Paracord lanyard, anyone?

arcanum

arcanum

Joined
Dec 22, 2003
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180
Beuller? Beuller?

FedEx just dropped off a long-awaited Microtech LCC -- had to get OD micarta, since I couldn't find CF anywhere (trade, anyone?) -- and the package contained a length of lanyard cord. My question is, how many of you actually use the lanyard on your pocket-carries?

I can see how having the lanyard might make it easier to draw the knife, but then you've got a knife swinging in the breeze. I clip my large EDC to r/f pocket, so locating it isn't really an issue. Am I missing an obvious benefit, or is it a matter of style?
 
I really like lanyards on tip down knives, especially smaller ones. It gives just a little bit more to hold onto when drawing the knife without having a lot of the knife sticking out. My favorite is the coil knot (hangmans noose) used on Chris Reeve Sebenzas. It make for a clean, lanyard that is just the right size. It also contains enough material that the knot could be untied and made into a wrist strap if you were having to use your knife in conditions would it could be dropped and lost (over water).
 
Thanks, slide13. I can see the benefit for knives that ride really low (like the SERE). After some experimenting, the noose definitely makes it easier to draw the LCC from the belt sheath. Since I won't be using the sheath, though, I think I'll put the cord on the SERE or a clipless knife like the SogWinder.
 
Where does one attach the lanyard on the LCC? I'm guessing that it goes on the thin spacer rod at the bottom. However, that rod looks very thin...

-- Dizos
 
As Slide13 mentioned, it gives you a bit more to grab onto. Even more importantly, for me it's much easier to located and remove from the bottom of my pocket! While the knife falls to the bottom of the pocket, the short lanyard sticks up, giving me something to grasp. I also use the hangman's noose ala CR Sebenza's. Here's a couple of examples:

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Originally posted by Phalanx7.62
Man that Kestrel is gorgeous!! Wish they made a tad larger though.. Nice pics as well!
Click to expand...

Thanks Robb. If you want something larger, don't forget about the larger William Henry Lancet, Monarch and Spearpoint with 2.6", 2.8" and 3.25" blades respectively. I'm seriously considering the Ti Monarch as my next WH purcahse (among 500 other 'next' purchases). It has a 2.6" blade and WH's fantastic button lock.

Monarch photo courtesy of williamhenryknives.com

b5-ft.jpg
 
You're not kidding, Phalanx, that Kestrel is tiny but a true beauty. And the carbon fiber scales make it so lightweight that you pretty much need a lanyard just to keep it from blowing away. By the way, PatrickB, where did you get the two-tone paracord? I'm new to that stuff, so all I've seen is what TADgear offers.

Dizos, you got it right. I attached the cord to that little pseudo-spacer at first, but then removed it and put it on the SERE. Another problem with a cord on the LCC is that the spacer is very close to the blade tip, meaning that any slack in the cord will get diced in no time.
 
I too use the Coil Knot or Bowline when parachuting or rock climbing.
I recently removed the pocket clip of my Dominator and I have a nice thick (3mm cord) coil attached to the knife. The coil hangs out of my pocket like a key fob/chain. This prevents the knife from laying horizontal in my pocket. I usually won't buy a knife, fixed or folder, unless it has a lanyard hole.
 
Originally posted by arcanum
You're not kidding, Phalanx, that Kestrel is tiny but a true beauty. And the carbon fiber scales make it so lightweight that you pretty much need a lanyard just to keep it from blowing away. By the way, PatrickB, where did you get the two-tone paracord? I'm new to that stuff, so all I've seen is what TADgear offers.
Click to expand...

While I needed a small and lightweight EDC for workdays, I was still a bit surprised when the Kestrel arrived. I hadn't had the chance to handle one before I ordered it. I'd handled only the larger Lancet's and Monarch's. I remember taking it out of the box and thinking that it may be too small. And you are so right about the weight of the cf handles, it practically floats, it's so light!

However, the materials and workmanship are just so amazing, I gave it a chance and after carrying it for just a few days, I knew it was a keeper. Since I wear a suit to work, the cutting duties it sees are little more than envelopes and boxes.

W/regard to cord for lanyards, most camping/outdoor stores should have nylon cord sold by the foot. I picked up a pre-packaged 50' length of a maroon or red-ish colored cord at my local REI for ~$3.00 and a few feet of the black and gold shown in the above pics. They had a variety of colors and you'll want 3mm cord (or 1/8") for a small EDC. Note that Chris Reeves uses 3mm black cord for the Sebenza's.

Here's the red cord I picked up at rei.

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I also came across camo colored cord at a local store. I wouldn't exactly have called it 'camo' if I hadn't seen the label, but I liked the color combination, some dark green, yellows and browns. I don't have a photo, but it looks pretty cool and is probably quite common at camping/outdoor stores.

If you can't find the cord locally, you can purchase 3mm nylon cord in various colors from rei.com. It ranges from $.05 - $.10 per foot. Hope that helps.

-pb
 
Originally posted by patrickb
Thanks Robb. If you want something larger, don't forget about the larger William Henry Lancet, Monarch and Spearpoint with 2.6", 2.8" and 3.25" blades respectively. I'm seriously considering the Ti Monarch as my next WH purcahse (among 500 other 'next' purchases). It has a 2.6" blade and WH's fantastic button lock.


Yeah..I have seen the rest of the line, but nothing captivates me the way your kestrel does. Make that with a 3.6 ish blade, and its perfect (imho). Course I feel the new Benchmade Blackwood ( I like to call it the Benchwood)is a little large for me too. It needs a little sister.
Click to expand...
 
To get a knot the size of the one on the Kestrel in the picture, I'd go with about 18" of cord. More would be better, as you could always trim off the ends -- and the FAQ section of Chris Reeve's site has a diagram of how to tie the knot.

Though if you had a deviant streak in you like my brother and I did, you already know how to make a hangman's noose from stringing up your sister's dolls.
 
Originally posted by arcanum
Though if you had a deviant streak in you like my brother and I did, you already know how to make a hangman's noose from stringing up your sister's dolls.
Click to expand...

:eek: LOL
 
Talk about a deviant streak... My brother not only taught me, when I was a kid, to tie a Hangman's Noose, he also showed me how to make a hollow "man" out of modeling clay, fill it with ketchup, and shoot it with bb guns in the back yard! Hours of "He was always such a quiet boy, polite, never any trouble" fun! :p

Regarding the knot Chris Reeve uses... Yes, it is a Hangman's Noose, but No, I don't believe it is the best choice. A better choice, which looks 99% identical, is a Multiple Overhand Knot. The difference is that the MOK routes the cord ends in a different way that is more secure. Note that the working end that forms the coil of the Hangman's Noose is tucked through only one loop at the end. In the MOK, that end is tucked through all the coils and is therefore less likely to work free.

---Jeffrey
 
the best cord for lanyards i have found is the 3MM cord from www.shomer-tec.com, similar to the cord that comes w/the microtech knives, prob the same stuff, i like the thinner better for my stuff, than the full size cord, tried to get some from MT and they wanted $15+S&H for 3' of cord, got the same stuff from shomertec for $7 for 100',

greg
 
Anyone know the length of paracord used on sebenza?
If you unravel the sebenza lanyard...what's the length.
 
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