Skulls!?

[POCEH KOCEB]

That sounds like the truth, right there.

I don't understand why anyone puts a bead on a knife. The lanyard, I kinda get, although if I ever try to use one I end up taking it off, as it makes the whole implement less compact and tends to get caught in moving machinery at my job. Have we really gotten to the point of accessorizing knives as some kind of man jewelry? There are some aesthetic things done to knives that I enjoy, such as acid washing, stonewashing, custom scales, but everything is about making the knife reflect me. Not knocking the bead thing, but I don't understand how that adds the same kind of personal value to a knife without taking away some of the utility.

This is very interesting post. I did work in environment with lots of moving machinery and I would fully understand your point not to carry anything that can get caught. But what's wrong with accessorizing your knife ? There are number of good reasons to put a bead on a knife. I put those on the fobs/lanyards, because they are heavy and keep the paracord down. It's a practical point, I like the fob/lanyard to be on a precise place I can find it without looking at it. Is it going to be a skull, bead, Spartan helmet or just a titanium nut, I don't really care as long as it 1. does the job and 2. looks sort of OK with the knife, that's it.
In regard of is it going to reflect who I am... I don't know about this. Your knives are representing enough who you are without the necessity of putting beads on them I think but of course I could be wrong.
Sometimes I put things on the lanyard, that I know they will provoke reaction. It works for me, regardless if this bead is representing who I am or I'm just using it to see someone's reaction to the bead/the fact that I'm carrying a knife

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

... at the Motorhead concert?

Hey, hey ! Easy now buddy... Nothing wrong with Morothead concerts...

 

[cncpro11]

Hey, hey ! Easy now buddy... Nothing wrong with Morothead concerts...

The Fillmore Detroit. Lots and lots of skulls...

 

[PURPLEDC]

That sounds like the truth, right there.

I don't understand why anyone puts a bead on a knife. The lanyard, I kinda get, although if I ever try to use one I end up taking it off, as it makes the whole implement less compact and tends to get caught in moving machinery at my job. Have we really gotten to the point of accessorizing knives as some kind of man jewelry? There are some aesthetic things done to knives that I enjoy, such as acid washing, stonewashing, custom scales, but everything is about making the knife reflect me. Not knocking the bead thing, but I don't understand how that adds the same kind of personal value to a knife without taking away some of the utility.

Not to mention that a big metal bead swinging on a rope is gonna be like a mini mace thwacking the sides of the knife. Im over my perfectionism so I no longer wish otterbox would get in the knife business, but i also dont want to pseudo stonewash the handles for the sake of a trinkit. Lanyards for me at least along with the beads just get in the way more.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

The Fillmore Detroit. Lots and lots of skulls...

It was a long, long time ago since I've seen those guys in concert... I believe it was in Germany...
Not exactly my type of music but I like Lemmy and I like to pump up some old "skull" Ace of Spades just to piss of the neighbours...

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Not to mention that a big metal bead swinging on a rope is gonna be like a mini mace thwacking the sides of the knife...

The whole point of the bead attached to a lanyard or whatever is to stay outside of the pocket, when the knife is inside the pocket

 

[Nobody]

Memento Mori

 

[RemyKaze]

The whole point of the bead attached to a lanyard or whatever is to stay outside of the pocket, when the knife is inside the pocket

Why not just buy a knife that fits the hand better? I haven't found lanyards to be very useful in knife retrieval or added purchase on said knife. In fact, they usually hinder switching grips on a knife, and are somewhat dangerous around moving machinery. This actually decreases utility, even if you rarely come into contact with such machinery or anything the knife could get caught in by the lanyard. It becomes less of a "for any situation" tool.

 

[korn_2956]

I tried lanyards but always worried someone was gonna grab it and run, felt like it made it to easy to steal my knife. I do like skulls though. to each their own.

 

[killgar]

I think if a persons knife fob or lanyard gets caught in the moving parts of a machine, then the person was standing to close to that machine. Dangerously close.

I once worked in an industrial type metal shop. I used shears and press brakes, etc. But I never pressed my hip or pelvis up against any of those machines.

For a fob or lanyard to get caught in the moving parts of a machine, a person would have to be positioned with their body pretty close to those moving parts, close enough for clothing to get caught. And that sounds like a very dangerous thing to do even without a fob or lanyard.

If I were around a machine with moving parts at pelvis level that were capable of grabbing anything, I would make damn sure to keep my pelvis at a safe distance from those moving parts, even if I wasn't using a lanyard.

 

[RemyKaze]

I think if a persons knife fob or lanyard gets caught in the moving parts of a machine, then the person was standing to close to that machine. Dangerously close.

I once worked in an industrial type metal shop. I used shears and press brakes, etc. But I never pressed my hip or pelvis up against any of those machines.

For a fob or lanyard to get caught in the moving parts of a machine, a person would have to be positioned with their body pretty close to those moving parts, close enough for clothing to get caught. And that sounds like a very dangerous thing to do even without a fob or lanyard.

If I were around a machine with moving parts at pelvis level that were capable of grabbing anything, I would make damn sure to keep my pelvis at a safe distance from those moving parts, even if I wasn't using a lanyard.

