International Guild of Knot Tyers Forum
General => Practical Knots => Topic started by: TomD on July 08, 2013, 12:14:35 AM
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Greetings. In response to an initial inquiry, Global Moderator SS369 suggested that an unfamiliar knot could be reviewed in this forum. Does anyone recognize the bend described below?
Starting with the Square Knot ? easy to remember, easy to tie, somewhat difficult to untie if put under strong tension for a long time, and prone to slipping if tied in polyester rope. Hunter?s Bend holds better, but frankly I find it difficult to remember, and it seems a bit of a chore to untie. So, I noodled around with some cord, thinking about a bend that would be easy to remember, easy to tie, hold fast, and be easy to untie even after strong tension is applied.
The bend pictured below is what developed ? it ?locks? internally, but leaves two external ?wings?, that serve as handles with which to break open the knot to untie it, even after strong pressure is untied. It?s similar to Hunter?s Bend, but the bitter ends emerge from the same side of the knot, rather than on opposite sides.
While trying to figure out if it is actually new, or just unknown to me, I came across Ashley?s Bend. This, too, is a similar knot - but differs in that the external ?wings? of that bend are on opposite sides of the line. Also, I find Ashley?s seems to be about as difficult to remember as Hunter?s, although that may be my technique rather than the knot itself. (Incidentally, my gauge for "remember" isn't while sitting in a comfy chair at home, it's more while standing on a ladder in the sun; hot, tired, thirsty.)
In any event, here?s how to tie it:
1. Overlap two loops with both bitter ends on top of the standing part of the line. Imagine that, together, they form a circle in the center.
2. Drop both bitter ends behind the standing parts of the line, so that their ends are below the standing part of the line.
3. Insert one bitter end through the circle.
4. Insert the other bitter end through the circle. Keep the ends parallel to each other.
5. Snug the knot. Tug gently on each bitter end and each standing part of the line in turn until the knot is snug and secure.
6. Apply tension. (Really - pull on the lines as hard as you can. Notice how the internal loops pull against the lines passing inside them, while the external loops are protected from that tension, by the ?locking? inside the bend?)
7. To untie this bend, simply push each of the two external ?wings? away from each other.
It looks so simple ? I really do need to get a copy of ABOK. But if it is new, it looks like a Mayfly?s front legs and eyes, don?t you think? So I am thinking of it as the Mayfly Bend for now.
Next, I'll try to embed an image to illustrate the steps above, and an image of the finished knot, from the back - where it's internal structure shows up best.
1. Overlap the two loops to create a circle in the middle.
2. Drop the bitter ends behind and below the standing parts of the lines.
3. Insert one bitter end into the circle.
4. Insert the other end into the circle.
5. Snug it up.
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It's a Butterfly Bend:
http://notableknotindex.webs.com/butterflybend.html
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Thank you very much for the identification and reference.
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Thank you Tom for your work in bringing this to us for verification.
Stick around and contribute from time to time.
I am moving this to the Practical Knots Board.
SS