A fid is a tool, like a small marlin spike, used for tying and tightening knots. The ones I make are small spikes useful for working with paracord and similar size cord or ribbon, as well as being useful for replacing the crackers and falls on whips.

Most of the ones I make are unique in that they are portable. That is, because the spike is covered, you can safely carry them with you in your pocket or around your neck. I began making these because I had a need for them myself.

Going outside to crack the whip, it is often necessary to untangle or change the cracker, and a fid makes those jobs much, much easier. Unfortunately, fids, by definition, have a point that can be dangerous if put in your pocket. I could find none available that had a cover so decided to make myself one. One thing led to another, and I began making them to go along with the whips I sold. Now I offer them for sale separately.

In the original design, the cover was held on purely with knots.  This worked fairly well, but it was possible to pull one of the knots off over the end o the fid when opening or closing them:

Eventually I changed the design so that the lanyard / slider went through a hole in the wood, which prevents that problem.

Most of the fids I make now use this design, along with a longer lanyard so it can be work around the neck.

Generally I will wear it that way, and use it that way too when tying turks-head knots. This allows me to use the fid, drop it when I don’t need it in my hand, and pick it up again without having to reach for it. When whip-cracking, I generally just keep it in my pocket in case I need it for  untangling or replacing the cracker.

All the wood I use is from pruning trees on my property or a friends property. Nothing is ever cut just for use, so there is no waste of wood or destruction of trees or land. Most of the wood is either Cherry or Apple, though I do occasionally use other woods. I have some trees that I have not been able to identify yet, and was surprised at how nice the wood was when I tried using them.

These are not perfectly and consistently manufactured tools. They are usually made with original branch shape kept intact. All the imperfections of original piece of wood are intentionally left alone, some of the cambium layer under the bark may be left on, knife marks from peeling the bark will show, chisel or knife marks may be intentionally exaggerated, sanding  is minimal or non-existent, etc.

The spikes are made from hardened stainless steel and sharpened to the correct sharpness / roundness for the purpose. Generally, I have in mind that they will be used for both paracord and the finer threads of the whip’s popper.