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No bull! A better hitch....

Nix · 22 · 2292

us Offline Nix

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No bull! A better hitch....
on: March 08, 2019, 01:28:54 AM
I didn't see where anyone had previously covered the Bull hitch.

This hitch is the preferred knot to use when clipping a carabiner onto a loop. I use the Bull hitch when attaching a knife lanyard to a small loop. This morning I went fishing and attached my SAK lanyard to a small loop around my belt, over my pocket, so it would hang cleanly.




Here's what it looks like from the other side:




That 'X' in the line locks the knot tight.

The Bull hitch is a more secure way to clip into a loop because it won't loosen up and wander around a carabiner. A standard 'cow hitch' looks like this:




The cow hitch can loosen up with loading and unloading, like this:




And you can see the potential problem here as one loop of the hitch may load up against the weaker gate. It can even lead to the gate being inadvertently opened. Not good if you value your SAK.

The Bull hitch locks up. While a bit trickier to tie, it is pretty simple and quick. I tied on my SAK this morning before I had my tea, so you should be able to do it quite easily.....  :rofl:

First, a loop or byte is simply folded over to form two 'ears' or loops:




This is just a cow hitch. The Bull hitch adds a twist, literally. One ear is made longer than the other:




The long ear is then twisted around the shorter ear. Here twisted 180º clockwise around the short ear:




And now twisted 360º to form our Bull hitch:




Now our carabiner or, in my case, lanyard clip is snapped through the two ears:




The knot is then snugged tight to complete the Bull hitch:




Here is an image I found on the 'net on tying the Bull hitch:




This really is a superior way to clip a carabiner or snaffle into a loop. Give it a try and see if you agree!   :tu:




us Offline Barry Rowland

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #1 on: March 08, 2019, 01:43:17 AM
Right on Jack!! :tu: :tu:
Barry


us Offline Poncho65

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #2 on: March 08, 2019, 01:59:42 AM
I never have known what any of the knots I tie are called :facepalm: well except for the trilene fishing knot :D and the hangman's noose :o I have used the cow knot plenty but didn't know the name or didn't think about there being a variation on it :cheers: learned something new today :like:


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #3 on: March 08, 2019, 02:08:54 AM
 :cheers:


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #4 on: March 08, 2019, 02:51:43 AM
Nice one!  :salute:

I do tend to use the cow hitch a lot, as it's so quick and easy to remove*. When I want something a little more secure, I tend to go for a clove hitch, but the bull hitch looks tidier for lanyard use, as both strands are coming off in the same direction.

The figure 8 knot is another favourite of mine, as it can be used as a stopper, loop, or bend. Again though, this bull hitch is tidier on this application.

* I often use a lanyard with carabiner as a shopping aid. Feeding it through the handles of the shopping bags and securing both ends with the 'biner, stops then spilling in the boot of the car/taxi, and then with the parcel hook on the back of a knife with scissors, you can lift them all in or out in one go. I tend to cow hitch the knife to the lanyard, and use the biner on a belt loop, but cow hitching to the belt, bull hitching to the 'biner, and clipping that to the knife would work well too. Of course, although my application is somewhat domesticated, you could also do this with a bundle of firewood, shelter poles, or anything else you want to add a quick handle too.
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The cantankerous but occasionally useful member, formally known as 50ft-trad


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #5 on: March 08, 2019, 03:26:10 AM
 :iagree:  I'm a big fan of the figure 8 and it's various (and many) uses.   :like:


hr Offline styx

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #6 on: March 09, 2019, 09:35:05 AM
ok I gotta ask, where did you learn all this stuff? and where can i get those manuals/books/what ever it is?
Solving problems you didn't know you had in the most obscure way possible

"And now, it's time to hand this over to our tame race axe driver. Some say, he can live in the forest for six months at a time without food, and he knows of a secret tribe of only women where he is their God. All we know is, he's call the Styx!" - TazzieRob


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #7 on: March 09, 2019, 03:20:24 PM
 :dunno:

I have a small library of books on hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, bush crafting, and....knot-tying...but I'm actually a better 'hands on learner".

