Paracord Handles.....?

[srmd22]

What is the purpose of this style? It looks like it would be much less comfortable then conventional scales to me, especially for hard use. Admittedly, I have no idea what I am talking about. But just wondering what the advantages are: weight, access to some rope in an emergency? Is it some sort of "coolness factor" that I am not clued into?

 

[defaultuser]

weight, access to some rope in an emergency

For me, you nailed it. Weight is a big factor for a neck knife. Adding a little rope on a skeletonized neck knife increase the usage comfort by a good margin, at the price of very little added weight...and as you said, you have access to paracord should you need it.

 

[Truelove]

I don't pretend to hold any special insight on this, but I've always thought it was a way to get away with making an inexpensive handle that still had some "tactical" cache. I think having the knowledge to use cordage to make a comfortable handle on something that needs it is really valuable, I think buying something with one thrown on is purchasing someone's shortcut.

 

[defaultuser]

I don't pretend to hold any special insight on this, but I've always thought it was a way to get away with making an inexpensive handle that still had some "tactical" cache. I think having the knowledge to use cordage to make a comfortable handle on something that needs it is really valuable, I think buying something with one thrown on is purchasing someone's shortcut.

I respectfully disagree. On a custom knife, only between 10%~20% of the final price is the knife material; the rest is tools usage (including sanding media, etc) and the knifemaker's time. When I make a skeletonized handle, I have to work A LOT MORE on the handle (profiling, sanding, etc) than when I make a full-tang. It's pretty much a wash for me in terms of time spent on a knife handle.

This "logic" doesn't apply to production blades, though.

 

[CountyRat]

Wrapping your blade's handle is a pleasant diversion (if you like that kind of thing) allows you to be a little creative with knotcraft, and makes a badly designed grip more comfortable (begging the question, why did you buy a knife with a badly designed grip?). And, if you do it cleverly, it gives you several feet of paracord to use in an emergency. Handy stuff, paracord. Amazing how many camp expedients (including shelter, fishing line, sewing thread, and about a million other things) you can fashion with it.

_______________________________________________

That which does not kill me, postpones the inevitable.

 

[srmd22]

Cool, so my suspicions were correct, it seems-- weight and availability of some handy rope. And maybe a bit of cache, as Truelove points out. Ok, then, I think I need one.

 

[killgar]

I never understood using nylon cord for a knife handle. Nylon has got to be one of the most slippery materials on Earth. Add sweat, water, oil, or blood and I don't see how you're gonna hold a grip.

I think cord wrapped handles are just a cheap way for makers to put handles on knives and call them finished.

I prefer strips of tightly wrapped bicycle innertube. I wrap all my fixed blade handles with it. Wet or dry it feels as though my hand is locked on to these knives when I grip them. Innertube is also innexpensive, one tube costs only a couple of bucks at Wal Mart and provides enough material for several knives.

 

[dipbait]

I would not choose a wrapped handle. Blood, fish slime, grime... would make it disgusting.

 

[noviomagus]

never understood the fact that there are quite so many blades with paracord handles.
i had those once,and never found them comfortable.no good grip.
when wet it gets loose also.
and to have a paracord handle to have some rope with you?
don't know but is that handy?
i would rather take it in the rucksack .

 

[A.L.]

i would rather take it in the rucksack .

That, or if it really has to be together with the knife (bail out, escape-get-only-one-thing-with-you) then wrap it around the sheath (wich sometimes even improves the looks of kydex sheaths).