Damascus Sheath Knife Question

[Bullard4075]

For Christmas my son sent (from Alaska) me a custom made (I believe) Damascus Steel Sheath knife. The whole knife is beautiful and the Damascus blade is to me breathtaking. The sheath has a retention strap and snap.The handle has a hole for a lanyard which got me to thinking what does one put a lanyard on a knife for? For retention of course but how exactly does this "retention" work? A short loop the hand runs through to retain the blade in the hand or maybe a longer one attached to the belt to prevent loss? I really can't visualize how this should work. All I can picture is a very sharp knife flying around on the end of a cord. Given time I will post a picture.

[Blaine]

For Christmas my son sent (from Alaska) me a custom made (I believe) Damascus Steel Sheath knife. The whole knife is beautiful and the Damascus blade is to me breathtaking. The sheath has a retention strap and snap.The handle has a hole for a lanyard which got me to thinking what does one put a lanyard on a knife for? For retention of course but how exactly does this "retention" work? A short loop the hand runs through to retain the blade in the hand or maybe a longer one attached to the belt to prevent loss? I really can't visualize how this should work. All I can picture is a very sharp knife flying around on the end of a cord. Given time I will post a picture.

The "lanyard" goes around your wrist so that it will stay with you if you drop it in a fight....

[marlinman93]

Or if you're cleaning fish at the edge of a stream, and don't want to lose it in the stream! Not often I wish I had a lanyard, so I don't put them on knives with a hole, nor do I put a hole in the handles of knives I build.
Here's a picture of my latest built Damascus sheath knife, with ivory handles:

[Chuck 100 yd]

Nice knife marlinman! Damascus is an acquired taste. I love the look but I have never built one myself.
The cost of a blank has held me back I suppose.

I have made several knifes with a lanyard hole but never used it for it's intended purpose,whatever it is.

[dkmlever]

Marlinman....let me know when you want to part with that beautiful knife....!

[Pete44ru]

.

The hole gives three options:

1) With the addition of a thong though the front face of the belt loop, the loop can be pulled through the hole, then looped up/over the top of the handle, for strapless/snapless knife retention. (Many Puma sheath knives use this method to retain knives in their sheath)




2) With the addition of a long thong, the knife can be lashed to a branch/pole, to act as a short spear in a survival situation.





3) The wrist thong, discussed above, will help control, and keep the knife in the user's hand during sometimes slippery/bloody game animal field dressing.




.

[jeepnik]

Also, like when used on a pistol, you can connect the knife to yourself so it won't disappear in a fall or some such. I was never much of a believer in lanyard until I unknowingly dropped a handgun. I backtracked and found it, but since then those that can have lanyards. I've put them on some high value knives as well.

Maxpedition has some pretty good gear retainers. They come in different sizes depending on the weight of the item to be retained.

[plowboy 45]

Bullard, could you post a pic
A friend of mine built 30 some odd knives, and sent to an outfitter store in Alaska
Wonder what the odds are it's a ricotta


PLOWBOY


If you don't mind

[Bullard4075]

Bullard, could you post a pic
A friend of mine built 30 some odd knives, and sent to an outfitter store in Alaska
Wonder what the odds are it's a ricotta


PLOWBOY


If you don't mind

Here ya go.

[plowboy 45]

That's a good lookin knife, but it don't look like Bo's style of knife

[marlinman93]

Nice knife marlinman! Damascus is an acquired taste. I love the look but I have never built one myself.
The cost of a blank has held me back I suppose.

I have made several knifes with a lanyard hole but never used it for it's intended purpose,whatever it is.

I picked that blade blank up at a recent gun show in Reno for under $25, so the price was very good.

[marlinman93]

Marlinman....let me know when you want to part with that beautiful knife....!

Thanks! But that's 100 year old elephant ivory that I've had for over 50 years myself. My uncle gave me a piece of tusk when I was in my early teens, and I never did anything with it until now. I figured I'm not getting any younger, and I better use it. But considering the laws today on ivory sales, it wont ever be sold to anyone!

[Pete44ru]

.

This is the Damascus Bird & Trout knife that a custom knifemaker (Montucky), over on www.rimfirecentral.com made for me:



.

[Daisyman]

Bullard, could you post a pic
A friend of mine built 30 some odd knives, and sent to an outfitter store in Alaska
Wonder what the odds are it's a ricotta


PLOWBOY


If you don't mind

Here ya go.

It doesn't look like that one will get broken any time soon. STURDY.! Very nice.

[Blaine]

The BJ Snow Bowie.
The brass is milled from an old cotton gin part....

[Griff]

Thanks Pete. I knew that about the Puma handles, but hadn't considered the "spear" use or the tie around the hand! Good stuff!

[Nazgul]

I put neon green or yellow para cord on my hunting knives. Have set them down while dressing an animal and then had to search for them in the leaves.

Don

[Griff]

I put neon green or yellow para cord on my hunting knives. Have set them down while dressing an animal and then had to search for them in the leaves.

Don

Even that could get 'iffy' in the fall amongst those colorful leaves.