawing from my pocket, and because I enjoy tying them.
 
XJ-linux said:
First thing I do is cut the lanyard off, if it comes with one.
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Same. When I bought my Inkosi, I didn't have it 2 hours before I broke it down and removed (not cut in this case) if from the knife.

I find them to get in the way, they make drawing the knife awkward, and it's more more thing I have to keep out of the blade's path when I close it. I don't really like bails on pocket knives either.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Same. When I bought my Inkosi, I didn't have it 2 hours before I broke it down and removed (not cut in this case) if from the knife.

I find them to get in the way, they make drawing the knife awkward, and it's more more thing I have to keep out of the blade's path when I close it. I don't really like bails on pocket knives either.
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I agree with not wanting to have it get in the way when closing the blade, which is something I try to consider when tying a fob. I generally try to make the open loop before the first knot short enough that it won’t easily clear the front of the handle (if the knife’s design and lanyard hole placement allows), but like it long enough to have enough room to get my pinky between the first knot and the handle. Adding a whipping tie around the cord can also close the loop enough to ensure it won’t go over the handle and still provide a narrow grab area before the first knot, but I don’t use that technique very often.
 
I actually put a lanyard hole in a buck 110. There were times where I wanted a lanyard on a knife when I worked on a boat. In some applications they got in the way. In others, they were helpful. I would rather have the hole and the option.
 
I think that they mostly are pointless. With every knife being deep carry now though, they can be good to help you get a grip on your knife in your pocket.
 
I put lanyards (or similar) on all my folders that I may carry in my pocket. Makes pulling the knife out so much easier.
It's lanyards on large fixed blades (6" + blades) that I wonder about.
 
It's not "all the time thing" for me. As mentioned earlier I find it really handy when being out on the water. I also like a long orange piece of paracord on a knife when I am doing overnight camping.

While I haven't actually lost a knife when camping or hunting, I have dropped them or knocked them off of their perch when I am tired and cranky. It makes me happy to see a long orange tail show up easily at night.

I value all my knives so much that I can't imagine crawling in the sleeping bag and not knowing where I might have dropped it or knocked it off into the weeds. That being said, when I am done with my expedition I take the cord off.
 
I find a lanyard useful when pulling a pocket knife out from a tight-fitting leather sheath that is carried on my belt
 
There was a time when I used to hate them, but now I put them on almost every knife I own. I'm comfortable with being 100% honest, and telling you that when I first decided to put on a lanyard (fob, whatever :rolleyes: ) it was pretty much for aesthetics. A way to add a personal touch, add a bead, somewhat customize, tinker with, or (lets face it) play with my knives. However in practice, in practical function, I have actually found them to be quite useful. For me at least, they absolutely do aid in drawing a knife. They absolutely do add purchase to anything that is borderline 3 finger grip or below. I've found them to be so functionally useful that I now miss them when they're not there, and like Gary I tend to avoid knives that don't allow an option to attach them. YMMV, bit I'mma stick with what I've found in my own personal experience to work for me, naturally. Plus they're fun.

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I thought lanyards were hella dumb lol, still think they’re dumb for aesthetics, but recently made my own on a couple of my spydercos and found them useful for retrieving the knife from my thick and deep pockets in my work pants. Never cared about discreet carry, I like the butt of my knives protruding from my pocket. Don’t really care for deep carry clips, I think it’s for people who don’t retrieve their knives often during the dayimage.jpg
 
Lanyard holes are handy at times, such as when you might drop your knife overboard. Also useful for attaching fobs, which are useful for retrieving a knife. If you don't need either, no problem.
 
The functional aspect of a lanyard in the way I use my pocket knives is nonexistent. They also take up valuable space in my pocket. I do like the fashionable aspect of some lanyards however they also take up too much room in my pocket and are hard to work with when I use my knives.
 
Me daily carry folders do not have fobs, but my chore’s knives for at the property do. I have 3” bright paracord tied so it does not interfere with closing the blades, just to make it easier to find in brush or the snow if I set one down or drop it. Amazing how fresh powder can swallow a knife.🤣
 
I have a lanyard on just about every knife I own. When I first started getting serious about edc carry I could not for the life of me understand why someone would want a lanyard. I can't remember exactly what changed my mind but having a lanyard hole is a priority if I am going to buy a knife. No lanyard hole on to the next knife. I tie all my own lanyards and I also use the pocket clip. When I tie a lanyard I leave enough tail that when I grab the lanyard and pull the knife out it will always end up in just the right spot for flipping or with my automatics right where the button lands right under my thumb. For me, to be useful a lanyard must be able to work in sync with whatever knife I am putting it on. I am not into fancy lanyards. The only knot I have become proficient at tieing is a snake knot. Usually, I will tie either 5 or 6 snake knots and run them into a bead (I have spent up to $50 on some of my beads but most are around $15). Matching cord and bead to a certain knife is like your daughter trying to get her outfit just right for the prom. When you get used to putting one on every knife you can make the pull from the pocket into the hand and finally the opening way faster and more convenient. All you no-lanyard guys just don't know what you are missing.
 
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