Page 435 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

The rigger splices while standing at a workbench in the rigging
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loft. He opens a rope with an iron marlingspike. His strands are

greased with tallow before they are tucked. The ends are cut shorter

than sailmaker's and sailor's splices, and they are teased out and

served over.

Sailor's splices are found principally in running rigging, cargo and

deck gear, and in ground tackle. They are unsupported by either

2.626 stitches or service. If the rope allows, he prefers to splice with his

fingers alone. When completed, his splice may be rolled underfoot

or else pounded with a fid or marlingspike. Unlike sailmaker's and

rigger's splices, the ends are left long and in full view.

2626. For opening strands a sailor employs his fingers wherever

practicable, but if the rope is large or new, a marlingspike or

pricker is required. The rope is twisted strongly to the right and

the point is entered carefully so that none of the fibers are disturbed.

2627. When opening a strand with his fingers, the sailor grasps

~~ the rope as pictured, and, with the right thumb against the strand

that is to be lifted, he imparts a strong twist.

2.62.8

2628. To stick or tuck the strands, the first ste in making a SHORT

or LONG 5PLICE. After opening the rope, 'lold it rmly and turn back

an end from the left rope (counterclockwis:!). Shove it through the

opening with the left thumb, the hands and strand assuming the

positions pictured.

2629. The second tuck is taken differently. A left twist is given to

the strand, sufficient to make it form the small left turn that is illus-

trated, with a gesture that is similar to adding a turn to a left-hand

2.62.~ , coil. The end is directed to the right, instead of to the left as in

~ 262 8. The left thumb pushes the strand through as before. The

reason for the different technique is that the latter way skillfully

removes just sufficient twist from the working strand to make it lie

fair over the next strand. Both ~ 2628 and ~ 2629 are employed by

2630 the sailor in the OVER-AND-UNDER SPLICE, which is the first to be

described. But ~ 262 8 is employed only for the initial stickin or

2 &31 tuck, the reason being that it is less liable to disturb the lay 0 the

two crotched ropes.

2630. The rigger, having opened his rope with a marlingspike

(~2626), holds it open with the left thumb and forefinger just long

enough to thrust a strand directly through as shown. Much of a

rigger's work is with tarred hemp, which is quite the handiest ma-

terial there is to splice with. I would recommend the beginner

buying a few yards of small three-strand "ratline stuff" and four-

strand "lanyard stuff" to practice with.

2631. This shows how the rigger, and sometimes the sailor too,
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• will make a strand lie fair by twisting after it has been thrust .
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- 2632. Sailmaker's splices, being backhanded, require a different
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- technique for arranging the lay, so that the yarns in the overlaid
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2633 section of strand will coincide with the lay of the strand underneath .

Having reached the position shown in this sketch, the yarns are

2.631 closely held and flattened with the thumb at the same time directing

the lay with the forefinger.

2633. J have found that splicing moderately stiff material of

medium size is much speeded by enteringwith<t pair of duck-billed

pliers and pulling the end through without the use of a fid.