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| KNOTSMITHTM Custom Braided Leather Lanyards |
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Frequently Asked Questions
1/18/10
| What's the expected delivery date? | As of 1/18/10, about 4 months after order. |
| Is the lanyard on the Kimber Marias web page and in their ads in Shooting Sportsman and Sporting Classics, etc., one of yours? | Yes! Thank you for noticing. It is the T3 SSM Leash Lanyard shown on the orange neckerchief on my front page. |
| Are these real questions, or did you just make them up to be cute? (Back to the top) | Well you should know that at least one of them (yours) is real. Naw, you give me too much creative credit. I couldn't begin to make up this stuff. All the questions shown here are (or represent) actual questions asked me over the years (frequently more than once), but I did make up the answers. In the interest of space (and propriety), I have abstracted (and laundered) both questions and answers a bit, but, in essence, they are true to the original exchanges. Although pages of this type are commonly called "Frequently Asked Questions," honestly, some of these questions were only asked once, and I appreciate that type are not frequent. Read on, and I think you will agree. |
| How tough are KNOTSMITH lanyards? Will they stand up to field use? | The owner of the lanyard below
(the same lanyard on the hat on the front page) ran over it with a truck. The knots were scuffed
a bit, the compass and whistle were destroyed, but though dinged up, the
counter still worked perfectly. I replaced the compass and
whistle, and this tough lanyard was good to go! It even
impressed me!
 In a more general sense, my lanyards stand up well to normal field use provided they receive regular preventative maintenance and appropriate care after use. The most common and serious problem from use is getting the lanyard or leash wet repeatedly and then not replenishing the oils that are leached out of the leather. Salt in sweat accelerates deterioration of leather. Lanyards and leashes gotten wet, muddy, or sweaty should be saddle soaped soon afterward. See Lanyard Care. However, they are vulnerable to being chewed beyond repair. See a Chewed T2 |
| Are the lanyards actually hand-braided? Are they imported? Are they real leather or some plastic? Are your lanyards strong and tough; Will they stretch? | I hand braid each lanyard using real, kangaroo leather (imported of course). The lanyards are tightly braided and strong. All my products have nylon-cord cores selected so that the lanyards do not swing wildly to and fro as you walk or ride. As a result my lanyards are much stronger and tougher than lanyards without cores, and they will not stretch in normal use. (Back to the top) |
| (Same questions asked
by a twenty something person recently) I like found your web page, and I was like totally blown away! I'm like, NO WAY! Your lanyards are like TOTALLY AWESOME! They are actually, like, hand-braided from, like, real leather and, like, real strong, right? They are not, like, made from some plastic stuff or imported, right ? |
Right! Thank you for your kind, effuse reaction to my web pages and lanyards! They are quality lanyards, not shoddy as are the catalog and imported lanyards I've seen. They are tightly and smoothly hand braided from real leather lace, not plastic, over nylon-cord cores, and yes, they are strong, much stronger than lanyards without cores, and will not stretch in normal use. They are unlike any other lanyards on the market, and I think you would like them. (To hell with the generation gap! I'm like, Wow! I will ignore the "likes" and like make this exuberant young lady dog person a totally awesome lanyard!) (Back to the top) |
|
"I have one of your lanyards with plastic counters. Can you replace them with brass
counters?" "Where can I buy the brass counters you use?"
