Lanyard....what's the point?

abiggs

abiggs

Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
955
I am fairly new to the knife game. I see that many times when people are posting pics of their knives here there is a lanyard attached. What is the main use of the lanyard? Does it help keep it from slipping out of your hand? Does it help to keep you from losing it? Does it just look cool? I kind of like the looks but I don't understand the use. Any opinions are apprecaited.
 
It varies. On my neck knife it acts as an extension of the grip. On my pocket knives they serve to aid withdraw of the knife. I often leave the knot hanging out of the top of my pocket. On my hunting or field knives they serve as retention devices so I don't drop them out of reach or in the water.

tjg
 
In short, yes all of the above.

For some knives it's just faster and/or easier to grab out of pocket or sheath. I've got a Bark river that sits very low in it's sheath, grab the lanyard and pop it's out, try to grab the but of the handle itself, your kinda fishing for it.
And depending on what it's used for, chopping for instance, or in wet conditions, it can keep you from loosing your grip, or just keep it dangling from your wrist for a second between chores like slicing the fish open, (drop knife on lanyard)pull guts out,(bend wrist to grab knife still hanging from lanyard) and cut off head or tail etc.

Oh yeah, and they look cool :D

Syn
 
Thanks. As far as lanyards for fixed blade knives go, most I see don't even have a loop in them which I would think would be critical if you are using the lanyard to prevent dropping the knife. What is the use for a lanyard on fixed blades that do not have a loop, if any?
 
While we're at it, how do you get the nice tight knots/weave/whatever in the cord to make the lanyard? Is there a website with directions? Thanks again.
 
My bigger knives have a loop that's long enough to put my thumb through, it goes across the back of my hand to help with the grip. Hang the blade from your thumb with the lanyard across the back of your hand, rotate your hand down (to the left for a righty) and grab the handle, good secure retention.

on my dark knives I have a bright colored lanyard so I don't loose them in the grass or at night.

on my folders it helps get it out of the pocket.

They also add personality :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
The purpose for the lanyard without a loop is to help grab the knife out of the sheath, and/or to sort of extend your grip. Grabbing is pretty self explanatory, but the other is to give something for the rest of your hand to hold on short handled knives. Also if the knife does slip, there's that nice grippy lanyard slipping through your fingers to catch before it's gone instead of just the handle itself.

On the nice tight knots etc, just practice, not really any trick to it. Make a few and plan on the first couple not being all that hot. Won't take many though, within a couple you should start being happy with them.

Some Tutorials:
http://www.boondoggleman.com/the_projects.htm

and just do a search on it here, theres been a bunch more posted.

Syn
 
For me, it's to help pull the knife out of my pocket. Also, try pulling a folder out of your pocket sitting down, without one, not so easy. Put one on, no problem!
One more, how many of us have been a doofus and put the knives through the washer? Lanyard on, not so easy to forget with the tail hanging out.
 
All of the above PLUS if you're in a situation where, if the knife dropped, it would be lost forever, the lanyard helps keep it attached to you. Some of my lanyards are short (because the knife is) but they are enough to where I could get one of my fingers in there and still hold the knife comfortably. Others are longer where I can get my wrist in and even cinch the lanyard down some on my wrist.

I use a hangman's noose that can be loosened to get your wrist in and then cinched.
http://www.chrisreeve.com/knotright.htm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top