Lanyard - what for?

Most of what is discussed here is a just a "fob" as pictured on the Umfaan above. A fob simply facilitates removal from pocket or sheath.

A lanyard on the other hand is for blade retention (very handy for fishermen) and carry as shortgoth mentioned.
 
Lanyards on small handled fixed blades can be a big help. If I'm making a tough cut with my Camillus Mini-Talon, I slip my pinky finger through the lanyard loop. This makes the grip much more seure, effectively turning a "three finger" handle into a full length handle.
 
Originally posted by Bucky
I then use that piece of paracord to tie a coil knot as has been popularized by Chris Reeve. http://www.chrisreeve.com/righthandcoilknot.jpg
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I put a coil knot on all of my EDC knives - including my Victorinox Champion XLT. I like my sheaths super-tight, so the lanyard makes it easy to get a quick retrieval. I just YANK on the coil and POP! out comes the knife.
 
Two more uses for a fixed blade lanyard from friends of mine..

1. One guy that I knew used to tie his knife to his webbing with a quick release 'boating' hitch so that he wouldn't lose his knife on an airborne jump while still being able to access it relatively easily if needed.

2. Another guy uses a wrist thong while field dressing deer to prevent the knife slipping out of his hand in the cavity while cleaning it out. He cut himself once while trying to retreive his dropped knife in the deer. I don't use a lanyard while field dressing, and I imagine if I dropped my knife inside I wouldn't blindly grope around for it, but that's just me.

Cheers.
 
Anyone have lanyards on their waved Emersons? I think the lanyard definitly aids in drawing and opening. The lanyard material itself can be used in any way imagined. I also think the lanyard helps make it look a little sheeple friendly too. For some reason, to them a lanyard means it is more a tool instead of a weapon.
 
Hey, any suggestions for a lanyard for my new Inova x5? Paracord won't fit throught the hole.

-Z
 
Zenghost, you might need to use one of those small metal rings that are used to attach larger items to key rings. I don't know where to get them, but I always collect extras when I see them, just for this purpose. Some are stronger than others.
 
Zenghost, you might need to use one of those small metal rings that are used to attach larger items to key rings. I don't know where to get them
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They are called split rings, come in a variety of sizes, and for some reason fishermen use them in vast quantities which means you can get them in the fishing tackle department at WalMart. Last time I bought some the package of split rings bundled with a 'split ring tool' was considerably cheaper than a package of split rings alone. The 'split ring tool' saves wear on your fingernails by holding the ring open while you apply it. At least that's the theory.
 
The problem with the Inova is that it's a cylinder that's about .75" in diameter and the lanyard/thong hole is about 1/8" in diameter and drilled straight through the cylinder. So the split ring would either have to be enormous or square. Thanks for the suggestion, but it seems as if Inova meant for it to either be decorative or to be used with dental floss. It is a great flashlight, though.
 
Took less than 30 seconds to get the leather shoelace through. Thanks for the idea!

<center><IMG SRC="http://www.mikemargolis.com/inova.jpg"></center>
 
I use an extra lace from the boots I happen to be wearing whilst hunting or hiking. Make a fob out of it and you not only have a handy lanyard for your knife, but a backup in case you happen to have your boot come untied, then bend down and cinch it up only to have the s.o.b. snap completely in two so there's no way in hell you are even going to tie your boot back on to make it the 2 miles back up that hill through the lousiest bunch of salal and briars you've ever busted through and you just KNOW that the mud you came thru on the way is going to grab ahold of that boot and rip it off your foot leaving you standing there in the mud with a THOR-LO sock full of &@!#$ and nothing to do but CUSS LIKE A SAILOR!!

Not that it ever happened to ME :mad: personally, but you could use an extra boot lace for your fob.
 
And of course a fob made of paracord could be used as an extra lace. Just make sure it's long enough, though anything longer than about a foot should be able to hold your boots together for a while. :)
 
Originally posted by MikeMargolis
Took less than 30 seconds to get the leather shoelace through. Thanks for the idea!
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Looks great!
 