I've been fascinated by knots ever since my grandfather taught me to tie a square knot, and explained it's importance. I think it was an Army sergeant who taught me the Bull hitch (and the hugely-useful Prusik knot) during a rappelling class. I knew how to tie a bowline, but this sergeant was very particular about how the bowline knot got tied (there are two versions, tail in or tail out; he insisted on tail in, and then sometime added a half-hitch for security).

When injury is the possible outcome of a mistake, I really seem to learn well.  :rofl:

In a day and age of velcro, zippers, and buckles, few people seem to have much interest in knot-work. However, if you like to play outside, knots still come in handy. In my opinion, it's still worth learning a dozen knots or so. Unfortunately, there are some knots that I've learned, but don't use much. Those are the knots I can't remember the name of or even how to tie sometimes. That is really frustrating for me. But, if I can, I'll go back to a knot book and re-learn the name and how to tie.

For instance, I've tied a Bimini twist about six or seven times. I kinda remember how to tie it, but I'm not sure, now as I type this, how to finish it. It's actually a pretty simple knot to tie, so why can't I recall it?  Lack of use, I guess.....

Some knots you just can't forget. Like Al's figure-8. That knot is so useful and has so many applications that I find I use it all the time: fig-8 stopper knot, fig-8 tracing knot, fig-8 loop knot, and the related Orvis fishing knot are all variations of the figure-8 knot. I use 'em all frequently.

There is no need to learn an entire book of knots. Just learn a dozen that you'll use regularly. It always has helped me to learn why a one knot is more useful than another. That seems to anchor it in my brain better, e.g. the figure 8 stopper knot is superior to the Overhand knot because it forms a larger knot and, more importantly, is much easier to untie after being loaded.

The Bull hitch is exactly the opposite. It is harder to untie than the Cow hitch, hence it's value as a knot used to clip into a loop and prevent an accident due to a carabiner mishap (a hard lesson learned from experience, I believe.).

Anyway, long answer to your inquiry.

What ever you like to do, a knot or two may be helpful. Learn a couple that may be relevant to you. Practice them and try to understand why they work. I find that learning something about the knot (not just how-to), helps me remember it much better. And then I'm more likely to remember to use it correctly, too!   :rofl:


us Offline Aloha

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #8 on: March 09, 2019, 03:23:32 PM
Another great knot.  I wont remember its name but knowing how to tie it from now on will be one in my small arsenal.  :salute:
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #9 on: March 09, 2019, 03:33:40 PM
Here's how I remember it:

Back in the day (and still) bulls used to have rings in their noses so they could be led around easily.




If you were holding a bull by the nose on a rope, would you want that knot coming loose?    :rofl:


us Offline Aloha

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #10 on: March 09, 2019, 03:39:32 PM
Ok first off, that bull has a great head of hair. :like:.  Great way to create an image I wont soon forget.   :D
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #11 on: March 09, 2019, 05:09:10 PM
Here's a twist on the Bull hitch. In the first post, I demo'd how the Bull hitch could be used to add a carabiner or snap to a loop. Here's the same knot, but this time I'm hitching a loop to a post, rail, or branch.

Again, the nice feature here is that this knot sort of 'locks' in place and doesn't loosen up as easily as the more straightforward Cow hitch. Keep in mind, the Bull hitch is NOT a permanent knot and can be untied fairly easily.

Here I've got my loop and a dowel I want to tie onto:




The loop just goes over the dowel, and the working ends of my line go through the loop. We now have a Cow hitch:




To form the Bull hitch, the loop is now twisted to form an extra loop:




Lastly, the working ends of my line get fed through this second loop to form the Bull hitch:




Here cinched tight:





So, just an alternative way to use the Bull hitch. I don't use the Bull hitch this way a lot. Every once in a while I'll use a loop and Bull hitch tied onto a guy line to hang things from. The Bull hitch tends not to slide around the way a Cow hitch might. A Prusik knot might do this even better, but the Bull hitch is a bit easier and quicker to tie.

I've also used the Bull hitch to add small loops to tent stakes, another instance where a loose Cow hitch could cause a small issue in the middle of a rainy night.   :tu:

(sorry about the dog fur in the photos... :facepalm:..our little guy is shedding and we've got hair everywhere!)


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #12 on: March 09, 2019, 06:42:56 PM
Here's a twist on the Bull hitch. In the first post, I demo'd how the Bull hitch could be used to add a carabiner or snap to a loop. Here's the same knot, but this time I'm hitching a loop to a post, rail, or branch.

