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Comment by Tobias Gibson on December 13, 2013 at 20:30

While I have four knives with it, I personally feel it should be a field expedient when the actual knife handle breaks (if it breaks).  When I was in the Army I typically had about 20-30 of paracord shoved in a sock inside my Ruck, where it wouldn't get snagged on anything.    I also wrapped around 30 feet of WD-1 (field telephone wire around the back of my web belt because, quite frankly, I thought it was more useful that paracord.

All in all, wrapping a knife handle with it is more show than anything else.  I think knife companies do it because it looks cool and it is dirt cheap.  I

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on December 13, 2013 at 20:02

Paracord:  It looks cool, and G.I.s have knives wrapped in it, but the Micartas (canvas, linen) or G-10 or Delrin, etc. will take a lot of abuse and chemicals.  Plus, G.I.s have access to lots of paracord and can re-wrap their knives in the sometimes plentiful down-time, and a wrapping a knife handle in paracord gives you/them ready access to some cordage for other tasks that come up in an instant - tie stuff off the ground, lash stuff to wherever you are, pull the 7 strands out of the casing to make some emergency fishing line (theoretically).  Monofilament line and fish hooks are pretty inexpensive, though.

Maybe knife manufacturers are just getting on the bandwagon - people like paracord so let's wrap some kinves in it.  Kinda like a gut-hook on a knife.  Fine if you are gutting animals every day, or a false edge on the back of a tactical fixed blade.  Both ideas work, but one disadvantage of both is that you lose the nice flat back of the knife (spine) for bearing down, batoning something, or striking a firesteel (the guthook knife will work with a firesteel, as well).  As Tobias and others say, you, and only you, know what you want a knife to do, and choose accordingly.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on December 13, 2013 at 19:21

I meant to say 4.5" blade on that Tops BOB knife.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on December 13, 2013 at 19:19

As Jason said, you can always re-wrap the knife in paracord.  Paracord is inexpensive and now comes in a bunch of colors and patterns.  I should have mentioned that this little knife would be an excellent around-the-house/office knife where it won't get dirty, but will cut most anything that comes up each day.  I personally don't have any wrapped knives, preferring solid handles as Ivars mentioned.  That TOPS BOB (Bushcrafter) knife I just got has linen Micarta handles with a bow drill divot on both sides of the handle.  It is 1095 Carbon, not S30V, and costs about the same, with a 4.5" handle.  Just mentioning it, not recommending it - haven't worked with it enough yet.

http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/knives-of-the-great-outdoors-f...

Comment by Tobias Gibson on December 13, 2013 at 19:14

Hi All.  First of all there is cord wrapping and then there is cord wrapping.   The White River knife appears to have some fine cord wrapping going on.  a primary reason for this is because it has a slot cut dead center in the handle

This slot allows you to lace the cord back and forth through the slot similar to lacing up your shoes. You can also keep pushing int down so you can make the cord wrap extremely tight and provide a good grip.   See my pink Izula below. It has a similar cord wrapping.

Unfortunately a lot of cord wrapped knives do not have this slot and what you end up with is someone passing a line through a hole at the top and then wrapping the cord in successive loops until you reach the bottom hole.  (See the M Tech Karambit below.  This makes a relatively flat grip and allows it more wiggle room.

The Winchester Upswept (Sharpfinger)  I solved the problem with the simple warpping by making a loop with the paracord So that at each end the cord is passed through a loop making it more or less tied off at both ends. (Hard to explain and I didn't take photos or video it  while doing it).  The cord can still slip but not as badly as on the Karambit.  Because the cord also runs both lengths of the handle there is also an additional layer of cushion/thickness.

Another method is the way the SMKW Combat Ready Tactical fighter was done.  In this case it also lacks the slot but they basically laced the cord from side to side on the out side of the knife creating a nice ridge in the middle.  This method also slips but not as badly as the simple wrap around method done by M-Tech.

If you're going to cord wrap, the more holes in the handle area the better.  Ideally an long slot seems best as this allows the snuggest cord wrapping!  (the Izula isn't even tied off but because it is so snug in the handle it doesn't come loose!

Comment by Jason Oncedisturbed Riley on December 13, 2013 at 17:43

You can get similar ones a lot, I mean a lot cheaper that their asking price. As Howard has mentioned, Paracord is for cushioning and giving the user a warm fuzzy feeling and can be chaged / replaced as required.

They are usually good, lightweight knives and great for minimalist / backpackers etc and at a pinch can be used as a throwing knife once the cord has been removed. Bonus is you can carry extra paracord to use if needed as it is already on the handle and in your pack / pouch.

The MOLLE system is very good and these clips are excellent and very easy to use and use them on my own kits - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/25pcs-Black-Strap-Buckle-Clip-For-Molle-...

Gerber make a very nice version for the price

 

Comment by Jan Carter on December 13, 2013 at 17:05

Howard,

Good point on the paracord.  So what DO you wrap with that makes the knife more usable for those chores?  So many makers are creating them for a wrap now

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on December 13, 2013 at 17:00

I don't have one, Jan, but I like S30V steel.  Surprised that the Rockwell hardness was at 60.  You'll need to have a MOLLE pack or a way to lash the Kydex sheath to the pack (backpacking) because the pack will get in the way of carrying this knife on your belt.  The paracord is cushioning, but as others have pointed out, you can't do muddy, bloody or dirty jobs with it on a regular basis because the paracord absorbs grime and deteriorates over time.  It should shine as a fuzz-stick maker or shaving some fire-starter bits or putting points on tent stakes.  The 3" blade is too short for batoning firewood, in my opinion.

Comment by Jan Carter on December 13, 2013 at 16:20

http://www.whiteriverknives.com/collections/ionbond-coated-knives

What do you think?  Good Backpacker?  Anyone have one?

In Memoriam Comment by Robert Burris on December 12, 2013 at 11:48

It's best to be prepared, Howard.

  Our winters are mild compared to most. We pray for cold weather, to help our hunting out. Right now, our temp is upper 30's to mid 50's. That's just right for me.

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