All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:26 pm**

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.

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:30 pm**

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

Posted: **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.
Kerry

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:01 pm**

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.

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:32 pm**

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.

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:26 pm**

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

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:34 pm**

Utica Kutmaster Coping Knife (Rope Knife) Small one. 3" closed.

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:41 pm**

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.
Kerry

Posted: **Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:41 pm**

Farside, that Napanoch is really cool!

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:16 am**

I like lanyard holes on hunting knives and bails only on scout knives for using

The only edc I use with a bail is my Pal , I like the crows foot bail on my Camillus 4 line rope knife

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:48 am**

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.

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:51 am**

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

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:58 am**

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.
Jim

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 2:05 am**

Jim, please do that if you ever get the chance I would love to see them in hand and meet you in person

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2017 5:37 am**

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.

Posted: **Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:17 pm**

These may fit.

Posted: **Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:08 pm**

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.

Posted: **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.

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.

Posted: **Wed Apr 09, 2025 1:36 am**

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..
end

Posted: **Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:05 am**

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.

Ken

Posted: **Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:27 am**

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.
Kerry

I’ve heard of the boys knife, but never knew what it was. Very nice knife.

Posted: **Wed Apr 09, 2025 8:12 pm**

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

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