This method of using the lanyard is extremely fast to apply to the hand and very secure. I use it everytime I use or hold the knife. If I am going to do extended chopping I will open the knots and put my wrist through because the 550 cord can dig into your hand after a few minutes.The first pic shows how you can hold the rear of the handle (as you can with the wrist through the knots method) and makes this 5 inch knife perform like a longer one and with more heft in front.