Braided / woven leather lanyards

[British Red]

Does anyone know anyone who sells woven / braided leather knife lanyards? Its for a knife and needs to be fine enough to pass through a 6mm lanyard tube. Ideally to be finished in a small carved acorn bead / toggle. I'm looking for something really nicely made and am happy to pay "craftsman" rates

I think theres one on the shelf near the hens teeth

Any advice of help would be gratefully received

TIA guys

Red

[Heathenpeddler]

Can't help you with that Red but do you know of a tutorial where I can learn the technique?

[British Red]

I have seen one somewhere....hence the question. I remember seeing some pictures that were cracking work. As someone who uses a lanyard I'd really like a quality one for my new knife

Red

[Butchd]

That sounds interesting, and I'll be watching for replies. What sort of length are you looking at Red, not that I'm able to offer, but it would be something I'm interested in learning about - and I know a couple of whip makers who I'm sure could offer me some alternative ideas or skills.

[British Red]

Arond 8" or so mate...a braid with a knife loop, then a wrist loop, another braid and a toggle. So handy to avoid putting your knife down and gives great control when choking up.

Helps in wathdrawing safely from a deep pouch sheath too!

Red

[Stew]

Red,

It might be worth talking to Buckshot. I haven't seen anyone selling that sort of work here but I've seen Mark's work and he's a dab hand at it.

The tutorial you've seen may either be his or Schwert's on OMF.

[Buckshot]

Very nice of you to say so Stew thanks
The review I did was of my baldric strap and a turks head knot
And tbh Iif I can do it OK it can't be that dificult...

BR - If you want some kangaroo leather PM me, I'll sort a length out for you

Cheers

Mark

[Tipi]

heres some thing u may be able to adapt:
http://www.attacc.com/acatalog/Attle..._Whistles.html

4th item from the bottom

hope this helps
tp

[nickg]

The problem is that you really need the knife to braid the lanyard onto. Generally you start braiding in the middle, pass it through the lanyard hole then bring the ends together and braid it on - viz





The only other way would be to braid a small loop in one end and pass it through the hole then thread the end through it.

Do you have any idea how youd fix it

Nick

[British Red]

Nick,

thats a good point - I was thinking as you said that I'd pass a narrow loop through the tube and pass that entire lanyard through the loop.

Thanks for the offer Mark. If I fail to find anyone talented, I might well take you up on it!

I saw Bushwacker Bob had done some nice braiding in the pub last night so I may flutter my eyelashes for a lesson

Red

[Buckshot]

No worries, I would offer myself but I've got 10m of ventile material that I'm turning into a pair of trousers and a jacket or two, plus a load of leather that's just shouting to be made into some moccs - and a few other bits and bobs as well - all by the summer moot hopefully
I'd be alright if I didn't have two jobs aswell !!!!

Mark

[British Red]

No probs mate - I'll look forward to seeing the Ventile output - we are just finishing the pattern for mine

[jojo]

there is a tutorial in www.outdoors-magazine.com, can't get the link to the tutorial to work for some reason. written by Schwert, breaded leather knife lanyard, its in two parts.

[bushwacker bob]

I may have an intrim,(less than perfect)solution.I drop it in one evening this week.

[British Red]

Good man bb- no rush though - Stu hasn't finished the knife yet!

Red

[weaver]

Red,

My brother in law does that kind of work as a hobby. He has made many beautiful works of leather and a very nice watch fob for me. If you could send me a sketch of what you would like I'm sure he can braid it for you.

[British Red]

That would be very kind weaver - I'll put crayon to colouring book

[8thsinner]

I am used to working with very thin and small thongs.
I cut them from pig skin, and my thongs usually end up a fraction thinner than 1/8th of an inch.

Get a full spec drawing and I will give you some options.
I think, though I would have to test it, but I can probably skive down and give you an 8 strand braid in 6mm, certain it would be easy enough for me to make strand round braids that thin.

I generally do not favour using wooden toggles, prefering to work with all leather parts, but if you have a toggle there, send me a pic and I can work on some variations.

[8thsinner]

Heres an example I just uploaded.
It was a necklace for a very close friend of mine, during a difficult time.
Designed to be a perfect fit and sealed fit.

The button knot is a gaucho. and the thongs, 1.5mm pig skin.

[topknot]

Hi, That is beautiful work.

[British Red]

Thats lovely work 8thsinner!

Very much the sort of thing I had in mind

I'll sketch some designs and bung them on here and perhaps weaver and you could let me know if they are "do-able"?

Thanks for all the advice!

Red

[Schwert]

A knife lanyard is really pretty easy to braid. I highly recommend David Morgan's book....anyone can do it with this book and some leather. I think even my article should get most folks off the ground.

