Page 57 - The Knot Bible

Timber hitch
KNOT SCORE
A handy knot for craning spars or dragging a post along the ground, the Strength
timber hitch uses the weight of the object to jam its own end. Once the Security
tension is released, the knot practically falls apart on its own. Although Diffi culty Tying
once used by the London river police to haul bodies out of the Thames, Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
a more common use nowadays might be to hoist spars aboard ship.

1 Take a turn around the spar or 2 Tuck the working end back under 3 Put in as many turns as required.
body, and pass the working end itself. The turns should follow the Three turns are usually ample, but
around the standing part. lay of the line. If they don’t, start a slippery line might require more.
again with the working end on the
other side of the standing part.

4 Tighten the knot, pulling out any KNOT KNOW-HOW
slack in the noose with the working
end, and tightening the loop with The timber hitch has many mentions in
the standing part. knotting literature. RC Anderson mentions
it in his Manuscript on Rigging (c.1625);
Denis Diderot draws it in his Encyclopedie
(1762); David Steel features it in The
Elements and Practice of Rigging &
Seamanship (1794); the Admiralty
includes it in its Manual of Seamanship
(1891); and Clifford Ashley gives it the
thumbs up in his Book of Knots (1946).