Lanyard or Fob?

[Korean Hog]

At some point in this thread, you will become educated on the difference between a fob and a lanyard. They will come, they will educate you. It is inescapable.

Short version - a lanyard serves as an attachment point or retention mechanism. A loop big enough to go around your wrist to prevent you dropping your knife in the ocean or from the top of a ladder, or long enough to be attached to your belt or similar. Main goal is to prevent you dropping or losing it.

A fob is a shorter attachment, useful for keeping a knife from falling down into your pocket (if not clipped) and primarily making it easy to locate your knife and pull it out. For shorter knives, it can provide additional grip area. For example - I have a small Boker Keycom which is clipped to a small Fenix E15 flashlight. The pocket clip on the knife makes it into a pocket dangler for the flashlight, and the flashlight functions as a fob for the knife.

I knew that would come up. By that definition I hardly use a lanyard. I just hate saying fob.

 

[danbot]

At some point in this thread, you will become educated on the difference between a fob and a lanyard. They will come, they will educate you. It is inescapable.

Short version - a lanyard serves as an attachment point or retention mechanism. A loop big enough to go around your wrist to prevent you dropping your knife in the ocean or from the top of a ladder, or long enough to be attached to your belt or similar. Main goal is to prevent you dropping or losing it.

A fob is a shorter attachment, useful for keeping a knife from falling down into your pocket (if not clipped) and primarily making it easy to locate your knife and pull it out. For shorter knives, it can provide additional grip area. For example - I have a small Boker Keycom which is clipped to a small Fenix E15 flashlight. The pocket clip on the knife makes it into a pocket dangler for the flashlight, and the flashlight functions as a fob for the knife.

^^this precisely! And the fact that you will learn a new skill in tying useful knots! Try it before you knock it! There's a reason lanyards are so popular and lanyard holes are provided in so many knives. It's not just for looks or vanity.

 

[LCKT707]

I think mostly they're done for looks and to let customers add their own flair if they want. To me though, when done correctly, can be quite useful. Some can aid in getting the knife out and in play more quickly. But I think their best use is on small 2-3 finger sized knives that when you put a ball-type knot at the end it gives your pinky something to latch on to. Giving you a better grip and sometimes feel on such a tiny knife.

 

[lieferung]

I tried one on my Techno once. The hole was level with the clip so it stuck out at an awkward angle. I then tried it on my PM2, a bit longer this time, and it would occasionally snag on the blade when flicking it open. I just cut it off.

I've found them useful as handle extensions on smaller knives but for the most part they just seem decorative or in the way.

 

[BD_01]

I have them on some of my knives. A real lanyard goes onto my fishing knives. I like having a fob on some of my smaller knives and knives that ride in cargo pockets. Easier to draw that way.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Is this purely a cosmetic deal for everyone or is there some sort of "self-defense" training that I missed out on? Does it help you draw the knife from the pocket faster or is it just a cool fashion statement, like that awesome chain on your wallet thats connected to the belt loop?

To me...just seem like they serve no purpose and even though I admit some lanyards looks pretty sharp with certain blades I would never actually bite the bullet and purchase one solely because I feel as if it would get in the way when I ask my knife to perform a task or somehow ruin the beautiful ergo's of the knife? Anyone else feel this way or am I just a uneducated prick?

I never actually answered you're question before so I will now.
I put what I call a lanyard pull on some knives and for me they do serve a purpose, that's drawing my knives and or adding a bit to really small ones.
With my Vic classics it's just a way of finding them in pocket with other knives, or pulling them out if they get wrapped up in the corner of my pocket.
With my Vic recruit or tinker, I have small homemade suspension clips on them and my lanyard pulls are attached to a small split ring that the clip is hooked through so I can grab it to pull them from my pocket because they're kind of tight and there's not much to grab onto.


I've also got an extremely thin knife with a bail that I carry in my back pocket with a traditional lanyard that I clip to my belt loop via a small carabinier, I can grab the lanyard and extend my arm which pulls the knife into my hand ready to be opened.

Btw I do also like the way they look and how it's a simple way for me to add a bit of a personal touch to my knives, whether it be from favored colors being used to make them or the bead type things I make to put on them. It's not all about looks though because I have taken them off of some knives that really didn't need it when it just got in the way.

