Page 23 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 23

THE  ASHLEY  BOOK  OF  KNOTS










                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  There are some knots that are commonly confused with each other




                                                                                                                                                                                                                         because of some obvious similarity either of form or of name. Three



                                                                                                                                                                                                                         outstanding  examples  are  the  NOOSE,  the  SLIP  KNOT,  and  the  SUP




                                                                                                                                                                                                                         NOOSE.






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  43.  The NOOSE  is  a sliding knot used in snaring birds and animals.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                         It draws up and constricts when the standing pan is  pulled.






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  44.  The  SLIP  KNOT  is  a  STOPPER  KNOT  that  may  be  spilled  or



                                                                                                                                                                                                                         slipped  instantly by pulling  on  the  end to withdraw  a  loop.  There




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          is  but  one  knot  entitled  to  the  name;  any  others  having  a  similar




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          feature  are  merely "SLIPPED"  KNOTS.





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  45.  The SLIP  NOOSE  stans as  NOOSE  ~43, but a  bight is  employed





                                                                                                                               44                                                                                         instead  of  an  end  for  the  final  tuck.  The  knot  may  be  spilled



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ("slipped")  instantly,  by pulling  on  the  end,  which  withdraws  the



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          bight.




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I  have  never  seen  an  explanation  of  the  differences  between  the




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          OVERHAND  KNOT,  the HALF  KNOT,  and the HALF  HITCH,  three quite




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          distinct  knots  of  somewhat  similar  construction,  but  with  clearly




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          marked differences in their application. The three are often confused



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          with each other.






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  46.  The OVERHAND  is  the simplest of the  SINGLE-STRAND  STOPPER




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          KNOTS,  and  is  tied with  one  end  around  its  own  standing  pan,  its



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          purpose being to prevent unreeving.






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  47.  The HALF  KNOT  is  a BINDING  KNOT,  being the first  movement



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          of the REEF  or SQUARE  KNOT.  It is tied 'Ulith  two ends around an  ob-




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ject  and  is  used  when  reefing,  furling,  and  tying  up  parcels,  shoe··




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          strings, and the like.





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  48.  The HALF HITCH is tied with one end of a rope which is passed




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          around an object and secured to its own standing pan with a SINGLE




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          HITCH.




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The difference between the CLOVE  HITCH and Two HALF  HITCHES
                                                                                                                          46


                                                                                                                                                                                                                          is exceedingly vague in the minds of many, the reason being that the



                                                                                                                                                                                                                          two have the same knot form; but one is tied around another object,




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          the  other  around  its  own  standing  part.  The  illustrations  of  these




                                                                                                                                                                                                                          and several other knots, given here in two parallel columns, may per-




                                                                                                                                ---                                                                                       haps serve to make the differences clearer than a written description




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           can.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   In  every  instance  opposite  hitches  in  the  two  columns  have  the

                                                                                                                        41

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           same knot form. But in the left column they are tied directly to an-




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           other  object,  while  in  the  right  column  they  are  tied  around  their




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           own  standing  parts.  The  left  column  consists  of  snug  hitches  in




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           which the ends are secured under the turns. The right column con-



                                                                                                                                                                                                                           sists of loose hitches in which the ends, after passing around another




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           object, are made fast to their own standing parts.










                                                                                                                                                                                                                           49.  SINGLE  HITCH                                                                                                                SO.  HALF  HITCH




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           51.  SLIPPERY HITCH                                                                                                               52.  SLIPPED  HALF  HITCH




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           53.  CLOVE  HITCH                                                                                                                 54.  Two HALF  HITCHES



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             55.  BUNTLINE  HITCH




                                                                                                                                                                                                                           56.  Cow HITCH                                                                                                                    57.  REVERSED  HALF  HITCHES




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             58.  LOBSTER  Buoy HITCH


                                                                                       45                                                                                                                                 59.  BALE  SLING  HITCH,  RING                                                                                                     60.  DOUBLE  RING  HITCH






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         HITCH, or TAG KNOT



                                                                                                                                                                                                                           61.  ROLLING                                           HITCH,                              MAGNUS                                 62.  MIDSHIPMAN'S  HITCH




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          HITCH,  or MAGNER'S  HITCH
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