Page 271 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 271
THE ASHLEY BOOK OF 1\..1\:OTS
1431. The SHEET I3nm is the common general utility bend aboard
ship. It was formerly tied in a sheet, which is a piece of running
rigging that trims a sail, and this accounts for the origin of the
name. It serves almost every purpose well, and unties readily with-
out damaging the rope. It is always tied in the manner that has been
described for the BOWLl!'E KNOT (~IO 10), which is a Loop KNOT
of similar formation. But instead of tying an end to its own bight,
one end is tied to a bight in another end.
The SHEET BEND bears a number of other titles including THE
BEJIOD, SIMPLE BEND, ORDINARY BE!'D, C01\1l\lON BEND, SINGLE BE:\D.
It is also sometimes called, in error, BECKET BEND. But a becket in
this case is an EYE SPLICE and the knot resulting is a hitch, which
14 )l at sea is called the BECKET HITCH. The SHEET BEND should always be
tied with two ends of similar material, as otherwise it may spill,
unless it has been seized. Steel gives the name SHEET Bn'D in 1794.
1432. The LEFT-HAND SHEET BEND is often tied bv landsmen and
-
is not so reliable a knot as ~ '43 I. It will be noted in the diagram
that the pull on the bottom rope is the reverse of the SHEET BEl\D.
Consult the table on page 273 to gain an idea of what degree of
security this knot possesses.
1433. \\'hen tying the SHEET BEND in large or stiff material, turn
up one end as pictured and hold the loop that has been formed with
one hand and reeve the other end as indicated by the arrow.
1434. The DOUBLE SHEET BEND is mentioned by Luce in 1862. If
the material is very stiff and large, seize an eye in one end and reeve
143) 14)4 the working end two turns instead of one. The DOUBLE BEND is no
stronger but it is more secure.
1435. Th<: DOUBLE SHEET BEND is sometimes tied by another
method. It may be more quickly made in this way, since it has one
less tuck.
1436. The SHEET BEND may have the end tucked as illustrated .
•
This is recommended either for towing or for a rope that is to be
dragged along the ground.
1437. A SLIPPED SHEET Bum may be instantly spilled, by pulling
on the end and withdrawing the bight. This is often handy when
launching and rigging. It is also used on circus tent gear.
1438. This illustrates the DOUBLE WEAVER'S KNOT that was shown
to me by Eugene S. . and which is identical in structu~e
1435
with TUCKED SHEET BEND '436, but the pull on the upper end IS
reversed.
1439. The CARRICK BEND, also called FULL CARRICK Bnm, SAILOR'S
KNOT, and ANCHOR BEND, is perhaps the nearest thing we have to a
perfect bend. It is symmetrical, it is easy to tie, it does not sl~p easily
in wet material, it is among the strongest of knots, it cannot Jam and
is readily untied. To offset this array of excellencies is the sole ?bje~
tion that it is somewhat bulky. It is the bend commonly tied In
hawsers and cables.
14;7 14)S