For devices like the Inova X5 you can use Spectra para cord. I believe that Shomer-Tec and others sell it. It's claimed to be 2mm wide, stronger, lighter and more abrassion resistant than ol' 550 para cord. Of course, that could just be marketing hype...
-SB
 
Besides all of the other uses for lanyards/fobs mentioned above, the lanyard can also be useful to prevent the fingers from sliding onto the blade of a guardless knife. You have to size the lanyard properly for this, but basically you put your hand through it up to the thumb. That is, the lanyard only goes as far as your thumb, and not over your wrist. If the lanyard is sized right, it will prevent the hand from sliding up the blade. There are other ways of doing this as well.

There is a dark side to lanyards however.. I have several hunting buddies who won't use them because if you carry your knife on your belt and walk through lots of brush, it is possible that the lanyard will snag on some branch pulling the knife out of its sheath as you go by, and you may never know its gone until its too late to get it back! This is not a problem if your sheath has some means of positively retaining the knife (like a strap) such that it won't come out of the sheath even when pulled.
 
For those following this thread:

I noted that Fred Perrin (and Nemo) in their review of the Axis AFCK use an elastic lanyard. Fred indicates that it is great for pulling on to the wrist for a river crossing. You read about it in this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=192007


Inova is coming out with a new variation of the 5X. One of the new features will be a hold drilled large enough for 550 paracord.
 
Originally posted by SharpBits
For devices like the Inova X5 you can use Spectra para cord. I believe that Shomer-Tec and others sell it. It's claimed to be 2mm wide, stronger, lighter and more abrassion resistant than ol' 550 para cord. Of course, that could just be marketing hype...
-SB
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Thanks, dude...I just looked at their site so I'll probably be picking up some soon.

And Mike...the leather looks good...too bad I don't have any lying around at the moment.

Inova is coming out with a new variation of the 5X. One of the new features will be a hold drilled large enough for 550 paracord.
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Architect...I saw those, but I'm the impatient sort. It seems as if whenever companies say "Summer 2002" it usually ends up being "Spring '03."
 
Anyone know of a method besides the Chris Reeve's ; to tie a lanyard?
 
I am a saltwater angler and carry a Sypderco Endura with a plain edge. I use it constantly on my boat for cutting line, bait, etc. I always need it handy in case I have to cut an anchor line or bow line in an emergency.

Lanyards are great, but they don't keep you from loosing a knife out of your swim trunks. I lost my last Endura in 75' of water off an oil rig in rough seas trying to cut my tie off line. Knife came outta my hand and loop lanyard came off my wrist and the knife went down.

Now I carry a a coiled leash. Looks kindof like coiled phone receiver wire. One end clipped to my knife, the other my my body.

It looks stupid, but I sure as hell want a good knife if I fall overboard or get myself in a mess when I need to cut line.

I learned this trick as an Army Paratrooper. All gear is tied down so you don't loose it in a jump or when you get tired and sloppy. I believe the offical army term for this tie down is a "Dummy Cord". I have seen guys walk off at night after a patrol stop, dragging their M16 by the dummy cord. Saved these guys an Article 15 or worse.
 
I am a proponent of the usefulness of lanyards, also known as tethers, dummy cords etc.

I think the key here is the concept of a cord(etc) that connects you to your knife.

The SAS in jungle training take a cord once around the waist, tie it off and connect it to their machete/parang/golock. Why? If they are rousted out of bed and flee into the jungle, they still have a cutting implement.

In survival, some suggest that you take the essentials, put them on cords and hang them from your neck.

Some Brit mil gents wear smocks(shooting/utility jackets) with nylon d rings sewn into the flap of the pocket, so that they can tether compasses, knives, etc to them.

Now, you may not be in a situation where you need a lanyard all the time, in fact, in some situations it may get in the way, as has been mentioned about going through brush. If so, I suggest carrying 550 cord seperately, which you can easily fashion into a lanyard at your convenience.
 
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