Again, the nice feature here is that this knot sort of 'locks' in place and doesn't loosen up as easily as the more straightforward Cow hitch. Keep in mind, the Bull hitch is NOT a permanent knot and can be untied fairly easily.

Here I've got my loop and a dowel I want to tie onto:

(Image removed from quote.)


The loop just goes over the dowel, and the working ends of my line go through the loop. We now have a Cow hitch:

(Image removed from quote.)


To form the Bull hitch, the loop is now twisted to form an extra loop:

(Image removed from quote.)


Lastly, the working ends of my line get fed through this second loop to form the Bull hitch:

(Image removed from quote.)


Here cinched tight:

(Image removed from quote.)



So, just an alternative way to use the Bull hitch. I don't use the Bull hitch this way a lot. Every once in a while I'll use a loop and Bull hitch tied onto a guy line to hang things from. The Bull hitch tends not to slide around the way a Cow hitch might. A Prusik knot might do this even better, but the Bull hitch is a bit easier and quicker to tie.

I've also used the Bull hitch to add small loops to tent stakes, another instance where a loose Cow hitch could cause a small issue in the middle of a rainy night.   :tu:

(sorry about the dog fur in the photos... :facepalm:..our little guy is shedding and we've got hair everywhere!)


Thanks for that.  :tu: i'm actually much more likely to tie it that way than the other way  :cheers:


The cantankerous but occasionally useful member, formally known as 50ft-trad


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #13 on: March 09, 2019, 06:53:06 PM
Al, I like the way the same knot can be used in different ways, for different purposes and different users.....a bit like SAKs, I suppose....  :cheers:


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #14 on: March 09, 2019, 07:24:07 PM
Al, I like the way the same knot can be used in different ways, for different purposes and different users.....a bit like SAKs, I suppose....  :cheers:

Indeed. My knot repertoire is less than your recommended dozen, but like knots which are versatile (like the fig. 8 ), so I don't have to remember separate stoppers, bends, loops etc. I don't know many knots, but am rarely flummoxed about chucking something functional together when I need to.  :salute:


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us Offline KBM3

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #15 on: March 09, 2019, 07:48:30 PM
Nix,
you continue to impress me with your fountain (or geyser  :)) of information!  Before my time in the military, when I learned a lot of useful knots, I followed the old tradition of "If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot".  I can think of several great uses for a knot like this.  Before, I would use the cowhitch, and as you mentioned, it can (and will) come loose.

Ken


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #16 on: March 09, 2019, 07:53:38 PM
Thanks, Ken.   :cheers:  Hope it proves useful for you.   :tu:

What I do know is that there is a lot I don't know!   And every day I feel a wee bit more ignorant...  But this forum seems to be a great spot to share little snippets of information amongst people with similar interests.   :tu:


scotland Offline Sea Monster

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #17 on: March 09, 2019, 10:04:09 PM
Quote
"If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot"

...

That phrase raises my heartrate a few BPM.

A number of my students who have proffered that as an alternative to rope skills have found themselves facing long days...

For those who would like to know more knots - there are more than a few good books on knots but I find the best way to be able to use them on-demand when the situation calls for it is (like most things) practice practice practice, and then USE THEM, also get familiar with the different materials,  not all knots work (or look) the same with different cordage.

If this is a skill you want, it's well within your grasp, don't be lazy.



us Offline Aloha

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #18 on: March 09, 2019, 10:14:39 PM
Great alternative Nix to tying that knot.  Man << looks for things to tie >> I'm gonna practice both methods,  << dogs runs as I reach for his leash >>. 
Esse Quam Videri


ca Offline Greg Jones

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #19 on: March 11, 2019, 12:49:56 AM
Another great topic Nix  :tu:


us Offline David

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #20 on: March 11, 2019, 01:44:14 AM
I've used a lot of knots but never that one. Now I gotta go find some cord and learn this one. Looks like a right handy knot. Thank you Nix!   :tu:      :like:
What? Enablers! Are you serrrrious? Where? I dont see any.
Hold Fast


us Offline Nix

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Re: No bull! A better hitch....
Reply #21 on: March 11, 2019, 02:19:08 AM
 :tu:   :cheers:


 

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