Page 125 - Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton "The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots"

Hangman’s noose

Jack Ketch’s knot is the other name for this noose, after the seventeenth-century English

executioner who lives on in Punch & Judy shows. It was—for one obvious reason—designed to
withstand a heavy shock-loading in rope; and, tied in fishing monofilaments, it can be an easier
alternative to tie than the Bimini twist (see pages 122–123).

Form a long bight in the end of the line and then bring the working end back again (1). Make

seven tight wrapping turns, each succeeding one snugly embedded alongside its predecessors, and
finish off by tucking the end through the shrinking loop at the top of the knot (2, 3). Pull down on
whichever one of the loop legs will tighten the upper loop, then slide the knot by hand to adjust the
size of the noose (4).