Frag Out! Magazine

ring. Black. The cheapest part of whole lanyard. This key ring holds a short part of triple folded webbing with reinforced seams of course. Very good thing, which is don't popular and I don't know why, is end- ing that band with a rubber peace. It noticeably thick- ens the ending and guarantee a sure grip and there- fore opening the snap shackle. In this point I want to explain the mechanism of snap shackle. The bent arm is held in place by previously mentioned pin. By pull- ing it down, with that short band, it hides inside the guideway and release the arm that falls under its won weight. Very simple and idiot-proof unless someone will tear the pin out. Well, that's not my problem if someone has more muscles than brain. Every, single metal part is black coatded. It also shows which parts work most. It is a key ring that is almost silver. Snap shackle also shows signs of usage as it constantly los- es coating. Of course, everything has tags. Lanyard isn't different from other products and has them too. Two labels that perfectly and undoubtedly show where it was manufactured. One on each side of the lanyard. At one side of the label there is American flag and com- pany's name beneath it and on the other side is… company's name again and "Made in USA" writing. And that's all what is on labels. PurPose Lanyard like lanyard – nothing special. Almost. It's length which is quite unusual I in some way quite problematic. As a personal fall protection equipment it doesn't fit well as a part that is attached to first line kit. Snap shackle in the front, Frog Tango at the back of the belt and I had a big loop that hung to the half of my calves. In that situation we have two possibil- ities – either we trip on that and hit the ground or it will catch on something in the surroundings. And we hit the ground. Both possibilities are totally NO GO. I've tried to somehow shorten it but nothing worked well. This particular lanyard is just too long for such usage. Some of you for sure know one of the helicopter extraction techniques SPIE what stands for Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction. Squad members are at- taching themselves to rig that hangs under the he- licopter and they are extracted by pulling them out of the zone, hanging under the helicopter. Simple as that. We can notice that after attaching themselves, soldiers are very close to the attachment point. Now please imagine attaching with lanyard of such length. It might cause unintentional rocking during SPIE extraction that might be dangerous. equipment

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