Self introduction, and question/idea about lanyards

Walkabout

Walkabout

Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
637
Hi everyone!

I've been lurking in the bleachers for a couple of months, enjoying the wealth of knowledge and supportive atmosphere here. I'm at the phase of life where my wife and I need to decide what to do together now that the kids don't want to spend their free time with us, but with their friends. My son just graduated from high school.

Fortunately, my wife and I both love the outdoors. With our used Jeep TJ and our canoe, we've had some great trips in the Ontario lakes nearby, portaging in order to get as far from noise and crowds as possible.

Of course, I must have new toys in order to fully appreciate the experience, and naturally that means being "well-bladed". I tend not to do things half-way, so I've put together the following bunch of blades, based on some of my reading here. I intend for them to be used, but well cared for. Of course, they are much more than I actually need, but to me that partly defines a hobby: unjustifiable time and expense devoted to an activity for pleasure.

(As an aside, I've decided that you know you're ordering too many knives when the only thing that you do with them is open delivered packages containing another knife).

Here's what I've put together (some are on order)

- small CRK sebenza with desert ironwood inlay
- Dozier small folding hunter with burgundy micarta, and pocket clip
- Dozier K-9; this is a small fixed blade that I keep in my Jeep
- CRK Mark VI one-piece
- Dozier Wilderness (both this one and the above MKVI just looked too nice to not have; they will make nice camping/hiking carries)
- 18" Ang Khola from Himalayan Imports (on order), for my chopping tool.
- Tashiro saw with Timber blade - for firewood
- Swamp Rats Camp Tramp - sorry, I can't justify this, but I just wanted it!

I'm actually a little embarrased of the excessive nature of the above, but I figure that if anyone would understand, you folks would!

Anyways, about the idea for a lanyard... I thought a great source for some varied and funky colours would be eyeglasses lanyards, such as here:

http://www.ekusa.com/store/item/25.31.377/

Interesting paracord is hard to find.

I used something similar on my Dozier small FH; I slipped one end of the rope out of its little rubber clip, put that end through the knife, and then passed the end back though the rubber clip again, so the knife is on the loop.

Just a thought.

Thank again for all the great info here!

Regards,

Mike
 
Hello and welcome. That is a great list of knives that you have there. I have the 18" Ang Khola from Himalayan Imports and while I can't speak for most of the others on the list, I know you will be happy with it. I do not think that you can go wrong with anything from Dozier. If you haven't tried one yet, a Army/Navy supply store is a good place to look for paracord. I think that for the most part would have it. /www.actiongear.com would be another place to try if you want to order some on the net. Good luck
 
First of all welcome!! Secondly you have put together a very diverse and well thought out list. You seem to have all the bases covered. I'm especially partial to the small Sebbie as that is my principle EDC. It's a great combination of materials and workmanship. Look forward to seeing you on BFC.
 
Ek makes some great lanyards, and by combining them with some of their multiple key fob thingies you can come up with some great combinations of ways to hold stuff. I have literally dozens of their products, and now that I think about it, none of them have ever failed.

I still shy away from paracord as a lanyard unless I deliberately want something to NOT breakaway.

bill
 
Howdy!
Paracord (true paracord) is derived from Military Specifications and generally only comes in black, od, and tan (with some odd colors here and there.) The breaking test strength is at 550 pounds (hence 550) and has twelve (?; it's been a while since I counted) small inner cords inside the jacket that work great in various situations you can dream up. Many of the cord company's use some hokey fiber product as a core. Look for the cord to be marked MIL-C-5040H TYPE 3 for the good stuff. I have a couple good sources if you want to buy 1,000 foot rolls. Feel free to e-mail me if interested. Boy am I a loser or what? Who gets excited about cord??? :p
out,
Cris
 
Welcome to the forums.
That's quite a list you got there. You obviously put a lot of thought into it. The only other suggestion I can make is a good axe/hatchet. Check out the Granfors Bruks line.

Good choice in the small Sebenza. It's my favorite one hander.

Paul
 
Anyways, about the idea for a lanyard... I thought a great source for some varied and funky colours would be eyeglasses lanyards, such as here:

Mike,welcome to the Forums.I purchase 3mm nylon cord in various colors and weave patterns from EMS. Some even have reflective material woven thru .tom.

http://www.ems.com/
 
Cris,

Who gets exited about cord? Me! I even EDC a marlin spike.

