Page 266 - The Ashley Book of Knots

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CHAPTER 18: BENDS

To bend two CabeLJs or Roapes together, that is, to tye them to-

gether with a Knot, and so to make their own Ends fast upon them-

selves: This is not so sure as Splicing two Roapes together, but it is

sooner done, and most commonly used when we meane to take them

a-sunder agctine, as when a W ttrP, or any Roape is too short for the

present use.

SIR HENRY MANWAYRING:

The Sea-mans Dictionary, 1644

A bend unites two ropes, or two parts of the same rope, generally

at the ends. Its purpose is to lengthen the rope. In twine, string,

thread, yarn and cord, where the bend is to be a fixture (as a "\\1\) ~ \

WEAVER'S KNOT), or else where the material is to be used but once '''Jd

and then thrown away, as in parcel tying, bends that jam and refuse

to untie are permissible, or even desirable. But in· rope, which is a

valuable product, the bend should be a transient feature and the knot flfJ

should render easily to the prick of a marlingspike. A heavy hawser .:sA ,

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or cable should be tied with a bend that will respond to the light

tapping of a mallet or tid. In such material a marIingspike should be a- ;,n.

employed only as a last resort for, once abraded, the life of a rope

is short. The larger the rope, the easier the bend should open.

Unless particularly advised, no bend is recommended for use

except with two ends of identical material. Bends in which one rope

is larger, stiffer or smoother than the other are not to be trusted

unless they have been selected to meet these particular conditions.

Bends for tying two ends of different characteristics may partake

somewhat of the nature of a hitch, since one rope is more active than (> ,

the other. In the chapter on hitches for lengthwise pull will be ( ;>

found additional knots for bending small ropes to large ones, which

can be considered as either bends or hitches.

A wet rope is both stronger and more slippery than a dry one.

This is a point to be considered when tying hawsers and cable. '. • •
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