|
Yes, I
will consider replacing the counters if I made the lanyard and if its diameter is not too large. 1/4" will
work; 9/32" won't. Contact me. The counters are made to my design and specifications, exclusively for me. Including the retrofitting discussed above, I only sell them installed on my lanyards and on drops (and for the prerequisites on drops see below and in Options). Counters are primarily used to count flushes of grouse and woodcock, but may also be used to count coveys or other events. (I long for return of a time when a counter is needed to remember the number of quail coveys found in a day!) I probably could, but I won't. That violates my version of the First Commandment: "Thou shall have no lanyards other than mine before me." The only lanyards I work on (and tolerate) are those I make and have made. It follows that my brass counters are only for my lanyards, whether installed on the lanyard or on a drop attached to the lanyard. No way in hell am I going to put my logo counters (or whistles) on a lanyard made by somebody else. Go ask whomever you chose to buy your lanyard from for some brass counters! On the other hand, if you have one of my lanyards (as per my records), we can talk about installing brass counters on it or adding a drop with brass counters. |
| How did you come up with "KNOTSMITH" and your weird LS brand? | Well, as for the brand, about 55 years ago I was fooling around with a hot LS branding iron, dropped it, bent it, liked it, and kept it. I could say that KNOTSMITH has to do with crafting of (mesquite and braided-leather) knots analogous to "silversmith," and that would be part of the story. But KNOTSMITH is also a pun/homonym arising from a conservative nature, so that in relation to some extravagant or risky public or social project or function that I have uncharacteristically gotten involved in, those who know me best have been known to say, "Not Smith!" in disbelief. "Not going to go there, wouldn't be prudent." |
| I
want a T2 Lanyard. Well, I plan to use it all season, but if I buy it, can't I keep it? |
How long do you want
it? Yes, of course, but to make it, I need to know the length of the lanyard. Make a loop of cord around your neck over the clothes you will be wearing afield so that the tip is where you want your whistle to hang. Remove the loop, and measure the doubled up length of the loop (the half length). That is the number I need. |
| Do
you have a catalog or brochure? Do you sell through catalogs? (Back to the top) |
I do not have a catalog
other than these web pages, and as a custom braider, I do not keep an inventory.
If pressed I could print up a brochure. Rather than asking you to buy an off-the-catalog-shelf item, I will braid your lanyard to your design choices especially for
you. As for including my lanyards in catalogs, it seems pointless
for me (you) to pay a percentage to a catalog or any other middleman, uh, middleperson.
Generating sales volume has never been a problem for me; rather my
challenge has been braiding enough lanyards (and leash/lanyards, collars, and leads) to keep up
with the order list so that it is not more than a year or so long. Under normal
circumstances, I can keep the delivery to about 3 to 4 months. In most cases "catalog lanyard" equals mass-produced, and, unfortunately, relatively high catalog prices do not offer you any choice and do not represent high quality. I produce a quality product to your specifications, I guarantee my work, and, while I do not warranty against abuse and neglect, I can frequently repair such problems on my lanyards. Catalogs, on the other hand, generally offer what we refer to as an "Oklahoma Guarantee: "If it breaks you get both pieces." |
| I
have seen "hand-braided" and "handcrafted" lanyards in catalogs.
Are those your lanyards? If not, how are your lanyards different? (Back to the top) |
No!
Neither "Hand-braided" nor "Handcrafted" equal "Custom Braided!"
Custom braided lanyards are hand braided, but catalog lanyards, hand-braided
anonymously
are not made to customer specifications. Rather catalog lanyards are knockoffs mass-produced by unidentified
makers/suppliers for the catalog company and are solely intended to
maximize the company's profits. I make lanyards for each customer per
the specifications in the customer's order; I
personally guarantee the lanyards I make; and if necessary, I can repair,
modify, or replace them as per customer request. That is, I
service what I sell. Try that with a catalog company! See
Lanyard Care. Consider carefully the level of design and craftsmanship of a "hand-braided" catalog lanyard. Only the ignorant and or gullible (or as we say in NE Texas, someone as dumb as a bois d'arc fencepost) would believe the catalog company's claim that the lanyard in their picture is "the finest lanyard available" or is "the ultimate upland lanyard!" According to Tom Davis, Sporting Classics, Nov/Dec 02, p. 54, "comparing catalog lanyards to these (KNOTSMITHTM) lanyards is like comparing a plastic ukulele to a Stradivarius." That may be a wee bit of exaggeration (I had to look up what it meant!), but my lanyards do feature high quality braiding (tighter and smoother); and with a nylon core, my lanyards are more robust (even though the price to the customer is sometimes about the same). Unless you feel extremely charitable toward the catalog company, why pay a premium price for a mass-produced, catalog lanyard when you can have a lanyard custom braided specifically for you? However, at the risk of sounding flippant and or arrogant, if you cannot perceive (and appreciate) the quality differences between various lanyards, then by all means buy the cheapest (and least expensive) one you can find. Or semi-vice versa, if you think someone else's "handcrafted" lanyards look better than my custom braided lanyards, buy 'em! P.T. Barnum (and the catalog company) saw you comin'! Reminds me of a story about an athlete at a local land grant university who won an Olympic gold metal and was so proud of it that he had it bronzed. Now, that bois-d'arc-fencepost-like "gentleman from Odessa" should order lanyards from a catalog! And since his "hunting" these days is mostly limited to shooting excessive quantities of pen-raised and released birds at the catalog company's lodge/preserve, he is undoubtedly eager to wear their gear and logo. Some even say he has their logo tattooed on his chest next to the land grant university former student association emblem. Whether or not that is true, it would seem appropriate. Nevertheless, everyone gets to choose, and observing those choices is a valid means of recognizing and categorizing (a.k.a., profiling). My customers have better tastes and higher standards than that! |
