Lanyards/Lanyard Holes -- What's the Big Deal?

[Alfazulu]

I have never put a lanyard on a knife. I see lots of people with them. Why do you or others put lanyards on your knives? What function does it serve, or is it ornamental? I mainly ask this because as I start making knives, I want to stay on top of trends and what people want. Would a knife without a lanyard hole be a deal-breaker? Is it more important to you on a fixed blade or folder? Why?

 

[A.L.]

On slipjoints, I sometimes but rarely use them. Makes pulling the knife out bit easier and opening too. Most of the time I find them annoying though, and mostly just on the way.

 

[davek14]

A lanyard can make a knife which is small in hand more comfortable by adding length. People like them on choppers sometimes as they can slide down partially onto the lanyard for more leverage in the swing.

I personally like lanyard holes to use with pocket hangers. I don't like a knife in the bottom of a side pocket and do back pocket carry, clipped pocket slip carry, watch pocket carry, and pocket hangers.

A knife hung off the side of a back pocket is very unobtrusive yet handy at work.

You can also hang a knife from your belt upright in a pocket.


Lanyard holes, they're not just for lanyards anymore.
(groan)

 

[Jordan@DLT]

A lanyard can make a knife which is small in hand more comfortable by adding length. People like them on choppers sometimes as they can slide down partially onto the lanyard for more leverage in the swing.

I personally like lanyard holes to use with pocket hangers. I don't like a knife in the bottom of a side pocket and do back pocket carry, clipped pocket slip carry, watch pocket carry, and pocket hangers.

A knife hung off the side of a back pocket is very unobtrusive yet handy at work.

You can also hang a knife from your belt upright in a pocket.


Lanyard holes, they're not just for lanyards anymore.
(groan)

Agreed, this is my favorite part of traditionals with Lanyard holes.

On a fixed blade its ornamental but fun, on a modern folder I rarely use them but I like to have the option.

 

[skyhorse]

I use them on some folders to make it easier to withdraw from the pocket and a more secure purchase on the knife while using. I have used them as an emergency shoe lace as well.
[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/3A488C56-53ED-4665-8C5A-A4302199A88A_zpszo2s7xrr.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[bralexander]

I feel pretty much what everyone else is saying. If a folder has a pocket clip, than it doesn't have to have a lanyard, but I like being able to choose. For example, the Spyderco Pingo is a cool little knife, but the lack of a lanyard hole is keeping it from greatness. Another is most of the Victorinox Pioneer variants, unless it has the kechain/lanyard hole, it is not for me. If I was making knives, fixed or folders, I would have a lanyard hole in all of them, that way the end user can chose if they want a lanyard or not.
Bruce

 

[JupiterPaladin]

I put lanyards on tip up knives to make it easy to draw quickly and on small knives for grip. I have a Sanrenmu 7010 and 7071 and the lanyard allows my pinky to full grip so it handles like it's much larger.

 

[NJBillK]

On a fixed blade its ornamental but fun, on a modern folder I rarely use them but I like to have the option.

I dont know if I would go this far. There are quite a few leather pouch sheaths that have 75%+ if a knife covered and a lanyard makes them easier to draw.

I make a small skinner/trout knife that averages 3 3/8" handle length and has a wet formed leather sheath. To keep the handle from hanging up in hunting and fishing gear (especially fly line), most of the handle is buried in the sheath and the butt rides just under the belt line, so you don't feel it when moving about and crouching to net or release fish.

Not all lanyards are for looks, they are situational and I will employ them on an "as needed" basis.
-----
That being said, Most of my knives do not have them.

 

[slg98]

I really don't have much use for a lanyard on a folder, but I do like making 'Belt' lanyards for some of my fixed blades. I just tuck the bead under my belt and thru the top. If for some reason the knife were to pop out of the sheath the bead would catch on the top of my belt and keep it from falling and being lost.

