Stupid question. What is the purpose of a lanyard?

For me,

I added a dinky one like the Standard Factory Lanyard on my CRK, just in a blue and slight red color.
On this knife it looks cool with the blue anodized lanyard rod.

However , it helps me pull is out of my leather sheath and like I said, it looks cool.
Otherwise I cannot stand a big lanyard getting in the way and keep only one large on my keychain.
Matt
 
Folding knives with lanyards are not a useful option for me in my daily carry. I carry clipped, or if not, the knife just floats in the bottom of my pocket unnoticed, and plenty easy enough to get out since I don't wear pants that look and fit like they were spray painted on. Furthermore, a lanyard dangling out of your pocket kind of defeats the purpose of discreet carry. Additionally, I see withdrawing a knife from my pocket by a lanyard to be an awkward two handed process. Pull on the lanyard with your right hand (I am a rightie) to yank out the blade. Now its dangling in your right hand, swaying back and forth. So you reach across with your left hand to grab the knife by the handle. OK. Now you transfer it back to your right hand. THEN you can deploy the knife. Yoicks. What a PITA. However, lanyards MAY be a perceived useful safety feature to some with a larger fixed blade used for chopping, but even then, I am A-OK without one. Your mileage may vary.
 
It is mucho easier to grab from pocket for sure. I haven't had any issues with it being easier to spot. The skull beads may look childish....to other knife knuts but the last guy I met a week ago at the bar had a beat up bench made he showed me after seeing my 102 on my belt, when I pulled out my sharp as ever 0560BW w a lanyard and a cheapy skull bead all he had to say about the KNIFE was "holy sh*t" lol he didn't even look at the lanyard.

I think it's cool to add a certain color or colored bead based on the color scheme of your knife. Yes, it's a tool, but a tool that is carried on your person quite often and used a lot so it deserves a little flair. I am referring to fobs shoulda made that clear.

Aside from an easy grab it does leave you with about a foot of paracord depending on your fob. I guess u could pull out the strands melt them together and use it as a fishing line? Some paracord is better than none I suppose!

They are fantastic at grabbing dirt and grease and DRYWALL DUST lol my knife was fine yesterday, the fob wasn't.
You can always cut it off or untie it to do a different color/bead.
 
On a folder I use a cobra weave lanyard to yank the knife out of my pocket. On fixed blades I just tie a simple loop to go around my wrist. For safety? Hell no - if you wanna keep all your appendages intact, get tha phuc back! It is because with the lanyard around my wrist I can grip waaay back on the handle with just my middle and index fingers! Extends the reach almost 5 inches, adds tons of force to the stroke. Snap cuts with that grip just sail right through whatever you're cutting.
 
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gpo1956 said:
This! Finally someone got it.
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Yep! Cuz after all, everybody gets in survival situations and emergencies where paracord would save you. That 3 feet of lanyard might come in handy! Seriously, it is very doubtful that paracord will ever save any of our asses, ever. This thread is about lanyards, and even if you had a long lanyard all weaved up it would probably only be 5 feet max all stretched out. It might do you some good if you had nothing else, but I wouldn't count on it to do much.
 
Should lumberjacks have lanyards on their axes? Or firemen? Or carpenters on their hammers? Or blacksmiths? Or anyone who swings a heavy and/or sharp object? To me, just another way to squeeze a few cents out of gear heads.
 
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http://bill-hay.com/Lanyard.httm for a link to lanyard discussion

I find a good lanyard will "link" my knife to my hand in many useful ways that Bill Hay describe and illustrates, but my computer link may not be as effective. Perhaps another forum member can check the link that is not made of paracord:D
 
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link2derek said:
Many purposes - here are a few off the top of my head:

(a) help retrieve from pocket (folders)
(b) add extra length to 3-finger handles (fixed or folder)
(c) wrap around wrist for control/retention (fixed or large folders)
(d) add ease of finding (bright/reflective material)
(e) add ease of identification (between several identical models)
(f) looks cool (purely aesthetic)

I'm sure there's more...
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(g) Tied to your belt to stop you loosing your knife when you drop it, like working from heights or over water
 
I tie them on all of my knives. If I have beads or skuls handy they go on it. I think they look good and I enjoy putting them on my knives.


But what do I know..................I'm only twelve.:rolleyes:
 
Another purpose for a lanyard would be to hold a knife without a clip upright in your pocket. Need a big lanyard and it looks kinda tacky hanging out but I've done it.

Now, with physicists theorizing about the interaction of the universe with consciousness it's quite likely that your very perception of reality is a matter of opinion. Lanyards may be a matter of opinion also, whatever blows up your skirt.

On this knife (in my reality) the lanyard really made the knife. It's a 3 finger knife and that little lanyard was made to just fill my hand. Also, the thing is a bear trap and it's perfect to hold while closing.

 
AntDog said:
Yep! Cuz after all, everybody gets in survival situations and emergencies where paracord would save you. That 3 feet of lanyard might come in handy! Seriously, it is very doubtful that paracord will ever save any of our asses, ever. This thread is about lanyards, and even if you had a long lanyard all weaved up it would probably only be 5 feet max all stretched out. It might do you some good if you had nothing else, but I wouldn't count on it to do much.
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Hey smarta$$, the OP asked what the purpose was. The original purpose of lanyards on tactical knives was exactly as stated. Whether you think its useful or not, I don't care. I have no idea if you're qualified to know or not. I simply stated that after a large number of posts, someone finally got the correct one.
 
gpo1956 said:
Hey smarta$$, the OP asked what the purpose was. The original purpose of lanyards on tactical knives was exactly as stated. Whether you think its useful or not, I don't care. I have no idea if you're qualified to know or not. I simply stated that after a large number of posts, someone finally got the correct one.
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You can call me names all you want to, but it doesn't change the fact that lanyards are used on knives to get them out of your pocket, or to keep a fixed blade from becoming a projectile - not survival. I have never heard of 3 feet of 550 saving anyone from anything.
 
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