I have to lean over the machines I work on, sometimes turning parts by hand, sometimes by "tipping" or moving them under power at a slow speed. Sometimes I have to cut things over or in front of these machines. I had a lanyard on the work knife I use sometimes since it has no clip, and that lanyard was almost caught in the gear before. The oil/dirt rags we use to clean parts and hands have gotten caught plenty of times by being in the wrong spot on top of the line.

Just because someone can't imagine a case where it is necessary for a knife to be close to moving parts, that does not mean it isn't a reality. I like my knife to be ready to use in even unexpected situations without any hindrances. Personal preference.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Why not just buy a knife that fits the hand bettern ? I haven't found lanyards to be very useful in knife retrieval or added purchase on said knife. In fact, they usually hinder switching grips on a knife, and are somewhat dangerous around moving machinery. This actually decreases utility, even if you rarely come into contact with such machinery or anything the knife could get caught in by the lanyard. It becomes less of a "for any situation" tool.

I believe you are looking at lanyards/fobs in completely different way they are actually intended to be used. A fob/lanyard is on a folding knife so it'll be drawn faster that the one without it.
Being "pretty", having skulls or other gimmicks on it is the topic of this thread but not the primary function of the lanyard/fobs.

The lanyards are actually increasing utility if we are talking about fast drawing or drawing from seating in your vehicle for example.
Again - I understand your point about things sticking out of your pockets when working with machines and I'm totally with you on this, but I think you're looking at lanyards/fobs from different point of view than most of us that are using those on a daily bases.
I would not have a working knife with me, without a piece of paracord attached to it, makes it way easier and clean to draw the knife out of my pocket,
especially convenient when it is a waved blade. It is a matter of personal preferences if one wants to use a lanyard or fob on his knife, and nobody here tells you what to do with your knife or habits,
but this doesn't changes the fact that when done correctly they help a lot for faster drawing, when we're generally talking about folders, clipped to the inside of your pocket.

With or without lanyard/fob, if you are not using OTF type of knife, clipped to the outside of your pocket, you will have to preposition your hand/grip, there is no "knife that will fit your hand better",
they all fit just fine, once they are open and you preposition your grip.

 

[The24v]

I am not typically a fan of skulls on anything, but every once in a while you can find a nice example.

 

[RemyKaze]

I believe you are looking at lanyards/fobs in completely different way they are actually intended to be used. A fob/lanyard is on a folding knife so it'll be drawn faster that the one without it.
Being "pretty", having skulls or other gimmicks on it is the topic of this thread but not the primary function of the lanyard/fobs.

The lanyards are actually increasing utility if we are talking about fast drawing or drawing from seating in your vehicle for example.
Again - I understand your point about things sticking out of your pockets when working with machines and I'm totally with you on this, but I think you're looking at lanyards/fobs from different point of view than most of us that are using those on a daily bases.
I would not have a working knife with me, without a piece of paracord attached to it, makes it way easier and clean to draw the knife out of my pocket,
especially convenient when it is a waved blade. It is a matter of personal preferences if one wants to use a lanyard or fob on his knife, and nobody here tells you what to do with your knife or habits,
but this doesn't changes the fact that when done correctly they help a lot for faster drawing, when we're generally talking about folders, clipped to the inside of your pocket.

With or without lanyard/fob, if you are not using OTF type of knife, clipped to the outside of your pocket, you will have to preposition your hand/grip, there is no "knife that will fit your hand better",
they all fit just fine, once they are open and you preposition your grip.

Lanyards require you to grab the lanyard first, or the lanyard and part of the knife, then choke up to the proper grip on the knife. I've never seen this as anything but making the objective of getting the knife in hand more tedious.

However, my beef isn't with lanyards. They're just not my mug of beer. I apologize if I lumped them in with the whole bead thing. Beads are essentially man jewelry. Lanyards have their place for some people, just not for myself.

 

[paulhilborn]

There's no right or wrong in my book but I've worked construction outside year round for over 40 plus years...the fob is a huge help in retrieving my knife from cold weather Carhartt bibs while wearing thick leather gloves.

Some of my fobs are simply paracord, some are paracord with a bead of some sort...mostly skulls cause I like em....been drawing since I was a kid and I like drawing skulls...maybe explains why most of my beads are skulls.

To old to be a mall ninja since I outdate malls, must be the inner pirate in me coming out

 

[mqqn]

Nothing wrong with a little skull. ;^)

It says nothing about your manhood, save for one who would say that having skulls somehow makes you more of a "manly-man", which says something in and of itself.

I like some skull motif, but others I don't like. So goes individual tastes.

best

mqqn

 

[retired01]

i don't care what YOU think,as a matter of fact i ordered by U812 a lanyard with a skull,i'm not badass,not a pirate and not a skater but i've been there and done that,for you to figure out what!

 

[Vemon]

 

[herisson]

After that "El Vaquero" logo, any skull, bead or not, is comparatively relegated to "Hello Kitty" status.

 

[mqqn]

Skull.....