 

[Superdave1]

don't confuse lanyards and fobs....
lanyards are for retention and safety, fobs help u Index and pull knives out, or ornamentation.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[bralexander]

don't confuse lanyards and fobs....
lanyards are for retention and safety, fobs help u Index and pull knives out, or ornamentation.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Yeah, I was going to point that out, but in this forum, lanyard is used interchangeably all the time. Not saying it is right, but....
Bruce

 

[kniferbro]

I use them on some folders to make it easier to withdraw from the pocket and a more secure purchase on the knife while using. I have used them as an emergency shoe lace as well.
[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/3A488C56-53ED-4665-8C5A-A4302199A88A_zpszo2s7xrr.jpg.html][/URL]

I have an alox Farmer with that exact knot and same color paracord. I used it to repair a flip flop that came apart

 

[Misanthropia]

For those obsessed with the custom-tactical market, lanyard's have become another way to show off a rare doodad from a popular maker - lanyard beads preceded the pry-tool/knuck craze as a way to say "look I have something super rare from a super exclusive maker". Just look at how much Brad Blount lanyard beads were selling for at one point.

For the rest of us, I think it's a matter of taste. Personally I see no use for them on a knife with a pocket clip unless you have some serious motor-coordination issues.

 

[victorinox]

I will tie lanyards with a bead (cheap bead, maybe $5 from eBay) to complement the color scheme of the knife. Mainly an aesthetic thing, not so much a practical thing.
However a lanyard does make it a bit easier to withdraw from pocket since you have a long thing to grab onto.

 

[death_to_yancey81]

Like a has been said by some others, I sometimes like a lanyard as a way to pull my knife out easier/quicker. More than once, I've been shoulder deep inside of a die working on hydraulic lines and need to grab my knife, the lanyard makes things much easier to just reach down, grab the end and yank the knife out.
I also like the aesthetic on some knives, not others. I'm definitely not the guy that spends $20-$50 on a bead though.

My name is George, and I approve this message.

 

[NJBillK]

I dont know if I would go this far. There are quite a few leather pouch sheaths that have 75%+ if a knife covered and a lanyard makes them easier to draw.

I make a small skinner/trout knife that averages 3 3/8" handle length and has a wet formed leather sheath. To keep the handle from hanging up in hunting and fishing gear (especially fly line), most of the handle is buried in the sheath and the butt rides just under the belt line, so you don't feel it when moving about and crouching to net or release fish.

Not all lanyards are for looks, they are situational and I will employ them on an "as needed" basis.
-----
That being said, Most of my knives do not have them.

don't confuse lanyards and fobs....
lanyards are for retention and safety, fobs help u Index and pull knives out, or ornamentation.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

The lanyard in which I speak of is a small loop. You thread it with your pinky and can let it dangle when using both hands (knife in rear-most hand) and due to the combination of the choil and hidden lanyard hole, a quick flip up and the knife is placed in your hand with the choil landing right on your index finger, ready to make a cut.

A nice option when you are working in low light, or you have wood slabs on your knife and don't want to place it down and risk losing it in leaf litter.
-------
Though I do know that your statement is likely directed at the OP and not myself. But, just in case it was, I offered an explanation.

 

[ThePeacent]

As others, I prefer to have the option specially in smaller folders for better grip and handling or to avoid loss when using hands for other tasks (mostly gardening and landscaping for me)

On my SAKs and Multitools fobs and lanyards can be mandatory when working on the heights, using other hand tools at the same time or cutting and trimming plants and dense twigs/branches as they can easily fall out, get lost or knocked out of the hand

Nice for doing pocket hangers and clips, too, on SAKs mostly



And useful on some big fixed blades when chopping and in some grips

or, as said, on smaller blades that sit deep in their sheaths

 

[Enkrig]

I really don't have much use for a lanyard on a folder, but I do like making 'Belt' lanyards for some of my fixed blades. I just tuck the bead under my belt and thru the top. If for some reason the knife were to pop out of the sheath the bead would catch on the top of my belt and keep it from falling and being lost.

What wood are the handles of that knife made of? Looks really good.

 

[Alfazulu]

Thanks for the answers, guys. Lots of good explanations.

The thing about buying expensive beads just because they are from some famous maker is sickening. I have to find something like that to make! How can I (in good conscience) separate the masses from their hard-earned money? Mwahahahaha! Apparently custom lanyard beads.

 

[ClassicProzac]

I utilize a lanyard on the knives that I use for haying the horses. I use bright colors to make it easy to spot. Typically, we open a bale, push the knife into another bale, and then pass out the flakes. When a new bale is needed, we can easily find the knife and continue on with our day. I've added a few for friends, but most of theirs were merely ornamental.