Recommendation? What to use for loosening knots ? What works for you ?

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Rough Rider Marlin Spike knife.
The Marlin Spike is locked by the bail when in use.
The sheepsfoot blade is 440A with a good heat treat. It holds a keen 10 degree per side/20° inclusive edge.
I paid under $15 (including "free" shipping) for mine on the "big river" (or jungle) site a couple years ago.
 
Ive used the phillips head screw driver on many multitools as well as the tip of the pliers.

Some knots loosen when massaged. Learned this trick in rappel master school. It especially works well on knots made of strap or tubing.
 
Most knots in small corsage like string/twin e, I use the SD tip of my classic. The curved sides of the SD tip slide into the knots well. I've used it on everything from jute twine in the garden to my kids sneaker laces when they pulled on them trying to get them loose. It's surprising how tight a 7 year old girl can tangle a speaker lace. Vic classic worked every time.

Bigger knots I've used a large nail or gutter spike, or Phillips screw driver.
 
afishhunter said:
View attachment 3023219
Rough Rider Marlin Spike knife.
The Marlin Spike is locked by the bail when in use.
The sheepsfoot blade is 440A with a good heat treat. It holds a keen 10 degree per side/20° inclusive edge.
I paid under $15 (including "free" shipping) for mine on the "big river" (or jungle) site a couple years ago.
Click to expand...
Yeah , my old one looked something like this , but with a black handle . Worked fine . :cool: :thumbsup:
 
DocJD said:
Yeah , my old one looked something like this , but with a black handle . Worked fine . :cool: :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
RR has different colure covers.
When I bought mine I was on a yellow kick. 🤨
Joe had just sent out the third Covid incentive ... or was it Trump's second? 🤔
Whatever ... I used part of it to buy the Marlin Spike, a 4.25 inch closed Stockman, Barlow, and canoe. All Rough Rider. All 440A. (It was before they came out with their yellow "Classic Carbon" series.)
I did get the XL stockman, Barlow, and two of the canoe from the yellow Classic Carbon series ... I prefer carbon steel over stainless.
 
You were close with the needle nose pliers, but a round nose pliers is easier on the rope. Can’t tug on anything with a spike.
 
edgelion said:
Don't loosen. Cut. Much more satisfying, far less time. Keep miles of replacement rope on hand.
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This was Alexander the Great's solution to the Gordian Knot . Just cut straight through ! :p

AI generated :


Search Assist

The story of the Gordian Knot involves Alexander the Great arriving in Gordium, where he encountered a complex knot tied to an ancient wagon. According to legend, whoever could untie it would rule all of Asia; instead of trying to untangle it, Alexander cut it with his sword, symbolizing a bold solution to a difficult problem. Wikipedia All That's Interesting

Overview of the Gordian Knot Legend​

The Gordian Knot is a famous legend from ancient Greek mythology, closely associated with Alexander the Great. It originates from the city of Gordium in Phrygia, modern-day Turkey. The story revolves around a complex knot tied by Gordius, a peasant who became king, and a prophecy stating that whoever could untie the knot would rule all of Asia.

The Legend of Alexander the Great​

In 333 BC, during his campaign to expand his empire, Alexander the Great arrived in Gordium. He encountered the intricate knot, which was made of cornel bark and tightly tangled. Many had tried to untie it but failed. Instead of attempting to unravel it, Alexander famously cut through the knot with his sword, declaring that it did not matter how the knot was loosed, only that it was.

Variations of the Story​

There are different accounts of how Alexander dealt with the knot:

  • Sword Method: The most popular version states that he sliced the knot in half with his sword.
  • Linchpin Method: Some historians suggest he pulled out a linchpin from the yoke, which allowed him to untie the knot without cutting it.

Significance of the Gordian Knot​

The Gordian Knot has become a metaphor for a complex problem that can be solved through bold or unconventional means. Alexander's decisive action is often cited as an example of thinking outside the box to overcome challenges. The phrase "cutting the Gordian knot" is now commonly used to describe a creative solution to a difficult issue.
Wikipedia Encyclopedia Britannica
 
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The SAK cork screw and the nail file on my minichamp are okay in a pinch, but I made these out of ordinary nails by cutting the head off and doing the bulk of the filing by hand and smoothed the curve and "roundness" by running them in a hand drill. Then used the dremel to add the needle holes.

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I’ve meant to post this before but I really like the small flat head screwdriver at the back of my SwissChamp (the one close to the corkscrew). Just in the right spot, blunt enough to not damage cordage but thin enough to fit through knots.
 
Timely topic for me as well !

Just used tent peg for a marlin spike ... lots too long but it did the job.

I do have two knives with marlin spikes ... the bulk alone in hand just works against my knot undoing.
🥶
It was cold here this November. I just took down my canvas bell tent. It was tied out to 12 (4') stakes in a circle around it... Partly so I could access the knots under snow**

As temp, humidity changed over the seasons, tieouts needed adjustments in order to keep the pitch taut, to keep the canvas from pocketing water. Absolutely no leaks👍🏻

After one full year ... the knots were a tad resistant to letting go. My hands are a year older too.

** Partly because Daisy's zoomies take out guy lines and send 10 " tent stakes flying so often that I have had to cut pool noodles, slit them and mark every guy lines in a colour she can see best. Plus, without stakes the tie outs could be 20' long for the optimum pitch and that's way too big a footprint for my liking. 13' + 20'+20' diameter
 
DocJD said:
Great ! So...I search for Ti pointy EDC thingy with pocket clip ?

CAGE : 5VKB6 ? Hard to read upside-down .

Can I carry this on a plane ? Is it tactical . It looks tactical . ☺️
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DocJD said:
Great ! So...I search for Ti pointy EDC thingy with pocket clip ?

CAGE : 5VKB6 ? Hard to read upside-down
Click to expand...
.. or Google lens a screenshot ?
 
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