Page 154 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

Italian Hitch

Also known as the friction hitch or Munter
hitch, the friction element of this hitch

absorbs energy and enables the
movement of the rope to be more

easily controlled. It is essential to
understand that one end is the

breaking and one end the loading
end. By relaxing the tension, these

can be reversed. Climbers use
this hitch both to control a
safety rope and as a control

when abseiling or rappeling
down a cliff face. As this

knot is used as part of a
complex arrangement of
ropes in dangerous

circumstances, it does well
to take proper advice from

a qualified instructor
before using this hitch in
earnest.
Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices

1 Make a pair of half hitches in the middle

of the rope. Note that the left hitch has
the standing part on top, while the right
hitch has the standing part behind.
2 Roll the left hitch through 90 degrees to

lay it on top of the right-hand hitch.

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