People may not agree, but I just want to say that definitions can change and expand. Technically these things many people put on knives aren't lanyards by definition, but are widely known as such and for the most part we all know right away what is being referred to. I would like to see people relax a little bit about the use of the word lanyard because there's a chance that the definition could actually eventually change due to this particular usage being widespread.

 

[115Italian]

I use a lanyard on my work knives. They work in many different ways. Helps with drawing the blade. Using the right method, you can secure your knife to your hand and literally open your hand and the knife stays but. You can create a palm swell if you need a better grip. They also give your pinky a place to grip on small blades.

 

[colin.p]

I voted no as I tried them on a couple of knives and didn't really see the point of them and they got in the way. However, I do have one (did a really nice knot on it BTW) on a flashlight, long enough to go over my fat head so I have it with me when I go down into the basement to fix something.

 

[David Martin]

I like and will use a lanyard. Especially during skining & quartering work. I don't care for a fob. DM

 

[Seneca18]

On smaller knives I like the extra grip feeling, on larger knives I find no use for them other than I enjoy tying them. If i'm bored i'll do one on the knife i'm carrying but usually end up taking it off. Like sharpening, I find tying paracord relaxing (I have a ton of unused lanyards in various places around my house).

 

[Wolverine666]

I hate lanyards and fobs. Hate.

 

[gzb]

Lanyards...yes.
Fancy fobs/beads...no.
A barrel knot is all I want/need on one.

I carry my SO knives (Autos) clipped in pocket/tip up.
DA OTF's are carried the same but tip down.

A lanyard just gives me a little more secure grip on one when reaching for it.
And is a little more visible if/when dropped in snow, where I work 5 months of the year.

Realize they aren't for everyone. But they work well for me...

 

[Horsewright]

Absolutely on fixed blades, nope on folders. I have had many, many of my customers make sure I was putting one on. Mostly they use the term "thong" or leather string. Have never heard fob but occasionally lanyard, mostly thong though. I have never had one tell me not to put one on their knife. My sheaths fit very tight they are made for active, horseback, cowboying use. The thong is advantageous in helping to get the knife out of the sheath. Kinda catch/brace the pinky against it to help draw.

Half of the Christmas orders last year done and working on the sheaths. They all have thongs:

Helps getting em out of the sheath, particularly in a hurry:

For us a good sharp knife, handily carried is not only useful, its a safety item. The difference between literally life and death or very serious injury. I've personally cut three folks out of bad wrecks involving horses ropes and cows and two almosts, myself included in one of the almosts. I've taken many a phone call the day after a wreck saying I need one of your small fixed blades. I needed a knife NOW and couldn't get to my folder in my pocket under my chaps. Never once has anybody said don't want the thong. Always hear make sure ya put one of those thongs on there.

Granted this cowboying deal is a small subculture of the world, but this has been my experience.

 

[jwh720]

I think its personal preference, I have some knives with and some without. At work I wear a duty belt, so my holster covers my right pocket almost completely leaving just enough room to squeeze my knife in there where it is pretty much completely covered and wont fall out. I find a short fob/ lanyard works well to get the knife out of the pocket. So nothing tacticool about them for me just a simple string to pull on to get it out of my pocket.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

At some point in this thread, you will become educated on the difference between a fob and a lanyard. They will come, they will educate you. It is inescapable.

Short version - a lanyard serves as an attachment point or retention mechanism. A loop big enough to go around your wrist to prevent you dropping your knife in the ocean or from the top of a ladder, or long enough to be attached to your belt or similar. Main goal is to prevent you dropping or losing it.

A fob is a shorter attachment, useful for keeping a knife from falling down into your pocket (if not clipped) and primarily making it easy to locate your knife and pull it out. For shorter knives, it can provide additional grip area. For example - I have a small Boker Keycom which is clipped to a small Fenix E15 flashlight. The pocket clip on the knife makes it into a pocket dangler for the flashlight, and the flashlight functions as a fob for the knife.

I agree it's just a personal thing everyone looks at them differently.

I don't generally put a fob or lanyard on a folder ... I do leavve some of the CRK fobs on that come on the knife ... and mostly for me a fob on a folder is just aesthetic. Only exception for me might be a smaller folder on a deep carry clip to help pull it from my pocket.

Fixed blades ... I use lanyards on large fixed blades that I might chop with or if Im doing certain woodcraft things ... holds around my wrist and in some case use it wrapped around the handle for the grip and safety reasons.

