Knots

Scouting Skills

Back Splice
Bowline
Clove Hitch
Diagonal Lashing
Eye Splice
Figure of Eight Lashing
Filipino Lashing
Fishermans Knot
Hunters Bend
Japanese Square Lashing
Manharness Knot
Prussic Knot
Reef or Square Knot
Rolling Hitch
Round Lashing
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
Sheep Shank
Sheet Bend
Square Lashing
Timber Hitch
Whipping of your choice

Fishermans Knot

For stiff ropes and cords use the Fisherman's Knot. Easy to make, difficult to untie, so don't use it on a good rope, especially if there is a lot of strain on it.

Manharness Knot

Also called the Artillery Knot and Diagonal Figure of Eight. A loop knot tied in the bight through which an arm can be put up to the shoulder to assist in hauling, while leaving the hands free. Formerly used on gun carriages, one end of the rope being fastened to a ring on the end of the axle. Good for tying a 2nd boat/raft into the painter of a boat already tied to the only decent point on shore.

Hunters Bend

History: The Hunter's Bend used to be known as the Rigger's Knot. When it appeared on the front page of the The London Times in 1978 it was credited to Dr Edward Hunter. This led to much publicity for a knot and also to the foundation of the International Guild of Knot Tyers

Back Splice

A simple and effective method of finishing the end of a rope in which a crown knot is made with the strands at the end which are then spliced back into the rope.

Eye Splice

A method of putting a permanent eye in the end of a rope. The strands are unlaid, a loop of suitable size formed and the three strands are spliced or worked in and out of the rope, usually under and over. Three "tucks" are normally taken.

Japanese Square Lashing

A lashing used in lightweight construction work.

Filipino Diagonal Lashing

A lashing used in lightweight construction work.

Start with the middle of the rope, tucking the running ends through the middle "loop" after going round both spars. Use the "loop" to pull the spars together.

Now proceed as for a diagonal lashing taking the running end round both spars, keeping both ends together.

Separate the ends and take frapping turns between the spars, pulling the rope tight as you do so.

Complete the frapping turns and finish off with a square knot.

Prussic Knot

A knot used by climbers. It is made with a strop (endless loop, either spliced or tied) round the main climbing rope. It can be loosened and slid along the rope to vary its position on the rope.

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

This knot is used to make fast a rope to an anchorage. It can be tied while the standing part is under strain. This is a good knot to attach your rope to an anchor for a flying fox or a bridge.

Sheep Shank

A knot tied in the bight for shortening a rope or taking up the slack, without cutting it. It can also be used to protect a weak damaged, or frayed section of the rope.

Bowline

The most useful and one of the simplest ways of putting a fixed loop in the end of a rope. It is easy to tie and untie, it never slips nor jams and has a high breaking strength.

Diagonal Lashing

Used when two crossing spars tend to spring apart. Commonly used for the centre lashing on the diagonal braces of a trestle.

Begin with a timber hitch.
Do three diagonal turns across one way.
Then three across the other way.
Pull the lashing together with about three frapping turns
Finish off with a clove hitch.

Figure of Eight Lashing

Used to make tripods. Lay spars with two running one way and the thrid in the other. Start with a clove hitch on one outer spar then take turns over and under. Make frappings between spars. End with a clove hitch on opposite spar to start.

Whipping of your choice

Reef Knot or Square Knot

Used to join the two ends of the same rope or bandage. ("Right over left - left over right")

Sheet Bend

The Sheetbend is a knot that you use to tie two ropes together. Good both for thick and thin ropes. Easy to untie. It gets its name from the rope attached to the corner of a sail. This rope is called the sheet.

Clove Hitch

The nearest there is to a general utility hitch. It is easy to tie in a number of different ways and to untie.

Rolling Hitch

The rolling hitch allows you to slide the knot up and down the running part of the rope. It can be used on tent ropes, as a strainer for a bridge, in fact anywhere you want to be able to loosen or tighten a rope quickly.

Square Lashing

Used to fasten two spars or poles together
Begin with a clove hitch round the upright and tuck the end in neatly. Pull the clove hitch very tight, and take the long end over the crossbar, round the back of the upright, and over the crossbar again. Follow the same course, being careful to lay each cord alongside the one before and to pull tight all the time, until you have been round each part three times. Then take two or three frapping turns behid the crossbar and in front of the upright. Finish off with a clove hitch, puuled very tight, round the crossbar.

Timber Hitch

Used to attach a rope to a log, or where security is not an issue. This knot tightens under strain, but comes undone extremely easily when the rope is slack.

Wrap the rope around the log, then pass the running end around the standing part of the rope. Finally twist the running end around itself three or four times. (Note: this is only shown twice in the animation.)

