Page 236 - The Ashley Book of Knots

•

, • •

\
\
•

\ • •

--'-

<

CHAPTER 17: THE TURK'S-HEAD

Made on the footropes of jihbooms in place of an overhanded knot,

the Turk's-Head is 11lUch neater-and considered by some tm orna-

ment. WILLIAM BRADY: Tbe Kedge Anchor, 1841

The TURK's-HEAD is a tubular knot that is usually made around a

• •
cylindrical object, such as a rope, a stanchion, or a rail. It is one of • •

the varieties of the BINDING KNOT and serves a great diversit of

practical purposes but it is perhaps even more often used for eco-

ration only; for which reason, it is usually classed with "fancy -
-

-
knots." Representations of the TURK's-HEAD are often carved in -
-

wood, ivory, bone and stone. - , •

Lever's Sheet Anchor (1808) states that a TURK's-HEAD, "worked • •

with a logline, will form a kind of Crown or Turban." This re- {

• •
semblance to a turban presumably is responsible for the name

"TURK'S-HEAD."

There is no knot with a wider field of usefulness. A TURK's-HEAD

is generally found on the "up-and-down" spoke of a ship's steering

wheel, so that a glance will tell if the helm is amidship. It provides a

foothold on footropes and a handhold on manropes, yoke ropes, -

,
gymnasium climbing ropes, guardrails, and life lines. It serves instead -
,
,

of whippings and seizings. It is employed as a gathering hoop on -

ditty bags, neckerchiefs and bridle reins. Tied in rattan, black

whalebone or stiff fishline, it makes a useful napkin ring, and it is

often worn by racing crews in "one-design classes" as a bracelet or

anklet. It will cover loose ends in sinnets and splices. It furnishes a

handgrip on fishing rods, archery bows and vaulting poles. It will

stiffen sprung vaulting poles, fishing rods, spars, oars and paddles.

On a pole or rope it will raise a bole big enough to prevent a hitch

[ 227 J