The buntline hitch is a

knot A knot is an intentional complication in Rope, cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including List of hitch knots, hitches, List of bend knots, bends, List of loop knots, loop knots, ...

used for attaching a

rope A rope is a group of yarns, Plying, plies, fibres, or strands that are plying, twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have high tensile strength and can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger ...

to an object. It is formed by passing the working end around an object, then making a

clove hitch The clove hitch is an ancient type of knot, made of two successive single hitches tied around an object. It is most effectively used to secure a middle section of rope to an object it crosses over, such as a line on a fencepost. It can also be ...

around the rope's standing part and taking care that the turns of the clove hitch progress ''towards'' the object rather than away from it. Secure and easily tied, the buntline hitch will jam when subjected to extreme loads. Given the knot's propensity to jam, it is often made in slipped form.

History

Simple and effective, the buntline hitch dates to the

age of sail The Age of Sail is a period in European history that lasted at the latest from the mid-16th (or mid-15th) to the mid-19th centuries, in which the dominance of sailing ships in global trade and warfare culminated, particularly marked by the int ...

, when it was used to secure buntlines to the

foot The foot (: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is an organ at the terminal part of the leg made up o ...

of the sailsBrion Toss, ''Chapman's Nautical Guides: Knots'' (New York: Hearst Marine Books, 1990), 39.Clifford W. Ashley, ''

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 ...

'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 310. on

square-rigged Square rig is a generic type of sail and rigging arrangement in which a sailing vessel's primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars that are perpendicular (or square) to the median plane of the keel and masts of the vessel. These sp ...

ships. That the buntline hitch was the preferred knot speaks to its security and reliability.Geoffrey Budworth, ''The Complete Book of Knots'' (London: Octopus, 1997), 51. Once set, repeated jerking and slatting tend to tighten it further rather than loosen it.Des Pawson, ''Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices'' (Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, Inc., 2002), 133. Its compact size allowed the foot of the sail to be drawn up as closely as possible to the buntline deadeyes on top of the

yard The yard (symbol: yd) is an English units, English unit of length in both the British imperial units, imperial and US United States customary units, customary systems of measurement equalling 3 foot (unit), feet or 36 inches. Sinc ...

. It has gained in popularity in recent years due to its performance in slippery modern synthetic lines.

Usage

The buntline hitch is useful for attaching lines to rings, eyes, posts, rods, and railings where a compact and secure knot is required. The non-slipped form is appropriate for moderate loads or where the knot will not need to be untied often.Brion Toss, ''The Complete Rigger's Apprentice'' (Camden: International Marine, 1998), 54. If heavily loaded it can be difficult or impossible to untie without the aid of a marlinspike. The slipped form is more versatile and convenient when a secure temporary hitch is needed. For example, the slipped buntline hitch is an excellent choice to fasten a line to one side of a vehicle's luggage rack, with a trucker's hitch being used on the other side to tension the line over a load placed between them. The buntline hitch is the same knot as the four-in-hand knot used for

necktie A necktie, long tie, or simply a tie, is a cloth article of formal neckwear or office attire worn for decorative or symbolic purposes, resting under a folded shirt collar or knotted at the throat, and usually draped down the chest. On rare o ...

s. When it is made in flat material in the manner used to fasten a necktie, the working end is brought more parallel to the standing part during tightening than generally seen when made in cylindrical cordage for load-bearing purposes.

Tying

The buntline hitch is simply a clove hitch tied around the standing part, with the turns of the clove hitch progressing towards the object.

Slipped variation

The slipped variation is made by passing a bight through on the final step instead of the end. The knot may be released by pulling at the free end of the rope.

Security

While the buntline hitch is considered a secure knot, the turns of the clove hitch must progress ''towards'' the object, otherwise the much less secure

two half-hitches Two half-hitches is a type of knot, specifically a binding knot or hitch knot. One variety consists of an overhand knot tied around a post, followed by a half-hitch. This knot is less often referred to as a clove hitch over itself, double half-hi ...

will result. Although not generally required, a round turn can first be made around the object causing the buntline hitch to be even less prone to slipping.Ashley, 309. A buntline hitch may also be tied with an extra half turn for security: see highpoint hitch.

References

External links

Buntline Hitch

Stunsail Tack Bend
{{Knots