Thread: Whats this Knot

For 25 years I have used this. Unsure rope terms, call it a running hitch and non locking so good to secure limbs for lowering or say pulling over trunks. I hope to share and have peer reviewed as a simple quick easy knot for tree timber handling. I could whip the rope around a limb and tie the knot with one hand so it was high use when I was climbing for a living. Its never failed me and always easy to unlock even after heavy tension. I'll try to explain how its tied but pictures are always better. The only trick hard to show or explain is the turn/twist a loop that the line end passed though.
Why I ask? it was never shown to me, I just muffed it one day and it worked but not seen it else where.

I'd call it a figure eight slip knot.

Thanks cool your right its is just a figure 8 but I have tied it around the rope to make the running loop/hitch.
I must say it thinking now it worries me that for 30 years I been climbing dismantling trees with very few knots in the kit.
I was shown the usual clove, bow line, prussic & timber hitch (which I think was how I goofed this one) Even handy with the trucker trap and can splice a eye. But I have kept my knots knowledge at the sallow end of skill pool.
Next life I should try harder.
Give this one a go it is quick and simple has worked for me. The look you'll get when you send it down to your groundies is worth it... Huh LOL what???

That's simple. It's a Derwoodii knot.

what happens if it tightens up and you can't untied it? I will always use the bowline, been using it for 21 years and put some heavy loads on it and never had it once get to tight to untie.

I'd call it a slipped figure eight knot, but... "slipping a knot" is generally done to facilitate untying it quickly, the slipping portion is invariably a tuck of the final tail through a loop of the knot. In this particular case, you're knot should never slip out, as the loaded end of the rope can only slip out when the log is removed.

I don't think that I would use this knot . The figure 8 is a very reliable knot, but it is not designed to hold itself together surrounding some other structure. In this case, it would be possible for the load to put a pulling-separating force into the middle of the figure 8, and it might just pull the tail out.

If you do a little research, you will discover a way for tying the bowline one handed as well. Then you will be doing an industry-standard knot, rather than making one up that might prove unreliable.

It's probably great for light limbs, though.

How about a clove hitch with a bowline (with a yosemite tie off on large pieces)?
Secure and easy to untie.

Originally Posted by pdqdl

I'd call it a slipped figure eight knot, but... "slipping a knot" is generally done to facilitate untying it quickly, the slipping portion is invariably a tuck of the final tail through a loop of the knot. In this particular case, you're knot should never slip out, as the loaded end of the rope can only slip out when the log is removed.

I don't think that I would use this knot . The figure 8 is a very reliable knot, but it is not designed to hold itself together surrounding some other structure. In this case, it would be possible for the load to put a pulling-separating force into the middle of the figure 8, and it might just pull the tail out.

If you do a little research, you will discover a way for tying the bowline one handed as well. Then you will be doing an industry-standard knot, rather than making one up that might prove unreliable.

It's probably great for light limbs, though.

I read and reread this mate and I just can't see how this knot would be less reliable than a bowline for example. The force on the leg from loop to knot would be drawing the knot tighter rather than spreading it apart as far as I can see. Do you mean constant force over a period of time or shockload? You could probably test this quite easily with a truck and a decent anchor.....

Ok thanks all, I put it out and got excellent feed back.
At this stage its goofy invention only tested by myself.
As there are many proven industry adopted knots lets not give it a name or use it over any-ones heads.

My 25 years experience, its hard to lock up and I have not seen it drop apart but...insert caveat here.

When I get the time I might try a bit of destructive testing and shock and loading see how it performs vs. my diesel 4x4 & send in the pictures.

Originally Posted by outofmytree

I read and reread this mate and I just can't see how this knot would be less reliable than a bowline for example. The force on the leg from loop to knot would be drawing the knot tighter rather than spreading it apart as far as I can see. Do you mean constant force over a period of time or shockload? You could probably test this quite easily with a truck and a decent anchor.....

Ok...look at this situation in another way.

Tie a simple figure-8 on the end of a line. No bight, no follow through, just a simple figure 8. Attach a carabiner to one of the loops of the knot, then throw the near end of the rope over a branch, and call that your termination knot for your lifeline.

Good idea? I don't think so.

The forces on the knot while snugged down to a large diameter log will be similar to hanging a carabiner on one end, and pulling on the tail from the near side of the loop to the carabiner. It will tend to spread the knot apart, then subsequent failure. Why bother with the risk? Other knots are better, and just as easy to tie.

Engage brain, avoid risk.

Originally Posted by derwoodii

For 25 years I have used this. Unsure rope terms, call it a running hitch and non locking so good to secure limbs for lowering or say pulling over trunks....

Oops... I occasionally use that knot when tying a trucker's hitch but I wouldn't consider it too safe. It can capsize into a form that will loosen. In a trucker's hitch that doesn't matter.

This fig.8 noose would deform the Standing (Tension) Part like a Running Bowline. Both, should also pull perpendicular to the limb; if inline pull (angle from rope to limb), should be preceded by Marl / Half Hitch.

But i'm personally more with DBY as tried in true, seating nicely in all but the stiffest of our lines.

Originally Posted by pdqdl

Ok...look at this situation in another way.

Tie a simple figure-8 on the end of a line. No bight, no follow through, just a simple figure 8. Attach a carabiner to one of the loops of the knot, then throw the near end of the rope over a branch, and call that your termination knot for your lifeline.

Good idea? I don't think so.

The forces on the knot while snugged down to a large diameter log will be similar to hanging a carabiner on one end, and pulling on the tail from the near side of the loop to the carabiner. It will tend to spread the knot apart, then subsequent failure. Why bother with the risk? Other knots are better, and just as easy to tie.

Engage brain, avoid risk.

I still dont agree with your synopsis pdqdl but I need to draw this out to explain what I am thinking. Gimme a day or so and then we can follow up on this.

Whether on not I am right is somewhat irrelevant.

Why bother with the risk? Other knots are better, and just as easy to tie.

Ok I grabbed some tag line 10mm poly double braid and hooked one end using the goofy figure 8 to a stump the other with a bow line to hitch of a 4x4.
Snap broke at the bow line ??
Same again & again snapped the bowline. The goofy was tightened up but was I able to unlock with a tool.

So reversed it to the tow hitch put a bow line on the stump. Snap bow line again.
The goofy surviving 4 shocks was cooked but intact some quite cursing and a good screw driver I was still able to unlock it.

All, this was a very quick test and without good control.
I'll go see a local rope maker and ask them to conduct a few fair dinks bench tests take out my subject bias.
I will advise and report results.