For hunting knives or smaller to mid sized fixed blades I usually don't use a landyard or fob. I found out the hard way a lanyard hanging from a hunting knife in rough ground snags on all kinda of things ... and can disappear.

 

[McFeeli]

I'm a no-lanyard type of guy. I see the appeal and why some would want to add one to their knives, I just never needed one for anything. Not yet, at least.

 

[Aquaholicc]

My Chris Reeve 25 came with a lanyard/fob. It doesn't bother me & it's still on.

Mine as well, and it was the first thing that I "modded" on the knife I cut the lanyard just enough and melted the other end so the "lanyard insert" on the large 21 would stay in the Ti scales. Kinda dumb how they don't bevel the insert ..I love that pop of color.

I think mostly they're done for looks and to let customers add their own flair if they want. To me though, when done correctly, can be quite useful. Some can aid in getting the knife out and in play more quickly. But I think their best use is on small 2-3 finger sized knives that when you put a ball-type knot at the end it gives your pinky something to latch on to. Giving you a better grip and sometimes feel on such a tiny knife.

I agree I can see putting something on a traditional knife where there is no pocket clip present so you could just hand the lanyard or "fob" out of your pocket for quick access to said knife. +1

Absolutely on fixed blades, nope on folders. I have had many, many of my customers make sure I was putting one on. Mostly they use the term "thong" or leather string. Have never heard fob but occasionally lanyard, mostly thong though. I have never had one tell me not to put one on their knife. My sheaths fit very tight they are made for active, horseback, cowboying use. The thong is advantageous in helping to get the knife out of the sheath. Kinda catch/brace the pinky against it to help draw.

Half of the Christmas orders last year done and working on the sheaths. They all have thongs:

Helps getting em out of the sheath, particularly in a hurry:

For us a good sharp knife, handily carried is not only useful, its a safety item. The difference between literally life and death or very serious injury. I've personally cut three folks out of bad wrecks involving horses ropes and cows and two almosts, myself included in one of the almosts. I've taken many a phone call the day after a wreck saying I need one of your small fixed blades. I needed a knife NOW and couldn't get to my folder in my pocket under my chaps. Never once has anybody said don't want the thong. Always hear make sure ya put one of those thongs on there.

Granted this cowboying deal is a small subculture of the world, but this has been my experience.

Im sorry you've experienced such accidents and by all means I now understand how a lanyard can be very beneficial in certain situations, thank you for taking the time to make such a great post!

I think its personal preference, I have some knives with and some without. At work I wear a duty belt, so my holster covers my right pocket almost completely leaving just enough room to squeeze my knife in there where it is pretty much completely covered and wont fall out. I find a short fob/ lanyard works well to get the knife out of the pocket. So nothing tacticool about them for me just a simple string to pull on to get it out of my pocket.

Im in the same boat my friend, my tool pouch also covers the pocket my knife rides in. I guess the only thing left to do now is to purchase one throw it on a blade of mine and take it out for some EDC. Don't knock it till you try it, am I right?!

 

[sabre cat]

The only pro to a lanyard is if you find yourself surrounded 360 degrees by hostiles and you need to spin your blade around like its a bola to make yourself impenetrable from all angles? I don't know?

You honestly can't see a need someone may have to secure their gear with a lanyard?

If I need a fob/lanyard to keep a decent grip on my knife, I probably have a knife that is too small for my needs. However, using a lanyard to secure a knife(or any gear) against loss is a completely different issue. I can even see using a fob as an aid in removing a knife from your pocket. But, like I said, needing one while I cut something is just not right.

Just my opinion.

 

[Korean Hog]

Maaaan update took the, apparently, fob, not lanyard, off my small seb 21 and I like it better for now...if I see some cord I like I might hang a thong off it's rear, but for now I like it bare in the back. In all seriousness it's a sleeker carry it kind of reminds me of when I carried a kershaw leek stainless.
Never put a lanyard on that one and it was my first knife love.

 

[Aquaholicc]

Maaaan update took the, apparently, fob, not lanyard, off my small seb 21 and I like it better for now...if I see some cord I like I might hang a thong off it's rear, but for now I like it bare in the back. In all seriousness it's a sleeker carry it kind of reminds me of when I carried a kershaw leek stainless.
Never put a lanyard on that one and it was my first knife love.

You've had that thing on your Sebb this whole time?!