end of line self-tightening loops: often I just use a slip knots.
Then reading further the Buntline hitch seems to be advertised a lot, but there are also things like the poacher's or scaffolding knot that seem to be well regarded. The only real difference I found is that the buntline hitch will "collapse" into an overhand knot while the others will just pull open. In the end it seems to be just the question whether to tie an overhand knot, fishman's or clove hitch around the standing end. But how to decide what is best?
I presume that you mean, in "will 'collapse'", that if one removes
the
noose from the object --not always possible-- in some
structures the knot can be pushed off of the line into ... nothing.
Which is best? Some cannot be tied under tension --that might
matter. Some are more easily loosened --or TOO easily loosened--,
and this might matter. Rope and other material comes in a variety
of natures, more or less accepting of various knots in them.
end-of-line adjustable loops: I found that my favorite here for the moment is the midshipman's hitch which I like very much because it can be tied under load. Then there are things like Blake's hitch which seems to be described as better sometimes, so should I be using this apart from when I really need to tie the knot under load?
Not only "tied under load", but largely holding whatever
tightness one has taken; whereas a coil-away knot like
the
ProhGrip (Blake's) will yield some material in its
tightening --i.e., it needs to eexxxxxttteennnddd some in
order to build grip.
What knot does the work you want done?
(One gets no extra *points* for using special
knots of some fancy!)
fixed end-of-line loops: I use the bowline quite regularly but it has its known limitations, so I am always looking for alternatives. The figure 8 loop is obviously very popular, but especially the rethreading method I find very cumbersome and lengthy so that I tend to avoid it. If I can tie it on(with?) a bight, it is a good alternative. A loop that tends to get very good reviews for joining ropes is the Zeppelin bend, so I actually adopted that mostly for this purpose. There is a Zeppelin loop that is also a bit tricky to tie reliably, but otherwise maybe that could be a good go-to loop?
The BWL has also many ways to redress some of its
shortcomings --principally, the matter of its loosening
when slack, in smooth-firm cordage. "Lee's Locked BWL"
is a good one, esp. taking the locking wrap
acrossthe SPart to its locking/final tuck!
As for the "zeppelin" ("Thrun's knot"), it gets flowery reviews
but likely far less usage.
My other go-tos are: constrictor (potentially slipped) to tie around poles or similar (another example: should I switch to round turn + 2HH and keep the constrictor for whippings etc??), alpine butterfly or directional figure 8 for mid-line loops, trucker's hitch,...
The
Gleipnir knot might do better around things
against which one cannot count on the cordage making
good contact. And extended
strangle knots are better
for whipping, but constrictor-like binding with tails for
some other whipping methods are nice, too. Here, again,
different materials play nicer/less-nice with various knots.
Cheers,
--dl*
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[1]
https://www.animatedknots.com/[2]
https://www.netknots.com/[3]
https://www.101knots.com/[/quote]