Page 145 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Tom fool’s knot
KNOT SCORE
Although known as a handcuff knot for tying up prisoners, the tom fool’s Strength
knot was probably originally intended to hobble animals when they were Security

left to graze in the wild. It is also used by fi refighters as a rescue chair, and Diffi culty Tying
Diffi culty Untying
is said to be just as effective as the more popular handcuff knot (opposite).
Usefulness
Use it to tie a pair of oars together, or to lash them to the rails.

1 Form a pair of underhand loops 2 Slide the lefthand loop over 3 Pull a bight from one loop through
and place them side by side as the righthand loop so they overlap. the other loop, and vice versa.
shown.

4 Use the lower legs of the loops to KNOT KNOW-HOW
adjust their size, and use the upper
legs to tighten the knot. As well as serving many functions
aboard ship, the tom fool’s knot is a
popular ‘trick’ knot among sailors and
landlubbers alike. The conjurer holds the
line in both hands, weaving the loops
in and out of each other, and challenges
the audience to do the same. Despite
the knot’s apparent simplicity, it’s

surprisingly difficult to follow, let
alone repeat.

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