Round Lashing

Used to lash two poles together (constructing a flagpole)

Tie a clove hitch round the bottom pole
Wind the rope around both six or seven times
Finish with two half hitches round both poles.
The lashing can be tightened by driving a small wooden peg between the poles



	Scouting Skills Back Splice Bowline Clove Hitch Diagonal Lashing Eye Splice Figure of Eight Lashing Filipino Lashing Fishermans Knot Hunters Bend Japanese Square Lashing Manharness Knot Prussic Knot Reef or Square Knot Rolling Hitch Round Lashing Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Sheep Shank Sheet Bend Square Lashing Timber Hitch Whipping of your choice Fishermans Knot For stiff ropes and cords use the Fisherman's Knot. Easy to make, difficult to untie, so don't use it on a good rope, especially if there is a lot of strain on it. Manharness Knot Also called the Artillery Knot and Diagonal Figure of Eight. A loop knot tied in the bight through which an arm can be put up to the shoulder to assist in hauling, while leaving the hands free. Formerly used on gun carriages, one end of the rope being fastened to a ring on the end of the axle. Good for tying a 2nd boat/raft into the painter of a boat already tied to the only decent point on shore. Hunters Bend History: The Hunter's Bend used to be known as the Rigger's Knot. When it appeared on the front page of the The London Times in 1978 it was credited to Dr Edward Hunter. This led to much publicity for a knot and also to the foundation of the International Guild of Knot Tyers Back Splice A simple and effective method of finishing the end of a rope in which a crown knot is made with the strands at the end which are then spliced back into the rope. Eye Splice A method of putting a permanent eye in the end of a rope. The strands are unlaid, a loop of suitable size formed and the three strands are spliced or worked in and out of the rope, usually under and over. Three "tucks" are normally taken. Japanese Square Lashing A lashing used in lightweight construction work. Filipino Diagonal Lashing A lashing used in lightweight construction work. Start with the middle of the rope, tucking the running ends through the middle "loop" after going round both spars. Use the "loop" to pull the spars together. Now proceed as for a diagonal lashing taking the running end round both spars, keeping both ends together. Separate the ends and take frapping turns between the spars, pulling the rope tight as you do so. Complete the frapping turns and finish off with a square knot. Prussic Knot A knot used by climbers. It is made with a strop (endless loop, either spliced or tied) round the main climbing rope. It can be loosened and slid along the rope to vary its position on the rope. Round Turn and Two Half Hitches This knot is used to make fast a rope to an anchorage. It can be tied while the standing part is under strain. This is a good knot to attach your rope to an anchor for a flying fox or a bridge. Sheep Shank A knot tied in the bight for shortening a rope or taking up the slack, without cutting it. It can also be used to protect a weak damaged, or frayed section of the rope. Bowline The most useful and one of the simplest ways of putting a fixed loop in the end of a rope. It is easy to tie and untie, it never slips nor jams and has a high breaking strength. Diagonal Lashing Used when two crossing spars tend to spring apart. Commonly used for the centre lashing on the diagonal braces of a trestle. Begin with a timber hitch. Do three diagonal turns across one way. Then three across the other way. Pull the lashing together with about three frapping turns Finish off with a clove hitch. Figure of Eight Lashing Used to make tripods. Lay spars with two running one way and the thrid in the other. Start with a clove hitch on one outer spar then take turns over and under. Make frappings between spars. End with a clove hitch on opposite spar to start. Whipping of your choice Reef Knot or Square Knot Used to join the two ends of the same rope or bandage. ("Right over left - left over right") Sheet Bend The Sheetbend is a knot that you use to tie two ropes together. Good both for thick and thin ropes. Easy to untie. It gets its name from the rope attached to the corner of a sail. This rope is called the sheet. Clove Hitch The nearest there is to a general utility hitch. It is easy to tie in a number of different ways and to untie. Rolling Hitch The rolling hitch allows you to slide the knot up and down the running part of the rope. It can be used on tent ropes, as a strainer for a bridge, in fact anywhere you want to be able to loosen or tighten a rope quickly. Square Lashing Used to fasten two spars or poles together Begin with a clove hitch round the upright and tuck the end in neatly. Pull the clove hitch very tight, and take the long end over the crossbar, round the back of the upright, and over the crossbar again. Follow the same course, being careful to lay each cord alongside the one before and to pull tight all the time, until you have been round each part three times. Then take two or three frapping turns behid the crossbar and in front of the upright. Finish off with a clove hitch, puuled very tight, round the crossbar. Timber Hitch Used to attach a rope to a log, or where security is not an issue. This knot tightens under strain, but comes undone extremely easily when the rope is slack. Wrap the rope around the log, then pass the running end around the standing part of the rope. Finally twist the running end around itself three or four times. (Note: this is only shown twice in the animation.) Round Lashing Used to lash two poles together (constructing a flagpole) Tie a clove hitch round the bottom pole Wind the rope around both six or seven times Finish with two half hitches round both poles. The lashing can be tightened by driving a small wooden peg between the poles