| Do
you make adjustable lanyards? (Back to the top) |
The "adjustable" braided lanyards shown in some catalogs are apparently designed to specifically cater to the catalog trade, i.e., one size fits all. In order to be "adjustable," they appear to be loosely braided (over braided) without a core. I do not make that type of lanyard. I design and braid each lanyard's length to fit the particular customer. KNOTSMITHTM T1 and T2 lanyards have a slide to adjust the around-the-neck loop size, however, unless you expect to significantly increase or decrease your stature or weight, I cannot imagine a need for your lanyard length to be adjustable. Even so, if you absolutely have to have a length-adjustable lanyard, I will make you one with a core and consistent with the quality of my lanyards (price to be negotiated). |
| I have heard that your lanyards bring good luck. True? (Back to the top) | Yep, I've heard that too. Some customers have claimed that a new KNOTSMITHTM T1, T2 or T3 lanyard worn in subsequent field trials or field tests brought them luck, but I make no such claim for my products and have made no specific effort to make lanyards "lucky." I suppose I could and charge more for that service. However, I am skeptical of "luck," adhering to the Ben Hogan philosophy that "the harder I work, the luckier I get." Even so, perhaps the following story should be considered: At an NSTRA field trial almost 20 years ago, a fellow remarked to me that he seemed to be "stuck in comin' close." He said that perhaps if I made him a special lanyard, a T1 with a burled mesquite knot slide, that would improve his luck. I made the lanyard and got it to him on the following Friday. Wearing the new lanyard, he won both Saturday and Sunday beginning a long "hot" streak. He believes! (And even I am not fool enough to question that!). And that lanyard is still in service. |
| First
call: If I send back the lanyard I bought for my husband last
year, will you refund my money? We are getting a divorce. Second call two days later: I need a new lanyard exactly like the one my wife gave me for my birthday last year. SHE TOOK BACK MY LUCKY LANYARD! We're getting a divorce. Can you help? |
Yes
ma'am, taking
back that lanyard should clinch and expedite the divorce! Send the
lanyard back, and I will consider refunding something provided the lanyard
does not show neglect, abuse, or excessive wear.
Yep, sir, I can help---with the lanyard that is! |
| I've read what you've written about "lucky lanyards," but if lanyards can be "lucky" couldn't they be "unlucky" just as well? | Well, as I said
above, I am
skeptical of "luck," good or bad, but given that things tend to be
symmetrical, I suppose "bad luck" is about as probable as "good luck."
Given the amount of cussin' I've invested in some when the knots were not
cooperating, I would not be surprised if they were unlucky! Several years ago I made a bolo tie lanyard for a customer in NM using his silver and turquoise pieces: An elaborate slide, tips and small conchos between (below) the slide and tips. I was told the pieces had religious significance, had been consecrated, and only "priests" were allowed to wear them. When it was finished, I was so eager to get that "sacred work of art" out of my possession that I did not think to take a picture of it. I figured if I screwed it up or lost it, the "priest" might lay a curse on me so that I would forget how to braid and tie knots and could never hit anything with a shotgun again, etc. Somehow he must have sensed that I had tried it on though, because ever since then such things have been happening with increasing frequency! Come to think of it, I am glad that I did not make a picture (graven image) of it! Most of the real "bad luck" reported to me associated with lanyards involves losing them, having them stolen, or having dogs chew them up. See a well-chewed T2 on the Lanyard Care page. I sympathize and make repairs or replacements. |
| I understand that you advise against leaving a lanyard hanging from the mirror in a truck. Why? | Well, mainly because a closed truck gets very hot in the sun, and high temperatures accelerate the loss of oils from the lanyard leather. It gets dry and hard and is thus more susceptible to abrasion and cracking. Also, in two cases, trucks were broken into, and the only thing taken was the lanyard that had been hanging from the mirror. Discovering that is not a good way to start a day. |
|
(1)
Will you donate a lanyard to our benefit (field trial, club banquet, etc.) to be used as a
door prize or gift or to be auctioned or raffled? (2) I was at a field trial recently, and the lanyards (or gift certificates) you donated were presented to the winner and to the trial judges. Will you donate these to us to support our trial? (Back to the top) |
(1) You
obviously saw my ads, but just as obviously, yours is not the response I
intended to evoke. There are tens of
thousands, mind-boggling numbers, of DU, QU, PhU, etc. local chapters
and local field trial, hunt test, and dog clubs across the continent.
