Why do you have a lanyard on your knife?

C

cutitout

Joined
Aug 12, 2012
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135
So let me plead my ignorance here. I have not been collecting knives very long and truth be known, I probably don't really have a good reason to collect knives at all, but I just like the feel of a precision knife and have found that each knife I purchase adds something unique to my collection.

But I have not been able to come up with a good reason to attach a lanyard. Some look interesting, but seem to get in the way more than increase access. I have heard that it helps to hold the knife when you need to free up both hands and want your knife to hang from your wrist. But that seems weak to me. First you have to unravel the lanyard to get to it, and why not just put it in a sheath or pocket or on the ground if that is the reason.

If it is to hold while your fighting, it seems it would be better to just duct tape it into your hand, but I can't imagine that as a reason and how many actually use a pocket or folding knife for fighting? Really?

Is it to get better access to your knife in your pocket? I thought that was what he clip was for.

Anyway, I see a lot of knife pictures here with fancy knotted lanyards attached to the grips and wondered why. Also, it's interesting that almost all folders seem to have lanyard holes built in. Just seems unnecessary to me, but obviously I am not getting something. Please help me understand this. I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't get it.

Thanks
 
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I don't. I use my knives around dirt and grease, needless to say any lanyard wouldn't be looking so nice anymore after exposure to that. I assume people that do use lanyards just wan't to decorate them up.
 
I'm a Chef and alot of my jackets are long and cover my pocket so it's easier to access it when I need it.. I also like using them all the time for that fact to..when I'm in the yard or working on something it's just easier to Grab..especially with gloves on
 
Im interested to hear too. I don't get it either. Maybe a small length to re-lace a shoe on the go? It just seems surperfluous, and I liken them to streamers on handlebars.
 
Some of my lanyards have a snap hook on the end that can be attached to a belt loop so my knife doesn't wander off.

My SAK has a lanyard/fob made of 3 ft. of para cord in a modified version of a storage sinnet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1Jb94kans). This provides a piece of readily available para cord. It came in handy awhile back. I repaired someone's luggage carrying strap. The snap hook broke and I tied the strap back in place. I had just put the lanyard on a couple of days before.

Ric
 
chester22 said:
I'm a Chef and alot of my jackets are long and cover my pocket so it's easier to access it when I need it.. I also like using them all the time for that fact to..when I'm in the yard or working on something it's just easier to Grab..especially with gloves on
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Same for me! i just semi recently began ordering pants called "marker thigh". the pocket is an oversized pen/thermo pocket big enough to fit my smf. i would use it if it didnt yank my pants down :/.

what gets me mad is 99.9% of the time i use my knife when in my chef coat and apron, when i put the knife back in my right front pocket (before i got pants with a thigh pocket) the pocket clip of my knife would catch my apron. then i would get snapped on the cooler handles and the sharp edges of the tables/ counters. idk if i you experience this inconvenience also but it always happens when im in a hurry (which is usually always)
 
If you google the question 'why use lanyard on a knife' you get some excellent responses.

There is a difference between a fob and a lanyard.

A fob is usually short and stylish, a lanyard is longer and there for me for two reasons: as a retention device when working at hights and water and a method to see some of my knives if dropped.

It is also a nice thing to have and not need then need and not have :)
 
I personally use a short lanyard (actually a fob) to extend the grip on some of my small knives that provide less than a 4 finger grip. I also find it can be useful to aid in locating and drawing a knife with a low rider clip from the pocket more easily. The spyderco dragonfly is a perfect example. Another benefit of a lanyard is always having a bit if paracord on you. Its surprising how much cord can be wound into a fairly small, unobtrusive lanyard or fob.

Aside from that, they're just knife bling. Something people put on their knives to dress them up.
 
As above, got a sweet looking wolf heads bead on my ZT 550. Makes drawing from the pocket easier.
 
Makes them easier to find in a pack. Several of my lanyards/fobs have GITD paracord, which makes them easy to find in the dark as well.
Differentiates similar knives. I have quite a few medium-large knives with black G10 or CF that are lined up on my desk, some with different-colored lanyards/fobs.
I usually have one on a knife that has a deep-carry clip, makes it easier to pull out.
Many of my fixed blades have long lanyards, especially ones that I use when I am out fishing. My larger knives (chopper, khukri, machete) have ones that wrap around the back of my hand and wrist.
Chicks dig it, they always ask to see what's in my pocket.
 
When I was a climber and mountaineer, I used a lanyard on my knives with a small karabiner at one end. I still sometimes link my knife to the tie-in loops of the pockets of my Ventile jacket or to a belt or belt loop to add security when in the outdoors. This seems a sensible away to avoid losing an essential piece of kit (and I don't limit the practice to my knives). A short fob can help extend the handle of a small knife, making it easier to hold and to locate in the pocket. I often tie short brightly-coloured fobs on my outdoor knives with the aim of making them easier to spot if I drop them or put them down.
 
Im in the Makes it easy to find and pull from my pocket group. I carry a strider or Emerson wave knife most times and it makes pulling them out on my pocket alot smoother. I set up my folders with a simple peice of para cord that hangs out of my pocket with a bead of some sort to weigh it down a bit. I find it much quicker to grab a lanyard to deploy my knives, but that said I do not have one on all my knives it all hinges on how it rides in my pocket and how tight the clip is. I do find it very handy on "waved" knives when you need to remove the knife with a bit of vigor to deploy the knife. I also like a longer loop of para cord around my Bush-crafting knifes to lock it down iin my hand by warping it around my wrist tightly. They also add that bling factor to your knives. Its a secondry item to collect with your knives the different beads you hang from your lanyard. Right now for me its Copper beads with a black para cord, I love that look of aged copper.
 
I absolutely hate lanyards. Had a bad experience with one, too scared to try it again.
 
bad when you do food prep and have to wash it often. no, not really bad, just a hassle. lanyanrds to me are good for small knives that get chucked into a bag or suite case or a big pocket with other stuff and you have to take it out in a hurry.
 
Makes the knife easier to find and pull out. I use a small fob on some knives. Especially ones I put clipless in my watch pocket or other small pockets on my pants or in my bag to make them easier to pull out (without having to jam my fingers into the pocket to get a hold of the knife). I also use them on small knives to have something more to hold on to when finding my grip. Can be pretty too.
 
I only have a lanyard on one of my folders, my Southern Grind. The way it rides in my pocket, having a lanyard makes it easier to get at it. I have lanyards on some of my smaller fixed blades. Gives me a little something more to hang onto when the knife only gives a 3-finger grip. I haven't gotten into the beads and stuff yet.
 
cutitout said:
I probably don't really have a good reason to collect knives at all, but I just like the feel of a precision knife and have found that each knife I purchase adds something unique to my collection.

A perfect reason, shared by many of us.

Is it to get better access to your knife in your pocket? I thought that was what he clip was for.

The lanyard provides quick access. Under certain conditions: i.e. danger, it also provides retention.
The clip provides retention within the pocket.

Anyway, I see a lot of knife pictures here with fancy knotted lanyards attached to the grips and wondered why. ACCESS with STYLE
Thanks
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It's good to ask..that's how many of us learn.
Sonny
 
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