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_artic...id_article=159

is the link to the first part of my article. It is very difficult to braid a lanyard that can be doubled and passed through a knife tube. It is possible to terminate a lanyard in a twisted loop of leather that can pass through the tube but since this is where the lanyard wears the most this makes for a less durable lanyard in the end.

I almost always start braiding in 4 or 6-plait round in the middle of the strings to pass this through the knife tube. This makes a secure and long lasting lanyard.


Here is a neck cord that is adjustable in length for this Viking stone.



The stone is girth hitched with a twist braid to the cord so it can be removed to use as a knife sharpener.

[Schwert]

Really nice work Nick and 8th.

Braid is easy....really it is.


Here are three pocket lanyards with clips. The long one has a flat belt loop, and is long enough to leave attached to your knife as you use it. The others are more utility strap types.




This Ingram pocket knife has a 3-plait flat braid running through the lanyard hole. If you have a knife with a large enough lanyard hole then a loop of 3-plait flat can be done that is possible to squeeze through the lanyard hole doubled for a girth hitch attachment. I never like to do this though as it is both bulky and less attractive.

[British Red]

Well - I'm learning a lot here ......thanks guys. The terms confuse me (is a girth hitch what I do with my belt?)

That lovely tan round lanyard is sort of what I had in mind but I can see where it would be really hard to pass it through the lanyard hole unless it was permanently attached - to date I have used either leather lace or the type made from emptied out 550 paracord (which will go through if you push with a brad)

Maybe I'll have to give it a go (I just wanted something really nice since the knife should be a work of art)....I'll have a ponder...I assumed there would be a way of attaching them by passing a loop through the tube but can see how that could be difficult now

Thanks for the input guys

Red

[Schwert]

Red,

I really think you can make one easily. If you can source some good thin but strong leather lace, then start with a 4-plait braid....which is about the easiest. Follow my tutorial but you can skip bringing those together if you like and just use the cover knot which will work fine.

You can add a toggle or bead to the end.

Braid looks very nice, most folks are impressed and think it must be very hard, but it really is not difficult.

Even a twist braid can work. Take one long leather string and twist it like you were going to make a natural cord. Fold it in the center of the twist and let the two sides twine around each other, giveing you a blunt end that naturally has a loop on the end. Thread this though the lanyard hole on the knife.... pass the body of the twist braid through that little loop (girth hitch), a knot in the end of the twist braid will hold it together. These are simple, cheap as chips (always looking for a way to use that phrase ) and look nice.

It is always much much more difficult to type how than see how...so get Morgan's book. Even one of Mear's books has some braiding diagrams that I seem to recall were done well.

Round plait is a good skill to have and being able to use it on your own items just makes those things more fun to use.

[MitchelHicks]

Nice work 8thsinner

[British Red]

I would certainly like to give it a try Schwert..perhaps on some other areas to start with though..this particular knife has to be "just so". There are three craftsmen working on it and I don't want to despoil it with my own fumble fingered efforts!

I have no idea where to source leather cord that thin over here though (other than imposing on Buckshot which I'm loathe to do)...anyone have a source?

Red

[Schwert]

The nice thing about an ugly lanyard is that I am quite sure you have another sharp knife with which you can whack it off

Post a picture of the knife when you get it and I will try and dream up some sort of lanyard for it that I can send you. I have never made a detachable one before so it will be a challenge to me too. And if it does not suit the knife, you can put it on something else....or just whack it in half

There are some old threads here that I participated in about braiding and if I remember correctly there were some UK sources for leather lace posted. If you can get kangaroo I would recommend it as it is very strong, easy to use and nice looking too.

[8thsinner]

I have never used it, but heres morgans site, he used to sell 1/32 leather lace too but a quick search revealed only 1/8th kangaroo natural tan skin, which is plenty strong enough for a lanyard,

http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_i...roducts_id=480

the difference between them is.
Kangaroo strong but not durable.
Bufallo durable but not as strong
Cow medium strength but can be durable
Pig skin can be strong but not as durable
etc
The choice is all about compromise, if you go for kangaroo, I recommend an over braid or wear leather where it's through the lanyard hole.


Either way I will work up something myself if I can.

[Schwert]

I had forgotten my one attempt at a removable lanyard....this one can be threaded through a large lanyard hole and girth hitched.



This is 3-plait flat braid for the loop, which is then seized at the juncture to 6-plait 4-seam braid, terminated with a crown and wall knot. The whole thing is about 7" long but the girth hitch which will reduce the lanyard to about 5". I covered the join with a black cowboy cover knot with its tails run down the braid to secure it in place.