simplifying knots

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Was thinkng about making a video on some knots.. It;s led me to do some thinking about what I actually use.. seems that while there is allot of skill involved with many of the knots out there.. the ones I use the most seem to be the simplest
i think for general (non climbing, Sar) type stuff
for general woodsman style stuff one could get by with

not including the simple overhand knot
Slip knot (various applications)
Figure 8 loop (creating a fixed loop)
fishermans knot (simple rope joining)
prusik knot setting tarps
taughtline hitch (guy lines stakes etc)
quick release knot (poncho or shelter set up)
timber hitch (hauling)
square and diagnal lashing (general camp craft and shelter)

I think with a good understanding of those basic knots one can be weel on there way to improving there situation outdoors by a significant amount, armed only with some cordage (and of course a knife)

I plan on doing a photo thread and possibly a vid on the subject soon, but just wanted to get some conversation and opinions about these first

I know there seems to be a standard body of knots that are in every survival guide that seems to be accepted as the knots one "needs to know" and many of the ones on my list are not on those lists and some from those lists have been excluded from mine, but I've given this some thought for a bit, so let me know your thoughts.
 
Let's not forget the Sheep Shank, great for takinkin' up slack in a rope or for cinchona' down a load.

It works like a ratchet tie down and it is easy to tie and untie.

Check it out you'll find it very handy for securing' loads, tyin' down equipment, (motorcycles, 4 wheelers and such).
 
Did I miss the clove hitch? Can't imagine missing that one. There are so many easy ways to tie it (even one handed) and it does so much.
 
I think Ray Mears said once that you only need 3 knots to set up camp. One was the Siberian hitch and I think the others were the taughtline and the bowline.

I would've said those and the timber hitch and reef (square) knot, so your list looks good to me.
 
I like the knots threads.

RR, you can face many situations with your knots selection but i know by experience that one knot, as good as it can be, won't always be the best. Many factors are involved in a knot choice: rope thickness, stiffness, elasticity, texture. For instance, any knot including an overhand part will tend to be hard to untie if made with a thin (say under 6 mm) rope.

That's why a large selection is good to memorize by the practice. Here's my own list:

Loops: double knotted bowline, figure 8, alpine butterfly (not on thin rope), double dragon, angler's loop (works great on very thin lines), carrick loop.

Bends: carrick bend and 4 very similar knots (2 overlapping loops): Ashley bend, alpine butterfly, hunter's bend and Rosendahl's (or Zeppelin's) bend, double fisherman's.

Prusiks, no mistake allowed when used for climbing (tree climbers use them a lot); original Prusik, Klemheist, Distel ( when there is a noticeable difference of thicknesses between the 2 ropes), French (or Machard), Penberthy.

Hitches: constrictor knot and the perfect adjustable grip hitch:

KM_AdjustableGripHitch.jpg


This drawing comes from this excellent site:

http://www.layhands.com/Knots/Index.htm

dantzk.
 
I looked at a modern Boy Scout Handbook to see if modern scouting was as bad as this crowd says it is. In the knots they showed a timber hitch. There was no mention of the timber hitch’s necessary partner—a half hitch taken around the other end of the log or beam, before the line goes to the horse, pulley, or whatever is hauling the stick. Without that, the timber hitch is useless. I concluded that Scouting was in deep trouble.

One of the handiest knots I use is the trucker’s hitch.
 
Hey RR,

Just a thought - when a knot thread runs, everybody posts their half dozen knots, we all read them (or knot :rolleyes:), and usually not much new is learned. How about treating each need separate? What I mean by this is, perhaps a thread on best/most used/most stable/quickest to release, or whatever, hitch.

I think that way, there is more of a chance, that we all might try it and compare it with the knot we use and suss out the advantages and disadvantages of each knot for said purpose.

Then we could do bends - equal size cordage and dissimilar sized.

Loops - natural materials, synthetic, stretchy (bungee cord).

Well, you get the idea.

Anyway, to add to the list-

Favourite hitch - Buntline (regular and slippery)

Favourite bend - Strait bend (regular and slippery)

Favourite loop in middle - Lineman's loop

Favourite loop at end - Bowline

Favourite restraining (bundling items together) - single constrictor (tied on Clove Hitch base - 2 knots for the price of one, basically)

Favourite niche knots - Icicle Hitch, Bottle Sling, Asher's Equalizer and ALL toggled knots.

Yes, I am a knot (k)nut! :o

Doc

Some previous BladeForums knot threads -here and here.

That second link keeps going to mid thread - tried to fix it but no go. You can always scroll back to the beginning, though.
 
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For joining rope i use the sheet bend or fishermans knot. Theyre quite handy for joining all those odd lenghts of paracord you got left.

The timberhitch and clove hitch are also good to know for lashing poles together. Practicing knots is something i do pretty often in the wintertime when i cant get out that often.
4278695091_890e0cbe7b.jpg
 
I'd include the Truckers Hitch also. It's a great knot for tying your gear down, and keeping it tight by being able to continually sinch it up.
 
Thanks, John. One of my resolutions this year is to recapture essential knot skills that have faded, and to keep current on them so as to not lose them again.

(You can copy and paste that, Doc - and call me on it next January!) :D
 
Nice stuff Guys thanks.. Glad this thread has got some wheels to it...

Great Idea Doc.... possible sticky?? Mods??
 
Cliff Jacobson has some good stuff on knots, link to one of his books
http://books.google.com/books?id=-LbJrOXBrE0C&dq=Cliff+Jacobson&printsec=frontcover&source=an&hl=en&ei=sRFSS4RGh_Y1qc3UiAk&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CCYQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

He has a Video called, "The Forgotten Skills" that is a good too.:thumbup:

*Another site that was posted on here some time back with step by step instruction on knots.
http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
 
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