Lanyards on folding knives...how can you stand them?

Lanyards on pocket knives?

  • Yes

    Votes: 26 37.7%

  • No

    Votes: 32 46.4%

  • Hate them with a passion

    Votes: 13 18.8%
  • Total voters
    69
vnvman

vnvman

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2024
Messages
163
I've used all sorts of knives, fixed and folding, and when I put a lanyard on it ends up staying on only on fixed blades.

The convenience of having one isn't discussed here: they make the knife easier to retrieve from pocket or waistband, they help finding it when dropped, they make it a better chopper and they look cool.

I really love a good pinky lanyard on my big Cold Steel folders, so good for chopping and clearing brush.

The problem I have with them is that they get in the way when I flick the pocket knife open, and especially when I close it: I end up ruining them and ultimately I remove them out of rage.

Maybe it's me being too much of a fidgeter, but I really can't stand them for long.

How do you guys cope with that? Not hating, just curious.

Maybe any tips?
 
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I also dislike them on folders for the same reason (gets in my way). The only time I use them there is when I need to for retrieval. For me, that’s limited to the times I use a belt sheath or tight slip, which I only do with my SAK Compact (my secondary knife).
 
TrainedBullets said:
I also dislike them on folders for the same reason (gets in my way). The only time I use them there is when I need to for retrieval. For me, that’s limited to the times I use a belt sheath or tight slip, which I only do with my SAK Compact (my secondary knife).
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I very much agree, even though on my Alox Farmer I ground off the lanyard thing because it digs into your hand bad. It's kinda fat tho so it's not much of a problem to make it slide up the pocket and catch it.
 
For me it all depends on where the damn hole is.........Anything closer to the top.or bottom as opposed to the end of the knife kills it for.me...
 
I have a lanyard on my Sage 5, because it helps me retrieve it out of my right front pocket and because it looks good (to me). Don't have one on any other folders I have because those don't vanish as deeply into the pocket as the Sage.

I voted Yes :)
 
On the other hand, I do love a - very small, simple and typically in microcord for less bulk - lanyard on some other of my daily bits.

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Guess I always figured fobs on folders were for guys that don't use pocket clips. But if the heavy bead is on the end to hang out of the pocket, it beats up the scales.
 
If I have on on a folder it's not that long and it's tight enough it's not flopping around getting in the way of closing the blade.
 
I kinda like them, but am mainly indifferent. I always liked the look of them on Sebenzas, and have made a few for other folders to kind of mimmick the look. They do make it a little easier to pull out of the pocket when you have a big jacket or something on. I dont like that they attract more attention to your pocket though and the fact that you're carrying a knife. I think non-knife people would think that they're pretty weird.
 
I don't like them, same thing with the SAK ring, when I get a new victorinox the first thing I usually do is remove the ring. Don't know why it bothers me, but I don't use it for anything and it seems like it is always rattling around and getting in the way
 
There are fobs, and there are lanyards. Fobs are short and occasionally handy. Lanyards are longer and attach to something beside your knife; sailors who had to go aloft to set sails often looped a lanyard around their neck. Some people tie the long end to a belt. Both get in the way IMHO.
 
I found a piece of 550 paracord laying around so I decided to give it a go for a few hours and see whether I rage quit the thing as usual... Let's see how this goes.

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Here's the deal with lanyards and fobs----they help me keep my knives! The device is an additional physical and textural component that helps identify when a knife is out of your hands. It adds a bit of color to your EDC, so if it falls, slips, or drops, you can notice and retrieve the knife. I try to aways have a lanyard attached, it also distinguishes your knife from anyone else's.

Also gives you a way to draw the knife out of pocket with more grip. If the lanyard gets in the way of proper deployment, get a different knife! There are bazillions to choose from, get one with appropriate lanyard hole.
 
Didn’t like them at first till I got my first crk and realized they help with pulling out the pocket and what I really like is they seem to really prevent dropping a knife pulling out the pocketif or when it snags on something. Also really like them for smaller knives that I don’t get a full four finger grip on.

I didn’t originally like how they stuck out the pocket and used to tuck em in. Don’t really do that anymore unless trying to be discreet. I do have a few knives where the hole is to high on the back of the knife and affected the grip so I took em off

Haven’t had any problems with them getting in the way of opening and closing folders. Mine are usually only 1-2”s long.

With me today

IMG_3331.jpeg
 
mitchnola said:
Didn’t like them at first till I got my first crk and realized they help with pulling out the pocket and what I really like is they seem to really prevent dropping a knife pulling out the pocketif or when it snags on something. Also really like them for smaller knives that I don’t get a full four finger grip on.

I didn’t originally like how they stuck out the pocket and used to tuck em in. Don’t really do that anymore unless trying to be discreet. I do have a few knives where the hole is to high on the back of the knife and affected the grip so I took em off

Haven’t had any problems with them getting in the way of opening and closing folders. Mine are usually only 1-2”s long.

With me today

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I reckon that especially when you have a knife with a wave (like the one I posted for example) it's much safer to run the lanyard loop over the pinky finger before yanking it out full force, especially considering how snug CS pocket clips are.

I'd imagine that especially if one has a deep carry clip, the lanyard helps with pulling the knife out more safely, even more so if the scales are on the smoother side.

For me tho, if the lanyard lacks a loop for my finger or wrist it's not worth the hassle because it doesn't help with chopping much. But maybe it's just me because generally I only tend to Edc small fixed blades and/or big folders... I'd doubt that most people would go around chopping with their Sebenzas and Delicas (which are a much more common size EDC for most people) so maybe it's just me.
 
I'll admit that I started using them because I liked the looks and as just another way to tinker with a new knife, but in practice I personally find them rather useful. Now that I'm used to them, they aid in pocket retrieval so much for me that it would annoy me if they weren't there.

Gary W. Graley Gary W. Graley has an extra knot that he ties with a smaller cord that prevents the issue the OP is referring to.
 
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