Production choppers with a forward lanyard hole <$100?

G

gomipile

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Apr 17, 2010
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I've been looking at 9"-11" blade fixed blades recently, and I haven't noticed many with a forward lanyard hole. What production models are there with a forward lanyard hole under $100 street price?

So far, the best value I've seen is the Rodent 9, but its a bit out of my price range, and I don't like the handle.
 
Do you mean the "Talon Hole?" That's a trademark of Busse's, so you'll only find it on Busses, Swamp Rats, and Scrapyards. And knockoffs, which probably won't be of good quality.
 
I think Gomipile wants a chopper with a lanyard hole in the blade, forward of the handle. IIRC this is required on all Bladesports competition choppers for safety reasons. Unfortunately I don't know much about that market segment.
 
You can always drill your own. Just use a drill press, sharp bit & keep the knife blade & drill bit cool when doing it. Go slow. I really like the front or forward lanyard hole on a large chopper as well. I may get a drill press someday & do my own as well.
 
I was, in fact, talking about the Bladesports style lanyard(the "Osborne Safety Lanyard" style), where there is a lanyard hole through the handle near the guard. For those who want to see a "textbook" example, look at the Benchmade 171.

I know I can drill my own, but drilling hardened steel doesn't usually work out well for me.

Also, since it is such a nice feature, I figured it should have percolated down into the Becker/Ontario-class value choppers by now.
 
The one that comes to mind for me is the Browning Competition cutter. It is a little over 100.00 though, but is an awesome chopper and well worth taking a look at. I love mine and have tested it often. It can often be found for around 110.-139. less if you find a used one.
Good luck in your quest.
 
ArchAngel said:
The one that comes to mind for me is the Browning Competition cutter. It is a little over 100.00 though, but is an awesome chopper and well worth taking a look at. I love mine and have tested it often. It can often be found for around 110.-139. less if you find a used one.
Good luck in your quest.
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This is what I was going to say. The handle is held on by three hollow rivets, and the forward one is ideal for a front laynard. In fact I think it came with one in that hole? Great knife and low cost at a bit over $100. Has a very nice leather sheath to boot. The edge is a convex ground edge and it is SHARP.
 
While the forward lanyard works well for BladeSports, I consider it extremely dangerous for general use on a chopper. I suggest using a conventional lanyard hole configuration, but drape the lanyard off the thumb and over the back of the hand, then up into the palm. If you let go, the chopper will fall from left to right rather than front to back. The grip is extremely secure, but can be easily released simply by allowing your grip to go loose and aligning your arm with the handle.
 
Browning Crowell/Barker Model 580 - absolutely.

They were hard to find for a while and sold for a bit more but now they are suddenly available again and you can find them for $103. I saw one on the exchange recently for $85. I don't know if it is still there but it is a great deal.

I support using the forward lanyard. I use it on virtually all my choppers. The knife stays secure in your hand while chopping and it does not swing at all when you relax / release your grip, it just stays in your hand between your thumb and index finger. Even safer than the wrap around method IMO.

Pictures with the forward lanyard:

DSC_1596_resize.jpg

DSC_1599_resize.jpg


It is a very good chopper and a great all around user. It is even better with a slight edge thinning and rounding of the handle (see 3rd from right). (The rear lanyard hole on the black one was a mistake by the modder and will be corrected.)

DSC_6562_resize.jpg


Here is the Benchmade 171 you mentioned:

DSC_6561_resize.jpg


Ankerson demonstrating forward lanyard safety:

[video=youtube;UU__hqhUM6Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU__hqhUM6Q&feature=player_embedded[/video]
 
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That Browning chopper is quite nice. A.G. Russell comes in for the win with another unique piece of hardware I hadn't heard of.

FortyTwoBlades, since safety is very important, I'd like to know why you "consider... [the forward lanyard] extremely dangerous for general use on a chopper?"
 
Because the forward lanyard is mostly designed for preventing the hand from sliding, because if grip is actually lost the blade is likely to come swinging back towards you, and because if you need to get it off your hand quick (need to jump to someone's aid or if you injure yourself) it is not as easily removed. It's excellent for use in the context of BladeSports, but I find the "off the thumb and around the back of the hand" bottom lanyard safer and more practical for general or heavy usage when you might have to do anything other than chop stuff.

Again, just my opinion.

If my description of the lanyard type isn't making sense I can snap some photos later. :)
 
Since you're one of the machete guys on here, I suppose that your lanyard technique works well for machetes as well?
 
Yes, in fact in the rare cases I use a lanyard it's almost always on a machete. Though I wouldn't call myself THE machete guy--I'm just one of a good handful on here. ;)
 
I think this is the method that FTB is referring to:

[video=youtube;N2rLv65M_ys]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2rLv65M_ys[/video]

He also demonstrates the forward lanyard method:

[video=youtube;S5Gtbl45pVg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Gtbl45pVg[/video]
 
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Yup! The very same. At 3:24 you can see how the knife swings when dropped. Away from the body, and easily retrieved and brought back to the ready position by a simple rotation of the hand. Doesn't require and twisting, either.
 
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