Connected is a central area that provides links to obtain further information on subjects contained in Scouting Resources. From here you can go on to websites related to your area of interest, pick up some further reading in related books and jot down some contact addresses.

Alpine Butterfly - A loop tied in the bight. One of the several so called 'Butterfly knots' which are used for the middle man on a rope when rock or mountain climbing. More than one of these knots has been called the 'Alpine' Butterfly but the knot illustrated is believed to be the most effective in use.

Anchor Hitch - There is no single specific knot known only by this name but the Fishermans Bend probably has first claim to the title. A variety of other hitches has been used for this purpose including the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches.

Angler's Loop - Another name for the Middleman's Knot.

Artillery Knot - Another name for the Man Harness Knot.

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Back Hand Hitch - An excellent hitch which only requires a single pass round a post or spar, yet provides a double bearing. It is particularly useful when hitching to objects, access to which is difficult (for example, fixing a tow rope to the axle of a car)

Back Splice - Also known as Crown Splice and Dog Pointing. 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. It is clumsy compared with Whipping but useful in an emergency or if it is desirous to know by feel when the end of the rope has been reached.

Bale Sling Hitch - An effective hitch for slinging or hoisting cases, bales, logs, etc. It cannot jam nor slip and is immediately cast off. It is the commonest form of Barrel Sling when the barrel must be hoisted with the bung uppermost. It has the same form as the Lark's Head Knot.

Barrel Hitch - This is the simplest yet most effective method of slinging or hoisting a barrel in a vertical position

Becket - Definition The eye or hook of a pulley block. A rope handle on a sailors sea chest. An eye in the end of a rope. There are also certain specialised meanings.

Becket Hitch - Any hitch that is made on an eye, etc. (i.e. on a 'becket' is a Becket Hitch but the Becket Hitch is the one illustrated here. It has the same form as the Sheet Bend).

Belay - To secure a rope with figure-of-eight turns around a belaying pin or a cleat, etc. Climbers have adopted the term from the sailor: the leader on a climb 'belays' the following man by passing the rope across his shoulder or waist, taking up all the slack and paying out or drawin in under friction as the second man climbs.

Beer Knot- Published more than 10 years ago in climbing publications, the Beer Knot is used to join 2 pieces or ends of tubular webbing together to make a sling or runner. While the customary Ring Bend (Water Knot) tests at 50-65% of strength (depending on which reference you read), the Beer Knot is consistently at 80% as tested by PMI. The Beer Knot is left tied, not removed as others are. It is useful for anchors or other uses when you don't need to re-tie to adjust for length. Easily tied on new webbing, it is a bit of a challenge with used webbing.

Gary Wilson
From the text of "On Rope" (revised edition) by Bruce Smith and Allen Padgett, page 51: "At an NSS Convention in the late 1980's, Peter Ludwig from Austria presented the Beer Knot"

Bellringers Knot - A method of taking up the slack of a rope when one end is secured at a height with the rope hanging. So called because it is a common method used by bellringers to hoist up the bulk of the rope off the floor and out of the way. It is actually half a Sheepshank.

Bend - Definition A knot which is used to tie two ropes together by their ends. As a verb, the act of tying two ropes together by their ends.

Bight - Definition 1. The portion of a rope between the end and the standing part. 2. Any slack part of a rope, particularly if in the form of a loop or partial loop.

Blackwall Hitch - A simple yet secure method of fastening a rope to a hook: it should only be used when the thickness of the rope is nearly enough to fill the mouth of the hook. The Double Blackwall Hitch is a variation in which a turn is taken round the neck of the hook.

Blood Knot - A multiple Overhand Knot tied in the end of a heaving line. It derives its name from its use in a ropes end which was used as a weapon or for inflicting ounishment, when it would often 'draw blood'. This knot was used by the Incas of Peru in 'Quipus' or knot records.

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 to untie, it never slips nor jams and has a high breaking strength. It has been called the 'King of Knots'.

