Lanyard holes/bails

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Edgewise
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Lanyard holes/bails

Post by Edgewise »

I've been searching without much success for traditional slipjoints with lanyard holes or bails, apart from folding hunters and scout knives.
Custom makers today are more inclined to include lanyard holes in their reproductions than factory manufacturers, maybe on request, but they appear more readily on modern pattern knives.
I think some fellows even drill holes in some 'unholy' knives, opinel, sodbuster, etc.
I'm interested to see any of your traditional slipjoints, vintage or otherwise, with either hole or bail, and any info you have to share on the matter.
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jerryd6818
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by jerryd6818 »

A lot of the "Modern Knives" (Kershaw, Spyderco, et al) have lanyard holes but I don't think that's what youre looking for.
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ludwig26
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by ludwig26 »

A little Shrade cut co 1251 with original chain and bail. I think this is a boys knife. It's 3 1/4 long closed and has cocobola handles.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Kerry that's a great little cut co. I like it.

I have a few knives with a bail or lanyard hole besides scouts. I'm not really a fan of bails, they get in the way.
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Edgewise
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by Edgewise »

Yeah, those are the ones I mean, the classic ones with the natural material handles.
I suppose double bolsters aren't suitable for lanyard holes. I guess in the old days people didn't feel the need for lanyards on their pocket knives.
I need a lanyard sometimes hanging out of my jeans pocket for easy draw.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by thefarside »

Most of my knives with lanyard holes are Folding Hunters, but here are a few with factory bails.
Photo 1. Schrade Cut, Miller Bros (it also has a lanyard hole), Napanoch
Photo 2. Schrade Cut , Camillus, Robeson
Photo 3. Remington, Imperial, Imperial, Schrade Walden
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by jerryd6818 »

Utica Kutmaster Coping Knife (Rope Knife) Small one. 3" closed.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by ludwig26 »

thefarside wrote:Most of my knives with lanyard holes are Folding Hunters, but here are a few with factory bails.
Photo 1. Schrade Cut, Miller Bros (it also has a lanyard hole), Napanoch
Photo 2. Schrade Cut , Camillus, Robeson
Photo 3. Remington, Imperial, Imperial, Schrade Walden
That Robeson toothpick is awesome, I have never seen a bail on a toothpick. You have some nice knives.
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edge213
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by edge213 »

Farside, that Napanoch is really cool!
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by garddogg56 »

I like lanyard holes on hunting knives and bails only on scout knives for using ::smirk:: The only edc I use with a bail is my Pal , I like the crows foot bail on my Camillus 4 line rope knife ::tu::
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thefarside
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by thefarside »

Kerry and David,
Thanks for the comments.

Kerry, I actually have two of the Robeson's. The knife is a two blade., the second being a scaler, hook remover and cap lifter. The master is etched ROBESON SHUREDGE FROZEN HEAT.

David, the Napanoch has X100X pattern number on the reverse.
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by Miller Bro's »

thefarside wrote:Most of my knives with lanyard holes are Folding Hunters, but here are a few with factory bails.
Photo 1. Schrade Cut, Miller Bros (it also has a lanyard hole), Napanoch
Photo 2. Schrade Cut , Camillus, Robeson
Photo 3. Remington, Imperial, Imperial, Schrade Walden

They are all great knives but guess which one I like the most :wink:
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thefarside
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by thefarside »

Dimitri,
If I ever get out east, I will have to bring it along and look you up. It is an amazing knife is person. Never carried or sharpened, but it does have some tarnish. I should probably bring Miller Bros lockback too.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by Miller Bro's »

Jim, please do that if you ever get the chance I would love to see them in hand and meet you in person ::handshake::
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by knife7knut »

Here is one that supposedly never had a lanyard hole or a bail from the factory. I got this from a friend of mine who dug it out of his father-in-law's cellar and it was rusted shut. After soaking it for several weeks in Marvel Mystery Oil(I don't think they had PB Blaster then as this was about 30 years ago)I managed to get it open and cleaned up a bit. It is severely pitted to the point that the tang stamp is not legible so I don't know whether it is a Tested or earlier knife.The shield would seem to indicate an earlier model. the bail was affixed when I got it and does not look to be an aftermarket installation.Doesn't matter to me anyway;it has some nice stag on it albeit darkened from all the years submerged in water and it takes and holds a pretty decent edge.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by bighomer »

These may fit.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by knife7knut »

My EDC knife for this week:a Boker & Co's Improved Cutlery sleeveboard pen with bail and chain that I believe is original to the knife. Circa 1915.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

Something I never noticed until the other day is that not all manufacturers build their knives with bails the same way. I looked thru all the knives I own with bails and all but my two Bokers are the same as in the first picture. That is the blade when open points away from the end with the bail. That way when one uses a knife leash or tether as I do, it doesn't get in the way when gripping the knife.
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I discovered this the other day when I took out my Boker 182 camper knife. I attached the paracord tether I usually use and noticed at once that it was backward. I tether the other end to my belt loop and in this way can open and use the knife without fear of dropping or losing it. My Boker 7593 which is the same knife in non stainless is the same way.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by doglegg »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:23 pm Something I never noticed until the other day is that not all manufacturers build their knives with bails the same way. I looked thru all the knives I own with bails and all but my two Bokers are the same as in the first picture. That is the blade when open points away from the end with the bail. That way when one uses a knife leash or tether as I do, it doesn't get in the way when gripping the knife.
IMG_6040.JPG
I discovered this the other day when I took out my Boker 182 camper knife. I attached the paracord tether I usually use and noticed at once that it was backward. I tether the other end to my belt loop and in this way can open and use the knife without fear of dropping or losing it. My Boker 7593 which is the same knife in non stainless is the same way.
IMG_6041.JPG
The WW2 emergency fish knife has the bail on the end like your 2nd pic..
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by Mumbleypeg »

You can review the All Scout Knives thread here and see that nearly all scout/utility patterns have bails on the end opposite the master blade. The Böker camper pattern (and the similar Remington R3843) seems to be an anomaly.

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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by CarMan »

ludwig26 wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:41 pm A little Shrade cut co 1251 with original chain and bail. I think this is a boys knife. It's 3 1/4 long closed and has cocobola handles.
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Re: Lanyard holes/bails

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

To me the bail as it is on the Bokers is just awkward. I wonder what their reasoning was?
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