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What's the point of lanyards on pocket knives? Login/Join 
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I mean, they look nice in the photos that get posted, but do they serve any useful function or is it just aesthetics? Not criticizing, but curious.
 
Posts: 546 | Location: S Fla / Western NC High Country | Registered: May 03, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ugly Bag of
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My friend likes to carry his knives deep in his pocket, as opposed to clipped to the top. He dangles the lanyard out, making it easy to pull out.

I just ordered a lanyard for my new knife so I can try it.

And, it does look cool.



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Posts: 2827 | Location: Tucson, AZ | Registered: March 25, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Non-Miscreant
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The same point as on sheath knives. So you don't lose them. More when the knife is out and being used. I like the answer from the guy who wants to try it. Both sheath and pocket knives have a problem on a lanyard. It tends to make the knife come back at you if you've dropped it and its attached at your end.


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Posts: 18385 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: February 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Frangas non Flectes
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I think I’m going to try it with my PM2. The problem with pocket clips it you end up wearing a hole in your pants, at least with G10 scales. I also took a good sized chunk out of my thumb with a new, and very sharp, titanium pocket clip while climbing into a barber’s chair. I put my hands on the arm rests and sat down and sheared off the top of my thumb knuckle as I sat. Such things probably don’t happen with a lanyard. I’ll find out, I guess.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P220 Smudge,


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Posts: 17041 | Location: Sonoran Desert | Registered: February 10, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I keep a a 3' length of pull-cord on my folders that I take with me in potential survival situations(I know....remote possibility). Pull cord is probably the best cord you can use for a bow drill for friction fire making. For fires, my plan "A" is a lighter, plan "B" is a firesteel, plan "C" is gum wrapper foil and a battery, and plan "D" is to make a bow drill. I do a Chris Reeve lanyard wrap.
 
Posts: 727 | Location: Midwest | Registered: June 13, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Lanyards have several uses. In addition to those mentioned above a tight lanyard can allow positive retention while allowing a longer swing. Watch a couple survival knife videos and you'll likely see these and other uses for them!


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Posts: 4123 | Registered: April 06, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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A proper long lanyard, attached to your belt is useful to help prevent knife loss when working at heights, around deep water, etc.

What most people think of as a knife lanyard nowdays, is more of a fob. Some of my knives came with them on, and they never really bothered me. Once I took them off, they bothered me even less.Smile


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Posts: 2048 | Location: PA | Registered: September 01, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
What most people think of as a knife lanyard nowdays, is more of a fob.



This is what I was referring to, not some longer lanyard that could be used to prevent loss of the knife or for some other survival type purpose.
 
Posts: 546 | Location: S Fla / Western NC High Country | Registered: May 03, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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On some of my folding knives, I tie a hangman's knot, made from a foot or less of nylon cord. This way, it serves as a traditional "pull" and, if need be, the cord can be easily unraveled and made into a lanyard in no time at all. A "pull" or fob- the kind of thing Victorinox offers as an accessory for their Swiss Army Knives- helps you get your folder out of a pouch or your pocket or any tight place you've stashed it.

I imagine the practice of attaching a cord to grab onto your folding knife is as old as the folder itself.


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Posts: 107222 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I take a piece of cord and tie a knot on both sides of the lanyard hole on all my pocket clip folders. The knots serve to give your fingers a better grip as you are unclipping the knife from your pocket. Low profile and works great.
I let the end of the lanyard poke out of my pocket on non pocket clip folders.


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Posts: 15987 | Location: Marquette MI | Registered: July 08, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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OK, I can see how a fob type lanyard can be functional as well as kind of cool looking. I guess I asked the question because looking at the photos posted by Photoman, Grumpy Biker and others put the idea in my head to do the same on some of my knives. I found some good you tube videos on how to make interesting knots. I think I will get myself some cords and try it out to see how I like it.
 
Posts: 546 | Location: S Fla / Western NC High Country | Registered: May 03, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Little ray
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quote:
Originally posted by Ironbutt:
A proper long lanyard, attached to your belt is useful to help prevent knife loss when working at heights, around deep water, etc.

What most people think of as a knife lanyard nowdays, is more of a fob. Some of my knives came with them on, and they never really bothered me. Once I took them off, they bothered me even less.Smile


This is my view. I do not find the fobs useful. However a real lanyard is useful for me when I am on a boat fishing. A knife tied to a lanyard will never fall overboard unless I do.




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Posts: 53116 | Location: Texas | Registered: February 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I only have them on folding knives that are carried tip up & have deep carry clips.
This deep carry trend I find a bit irritating as I prefer larger & a bit heavier knife.
The deep carry clip makes it harder to get out of my pocket (I carry in my back pocket only) and a lanyard/ fob helps eliminate the issue.
Obviously there’s no need for a decorative bead but WTH everything else I have seems to be personalized so I add them.
Their weight helps hold them down and the fob is easy to locate by feel.










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Posts: 6931 | Location: Central,Ohio | Registered: December 28, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Made from a
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quote:
Originally posted by Ironbutt:
to help prevent knife loss when working around deep water.


Best catch I've ever had during a fishing trip was a Leatherman Skeletool. Thought I had a helluva crappie at first and my brother was shaking his head in amazement when I finally got it out of the water. All done with 2 pound Ande Mono and a 8ft B'n'M Buck's Ultimate rod.


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Posts: 2824 | Location: Lake Anna, VA | Registered: May 07, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Dayum, Grumpy, thst is one sweet 0560.

Okay, now I gotta find me one!



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Posts: 2827 | Location: Tucson, AZ | Registered: March 25, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by ridgerat:
Dayum, Grumpy, thst is one sweet 0560.

Okay, now I gotta find me one!


They are nice.
I’ve yet to decide on a lanyard bead for the blue daily carry one.





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Posts: 6931 | Location: Central,Ohio | Registered: December 28, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I don't see the need for a fob, it's just one more thing to take up space in my pocket. If I was doing something up high or on the water like somebody mentioned, then yeah I can see the value of a lanyard. I've just always stuffed my pocket knives down into my pocket. I don't use the clips. I've tried them but I'm always afraid that pressure on the bottom of the knife from my leg (like when I sit down) is going to push it up and out and bye-bye. Or that I'll catch it on something as I walk by and have it yanked out.
 
Posts: 7241 | Location: Idaho | Registered: February 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
My hypocrisy goes only so far
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quote:
Originally posted by Expert308:
I don't see the need for a fob, it's just one more thing to take up space in my pocket.




Fobs & lanyards live outside the pocket.
If not you’re doing it wrong. Wink




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Posts: 6931 | Location: Central,Ohio | Registered: December 28, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by GrumpyBiker:
quote:
Originally posted by Expert308:
I don't see the need for a fob, it's just one more thing to take up space in my pocket.

Fobs & lanyards live outside the pocket.
If not you’re doing it wrong. Wink

Ah well, shows what I know. But then, I'd have the same problem that I do with clips, afraid they're going to catch on something and yank my knife away. Or a pickpocket might grab it, yank and run. I'm too old to chase them.
 
Posts: 7241 | Location: Idaho | Registered: February 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Top to bottom- hangman's knot, snake's head knots, Victorinox fob.



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