Page 126 - Mario Bigon "The Morrow Guide to Knots"

THIEF KNOT

The thief knot is very
similar in appearance
to the reef or square
knot. The main
difference is that it
does not consist of two
half knots. According to
legend, sailors on
whaling ships used this
knot to tie their
clothesbags, which
were then retied by
thieves with a reef knot.

Method
This little-used knot
begins in the same way
as the sheet bend. Form
a bight on the end of
one rope and introduce
into it the end of the
other (1). Make a turn
around the bight and
pass the end back
through the original
loop (2). Pull the
standing parts to
tighten the knot.