Well, I am having enough second thoughts about these split rings that I am going to be forced to do some testing this weekend. I am thinking that the expedient of twine, shoelaces, or paracord to replace the split rings would certainly wear through and fail quicker than the split rings. I am going to do some "lumbering" with the wire saw this weekend and I will post the results of the durability of various expedient handles fashioned from the contents of my psk. Yes, I do have split rings on me at all times since there are more than a few involved in my key ring assemblage. For the sake of this weekends test I am ruling them off-limits. I will attempt using the twine, the paracord, the shoe-laces (though they are not legetimately in the psk), the snare wire, and perhaps the safty-pins.<br><br>I will post my results on Monday.