Fifteen Knots for Fieldcraft.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

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Mar 19, 2007
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I would like to have a list - with diagrams on the top ten knots to be used in bushcraft. I want a small list that a new Bushcrafter can memorize to get him through almost all situations.


Assuming that you know the Overhand knot (Granny Knot) (if not - look below at the double overhand) I will list Mother Earth News list of essential knots. This gives us 8 knots that are 'must knows' in the bush. I have eliminated the Sheepshank knot because it sucks with modern rope.

1) Bowline Knot or if one hand is injured The One Handed Bowline.
2) Tautline Hitch (Rolling Hitch).
3) Square (Reef) Knot.
4) Carrick Bend
5) Clove Hitch.
6) Sheet Bend.
7) Timber Hitch.
8) Figure Eight Knot (Figure Eight Follow Through).

The rest of the list are really great to know. I think if you knew all 16 knots - you could get though the vast majority of field craft uses.

9) Round Turn and Two Half Hitches.
10) Double Overhand Stopper Knot.
11) Double Fishermans.
12) Alpine Butterfly.
13) Buntline Hitch.
14) Truckers Hitch.
15) Constrictor Knot.
16) Prusik Knot.

TF
 
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MIGHTY THANKS too!!!

Yep, my waterloo as well! Just like bandaging in First Aid, when it comes to anything involving "First do this, then go under here, then. . ." my brain sort of becomes mush!

Gonna bookmark this thread!
 
Study your knots my friends, for they are a very valuable skill.

The two that I use the most in the woods and when camping are the Bowline and the Trucker’s Hitch. :cool:

The Bowline will hold a heavy load yet will not jamb-up, so it can be untied after the load is removed.

The trucker’s Hitch is the perfect set-up for tying off tarps and flies, it lets you tighten the rope under load and holds once tied without slackening, plus it is easy to re-tighten as you need to re-adjust your tarp.

But each knot has its place; knowing how to use them is a skill we all should develop.


This thread is a very good topic. :thumbup:



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
Thanks for the props on the thread. I need to practice my knots. My wife got me a flick card with the majority of these knots in them - and I will pack it with me for down time in camp.

That Surgeon's knot looks a lot like an improved or more secure version of the Fisherman's knot.

Feel free to add knots you think are necessary for the beginner!

TF
 
Great thread!! I love knots. Great way to pass the time when im sittin at work. Thats why I carry a length of cordage in my bag.:thumbup:
 
Great post.

Knots are often overlooked.

15 might be too many for a new bushcrafter to remember though. For practical use, I would venture that most here only use 5 or 6 of those mentioned even if they do know how to tie all 15.
 
That's right, after all, carrying around that information in your head is bulky and weighs a lot. :-D
 
dipbait said:
Am i mistaken or is the Tautline hitch just a clove hitch tied to a rope?
Click to expand...

You are mistaken. Read the post below the clove hitch. It has an additional turn and the clove hitch is not made for rope. It looks a lot a like. So many knots are just add on's to a basic base of knots.

TF
 
I have ammended my first post. I made a list (after some research) of essential knots (8 of them) and then added 8 more that would give the bushcrafter a great array of knots to choose from.

Most of these are scouting knots, some added are fishing / sailing knots.

TF
 
Great thread, my knot skills are very low. I'm going to grab some rope and try these out.

Remembering them will another story :)
 
I did not mean to imply knowledge of any given knot is useless, only if you are trying to teach bushcraft, there is a certain amount of knowledge that you will retain, especially initially. There is certainly other knowledge I would want to teach BEFORE I taught a rarely used specialty knot.
 
I think Bushcraft and Primitive Living Skills are not necessarily a must-have philosophy or endeavor for survival. There are certainly skills contained in both of them that carry over to survival. All three of them have blended in to the mosaic of "survival" and I think the first two are more hobby than anything else.
 
I think a man can get along with 4 knots.

1. Square knot
2. Bowline
3. Clove Hitch
4. Taut Line Hitch

The rest are gravy.
 
Thanks. For me seeing these in this way really helps. The books I have don't describe them nearly as well.
Now, off to practice.
 
Fiddleback said:
I think a man can get along with 4 knots.

1. Square knot
2. Bowline
3. Clove Hitch
4. Taut Line Hitch

The rest are gravy.
Click to expand...

I agree except I'd replace the Clove with the Lineman's knot. I have been practicing and don't see the need to use a million knots when a few will suffice.
 
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