Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Izula

Today was a good mail day, receiving a package from the folks at BladeOps. I got an IZULA fixed blade survival knife, in desert tan with kit.

The Izula has a skeletonized handle design that's just right for some knot work, and the optional 'kit' also includes several feet of paracord among the contents, which is just enough to make a lanyard, do a variety of handle wraps, or to coil some around the sheath.

You can find many different paracord wrapping tutorials on YouTube, and there are lots of photos online, where you can get an idea of how different paracord color combinations look with the knife.

I tried a few of the common type wraps/weaves, putting them on, then taking them off to try another, and know that I'll have to experiment some more to find one that I'll leave on it.

I even played around with adding a dreamcatcher with some bonded thread, and a four bight turks head knot with about 14 feet of 1.4mm cord.

11 comments:

Dan said...

Sweet!! Storm, really like the look of the 2nd wrap from the top (with the dreamcatcher) - that is a really sweet design!

ephrael said...

I really like that knife and the variety of knots you tried on it. Would you mind telling me what the pattern on the bottom right hand picture is? I am relatively new to knot work but I would really like to try tying that type of wrap.

Stormdrane said...

@ephrael, Try the fourth video down on the YouTube link, 'Quick'n'easy'.

Scott-in-Knots said...

Ha! I love it Stormdrane!
Throughout the week leading up to the delivery of the IZULA your brain was producing small bursts of endorphins, leading to slight involuntary muscle contractions in the facial region. You considered tracking the shipment again, only stopping yourself and realizing there would be no shipping status update. This provided you with 1/32 of childlike Christmas Morning anticipation of good things to come.
But... not so much for the knife itself.
This was all due to the fact that you would have something new to TIE.
You considered and researched multiple methods and knot configurations, you spent hours with the Ashley Book, reading over diagrams you have read countless times.
I understand... I too have the sickness.
My wife is becoming concerned with my extensive research and tying habit, my fingers bare the signs.

I wanted to let you know... You are not alone and I have found your Blog to be a wealth of knowledge and clear direction.

Thank you

-Scott
rusty_koolaid@yahoo.com

KnotAllThere said...

Hi SD. The Turks Head is absolutely the best wrap I have seen for the Izula. The dreamcatcher is awesome as well but the TH you tied on that one looks super cool.

ephrael said...

I picked up 2 Izulas today and wrapped one as a gift for a friend and one as a gift for me. I love this knife and the myriad of wraps for it. Thanks for the original post and the links to the videos. I love your blog.

The Mad Plumbarian said...

I like the dream catcher in the hole! i think that makes the knife!!! JR

Blacksheep said...

Holy Jeebus. That's amazing. Keep it up, Drane.

Paul said...

Where do you get the 1.4 mm cord? Apparently it's common for curtain repair? Is that the stuff you used?

Stormdrane said...

@Paul, The 1.4mm cord is sometimes called trot line and mini blind string. I have a few links for sources in my blog's links list, including: mowfugger on ebay, GPJ Rope, Fix My Blinds, and R&W Rope Warehouse(Handy Hundred Spools).

The smaller diameter nylon cord doesn't seem to hold the dye well, in my experience, so the darker colors(black, red, green) can get a faded/worn look when tying with them, but it's just cosmetic and doesn't affect the cord strength. I've used Sharpie markers to touch up/color the cord...

There are nylon dyes available(Jacquard acid dyes), but I haven't tried using them. I have so much on several spools, I want to eventually try making some olive or orange colored cord...

Supply Captain, County Comm, and Atwood Rope MFG have 2mm sized cord in several colors, using nylon and/or polyester construction...

Paul said...

Thanks!