The Kalmyk Loop (russian: калмыцкий узел) is a
fixed loop still largely unused in the West, but common in Russia and often used instead of the
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 ...
.
The knot is named after the
Kalmyks
The Kalmyks ( Kalmyk: Хальмгуд, ''Xaľmgud'', Mongolian: Халимагууд, ''Halimaguud''; russian: Калмыки, translit=Kalmyki, archaically anglicised as ''Calmucks'') are a Mongolic ethnic group living mainly in Russia, w ...
, a nomad ethnicity in Russia.
It is very quick to tie, it is secure, and it undoes quickly when pulling the free end.
The knot is not mentioned in ''
The Ashley Book of Knots
''The Ashley Book of Knots'' is an encyclopedia of knots written and illustrated by the American sailor and artist Clifford W. Ashley. First published in 1944, it was the culmination of over 11 years of work. The book contains 3,857 numbered ent ...
'' but is found in its Russian equivalent, the book "Морские узлы" by
Lev Skryagin.
Without the
slip, the knot is known as the
Cossack knot or
Eskimo bowline.
Sources
*Скрягин Л. Н. Морские узлы — Москва, Транспорт, 1982
External links
russian article with picturesKalmyk Loop (калмыцкий узел)Can the Kalmyk Unseat the Bowline as King of Knots?Video: How to tie 1Video: How to tie 2Video: How to tie 3
Knots