Even if I were so inclined, how could/should one decide? What logic would
justify such generosity? I don't make enough
lanyards per year to meet the requests for donations. So, No
Thanks. Nonetheless, I wish you well. (2). Regardless of whatever representations were made or inferences were allowed to be drawn, the lanyards (or gift certificates) you saw (or heard were) presented at field trials were purchased at the rates listed on this web page and treated as any other order. The above policy is firm. If you want to buy, I might consider an order, but if you ask for a donation first, I probably won't even sell you one. |
| "I seen your ad for lanyards in PDJ. Why're they so espensive? Do you sell many of 'em?" (sic) (a note handwritten in pencil on ruled notebook paper) | Well, I only do custom braiding. There is a limit to how many lanyards I can make, so I can't sell as many custom braided lanyards as those who sell commodity lanyards. However, since I can and do sell all I can make, I naturally have no need to compete on price. See Gun Dog Supply for those commodity lanyards. Occasional ads, especially in Shooting Sportsman and Sporting Classics magazines, though expensive, have been very good for my business. I have sold lanyards to folk from the west coast to the east coast and from Canada to Mexico in North America. I have sent lanyards to Scotland, England, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I keep busy; but frankly, I understand custom braided lanyards aren't for everyone. May I make one for you? |
| You must think your lanyards are works of art! How else can you justify your high prices and long delivery times? | Well, I
strive to make functional and attractive lanyards, but, while I personally don't
think of myself as an artist nor do I consider my lanyards works of art (in the usual, everyday, country boy sense), the
designs are considered (defined as) works of art under
U.S. Copyright Law. And therefore, my
lawyer has advised me to tell you, please be aware
that my designs are protected by US Copyright Law. Don't try to
duplicate them for sale.
I am gratified that some folk have high regard for my lanyards and appreciate and value them as works of art. Mr. Tom Davis described my lanyards as art in his review in Sporting Classics, Nov./Dec. 2002, p. 54, and in a later discussion of this topic, posited that he considered them works of art by the standard expressed in a quote by famous wildlife artist Bob Kuhn: "I take a very broad view of the term 'art.' I think you can wield a paintbrush for a lifetime without producing a single artful thing. On the other hand, you can build a wall or sing a song or decorate a room or take a photograph, any of these things and more, and if you function in a highly personal way which strikes a chord in others and reveals truth in a new way, you will be producing art." Of course you are entitled to your opinion as to whether or not my lanyards, produced in my own highly personal way, are art, whether or not they strike a chord in you and reveal (some) truth in a new way to you. Either way, I wouldn't presume to argue with you about it. It would be pointless. My lanyard prices are determined by a combination of production costs and demand. I can sell all the custom braided lanyards I can make. As you point out, my order list is typically quite long. Therefore it would seem that, if anything, my lanyards may be a bit under-priced. However, the current price structure works for me, and I consider it fair. If you can get comfortable with the price and delivery time, I would be pleased to custom braid a lanyard for you, whether you consider it art or just another piece of fine gear. |
| Do you have any lanyards in stock? Can I have the one in the picture? I need one right away. Can you send me one via Fed Ex? | I only do custom
braiding. I don't purposefully generate or keep "a stock." The lanyards in the
pictures were braided for a customer and are long gone, but I can make you one to the same
general design and color scheme. While I don't keep an inventory, I occasionally (in
the second month of consecutive blue moons) produce a (very) few "spec" lanyards
for ad pictures or to take to field trials, quail seminars, and such. You may certainly
inquire if I happen to have one of those. The best strategy is to order well in advance
(Currently, 1/18/10, about 4 months in advance) or give a gift certificate.