Bowline Bend - A bend formed from two interlocking Bowlines. Most useful for joining two ropes of widely different thicknesses.

Bowline-on-a-bight - A double loop knot which is tied in the bight when the two ends are fixed or inaccessible. The strain should come equally on both standing parts. A good rescue or chair knot.

Buntline Hitch - An excellent and safe knot. Since the second half-hitch is jammed inside the first it is superior to two half-hitches.

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Cable or Cable Laid Rope - Three plain or hawser laid ropes which are righthanded, laid up together lefthanded, making a nine-strand rope.

Cable Length - As a unit of measurement, 100 fathoms. As a length of actual cable, usually 120 fathoms.

Carrick Bend - An excellent knot, probably the nearest to the perfect bend. It is symmetrical, easy to tie, will not slip nor ham, is very strong and is easily untied. Its particular use is as a bend for hawsers and cables. It can be used in two forms, drawn up or open and seized and it should always be tied so that the two ends are diagonally opposite.

Cats Paw - The most suitable Hook Hitch for slings and probably the best. It cannot jam and spills immediately when taken from the hook. It is particularly suitable for heavy lifts.

Cordage - Definition The general term for all twisted or laid-up rope, irrespective of size or material.

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Diagonal Lashing - A lashing used for two crossing spars when it is neccessary first to draw them together. Commonly used for the centre lashing of the diagonal braces on a Treatle.

Dogshank - Another name for the Sheepshank.

Double Blackwall Hitch - This has one more turn than the Blackwall Hitch and is sometimes recommended as being more secure. It is doubtful, however, whether this is the case and it would appear that this is an instance where the simpler form of the knot is to be preferred.

Double Matthew Walker - See under Matthew Walker.

Double Sheet Bend - The Sheet Bend is never truly safe and secure when one rope is thicker than the other. The Double Sheet Bend is a variation in which an extra turn is taken and, although it is no stronger, it is more secure. Still another turn can be taken , if thought advisable, making a Triple Sheet Bend.

Draw Hitch - See under Highwaymans Hitch.

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End - Definition The termination of a rope or the free part towards the termination with which a knot is being tied.

Eye - Definition A spliced, seized or knotted loop in a rope, usually at the end. It will often be fitted with a thimble.

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Fall - Definition The rope of a tackle or sometimes the hauling end of a tackle.

Farmers Loop - An excellent loop tied in the bight. It has a good lead, is strong and secure and is tied by an ingenious and easily remembered method. It is to be preferred to the better known Man Harness Knot.

Flake - Definition. A turn, or a number of turns in a coil of rope. Falking - Coiling rope in various ways.

Footrope Knot - A stopper knot for the end of a rope. It is similar to the Diamond Knot but is tied by first making a Crown with the unlaid strands and then a Wall Knot below the Crown, the ends being brought up through the centre of the Crown. This knot can be doubled by following through above the first lead. The name is often applied also to the Standing Turks Head.

Frapping - Definition. Crossing turns taken in a lashing or on the leads of a tackle to both tighten and secure them.

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Granny Knot - Also called the Lubbers Knot. It resembles a Reef Knot superficially but it is inferior and should never be used. As the two half knots are tied in the same direction and not opposite as in the Reef Knot, it tends either to slip or to jam, or both.

Gripping Sailor's Hitch - This hitch is a modification of the Sailor's Hitch that allows a lengthwise pull on smooth spar, even if tapered. This hitch even outperforms the Icicle Hitch in this regard. Ensure that the hitch is tight before applying the lengthise pull. (The pull should be steady.)
submitted by Kevin

Guyline Hitch - See Midshipmans Hitch.

Adjustable Guyline Hitch - Start with two overhand knots fairly close to each other, rope round peg, back upwards then DOWN into the two knots. Will adjust by pulling and jams to your adjustment. Needs no other knot to hold tight!
Paul Calleja-Gera
Group Scout Leader 15th Cheltenham (SHURDINGTON)

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