Page 25 - Knots, Splices and Rope Work: A Practical Treatise

Other “Loops” are made as shown in Figs. 62-65, but none of
these are as safe, sure, and useful as the bow-line.

One of these knots, known as the “Tomfool Knot” (Fig. 66), is used as handcuffs and has
become quite famous, owing to its having baffled a number of “Handcuff Kings” and
other performers who readily escaped from common knots and manacles. It is made like
the running knot (Fig. 62), and the firm end is then passed through the open, simple knot

so as to form a double loop or bow. If the hands or wrists are placed within these loops
and the latter drawn taut, and the loose ends tied firmly around the central part, a pair of
wonderfully secure handcuffs results.