Almost anything can be discussed and negotiated. A plaque in an oil field office proclaimed: "Good, Fast, or Cheap. Pick any two." I am not going to do less than my best on the quality. Since my products are not inexpensive to start with, it should be recognized and expected that asking for "fast" is likely to be quite expensive----unless I am indebted to you or you can invoke the name of someone you know that I am indebted to. (Personal references are mostly good, but be careful whose name you drop because it could also work in the opposite direction!) A frequent favor-asking gambit for those wanting a lanyard in a hurry (always to give to someone else, a dear person whose birthday is about a week away, has a special condition and is not expected to live through another season, etc.) has been to ask will I sell my personal lanyard. Well, yes, I will, and, in fact, I have already sold last season's lanyard at a premium price! So, if you really need a lanyard in a hurry, don't be bashful or wheedle. Come right out and boldly propose to pay me double the usual rate. That will not hurt my feelings. Rather, starting at that threshold in the negotiations will convince me that you are sincere, serious, and should be dealt with promptly and professionally. And yes, I can ship it via FedEx. |
| Can
you make a very unique lanyard for me? I want "one-of-a-kind." (Back to the top) |
Yes sir, I can make a unique lanyard for you. Describe what you would like, and we can work out whether it will be unique or, more likely, near-unique (and remain that way); and we can discuss how much unique is worth. I have had some experience and success in this unique game. |
| Do you make camo lanyards? | Well, I think I made one a while back. A fellow from WI asked me to combine all the colors of lace I had into a hodgepodge pattern. Looked awful! I kept throwing up on it while I was making it! Naw, just joking, but I suppose that is close to camo. Reminds me of the time that I saw a camo cap in a feed store with the Purina name and checkerboard logo in black. Now, that is a tangible oxymoron: an advertising camo cap, or is it a camo advertising cap? Anyway, it looked good with my regular tan T2 lanyard. For a more recent attempt at a camo pattern on a lanyard, see T5 Pistol / Rangefinder / Transmitter Lanyard . |
|
Can you make a pistol lanyard analogous to the standard WW I service lanyard
for the Model 1911? Can you make a lanyard that goes over the left shoulder in order to carry a rangefinder or transmitter at belt level on the right side. Can you make a pistil (sic) lanyard for my boy friend? (This question from an email.) |
Yes, in
fact the
T5 Pistol Lanyard was
designed by measuring a WW I standard issue service lanyard for the M1911.
You may wish to order a slightly different length to fit you and your
pistol. Yes, determine the length you want and I will adapt the T5 Pistol / Rangefinder / Transmitter Lanyard to fit that application. Ma'am, I am going to assume (and sincerely hope) you are asking about a pistol lanyard. If so, please see my T5 Pistol / Rangefinder / Transmitter Lanyard. If not, you are out of luck. The other is far beyond my capabilities. |
| How long does it take you to make a T2? | Well, probably longer than it ought to. How long would it take you to make one? When asked how long it took him to make a hackamore, an old rawhide braider replied, "I figure it took me about 70 years since I put all my experience into it." In another sense, I try to keep time between order and delivery at 3 - 4 months, but sometimes it is twice or triple that. |
| I am a very tall (or short) person, so to fit me, can you make my lanyard longer (or shorter) than normal? | Of course. To determine how long your T2 should be: Loop a piece of cord around your collar (over your hunting coat if that is where you will wear the lanyard). Close the loop where you want the whistle(s) to hang on your front. Measure the length of the cord, and report that to me in your order. The knots on a "normal" length lanyard fall at the bottom of the sternum. The whistles are about an inch and a half below the knots, and on some of us, ride on the shelf at the beginning of the belly. That is, the normal T2 lanyard is about 21" from the top of the loop (back of the neck) to the bottom of the snap swivel, i.e., 21" half length. See Options |
| What
colors and combinations are available, and what do you recommend?
|
The kangaroo lace I use is theoretically available in black, chocolate, brown, tan, and natural (varies from cream to white). The most commonly requested color is saddle tan. In addition to solid colors, I have also made about any combination of variegated lanyards one can imagine. Some were more pleasing than others. The customer's preference is right (relatively). If you think a solid color is too plain, I recommend the following combinations: (1) A light lanyard (natural or tan) with brown, chocolate or black accents in the knots (see the pictures of the T2s) and perhaps in the lanyard body. Or (2) A dark lanyard (brown, chocolate or black) with natural or tan accents. Accents in the lanyard body can be chevrons \/ or slashes //. Of course you should have a solid black lanyard in your wardrobe for formal occasions. See Options |
| What
is a MiniClip or MicroClip and where can I get them?
