Page 211 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Matthew Walker knot
KNOT SCORE
How times change. A hundred years ago the Matthew Walker was one of Strength
the commonest and most important knots aboard ship; now it’s rarely Security
used other than for decoration. Yet, if you want to put a permanent stop Diffi culty Tying
or toggle in anything – from soft shackle to rope ladder – it’s a lot more Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness

secure than a figure-eight, and nicer to look at too.

It used to be said that the Matthew referring to ‘knots proper’, which
Walker knot was the only knot excludes loops, hitches and bends,
named after an individual. Clearly but it’s still a strong statement.
that is no longer the case, as this Nowadays, it is used almost entirely
book alone contains at least two for decorative purposes.
other knots named after people: As for Matthew Walker himself,
the Ashley stopper knot (page 152) the story goes that he was a sailor
and the Poldo tackle (page 165). sentenced to death who was offered
Another sign of the times is that, a pardon by the judge (himself a
a hundred years ago, the Matthew former sailor) providing he could
Walker was used on everything from tie a knot that he (the judge) could
bucket handles to deadeye lanyards. neither tie nor untie. The prisoner
It was the knot of choice for any requested 10 fathoms (60ft/18m)
situation that required a permanent of line which he unravelled to its
stop – where we might simply use a midpoint, tied a Matthew Walker 1 Prepare the line or seized lines as
figure-eight. ‘It is the most important knot, and relaid. He was duly before (page 198, Step 1). Tie a wall

knot aboard ship,’ wrote Ashley in acquitted, and earned himself knot (page 200), tucking each strand
his Book of Knots. Admittedly he was a place in knot folklore. under its neighbour to the right.

3 Pick any strand, and tuck it under
the next loop to the right. Place it
above the strand already in the loop.

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