As for lanyard material, I usually just go to REI but any store that sells climbing equipment will have some, usually in different colors.

I do my lanyards a little different, I tie a loop with a monkey's fist on the end that dangles out of my pocket. That way I can retrieve my knife without a pocket clip and without fishing around too much.

Rob
 
"Paracord (true paracord) is derived from Military Specifications and generally only comes in black, od, and tan (with some odd colors here and there.) The breaking test strength is at 550 pounds (hence 550) and has twelve (?; it's been a while since I counted) small inner cords inside the jacket that work great in various situations you can dream up. Many of the cord company's use some hokey fiber product as a core. Look for the cord to be marked MIL-C-5040H TYPE 3 for the good stuff. I have a couple good sources if you want to buy 1,000 foot rolls. Feel free to e-mail me if interested. Boy am I a loser or what? Who gets excited about cord???"

Not to pick on Chris specifically, but there are a lot of ways to make cordage and a lot of materials now used. Materials and construction are chosen depending upon which properties are most important in the final product--stretch (or lack of), tensile strength, ability to take knotting without damage, ease of splicing, price, durability, etc.

Several small inner braids encased in a hollow braid is called kernmantle construction. Rapelling lines and some safety lines are made this way. Often the line is able to absorb some energy of a fall. Double braid construction is often used on safety lines or mooring lines where energy absorption is a primary concern.

550 paracord has kernmantle construction --fine.

Doesn't mean everything else is crap, or that 550 paracord is the best for all uses. Designed for rigging parachute canopies, it's apparantly deemed to be a good compromise for a general purpose light utility line by many, and is relatively inexpensive. There are several Military specifications for different types of cordage. [New England Ropes sells a nylon double braid that conforms to MIL-R-24050E--does that mean it's best for everything? No, I'd buy it for it's intended use, mooring lines and the like.]

550 lb tensile strength is no bid deal, one can obtain kernmantle construction climbing line in 1/8" or 3/16" sizes that have a tensile strength of 3,200 lbs. Yes, it will cost more.

Personally, for knotting lanyards or wrapping a handle I would find a single braid line to be preferable.

"Many of the cord company's use some hokey fiber product as a core"

Let's not paint with too broad a brush here. You get what you pay for, and need to know what you're buying and if it is appropriate for the intended use. Parallel core construction employing the proper materials provides some of the lowest-stretch cordage available of considerable strength. For example, with polyester chosen as the "hokey fiber product" 3/16" line can be produced with a tensile strength of 1,600 lbs. 3/4" line is made with a tensile strength of 21,600 lbs. This stuff ain't cheap either, but it's far from hokey--it's used for the running rigging of competitive, "cost no concern" racing yachts including America's Cup yachts.

It's true that the products described here won't be found in most military surplus stores. I don't doubt that some people produce parallel core product that is inferior to the corresponding 550 paracord and that some vendors might try to pass off inferior products as the real thing, but let's be careful when generalizing.


Lines with three strand (or rarely nowadays four or five), single braid, and double braid construction all find applications where they are preferred, as do the kernmantle and parallel core construction. The materials employed are just as important, as is quality.

Rant over--I got kinda tired of seeing everyone fawn over 550 paracord as though was some kind pinnacle of cordage techology. It's a product born of compromise, like everything else. I'm sure it is overkill for many uses that it's recommended for, but there is certainly much higher performance line available if the cost can be justified.

New England Rope has a fairly informative site:
http://www.neropes.com/techdata/default.htm
 
Welcome aboard, and that is a really nice list of knives, great choices. Prepare to spend all of your money on knives, it is insanely addicting. I have even started hocking DVDs to get some extra money for knives:)
 
welcome ,nice selection!! as far as lanyard's you can go to a hardware/constuction supply and get some mason's twine,They come in different color's. You braid it up the way you like. For field use brighter is better,easy to find when you place it on the deck or if it fall's.
 
Welcome Mike:)
I've always wondered,where are those bleachers:D Nice list of knives! I have only used a lanyard once while hanging over a 40' roof (made it out of aircraft wire and key rings). I did buy a nice chrome chain at Victorinox but it just isn't me...you know?:rolleyes:
 
Thanks everyone for the welcome, the feedback, and the advice!

Informative as always. Lots to follow up on.

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top