Lanyards...Let's Discuss Them Please.

Tolly

Tolly

Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
555
Hey guys, I am thinking of putting a lanyard on my new Ranger RD7 shown here
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To be honest though, I really don't know why. I have never used lanyards on knives before so I am asumming I don't really need one. Is there something I am missing, such as things the lanyard will allow me to do with the knife that I can't do without one? Are they just for looks? I would really like to hear everyone's thoughts on this topic. Also, for those of you who use lanyards, do you make your own or buy them from someone else? If you purchase them already made, where do you get them from? Thanks.
 
Some people put lanyards on the knife to prevent it from slipping out of your hand or dropping. Some of the lanyards that do not have a loop for your hand are either for decoration, to make drawing the knife easier, or a cool way to carry an amount of cord along with your knife. I personally like the looks of a nice lanyard so long as it does not get in the way of using the knife.
 
Tolly, make one out of paracord or leather and try it out.

I've used a lanyard around the house but never at work which used to be alot of time in the bush. To me they're more trouble than real actual benefit.
 
I hardly ever use fixed blades, but lanyards looks nice, help facilitage grip so you don't slip down on the blade during use...If you have practice you can use a lanyard to switch from one position to another (hard to explain, but you kind of sling the knife around to switch from one grip to say a reverse grip) and if you drop the knife it won't fall to the ground, or possibly under water, so yeah alot of reasons to use them...
 
I generally use lanyards on my knives when I'm out in the brush or over water, just to cut down on replacement costs (I've lost a few knives by NOT using lanyards). I generally make my own out of paracord these days, although I used to use leather thong when it was easier to find. Just for the record, the short things that people call lanyards are actually fobs, lanyards are long enough to secure a piece of equipment to prevent loss.
 
This is the lanyard from a Tops Recon Rover. The little end part glows in the dark, which makes it easy to find in your tent. I also use it to aid in chopping. I put index and middle finger on the handle with the rest on the lanyard. Also is a nice little stash or cordage.

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I use braided nylon cord and leather for the lanyards on my knives. I use a hang mans knot most of the time just to secure the cord to the knife. When I need to use a lanyard, around water or near a drop or ditch i undo the hang mans knot and tie a loop. I have a loop of leather through the lanyard permanently on my machetes. Joe
 
One other way to use a cord is a loop around the thumb, across the back of the hand, and then grip the handle. This method allows retention, firms up the grip if needed, but will let the knife fall away if that is necessary, slipping off the thumb. It's used most frequently on riot batons, but has it's place around the camp.

Any knife over water deserves to be tied to it's owner to prevent loss - preferably with 30+" of paracord.
 
I've tied dozens of lanyards. In cotton, nylon, paracord, leather, etc. Real lanyards, with loops to fit around the wrist, or even around the neck. I'm a sailor, and working on a boat, alotft and near water generally means that a tool should be secured to me.

Usually I do lanyards of 8 or 10 strands with a loop of sinnet, a couple of Matthew Walker knots, some fancy crowning, a few turk's heads. If you're interested in that sort of thing, let me know. I can point you to some sites with instruction.
 
Hey Fujimo, do you mind putting up some of those links.

I've used the hangman's noose for awhile, but I'm interested in some other ways to tie them.
 
I've never "used" lanyards. Used is in quotation marks because I have in fact tried them with a couple of my knives, but didn't like them.

Sure, there are things you can do with a lanyard that you couldn't do without one - like letting go of the knife and not having it fall to the ground or in the lake as the case may be. I don't see any need for these things for myself, though.
 
I have found them useful for a couple reasons. One, attaching a knife to my person or belt loop when sailing or fishing to keep from dropping/losing the knife. A short lanyard on where the knot rides at the top of the pocket for easy retrieval. They are by no means on all of my knives.
 
For those of you who use lanyards, do you tie them to your knife? Or to a clip? I've done both.
 
I have mixed feelings about lanyards. I like the extra security if I'm doing any kind of climbing or if I'm around water, but I often find that they get in my way for general every day use. I tried a lanyard on my Crawford Casper folder that I EDC for a week or two and several times I had the lanyard actually get in the way of the blade opening. I've also tried a couple of different fobs on a couple of my knives and found them to be not very comfortable. I can definitely see the advantages of using a lanyard, but for most situations they just don't work for me.
 
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