Get your paracord here!

Every once in a while, some genius comes around and creates something mesmerizing – something so versatile that carries a million different applications that it becomes a must-have item for people the world over.

Remember German engineer and industrial designer Gottlieb Daimler? Of course not! But it is a name that should be more familiar than Kim Kardashian, who has yet to offer the world anything of value. Anyway, you should know the name Gottlieb Daimler because he is credited with inventing the four-wheeled automobile – you know, the thing you rely on day in and day out for just about everything.

No, it is not often these days that people are credited for their ingenious work. Do not believe me? Who invented paracord? Exactly.

You may not ever rely on paracord as much as you do your car, but you would be surprised at how versatile paracord actually is. In fact, I am willing to bet MacGyver would have gladly traded in his episodes and episode's worth of crap for a paracord survival bracelet or two. That is right; paracord is fully capable of saving your skin from more than a few of the sticky situations in which you may one day find yourself.

Now that you have got paracord on the mind, how about you pick some up from Keepshooting.com? But before we get to that, let us pay tribute to the creator of paracord, whoever that may be, with a brief history and explanation of the wonder rope.

World War II and paracord

To begin, paracord is actually an abbreviated word for the term "parachute cord," which makes perfect sense when you consider the fact that it was originally developed for use in the suspension lines of United States parachutes during World War II.

Its versatility was quickly realized by paratroopers though who discovered their suspension lines served a number of seemingly limitless secondary applications, including use as a dummy cord, boot laces, fishing line and much more. It was not long until parachute cord was readily available to all soldiers in the Military.

The versatility of parachute cord carried it far beyond the reaches of the Military, however as it was also used by astronauts on NASA's STS-82 mission – their second shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Unsurprisingly, parachute cord quickly became commercially available and commercially successful.

That is great, but what is paracord?

How could I have let that little detail slip by? Parachute cord, more commonly known as paracord and sometimes 550 cord, is a type of nylon kermantle rope that was, as noted, originally designed for and used in suspension lines found in U.S. parachutes during WWII.

Kermantle rope is a type of rope characterized by an interior core, known as the kern, and an exterior sheath, which is designed to provide an added degree of strength, durability and flexibility. As one would expect, the tensile strength of kermantle rope is derived from the kern whereas the exterior sheath exists primarily to protect the kern from abrasions.

Many different types of paracord exist and are categorized by a number of different characteristics, including strength, elongation, length per pound, core yarns (kerns) and sheath structure. The overwhelming majority of paracord available is "Type III" paracord, also known as 550 paracord due to its nominally-rated minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds. 550 Paracord is also marked by its seven to nine core yarns (kerns), each of which is made up of three strands.

So what can I use paracord for?

Since its introduction by the military decades ago, paracord has gone on to enjoy wild success on the civilian market, as evidenced by the prevalence of paracord survival bracelets. With virtually limitless applications, paracord is becoming more and more popular as time wears on. As such, it would probably be more appropriate to ask what paracord cannot be used for.

If you have ever had a need to build, bind, climb, carry, hoist, pull or do anything else requiring effort, then you probably could have used paracord. I was not kidding when I said the applications were virtually limitless. Additionally, paracord will make a great addition to the packs of anyone who enjoys:

- Camping

- Climbing

- Hiking

- Hunting

- Fishing

- Survival

- Much more…

Keepshooting.com and paracord

Today's title says it all – get your paracord here. It is obvious that there is a demand in the civilian market for paracord. And where there is demand, Keepshooting.com is there to supply.

Looking for heaps of paracord? Check out our black 550 paracord. Our black 550 paracord is sold in lengths of 100 feet. Nominally rated with a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds, 550 paracord generally contains between 7 to 9 core yarns.

Perhaps you are looking for a paracord survival bracelet. Good thing you came here. We carry an excellent paracord survival bracelet kit that includes a length of olive drab 550 paracord as well as detailed instructions for fashioning a tactical bracelet. Also included with every kit is a plastic side-release buckle for fastening the bracelet. Buckles are available in two different sizes: three-eighths and one-half of an inch. We also carry various paracord bracelet buckles.

Go ahead. Order some paracord. It is what MacGyver would have wanted.