Why would anyone want two whistle snaps on a lanyard? |
These stainless steel
clips are available from
Berkeley Point, or I sell them on lanyards for $5
each. They may be substituted for the standard McMahon scissor clip by putting a #
6H nickel steel splint ring between them and the standard nickel steel or brass
swivels. I still use the scissor snap on the right leg of my T2 to
attach my whistle, since I rarely take it off; but the swivel on the other leg of my T2
has a MicroClip making it much easier to put accessories on and off that clip than it was
with a scissor snap. Those accessories currently include a quail call, a hawk screamer,
a tube of Blistex, and a Trail Drop II digital compass by HighGear. True, most field trialers wear one whistle. Some order a T2 with one snap and one tassel or a bit of antler or mesquite rather than a tassel. Some order a T2FL with a fixed knot on the loop and one whistle on a drop. However, some folk do wear two whistles. The second may be a different type for a second dog, or it may be insurance against blowing the pea out of a Thunderer. Numerous hunters carry quail and or hawk calls on the second snap. I have a friend who uses the second snap to carry his ChapStick in a special knot I made for him. Others have requested attachments to carry tubes of Blistex or Carmex and containers of Blistex DCT or Carmex. See Extras and page down. Finally, more than a few of us carry a compass on the second snap. Mine is currently a Trail Drop II digital compass by HighGear. I know it is hard to believe, but one can get turned around in head-high mesquite on an overcast day, and in a 4,000 acre pasture, walking the wrong direction can waste a lot of time and energy and make you look bad in front of your dogs and guests. |
| What is a Leash/Lanyard? Did you invent the T3 Leash/Lanyard? | See the Type 3 Leash/Lanyard on the T3 page. Worn
around the neck with the bolt snap fastened in the small loop, the T3 Leash/Lanyard is a whistle lanyard, but it
opens to provide a tough 32" leash (traffic lead) when leaving the bird field. I had help in inventing the T3 Leash/Lanyard. In '94 a late-night brainstorming session with Bill Norvell started with a T2 Lanyard and an idea, and, after several Buds and considerable research (and Bill's engineering), produced a nylon-cord prototype of what was to become the T3 Leash/Lanyard. Norvell received, field tested, and approved the first T3 and he is still wearing it. So far as I know, the T3 is an original design. It works. Accept no imitations. |
| How and how well do the
T3 leash/lanyards work in typical use?
|
Wear the T3 around your neck with the 1/2" bolt
snap fastened in the small loop. The whistle is attached to a small snap swivel at the
bottom of the handloop. To convert the T3 from a whistle lanyard to a leash, unfasten the bolt snap (with one hand)
and attach it to a dog's collar. The resulting 32" leash is convenient and tough
enough to control your dog. The whistle on the handloop is out of the way at the heel of
your hand. After loosing your dog, put the leash around your neck, fasten the bolt snap in
the small loop, and the leash is back in service as a whistle lanyard. Regarding how well the T3s wear, with several hundreds being used by quail hunters, grouse/woodcock hunters, and walking field trial competitors over the past decade and a half, I have had no reports of failure (other than from abuse and neglect). I have had many enthusiastic testimonials, and many customers have ordered additional T3s as gifts for friends. The T3SSM, with the brass accessories, has become my "signature piece." |
| How
does the T3M differ from the T3?
|
M designates magnum, an admittedly over-used word. Mr. Bell wanted a 3/4" lockjaw (pinch to release) snap rather than a 1/2" bolt snap. A larger leash body seemed appropriate, so I used a 1/4" nylon cord core. I use the pinch-to-release lockjaw snap on leads, because I can loose my dog with one hand. A regular bolt snap requires two hands, one on the collar and one to unhook the snap. I think some like the more robust look and extra strength of the T3M, but used as a hand leash as intended, the regular T3, with its 3/16" nylon core, is more than adequate to hold even the most rambunctious pointer. I would not want to be hooked up to anything a T3 could not hold. |
| How well do your fly fishing lanyards work and what are the various options for? | According to my customers, they work very well. The micro- or miniclips on the lanyard cheeks and the terminal ring or gate snap provide points of attachment for various tools and supplies. Some prefer the gate snap to the ring because it facilitates putting items on or off. The flat neck option is reputed to be a bit more comfortable to wear, and an alligator clip on a pigtail may be attached to the shirt front to keep the lanyard from swinging from side to side and out as one moves and or bends over. An alligator clip can also act as a "third hand" to hold items temporarily. See Options and specify the size of the lanyard so that what you carry is conveniently positioned on your chest. |
| Can you teach me how to make a lanyard or a leash? | Probably. I have taught
a few persistent folk how to make their own lanyards and leashes. However as in training
bird dogs, some pupils learn braiding and knot tying more easily and quickly than others.
