Hi,
I discovered a bend that looks neat and has nice properties. I'd like to know if you have seen it before.
It is pretty simple, so I expected it to be described somewhere. But I haven't found any reference to it.
It is related to the Zeppelin bend, Hunter's bend, Ashley bend and the Butterfy bend. But it is none of them.
It is not on the Wikipedia list of bends.
https://www.animatedknots.com/complete-knot-listIt is not on the Animated Knots page
https://www.animatedknots.com/complete-knot-listI looked at Siriuso's "bends flow chart" but it seems to be missing there also.
So it looks like I discovered something new. Or it was known and forgotten. Maybe there is no use for the knot that isn't better served by another well-known knot. I don't know. Anyway, I think this knot has some merits and deserves to be better known.
So my post has a threefold motivation. 1. identify the knot, 2. present the knot so that it gets better known and 3. claim the discovery if no prior reference to it can be found. Until somebody comes up with an official name, I will call it "Florian's bend".
Here is a picture of the knot. It looks like a Butterfly or an Ashley bend, but it is different.
Here is how to tie it. I am not sure about the technical terms. You take two parallel strands, bend them backwards, cross the running ends over the standing ends, switch the bottom crossing so that the running end goes under the standing end, then pass the two running ends thru the loop. Tighten it. Then, pull the two standing ends apart.
My knot works and behaves pretty much like the Zeppelin bend, it is just the running ends that point in the same direction.
Pros:
- It is self-tightening under load. It doesn't slide.
- It doesn't jam or lock even after being subjected to high load.
- It can always be untied with bare fingers.
- It is quite easy to tie.
Cons:
- Needs to be totally free of load to be tied.
- (PS, thanks to agent_smith): This knot has poor security properties and can roll apart under certain loads in certain conditions. It can give a false sense of security.
Avoid it where security matters.
And I want to add that it can be slipped, resulting in a quite pretty knot, without reducing its strength.
So your comments are welcome.