I used 550 cord for a handle because the person I was making the knife for requested it. It turned out really nice (for a cord wrapped handle) and it was fun to do. I think wrapped handles look interesting, especially on fine Japanese swords and knives, but I am not a fan of cord wrapped handles for general field use for practical reasons. If the cord gets wet it stays wet. If it gets contaminated with sweat, blood or any nasty substance it can not be decontaminated without changing out the whole cord. Some people say the cord can be used in an emergency in a survival situation, but then you have just stripped your knife of its handle. My opinion is that it is probably better to have a knife with a solid comfortable handle and carry a roll of cord if you are worried about having cord with you.