woods knives-to lanyard or not to lanyard??

[Loosearrow]

Although I have knives with lanyard holes, I only have a lanyard on one knife. It is a large chopper from Fox. I got it that way. My thumb goes into the the loop then across the back of my hand as I grip the knife. It is the size of a large bowie. It keeps a positive grip and allows the hand to relax more as I am chopping.

 

[Foilist]

I tend to have short lanyards or fobs on my knives. I only find them annoying of they are excesively long.

In addition to the reasons above, I suppose a braided, paracord lanyard can be a bit more cordage when unraveled.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

I use one on my Choppers, to have a more secure grip. Also, I use a lanyard every time I go off-shore. I gotta have a lanyard when canoeing/ sailing.

 

[Codger_64]

The all-time best seller fixed blade for Imperial Schrade was the Sharpfinger 152OT introduced in 1973/74. It originally came with a thong/lanyard to be installed by the customer if they wished. As it turned out, the thong was not being used by the majority of buyers, so it was discontinued after the first ten years or so of the thirty years of production.

I have quite a few of these knives, both used and NIB. Only a very few were ever fitted with the included lanyard by their original owners. The majority of these knives remained unused. I personally don't like the lanyard on my knives. If I lose control of my knife and it leaves my hand, I would rather it go flying than swing back at me. Maybe this never happens in real life and is only my perception of a possibility. And maybe it goes back to early habits where I was taught not to attach cords, lines, chains to my body, around the neck or otherwise. They seem to work for some users and appear to be more popular here in the forum than I would have guessed, for a number of intellegent reasons.

Michael

 

[Rib Salad]

It is the size of a large bowie. It keeps a positive grip and allows the hand to relax more as I am chopping.

That's a great reason to have a lanyard on any blade you might use for chopping. You can hold the knife very loosely at the butt and chop with more leverage, less energy. The lanyard keeps it in your hand.

 

[Skimo]

Ranger band wrapped around the butt of a big knife or axe/hatchet/hawk works about the same for positive control, maybe better.

 

[Rick Marchand]

As much as I agree with many of the reasons to have a layard... I'm still faced with the reality that none of my blades have them. I have tried to use them in the past but end up removing them because they get in the way. Infact, I have had more mishaps directly because of the lanyard, than the lack of.

Lanyards just don't work for me.... and Mtnfolk Mikey has no idea what he's talking about, most of the time anyway.... skater-punk.


Rick

 

[caine]

I like the lanyard hole on my knives, but I dont always use them. Mostly when I am handleing my camera I like the lanyard to hold the knife it i get lazy and dont put it in the sheath

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I've found that leaving a wrist thong on a big blade can get in the way if I don't have loosely wrapped around the handle. Smaller blades, or blades in a deep pouch sheath, usually get a square knot lanyard, those aren't a problem snagging on anything.

 

[jfn]

I have the dummy fob on my small sebenza for ease of draw and maybe something to curl my pinky around if I'm holding the knife toward the handle end. I've tried to carry it with a working lanyard that I can get around my wrist, but it always ends up getting in the way.
According to CRK, the hangmans noose that comes standard with the CRK folders is supposed to be able to untie and turn into a wrist lanyard if working in hazardous conditions. To some extent this is true, but I've always found it to be a PITA to unravel the noose, tie the lanyard, then retie the noose later. However, it does give you more versatility than a cobra stitch for instance. YMMV.

 

[Shotgun]

I hate lanyards. When I want to use the knife I want to grab it and make the cut. With a lanyard I feel I have to fiddle with it so I'm not grabbing it with the handle. Plus I don't like something hanging off the end. More of a personal preference but when I'm using my knife in the kitchen I don't want to get chicken guts/bacteria all over a lanyard. I figure if I'm going near water I'd use one if I needed to use the knife a lot but then I can just pull some cordage out of my gear and make one on the spot rather than it always being on the knife.

 

[Mannlicher]

I like lanyards. Most of my knives have them.

 

[Shotgun]

I've been here too long. I can tell who's posting without looking at the names. If it's got a sharpfinger it's Codger, if there's a wise crack in the post than it's Neanderthal...I mean Magnussen.

 

[j williams]

I like a lanyard on my pocket fixed blades....Helps draw, and by hanging it over the edge of my pocket, it keps it upright so it doesnt uncomfortably shift in my pocket.. On my belt knives, if it has a deep pouch style sheath, I use one to aid in drawing.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

wow.. there are a lot more responses than i expected... right on guys...:thumbup: great pics too... please keep them coming..

the negative aspects of the lanyard were definitely taken into consideration... i do adjust/change my grip regularly too, when using a knife but i don't feel that the lanyard gets in my way at all.. they do get wet and bloody, but it is usually just p-cord and can easily be washed and/or replaced if needs be.. like most of you folks, i always have p-cord with me while out in the woods.. also for me, it is a must have on a chopper too...

i think i would still rather have one, than not have one.. of course this is just me..

 

[Big Mike]

I hate lanyards
1- They get dirty (bloody) etc.
2- When you wash the knife, They don't dry fast.
3- They get in my way
4- they snag and get tangled in stuff.

5-Unless you work on a boat or on a scaffold, They are just a fad.

I totally agree.

As much as I agree with many of the reasons to have a layard... I'm still faced with the reality that none of my blades have them. I have tried to use them in the past but end up removing them because they get in the way. Infact, I have had more mishaps directly because of the lanyard, than the lack of.

Lanyards just don't work for me....

Double Ditto. :thumbup: :thumbup:



Big Mike

 

[JTC3495]

This is the standard lanyard that I put on my user knives. I just like to have something to slip a couple finger into for a better grip.

 

[haloblue]

1- They get dirty (bloody) etc.
2- When you wash the knife, They don't dry fast.
3- They get in my way
4- they snag and get tangled in stuff.

What he said...

Then again, several of my knives have them. Funny thing though, as soon as I get into a task with one, I end up cutting it off. Shortly after, I put another one one. I seem to never learn the lesson.

 

[JNieporte]

PhotoBucket isn't cooperating, but I have lanyards on all of my outdoor knives (and most of my other knives). If it's an outdoor knife and doesn't have a lanyard hole, I make one. The lanyard is usually orange or a braided blue-and-white.

 

[kgd]

I started out with lanyards on all my knives. I have subsequently removed most of them. I like a lanyard on my SOD as it is mostly brought out during chopping. Its not there so much for when you drop the knife, but when the lanyard is sized right, it contributes to the security of the grip itself.

Actually I do have a little pinky finger lanyard hole for my Izula similar to what doc and Mentor presented for their small blades. Also, they are nice to put a bit of colour on a knife....e.g. that little green micarta looks so great at home, but best to stick a bit of blaze orange cordage on their for visibility in the field.

I had Rick outfit the S-Curve with a lanyard hole even though I don't put one on there. Like others have said, I like the option of being capable of putting a lanyard on the blade should I want to.