Shortly before World War II, Wallace Carothers of DuPont invented a “synthetic silk”, a polyamide they named Nylon. Its invention made a new kind of large-scale, mobile airborne warfare possible, and the paratroopers were born. Previously, parachutes were made from silk, something that was in very short supply due to the natural method of its production – the humble silkworm. This new, synthetic silk transformed warfare by making it possible to mass produce parachutes and its companion product, parachute cord.
Dropped behind enemy lines, the paratrooper needed versatile, functional, reliable and, as much as possible, lightweight tools. Soldiers found diverse and inventive uses for their parachute cord. Once on the ground, paratroopers often cut the paracord from their chute and took it with them for future use. They had been trained on ways that parachute cord or “paracord” could be used in both survival situations and for making improvised repairs.
After World War II, the U.S. military adopted paracord for use throughout the Army as a multi-use tool with numerous applications. Today, it is still part of the U.S. military’s standard equipment and is used in many practical applications, like securing gear to backpacks and trucks, shelter building and various other improvised solutions.
As man has always used various types of cords for survival — in building, measuring, hunting, travelling (sailing, wagons), etc. –- it is perhaps unsurprising that even today, paracord continues to play an important part in man’s everyday life.
It is extraordinary how many uses you can get from this amazingly strong and durable cord. Suffice it to say that NASA is a bit particular with what they choose to send into space, where every gram of weight is considered and re-considered in terms of its necessity and utility. NASA believed in the worth of paracord and made it an accessory for their astronauts’ missions. In fact, during space shuttle mission STS-82 in 1997, it was even used to make an improvised repair to the Hubble space telescope.
Paracord was also used to secure small items to prevent them from loss.
The paracord is useful in outdoor applications because it will not rot away or mildew adding to its reliability.
Hikers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts sometimes use “survival bracelets” made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact and wearable form. Such bracelets are meant to be unraveled when one needs rope for whatever purpose –securing cargo, lashing together poles, fixing broken straps or belts, assisting with water rescues, controlling bleeding with a tourniquet, etc.
Paracord is light weight and compact making it easy to carry. The 550 cord was used in several ways. The inner strands of the cord could be removed to be used is sewing applications and used as fishing line in a survival
situation.
Paracord 550, so named because it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds, was used in the suspension lines of military parachutes.
After 9/11/01, members deployed to the middle east would – and do – wear a military paracord bracelet as a symbol of remembrance for colleagues who were taken prisoner of war or missing in action.
Of course, it still is used by the military, but survivalists and outdoor enthusiast also rely on this versatile cord. From first aid uses like making a tourniquet, tying a splint or sling, to hanging tools from your belt, neck or pack. You can make a towline, tie up a boat, canoe, or skiff, or unravel it and use the inner strands for fishing line. String it up to make a clothesline, or to haul your food stores off the ground away from bears. Make traps, or snares, securely tie a tarp between trees. Tie people together on a trail or mountain to make sure they stay together, and to help prevent dangerous falls. Use it for dental floss or sewing thread, and to fix or repair articles of clothing.
What Exactly is Paracord
The military-grade cord is Mil-C-504h type III. While there are other types of paracord commercially available, the Mil-C-504h is the only military-approved one. The outer layer is a braided sleeve that today comes in many colors. Inside that outer layer are 7 – 9 fine strands that are each made up of at 2-3 intertwined fibers.
A standard military paracord bracelet is made by weaving a 10 – 12-foot single strand and using a uniform button for a clasp. The idea is that each service member wears a bracelet that has been made by someone else, and the bracelets are only removed when everyone is safely back to base.
Type | Min. Strength | Inner Strands | Common Use |
Type I | 95 lbs | 1-2 | Decorative, light-duty |
Type II | 400 lbs | 4-7 | General purpose |
Type III (550) | 550 lbs | 7-9 | Military, survival, outdoor |
Type IV | 750 lbs | 11+ | Heavy-duty applications |
The military 550 cord consists of the sheath is rated at about 300-pounds, and each of the 7 strands made up of two strings each for a rating of 35 pounds.
I love this stuff. After I was introduced to paracord in jump school I’ve used it for everything. It’s a very good addition to your EDC (everyday carry) and the many applications you can find for it.
Semper Paratus
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