Page 269 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 269
THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS
• 1420. The DOUBLE HARNESS tlEND is tied with two CROSSING
KNOTS, one in each of the two ends, around the standing pan of the
other end. The two knots draw together. It is strong and secure, but
1420 the SINGLE HARNESS BEND (~1474) is simpler to tie. Both of them
are exceedingly hard to untie, after they are once drawn up.
1421. The DOUBLE HARNESS BEND with parallel ends appears to be
preferable to the former. It is distinctive in appearance and the ends
may be cut shon after the bend is tightened.
The bends that have so far been shown in this chapter are for use
in small stuff such as twine, cord and fishline. For that reason none
.421 of them, except ~ 1418, unties readily.
The bends to follow on this page and the next, although practical
enough for many purposes, are designed panicularly for decorative
use.
1422. A decorative bend. If carefully drawn up this is one of the
1422 most secure of all bends, but it is bulky and apt to snag. It may be
tied in flat material as well as round, and has the distinction of being
one of the most difficult bends there is to untie.
1423. The JAPANESE BEND may be used decoratively on girdles
and cunain holdbacks, but it tends to diston if subjected to any
considerable strain.
1424. Another decorative bend that is ver secure and may be
used for the same purposes as the last. Both aces of this particular
knot are similar in appearance to one of the faces of the SHEET
BEND. (See ~ 143 I.)
1425. A knot that is equally decorative and suitable for the same
purposes as the last. Unless a bend, requiring as many crossings as
this one, possesses some anicularly desirable feature beyond other
bends, it is of interest on y if it is decorative. A practical bend, lack-
ing other outstanding qualities, must tie in a very simple manner.
1425A. HUNTER'S BEND (Also see facing page 261) consists of two
interlocked overhand knots, and is a comparatively new arrival on
the knotting scene. Its crucifOlm layout (ends at right artgles), how-
ever, is where it differs from 1408, 1409, 1425 and the two-strand
Matthew Walker knot
The bend's first appeatance in print seems to have been in 'Knots
for Mountaineering' by Phil D. Smith, published in the U.S.A. in
the 1950s; but about the same time Dr. Edward Hunter, a British
physiCian, had discovered the same bend for himself.
By 1978, the bend was receiving publicity worldwide, linked to
the doctor's name, but the first designation probably belongs to
Smith who labelled it 'Rigger's bend'.
Tested to breaking point by the Royal Aircraft Establishment
(Materials Depanment), in parachute cordage, it was found to be
" ... not as strong as the blood knot, similar to the reverse figure of
eight and stronger than the fisherman's bend, sheet bend or reef
knot".
Dr. Hunter's method of tying- the bend is to hold both strands
together and parallel, throw a bight as shown (taking care to keep
the strands parallel without any accidental crossovers), then simply
tuck each working end through the bight from opposite sides as
indicated.
142.5 A new knot added 1979
[ 260 ]
