Page 456 - The Ashley Book of Knots

EYE SPLICES (MULTI-STRAND LUOPS)

2738. The RIGGER'S FOUR-STRAND EYE. Stick backhanded as shown

and then tuck over and under once full and once one half. This is to 3

be served over. All the tucks may be taken backhanded, in shroud-

laid rope, with fair success.
•

2739. Captain Daniel F. Mullins' FOUR-STRAND EYE SPLICE. Stick as

shown and tuck over and under as in 'f:I; 2738. This makes a good 3

THIMBLE EYE. 2.

2740. An experimental FOUR-STRAND EYE. Stick as illustrated, then 1

tuck strands I, 2, and 3 over and under once more, which brings

all four strands into the same tier. After this, tuck all four once full,

once one half and finally one quarter. The splice is improved by

•
servmg over.

2741. Another experimental FOUR-STRAND OVER-AND-UNDER EYE 1

2
that is compact and strong. 6 5

3

2742. An experimental FOUR-STRAND OVER-AND-UNDER EYE that

I 5
is firm and neat.

4-

2743. A FIVE-STRAND OVER-AND-UNDER EYE SPLICE is given in 5

Nares' Sel111lll1l'.Ship (1874). Five-strand rope is unknown to me.

2744. Six-strand rope was once made of hide as well as of very

hard-laid hemp and was used primarily for tiller rope, which estab-

lished the connection between the wheel and the helm. It was used

for a few other purposes where there was excessive surface wear.

The EYE SPLICE was stuck as shown, and tucked over and under

three or four times full, after which it was tapered and served over.

2745. The FLEMISH EYE (I) is a RIGGER'S EYE that was mentioned

by Lever in 1808. Nowadays it is frequentl miscalled "ARTIFICIAL

EYE." One strand is laid out, and the eye is ormed with the two re-

maining strands. The strand that was laid out is now laid around

the eye in the contrary direction. No strands are tucked. After

everything is fair, seize the strands at the straddle; scrape, worm,

tease, taper and fay all ends before serving them over.

2746. The FLEMISH EYE (2). This is started in the same way as the

foregoing, but after forming, it is seized at the straddle to hold the

strands in place. The innermost of the two strands that lead together

is cut off short in the straddle. The two remaining ends are tapered 2'145"

and scraped, wormed and teased along the neck. The eye and splice

are both served over.

Some splices as well as knots bear several names; but if the ex-

clusive use of one name for a certain splice or knot would leave an-

other equally worthy without a distinguishing title, I favor the ar-

rangement that allots at least one name to each, provided it is not

contrary to the best usage.

When Dana's Seanum's Friend was published (1841), the names

FLEMISH EYE and ARTIFICIAL EYE had become confused. Speaking

of the latter, Dana said, "This is now usually called a FLEMISH EYE."

But Admiral Luce in 1862, speaking of the ARTIFICIAL EYE, says:

"Sometimes, though improperly, called a FLEMISH EYE."

If EYE SPLICES are unfamiliar to the reader, banding will be found

an excellent material to practice with. Take three equal pieces (or

four for a FOUR-STRAND SPLICE), seize them, and lay thmz up into

a rope for a length of about ten inches, as described in 'f:I; 144 or

'f:I; 145. This structure will be found easy to tuck and easy to follow

and correct. It will hold its shape indefinitely, and will not fray out.

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