The Knots Knut

The Fisherman’s Bend, also known as the Anchor Bend, is a knot used for attaching a rope to a ring or similar termination. Its name originates from the time when “bend” was understood to mean “tie to”, and not restricted to knots that join rope ends. While the knot can become jammed in some modern materials, it is usually easily untied after moderate loads; it can be made more resistant to jamming by taking an extra turn around the object–this will make for a 1-diameter longer span of the end to reach around the standing part to be tucked (although in a case of tying to a small shackle or link of a chain, this might not be possible). It is the accepted knot for attaching anchors (or more usually anchor chains) to warps. The knot is very similar to a round turn and two half hitches except that the first half hitch is passed under the turn. In many everyday uses, the finishing half-hitch need not be made; alternatively, one might seek surer security by tying off the end with a Strangle knot to the standing part.

ref: Wikipedia

The running bowline is a type of noose, a knot related in structure to the bowline.  You can use it to tie off around a tree limb or any other place you wish to connect and tighten up against.

The running bowline is strong and secure. It slides easily and can be undone just as simply.

The surgeon’s knot is a simple modification to the reef knot. It adds an extra twist when tying the first throw, forming a double overhand knot, thus adding friction which makes the knot more secure. This knot is commonly used by surgeons  in situations where it is important to maintain tension on a suture, giving it its name. Surgeon’s knots are used in fly fishing, in tying quilts, and for tying knots with twine.

Some sources categorize the surgeon’s knot as a bend, since it can be effective as such.  It is used in this manner in jewelry-making to secure items (such as a bracelet) strung on stretch-type cord

Like the reef knot, the surgeon’s knot capsizes and fails easily if one of the working ends is pulled away from the standing end closest to it.

The marlinespike hitch is a temporary knot used to attach a rod to a rope in order to form a handle.  This allows more tension than could be produced comfortably by gripping the rope with the hands alone. It is useful when tightening knots and for other purposes in rope work.

As the name suggests, the type of rod traditionally used with this hitch is a marlinespike. The advantages of this hitch over others which might serve the purpose are its quickness of tying and ease of releasing. Topologically it is a form of the noose, but in practice this hitch is not allowed to collapse into that shape. When it does capsize into a traditional noose it can jam against the rod, making it much more difficult to release.

Directions:

Begin with an overhand loop. That is, a loop which the working part passes over the standing part.

Fold the loop over the working part, towards the standing part such that the standing part is visible through the center of the loop. In stiffer material the first two steps can be accomplished in a single motion by twisting the working part with the fingers until a loop forms and flops over the standing part.

Use the rod to snag a bight of the standing part through the loop. That is, pass the rod over the near side of the loop, under the standing part and then over the far side of the loop.

Before tensioning, excess slack can be removed by pulling simultaneously on both the working and standing parts. In actual use the hitch should be loaded only from the standing side.

If the working end is loaded rather than the standing part, the knot will capsize into an overhand noose. While this form may still hold when the standing part is subsequently loaded, it can jam badly against the rod. This is especially troublesome if the rod is not tapered.

Within Scouting, there is a program called “Knotsmaster”, which is designed to encourage the learning and retention of the art of tying knots within the Scouting Organization.  One of the knots that is taught to the Scouts involved is the Carry Knot.  This gives them a method of hooking a five foot piece of rope to a D-Ring on their belt or belt-loop so that they can carry their “Knotsmaster” Rope as part of the Scouting Uniform.  I have decided to add this knot to the Knots Knut archives.

Instructions:

The carry knot is designed as a method to attach a five foot segment of rope to a ‘D’ Ring and carry the rope on your side attached to a belt loop or some other similar loop on your clothing or gear. Its appearance is similar to that on a noose however the section of rope that would pull the loop closed is folded back under the rope coil, thus prohibiting the loop to close. You can easily identify if the knot has been tied correctly by observing that one of the end pieces located at the loop end of the knot.

1. The knot is started by forming two loops around the end of your hand.
2. Next, hold the two loops in one hand with both rope ends exposed. Start wrapping the long end of the rope around the rope loops in your hand.
3. Continue wrapping the long end around the role loops working your way towards the other end.
4. Continue wrapping the long end until you have about one inch of rope remaining.  Pass the end of the rope through the two loops.
5. Holding the entire knot in one hand, grasp one side of the single loop and pull it to tighten one of the two loops at the other end.
6. Grasp the other side of the single loop and pull it to tighten remaining loop at the other end.
7. This completes the ‘Carry Knot’.

Below are the pictures that go with the instructions, presented in Gallery format: