Neck lanyard - my secure & safe solution

S

ShooterMcgavin

Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
609
I bought my Izula to be carried around my neck. As I have grown older, safety has become a bigger focus in my life. The reality is that a neck lanyard TIED with 550 paracord can easily hold someone up by their full body weight without letting go. That's not a safe solution for a lanyard encircling one's neck. However, I also want a strong lanyard which holds together securely when I yank the knife from its sheath and one that lasts for the life of the knife/sheath. The solution may be a break-away connection, to hold the ends of the lanyard together, but that requires buying a new piece of hardware and fitting it into the ends of the cord (I already have cord locks). I wanted to use 550 paracord because I have it, it is very useful for other things if needed, and it is strong.

One solution... Pull the ends of the neck lanyard through two of the holes in the Izula's sheath and place a cord lock on the ends. This allows the lanyard to be secure when the blade is yanked from the sheath, but it will still slip and let go with a strong force (maybe 30+ lbs). The problem with this setup is that the ends of the cord with the cord lock will stick out an inch or more from the sheath's body. It was noticable when I wore a single shirt layer over the sheath/lanyard. No good. That config can be seen in the picture HERE.

My new solution... As seen in the picture below - I have tied one end of the neck lanyard into a small loop, using a Bowline knot. The other end of the neck lanyard has been threaded through two holes in the sheath. I put a cord lock on the free end of the cord, looped it through the loop on the other end, and ran it back through the cord lock (see picture). This is very easily adjusted for length, it is much flatter than the last method, it is very secure holding the sheath, and it will slip and let go with a strong force (maybe 40+ lbs). I hope this helps someone who is in my position.

Note: When melting the end of the paracord which passes through the cord lock, make sure to flatten any "bulge" of melted material that would prevent the end from slipping freely through the cord lock.

NeckLanyard001-43es.jpg


ETA: My cord lock (not the one that came with any RAT knife purchase) may be different than the one you use, causing a difference in the release tension of the lanyard. It's probably a good idea, once you get your neck lanyard set up, to give the sheath itself a tough pull away from your body. Test the retention of the system yourself, to gauge how severely the lanyard will pull on your neck in the case it became caught on something.
 
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I do not even worry about being hung by my paracord necklace,I have a necker sling for my Izula & a SAK hiker necker set-up and to me if you wear a neck tie to work you could just as more easily be strangled by it more so than the outdoor rig you set up...:D
cool rig bro not knocking it ,great idea :thumbup::)
 
Good thread and good ideas.:)
Just using the cord lock that RC provides works fine.
I use a lanyard with my flashlight and the cord lock never pulls off unintentionally.
Like ShooterMcgavin said, "make sure to flatten any "bulge" of melted material that would prevent the end from slipping freely through the cord lock".
If you don't do that the safety of the cord lock could be defeated.
3309591184_405777954e.jpg
 
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Nice idea there! :)

I carry my neck knife by a ball chain which isn't going to hold much more then 40-50lbs, if that. Maybe if I pick up an Izula it'd be worth setting it up like yours.

One more thing, if you don't want to melt the ends like that, you can just use a small dab of super glue. Most of the time I find it comes out looking a bit better, and it's more controllable.
 
texastonydobbs said:
I do not even worry about being hung by my paracord necklace,I have a necker sling for my Izula & a SAK hiker necker set-up and to me if you wear a neck tie to work you could just as more easily be strangled by it more so than the outdoor rig you set up...:D
cool rig bro not knocking it ,great idea :thumbup::)
Click to expand...
What you say is all very true. I tend to wear a neck knife instead of a neck tie when I am around more things that put me at risk - hiking, jumping, working on/around an engine, etc. Still, I can understand your point :)

rycen said:
how about

http://www.lighthound.com/Lanyard-Closure--Zipper-Pull_p_738.html

http://www.lighthound.com/Lanyard-Break-Away-Connector_p_737.html

or what I do most of the time is gut some parpcord and put it around some SS ball chain just dont cover the end and you will have a secure but safe breakaway chain
Click to expand...
The second link, to the break-away lanyard connector, was what I was referring to in my first post. I didn't want to have to buy that piece - a cord lock is more universally useful. That snap piece could likely pull apart with the force of pulling a knife from a stiff sheath. The way I did it is also very easily adjusted for different lengths.

I like what you did with the ball-chain. I was worried that if I did that, I might have to worry about rust. I guess yours is SS, so that's probably not a problem.

NorCalMtn2 said:
Good thread and good ideas.:)
Just using the cord lock that RC provides works fine.
I use a lanyard with my flashlight and the cord lock never pulls off unintentionally.
Like ShooterMcgavin said, "make sure to flatten any "bulge" of melted material that would prevent the end from slipping freely through the cord lock".
If you don't do that the safety of the cord lock could be defeated.
Click to expand...
I tried just using the cord lock to hold both ends but it didn't work for me. When I would pull the knife from its sheath, the cord would slip through the cord lock. It wouldn't come apart on the first pull. It took about 2-3 pulls and the cord through the lock was at the very ends. Not secure enough for me.

Plenty of different methods out there :)
 
I have never wore a neck tie..except 16years ago when I got married,;) I wear an Izula to work,on my hip and or alternate to neck carry and never worry about hanging it or myself on an Aircraft...:D
Everybody has shown Great fashion in neck wear :)
 
I use knotted paracord on my neckers. I've never got a necker hung up on anything. I've never been struck by lightening or hit by a bus either.
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If a break-away neck cord makes you feel better, by all means do it.:thumbup:
 
Just now I bought a Izula for 43$ but I think it only comes with the sheath so I will be making a lanyard of some kind.Hey Shooter Mcgavin,where did you getr that flat round cord lock at if I may ask?
 
thanks for the ideas guys. i belt my izula right now because of the choke factor, but i
may try this.
 
I'm glad this idea has helped.

Dank, I'm not sure where I got that cord lock. It was in with all my spare gear. I probably picked it up in a package at REI.
 
To make a pretty seamless breakaway in paracord, I just melt both ends thoroughly and press them together while they cool. You have to make sure to make only a weak bond doing this, it will take practice. A strong bond can defeat the purpose. When you find one that works for you, just trim and sand down the rough bits around the bond area and you've got a loop of paracord with a built in breakaway.
 
thats is why cowboys tie slipknots on silk bandanas, you don't want to get jerked off your horse by your bandana. i use a cowboy square knot on mine it would work with paracord too.

take it easy
cricket
 
I've used shrink-wrap (for 12v electrical wiring) to make a breakaway on paracord.
About 1/2" is all you need - more than that is tough to pull apart.
Nnice thing about it is the smooth connection, no knots or lumps.
 
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