With a few stubborn individuals I have had to resort to a toe pinch or shock collar to
focus the attention and correct chronically sloppy braiding and flawed knots. I have not
done much distance education, but I suppose you could apply the shock collar to yourself?
Seriously, if you want to take up braiding, check the Grant references in the KNOTSMITH Library. Plate 14 in Leather Braiding shows how to start a simple 4 strand, round
lanyard on a whistle hook. Terminate the lanyard with the knot in Plate 15 and make a
slide from the knot in Plate 65 tied around the doubled lanyard. I can supply instructions
and materials lists for specific projects for a fee. We can work something out.
Send me an
email However, my lawyer has advised me to tell you, please be aware that my designs are protected by US Copyright Law. Don't try to duplicate them for sale. The Copyright Law not only has teeth. It has fangs! |
| Where can I get braiding supplies (leather lace, snaps, etc.)? | Leather lace can be purchased in small lots from pass-through catalog operations such as Hide Crafter or Tandy Leather Factory. I buy some of mine from Mac Lace, Pty, Ltd, in Australia. (If you don't speak Australian, Texan is close enough. If you are "from up north" you may have problems.) See the Links page for some of the above. Try the fishing supply houses for the snap swivels. As for core material, I once bought some nylon cord from a well-known, or at least well-advertised, Dallas hardware store. The young salesman marked the sack "200 ft nylon chord." I put the sack up to my ear and listened but heard nothing. Apparently I don't have an ear for modern synthetic music, or shooting shotguns really does damage ones hearing (or both). Anyhow, I cut that batch up into smaller chords (12 bars) and jazzed up some lanyards! |
| Do
you accept payment by credit card? (Back to the top) |
Yes, I accept payment by Visa or Master Card. By telephone (214 893-9003) or by regular (USPS) mail. (Not by email!), I need the type of card (Visa or Master Card), the name on the card, the card number, and the expiration date. In addition to the description of the product or products you are ordering, I need your shipping address, and your contact information (billing address, telephone numbers, and email address). |
| Why do you charge Texas residents sales tax? | The law says I must charge (and Texas residents must pay) 8.25%, and I am risk averse. If you are a Texas resident, add the product cost and shipping and handling, multiply that sum by 0.0825, and that is the amount of tax to be added. |
| Do you sell whistles? What kind do you use? (Back to the top) | I use FOX40 Classics. (See the Links Page.) I sell brass Acme Thunderers also with my logo for $20 each. You may also order a variety of whistles from GUN DOG SUPPLY or your favorite supplier. |
| Do you make bolo ties? | Yes. I have made more than few. Describe what you want. Prices are comparable to the corresponding T2 but depend on the slide and tips requested (if any). |
| Do you braid horse tack? | I have made a few bridle headstalls and several sets of reins, but horse tack is not my interest, since, far from being a horse whisperer, I don't speak "horse" at all, at any volume. I once got a note asking how much I would charge for braiding a "bridal headstall." Whoa! Picture that! I think that goes in the same category as the following questions. |
| Can
you braid something other than a whistle lanyard for my wife? Can you make a whip or quirt? |
Yes, I occasionally make
braided necklaces with mesquite knot pendants. I have also made braided-knot neckerchief
slides, key rings, and napkin rings. . . (pause) Oh! I could, but I won't. I'm not into that business! (Back to the top) |
| Can I get a
T2FL lanyard with a 24" headloop? It's for my wife. That's OK. We're not going to wear it. We're going to use it on each other! |
I am
pretty sure you will not be able to get a 24" loop over your head. I am pretty sure she won't be able to get it over her head either. I'll put in a whistle so you can blow it when you've had enough. |
