Two knots worth knowing

[TimberWolf]

I find Rhyponol or a taser make the job a little easier as well.

Handcuffs. A length of rope that has been tied so that the Prusik knot is tied around itself leaving two large loops can be quickly used as handcuffs by slipping the loops around the detainee's hands and pulling the running ends tight and securing them with a square knot. When the detainee attempts to pull his hands apart, the Prusik tightens in the same way as when it is tied to another rope. To create Prusik handcuffs, tie a loose Prusik around one of your fingers and then slip it off, leaving the knot shape intact. Then slip the free ends of the rope through the "hole" in the knot where your finger used to be. Alternatively, use a handcuff knot, which is the more usual knot to accomplish this task.
Prusik - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TimberWolf]

I thought it was so you could hang onto the cliff with one (non-broken) arm and tie it with the other hand. So as long as you can switch your holding arm you'll still be OK.


Prussiking is great fun. Are you a twice-round or a three-times-round man?

My all-time favourite is the double fisherman's. Tied all my finals papers together with this little beauty:


But I still have great affection for my childhood sweetheart, the Highwayman's Hitch.

That is a pretty knot. Does it serve any other purpose on the wrapping together papers front, i.e. is it easy to undo or tighten, or something?

[thunderlizard]

That is a pretty knot. Does it serve any other purpose on the wrapping together papers front, i.e. is it easy to undo or tighten, or something?

Anywhere you need to tie two ends of rope end-to-end, including to make a loop. Usually on a permanent basis, as it takes a while to pull the two halves apart to undo it. If you're a rock climber you'll come across it when you're making these fellers:

(I don't know what kind of weirdo tied the orange and purple ones)

[Clippy]

How do you guys know so much about these knots?

Are you climbers, sailors or some such?

[minestrone]

Sailing mostly for me.

Always had a book though, takes 5 minutes to learn one when you are young and all you need to know are about 10 or 20.

[Dearnla]

How do you guys know so much about these knots?

Are you climbers, sailors or some such?

They're knot nerds. I bet they have a collection in a small room in their houses and that they secretly go collecting them whilst the missus isn't looking.

I'll stick to beermats, myself.

[thunderlizard]

Are you climbers, sailors or some such?

Used to be a rock climber, and I was in the Cubs before that.

They're knot nerds.

Much of the time I did enjoy the knots more than the actual climbing.

[minestrone]

I thought it was so you could hang onto the cliff with one (non-broken) arm and tie it with the other hand. So as long as you can switch your holding arm you'll still be OK.


Prussiking is great fun. Are you a twice-round or a three-times-round man?

My all-time favourite is the double fisherman's. Tied all my finals papers together with this little beauty:


But I still have great affection for my childhood sweetheart, the Highwayman's Hitch.

never been brave enough to use the Prusik. Next time I am in a lift that breaks down...

The highwayman's hitch was probably the first knot I learned. You feel clever slipping the know with the lose end.

[Dearnla]

Two famous Notts

Sir John Nott - Intelligence Squared
Metropolitan Police Service - History - Sir John Nott-Bower

[TimberWolf]

Just found another interesting knot. This one provides mechanical advantage, like a pulley. A-mazing.

Trucker's hitch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Good video of one variant of it which is easy to make here

With this knot you can create a really taut line, so I have connected my wardrobe to a door handle with some nylon string and now have a guitar. This guitar plays quite a high pitched note, but alas as I don't know music I cannot say which key it is playing. I'd say around 2000 Hz.

In case you ask, I have been out today.