Lanyard holes on folders.......are they really useful?

T

ToddM

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In my mere 50 years of life, seeing thousands of people carrying pocket knives, not once in that entire time do I remember someone actually use a lanyard hole on a folder as a retention device. Unless it's to put on a paracord bead that's become popular fashion accessory.

However you know what lanyard holes are really really good at........ruining pocket clip placement and reducing the length/thickness of blade that can fit in the same size handle. So many knives where the pocket clip could be placed for better deeper carry if the lanyard hole was not in the way.

I will support that argument with the following.......

Companies are selling probably tens if not hundreds of thousands of deep carry pocket clips every year because customers want to alter the clip location on their knives. I don't think I've seen a single "Lanyard hole" kit in my entire life, heck even lanyard hold plugs are becoming popular now.

I will also propose a compromise, offer backspacers that have a lanyard hole in them that extends from the rear of the handle for those that need/want them.

I will say I have used them on some folders where I didn't want to use a pocket clip and just used a tag that hung out of the pocket to grab onto, but that was some time ago, also to lash to packs, but these days packs seem to have 50 pockets to put things into without the need.
 
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I use lanyards on small knives to make them easier to find in my pocket. Also makes them easier to withdraw from a watch pocket.
I also use lanyards on Swiss Army knives. It helps me know which one I'm grabbing off the dresser when I'm in a hurry in the morning.
 
Drop a knife while out on a boat, and there is only one possible place it can end up........the bottom of the ocean/lake.

When I was in the Navy, every piece of equipment in my survival vest was attached with a lanyard**. Seemed like a good idea.

** The lanyards I'm talking about are a small diameter paracord. I think it may be called micro-cord, or something like that. Maybe 3/32" diameter. But it was strong, and not going to break under normal use.
 
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The lanyard provides easy retrieval for a pocket-clipped knife. Instead of digging for your knife just grab the lanyard.

Recessed lanyard pins are a basic feature of a well-designed folder; the lanyard is retained inside the knife. Aesthetically it avoids an empty hole when no lanyard is used. A hole punched through the scales is an afterthought.

"Hey, we forgot to provide for a lanyard!"

"No problem, just drill a hole over there."
 
I never use a clip.
For a pocket knife, as knarfeng knarfeng mentioned, it's nice for extraction when there is other clutter in the pocket.
For a while, I didn't see the use for a lanyard either, but I have warmed up to it.
 
Good points about the clip placement.
I have a couple of folders out of many, that have a lanyard.

Like knarfeng, I use the lanyard to pull the knives from my pocket, not for in-hand retention.

I remember a thread here years ago where the op insisted that what we call lanyards are actually thongs if they are used for retention. That was interesting.
 
I could definitely understand one on a boat/fishing knife or a bottom of the pocket knife but for a clipped knife I say no. If I reach for my knife in any situation I don’t want to grab a lanyard then change my grip to grab my knife. That being said I’m sure those of you who use a lanyard have a method that makes it easy. But I’m with T ToddM and have never seen anyone with a lanyard on their edc pocket knife. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Yes.

One of my favourite designs is a 1306.

When I design knives with a lanyard in mind it is to give the user the option. Some designs allow for a hole, others for a pin. I like the hole.

sierracharlie said:
This might be the last word in a Back Pocket style only to the next level. More Bose-worthy stag, too.

Re-looking at the recent history, this is a Tony Bose Wilfred Lockback Hunter on the frame of a Remington 1306. (Thanks to JH for the clarification.) Tony sent me the pictures with the note below:

"They were made for the hunting coat pocket. I do carry a R 1306 bullet in my backpocket though. Dont even know it's there."

This is Tony's (An acid etched A2 reblade project of an actual old Remington 1306 Bullet knife I believe) Flat grind. No swedege:

TBreblade by sc-sld, on Flickr


This TB knockoff can be yours, but only if you get to the Blade Show. (Where does he get that stag?) You should also notice that this version has a swedge on top vs. the more authentic TB 1306 and the RB version.

TBBackpocket by sc-sld, on Flickr


TBBackpocketREV by sc-sld, on Flickr

TB1306C by sc-sld, on Flickr

TB1306D by sc-sld, on Flickr

TB1306A by sc-sld, on Flickr
Click to expand...
 
I have lanyards (or "fobs" actually ) on most of my folders , that I carry in pocket and use frequently . :cool::thumbsup:

Helps to locate and draw from the pocket, and especially on short knives, it can aid in acting as a grip extension .

Also , I use bright hi-vis colors to help find an otherwise stealthy knife , if lost or misplaced .
 
They can look good and I see some cool fobs/lanyards in the EDC thread here. For me though, they just don't have much utility on folders. That mostly comes down to how I carry.

The main place these are helpful is in fishing stuff out of narrow pockets like on a pocket organizer.
 
I took dislike lanyard holes, especially as the op mentioned, when the mess with clip placement.

I bought the para 3 lw because of the standard deep carry clip and smaller, more well placed lanyard hole. IMO, the hole placement ruins the standard version.

I also dislike glassbreakers that extend well past the back of the clip, like Microtech and Heretic.
 
Ordinarily I don’t think much of lanyards on folding knives. However, I make an exception for marlinspike knives, which I equip with a sliding hitch that can loop around either my thumb or my whole hand.

When I’m splicing or doing other rope work, I sometimes need both hands to manipulate the rope. I find it convenient to just drop the knife to the end of the lanyard (about 5”), and a downward turn of the wrist puts my hand in the position to grab it again.

I favor the style where the bail is also the spike release mechanism. I believe lanyards are kinda traditional on those.

Parker
 
I have lanyards on ~ 1/3 of my knives
Depending on the knife and on the use, I like to have a lanyard, mainly to help me to reach to the knife or to pull it out of my pocket
 
ToddM said:
In my mere 50 years of life, seeing thousands of people carrying pocket knives, not once in that entire time do I remember someone actually use a lanyard hole on a folder as a retention device. Unless it's to put on a paracord bead that's become popular fashion accessory.

However you know what lanyard holes are really really good at........ruining pocket clip placement and reducing the length/thickness of blade that can fit in the same size handle. So many knives where the pocket clip could be placed for better deeper carry if the lanyard hole was not in the way.

I will support that argument with the following.......

Companies are selling probably tens if not hundreds of thousands of deep carry pocket clips every year because customers want to alter the clip location on their knives. I don't think I've seen a single "Lanyard hole" kit in my entire life, heck even lanyard hold plugs are becoming popular now.

I will also propose a compromise, offer backspacers that have a lanyard hole in them that extends from the rear of the handle for those that need/want them.

I will say I have used them on some folders where I didn't want to use a pocket clip and just used a tag that hung out of the pocket to grab onto, but that was some time ago, also to lash to packs, but these days packs seem to have 50 pockets to put things into without the need.
Click to expand...
As a lanyard man, I’ll admit the “tail” is maybe 60% function, 40% fashion. It helps with accessing the knife from the pocket and balances small folders a bit. Even with my pinky gripping a paracord knot, it gives added control in handling the knife.

But the honest reason is, “colorful paracord cool.”

I only have two rules for folders. The fob should be shorter than two inches and it should not prevent the blade from opening.
 
It depends on the knife!!! Sometimes a short fob makes for a nice draw.on A deep carry...
Sometimes... NOT.........
Usually I can tell if I'm going to want\ need one just by the pocket clip.....
Not really about decorating my knives, save swappin' on some green canvas😜!!!!
Different strokes for different folks..
 
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