Lanyards on folders?

A

alnitak

Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
69
I see some of the paracord lanyards advertised, and some pictures of folders with them on it. Not just a loop, but these knotted lanyards as well. I have to admit, I don't get it.

What is the purpose of these 3" knotted lanyards on folders? Is it easier to retrieve the knife from the pocket (but then your hand is not in position to open the knife quickly)? Does it hang out of the pocket (which seems to defeat the purpose of a lower carry, making the knife less obvious)? Is it just cool looking?

I guess I'm just used to lanyards that loop over the hand and provide some measure against dropping/loss (like over water). So, please tell me what I'm missing here. Thanks.
 
I have a short length of braided paracord on my Victorinox Cybertool 41. It's mainly there just so that I have a convenient piece of cord in case I need it.
 
I've found that on smaller knives, such as a small sebbie, it not only makes it easier to retrieve but also seems to make the handle seem bigger in hand. I dont carry in waist band, but i would think it would make retrieval easier there to. Other than the aforementioned, they are essentially decorative, unless you are in a survival situation and need the rope.

I tuck my lanyards in with the knife if I need to be more discreet about carrying.
 
alnitak said:
What is the purpose of these 3" knotted lanyards on folders? Is it just cool looking?
Click to expand...
First reason!

Is it easier to retrieve the knife from the pocket (but then your hand is not in position to open the knife quickly)?
Click to expand...
Not at that length but in general it is a bit easier. I found long lanyards to be catched by the shirt, so i use shorter knotted ones.

Does it hang out of the pocket (which seems to defeat the purpose of a lower carry, making the knife less obvious)?
Click to expand...
Yes.

I guess I'm just used to lanyards that loop over the hand and provide some measure against dropping/loss (like over water). So, please tell me what I'm missing here. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Well, that maybe more useful on larger fixed blades. I found such a lanyard as disturbing as a long knotted one.

You are missing the thrills and fun of a "glow in the dark" skull. Yes, you does. Buy one.
 
Some thoughts:
  • If you keep a folder tucked in your waistband, a fob makes it vastly easier to remove.
  • For some people it's not all about speed of deployment.
  • Some people enjoy decorative knots.
  • As mentioned, it's nice to have a bit of cord and it can help fill the hand on smaller knives.
 
mikeymoto said:
Some thoughts:
  • If you keep a folder tucked in your waistband, a fob makes it vastly easier to remove.
  • For some people it's not all about speed of deployment.
  • Some people enjoy decorative knots.
  • As mentioned, it's nice to have a bit of cord and it can help fill the hand on smaller knives.
Click to expand...

That about sums it up.
 
I like the loop on a hunting folder as I often want to hang it on something close by to keep it handy during dressing and butchering game.
 
Lanyards were originally developed so that we didn't lose stuff. I makes sense to have a lanyard in a camping/hiking/"survival" situation when you can't afford to lose your knife.
 
I use lanyards on knives with small handles - a short knotted lanyard/fob gives the pinky finger something to grab onto and can really improve your grip on the knife.
 
I have three types of lanyards.

For my small clip folders, I use the short lanyard that you get with cell phones.
So when I am using the knife, I can let it go and it dangles from my wrist.
I don't have to put the knife down.

For my very small knives I have a short 10" lanyard clipped to my belt, so I can open the knife and use it very near to me, the close it and put it back in my back pocket.
If I need to use it for a length of time, I unclip it from my belt.

For work knives, camping or outdoor, I have a long lanyard clipped to my belt, where the lanyard is long enought to use the knife freely with my right hand without unclipping the lanyard.

I have never lost a knive yet!! b'yhr
 
i thnk they are nice for decorative purposes. Makes your knife more people friendly. Much like putting a little jacket on your dog haha
 
attachment.php
 
nphelps4130 said:
I use lanyards on knives with small handles - a short knotted lanyard/fob gives the pinky finger something to grab onto and can really improve your grip on the knife.
Click to expand...

I find this to be true also. I use a knotted leather lanyard on a few of my small knives. They greatly improve the grip.

Gary
 
I like the lanyards and decorative knots on my pocket knives for appearance, for grip and because they allow me to orient the knife in my hand quickly by feel alone.
Greg
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I've learned quite a bit and also changed my perspective some. You see, I was thinking of my tactical folders only, carried with a clip, tip down. For that use, I just didn't see the application for a lanyard. But after reading your comments, it seems a lanyard makes a lot of sense for smaller knives:

  • Carried tip up, it helps in retrieval from the pocket. Maybe not in a tactical situation, but for everyday utility it would seem very convenient.
  • It provides a rest for the little finger and actually "extends" the handle. I can see this, particularly if the cord is knotted to provide some thickness and the little finger exerts some pressure backwards to provide tension and stiffen the lanyard.
  • It's an easy way to carry 10' of paracord for "emergency" situations. Some interesting knotting threads out there. I may just have to get some and try to knot one myself. Although I'm not yet convinced that the "monkey ball", a pom-pom on a string, is for me.
  • It does look cool! I've seen some pictures of pocket knives with braided lanyards and there are some combinations that just seems to go together -- black with ivory, leather with stag, etc.
So, I've now decided that I need to put lanyards on a few of my pocket knives. I guess I'll start another thread on tricks and tips and questions (for example, when you cut paracord, do you have to fire the ends to keep it from unraveling?).

Thanks all!
 
basically the braided lanyards were for the survivalists out there then others saw them with cool patterns or camo'd paracord and liked them but maybe unaware of its practicality in a survival situation (tying stuff, traps etc)
 
The absolute best way I've found to secure the ends of paracord from unravelling when cut is to put a few drops of superglue on the cord where you want to cut it. Let it soak in as you flex the cord....then cut thru the glued area once it sets up.

I have never had one unravel and it secures both ends of the cut cord neatly as a full diameter solid bundle of threads. You can also permanently secure knotted cord by putting a drop of superglue onto the knot and letting it soak in and dry. Give it a try and see for yourself.
 
Plain old Duco cement works as well as superglue for me. On nylon paracord. On cotton or other natural fiber cords, a few drops of Elmer's white or carpenter's glue works fine, too.
 
I use a lighter, too. I also find that if you're securing the end of a line after a knot, you can melt the end a little more than normal and then smear the molten material up against the knot to keep it from loosening (assuming the knot will not be holding a significant load), and as a side benefit you have no ends dangling. For example, see the extreme lower-left of the following photo; the ends are melted and smushed up against the bottom of the knot:

336972046_4db869b2cd_b.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top