Page 438 - The Ashley Book of Knots

LONG AND SHORT SPLICES (MULTI-STRAND BENDS)

2646. A FOUR-STRAND OVER-AND-UNDER SPLICE. In the illustra-

tion, for the sake of compactness, the splice is shown tucked

only once at the left and twice at the right. The technique is the

same as already described. But as four-strand rope is not so firm as

three-strand rope, each strand should be tucked at least twice full,

then once one half, and once one quarter. The last tuck in any FOUR-

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STRAND SPLICE should always be under two strands whether the

splice is long, short, backhanded, or over-and-under.

2647. An alternative way of sticking a SHORT SPLICE. This makes

a splice that is scarcely distinguishable from the ordinary SHORT

SPLICE. It is tucked as in the diagram alongside, which illustrates two

opposing strands. The others are tucked the same way, and after all

are tucked once they are spliced regularly over one and under one

as in ~ 2635 or ~ 2638.

The ordinary OVER-AND-UNDER SHORT SPLICE, tucked once only,
2.641

each way, is often used in the straps of single blocks. Thicker blocks

will require more tucks, so that the length of the splice equals the

thickness of the block. The sharp angle of the shell, at the bosom, 2648

adds to the security of the splice and often the ends are trimmed

short. But on smart ships the straps are wormed and the splices

teased, parceled and served or grafted over.

2648. The RIGGER'S SHORT SPLICE. Opposite strands are half

knotted together and then are tucked over and under once in each

direction, as shown by the arrow in the diagram. The splice belongs

on the strap of a single block. For a double block it would be tucked

twice each way and the ends cut off short.

2649. This is the SAILOR'S BACKHANDED SHORT SPLICE, which is

often confused with the SAILMAKER'S SHORT SPLICE. It is, however,

made with a different technique and has several structural differ-

ences.

After crotching the ropes, the ends are half knotted as in the

RIGGER'S SHORT SPLICE (~2648), and then each of the six strands is

backed once in turn. They are not backed, however, as the sailmaker

backs them (~2632). The sailor backs them in his own way. Each

strand is tucked for'U.'ard over one and under two, instead of over 264~

one tmd lender one, which is the usual sailor's splice. In three-strand

rope this is structurally the same as a sailmaker's backhanded tuck,

and in four-strand rope the splice is not attempted. All six strands

are tucked in turn four times, the three straAds of each end being

kept "a-tier," not "run down" one at a time as the sailmaker does it.

The tucks are taken twice full, once three quarters, once one half and

once one quarter. The splice is put into boltrope and is appreciably

longer than an ordinary SHORT SPLICE.

2650. The sailor enters his fid for the BACKHANDED SPLICE either at

right angles to the rope or else pointed a little to the left. The strand

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end, which should be whipped, is thrust through end first as shown

by the arrow.

2651. The first mention of SAIL MAKER'S SPLICES is by Kipping

(1847), who says "Left-handed splices are best for roping straight."

He does not describe the "LEFT-HANDED" SPLICE, and earlier works

on sail making give only the OVER-AND-UNDER SPLICE. This illustra- 265""1

tion is given here to show the structural difference between the

SAILMAKER'S SPLICE and the RIGGER'S SPLICE (~2648). The former

is backed once either way, which gives four bights as shown here,

while the latter is half knotted, which gives two bights only. Each

time all the ends are tucked a total of four bights is added.

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