The harness knot is a general purpose
bend knot
This is a list of bends. A bend is a knot used to join two lengths of rope. They are used in a variety of situations, including climbing, sailing, and securing loads. Bend knots are classified based on their ability to be tightened or released, th ...
used to join two ropes together. The knot can be tied under tension and will not capsize.
Tying
The harness knot is essentially one half hitch and one crossing hitch each made by one of the two joined ropes, around the other ropes body. The ends get caught in between the two ropes and these two hitches, at the elliptical eye in the middle of the knot.
There are two other variants to this bend: a double harness bend with ends pointing in opposite directions, and a double harness bend with parallel ends i.e. with ends pointing in the same direction. The starting side of one of the hitches has to be different, in order to have the ends approach the elliptical eye in the middle, from the prescribed direction.
File:ÇifteKolanBagiÖn.jpg, Double harness bend ABOK #1420 - untightened
File:ÇifteKolanBagiUçlarYanYanaÖn.jpg, Double harness bend with parallel ends ABOK #1421 - untightened
File:Knot diagram compare ABOK1420,1421,1474.jpg, 2 - sometimes ends are crossed, sometimes are not - like in abok 1420
Relationship to other knots
The double harness bend is an unfinished
Fisherman's knot
The fisherman's knot is a bend (knot), bend (a knot for joining two lines) with a symmetrical structure consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of the other. Other names for the fisherman's knot include: angler's knot ...
(or even a
Double fisherman's knot
The double fisherman's knot or grapevine knot is a bend. This knot and the triple fisherman's knot are the variations used most often in climbing, arboriculture, and search and rescue. The knot is formed by tying a double overhand knot, in its ...
): the end needs to go through its own half hitch (twice) to form a (double) overhand knot.
The double harness bend is an unfinished
Blood knot
''Blood Knot'' is an early play by South African playwright, actor, and director Athol Fugard. Its single-performance premier was in 1961 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the playwright and Zakes Mokae playing the brothers Morris and Zachariah ...
: The half hitches need to take one or several turns around both ropes before going through the eye in the middle.
The double harness bend with parallel ends is an unfinished
Reever knot: The ends need to go through the opposite half hitch, to be lined up with its own rope body.
All these knots are more secure than the harness knot but they are not as easy to untie.
File:KolanABalikciBagi.jpg, From double harness bend ABOK #1420 to Fishermans bend: ends through own half hitch
File:KolanAÖlümBagi.jpg, From double harness bend ABOK #1420 to Blood knot: ends take full rounds around both ropes before the half hitch
File:KolanBReeferBagi.jpg, From double harness bend with parallel ends ABOK #1421 to Reever bend: ends through opposite half hitch
Use
The harness bend is useful when one needs to tighten the slack in a binding loop before locking the knot in the tight position. The name probably comes from the use in fixing the saddle on the back of the horse, tightening as soon as the horse that has learned to inhale at first move, exhales.
In situations where a more professional quick and secure packing is required, it may be more proper not to tie a harness bend starting with a crossing hitch and locking with a half hitch, but another more reliable combination of loop to tighten in, and hitch to lock with, such as these:
* a
Packer's knot
The packer's knot is a binding knot which is easily pulled taut and quickly locked in position. It is most often made in small line or string, such as that used for hand baling, parcel tying, and binding roasts. This latter use, and its gener ...
starting with a
figure-eight knot
The figure-eight knot or figure-of-eight knot is a type of stopper knot. It is very important in both sailing and rock climbing as a method of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices. Like the overhand knot, which will jam under st ...
and locking with a half hitch,
* a
corned beef knot starting with a
buntline hitch
The buntline hitch is a knot used for attaching a rope to an object. It is formed by passing the working end around an object, then making a clove hitch around the rope's standing part and taking care that the turns of the clove hitch progress ' ...
and locking with a half hitch,
* another alternative is starting with a
bowline
The bowline ( or ) is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie; most notably, it is easy to untie after being subjected to a load. The bowline is sometimes ...
and locking with a
sheet bend
The sheet bend (also known as becket bend, weaver's knot and weaver's hitch) is a bend. It is practical for joining lines of different diameter or rigidity.
It is quick and easy to tie, and is considered so essential it is the first knot given ...
File:Criollo with Paraguayan horse tack.jpg, Harness of leather and blue fabric band
File:KropiliBalyaBagi.jpg, Packers knot
File:IzbarçoluBalyaBagi.jpg, Sheet bend to bowline's loop
See also
*
List of bend knots
This is a list of bends. A bend is a knot used to join two lengths of rope. They are used in a variety of situations, including climbing, sailing, and securing loads. Bend knots are classified based on their ability to be tightened or released, th ...
*
List of knots
This list of knots includes many alternative names for common knots and lashings. Knot names have evolved over time, and there are many conflicting or confusing naming issues. The overhand knot, for example, is also known as the thumb knot. The ...
References
External links
How to tie
Bend knots
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