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39-521: For Europeans, Scoutcraft grew out of the woodcraft skills necessary to survive in the expanding frontiers of the New World in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone needed these skills to travel through the uncharted wildernesses and difficult terrains. But Scoutcraft was practiced by the Native Americans long before the arrival of the colonists and it

78-485: A hitch fastens a rope to another object; a bend fastens two ends of a rope to each another; a loop knot is any knot creating a loop; and splice denotes any multi-strand knot, including bends and loops. A knot may also refer, in the strictest sense, to a stopper or knob at the end of a rope to keep that end from slipping through a grommet or eye. Knots have excited interest since ancient times for their practical uses, as well as their topological intricacy, studied in

117-463: A knot is a figure consisting of a single loop with any number of crossing or knotted elements: a closed curve in space which may be moved around so long as its strands never pass through each other. As a closed loop, a mathematical knot has no proper ends, and cannot be undone or untied; however, any physical knot in a piece of string can be thought of as a mathematical knot by fusing the two ends. A configuration of several knots winding around each other

156-531: A magic trick , a joke , or a puzzle . They are useful for these purposes because they have a deceptive appearance, being easier or more difficult to tie or untie than their appearance would suggest. The easiest trick knot is the slip knot . Other noted trick knots include: Coxcombing is a decorative knotwork performed by sailors during the Age of Sail . The general purpose was to dress-up, protect, or help identify specific items and parts of ships and boats. It

195-667: A map and compass ), fire making (including procurement of firewood ), selecting and preparing a campsite , lashing and knot techniques, the use of tents and wilderness first aid . The Scouting movement has adopted woodcraft techniques as a core skill set known as scoutcraft . In the United States, woodcraft techniques in a military context are taught as part of SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) training. Traditional woodcraft has particular importance in American folklore , especially that relating to

234-472: A sheepsfoot blade , occasionally a fine needle for proper whipping of laid rope , a hot cutter for nylon and other synthetic fibers, and (for larger ropes) a shoe for smoothing out large knots by rolling them on the ground. The hagfish is known to strip slime from its skin by tying itself into a simple overhand knot, and moving its body to make the knot travel toward the tail. It also uses this action in reverse (tail to head) to pry out flesh after biting into

273-423: A trucker's hitch , gaining mechanical advantage . Knots can save spelunkers from being buried under rock. Many knots can also be used as makeshift tools, for example, the bowline can be used as a rescue loop, and the munter hitch can be used for belaying . The diamond hitch was widely used to tie packages on to donkeys and mules . In hazardous environments such as mountains, knots are very important. In

312-968: A bank, and knowing about the Union Flag and its significance — these latter tests are generally not included in Scoutcraft in more recent times. Similar books were published in America by Ernest Thompson Seton , a pioneer of the Scouting movement in the United States. Scoutcraft is still a core part of many organisations' programs. The Scout Association of the United Kingdom lists the following benefits of Scoutcraft: An example list of Scoutcraft skills, taken from 1964's Boy Scout Handbook (sixth edition) includes: Woodcraft The terms woodcraft and woodlore denote skills and experience in matters relating to living and thriving in

351-476: A knot with more wraps or a rope of different diameter or material. Knots differ in the effort required to untie them after loading. Knots that are very difficult to untie, such as the water knot , are said to "jam" or be jamming knots . Knots that come untied with less difficulty, such as the Zeppelin bend , are referred to as " non-jamming ". The list of knots is extensive, but common properties allow for

390-469: A precise value for a particular knot is difficult because many factors can affect a knot efficiency test: the type of fiber , the style of rope , the size of rope, whether it is wet or dry, how the knot is dressed before loading, how rapidly it is loaded, whether the knot is repeatedly loaded, and so on. The efficiency of common knots ranges between 40 and 80% of the rope's original strength. In most situations forming loops and bends with conventional knots

429-505: A pseudo-military organisation, but he was quick to distance himself and Scouting from his earlier military experiences, and instead pointed out the importance of self-reliance, duty and thoughtfulness which his new program promoted. In order to test that a new member had earned the title of Scout, Baden-Powell devised a number of tests for them to complete, including knot-tying, animal tracking, first aid, navigation, and fire-lighting. Other tests listed by Baden-Powell include having sixpence in

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468-720: A single or double overhand knot to make sure the end of the rope does not make its way through the main knot, causing all strength to be lost. The tying of a knot may be very straightforward (such as with an overhand knot ), or it may be more complicated, such as a monkey's fist knot. Tying knots correctly requires an understanding of the type of material being tied (string, cord , monofilament line , kernmantle rope , or nylon webbing). For example, cotton string may be very small and easy to tie with much internal friction to keep it from falling apart once tied, while stiff 5/8" thick kernmantle rope will be very difficult to tie, and may be so slick as to tend to come apart once tied. The form of

507-558: A useful system of categorization. For example, loop knots share the attribute of having some kind of an anchor point constructed on the standing end (such as a loop or overhand knot) into which the working end is easily hitched, using a round turn . An example of this is the bowline . Constricting knots often rely on friction to cinch down tight on loose bundles; an example is the Miller's knot . Knots may belong to more than one category. Trick knots are knots that are used as part of

546-410: Is a large variety of knots, each with properties that make it suitable for a range of tasks. Some knots are used to attach the rope (or other knotting material) to other objects such as another rope, cleat , ring, or stake. Some knots are used to bind or constrict objects. Decorative knots usually bind to themselves to produce attractive patterns. While some people can look at diagrams or photos and tie

585-740: Is called a link . Various mathematical techniques are used to classify and distinguish knots and links. For instance, the Alexander polynomial associates certain numbers with any given knot; these numbers are different for the trefoil knot , the figure-eight knot , and the unknot (a simple loop), showing that one cannot be moved into the other (without strands passing through each other). A simple mathematical theory of hitches has been proposed by Bayman and extended by Maddocks and Keller. It makes predictions that are approximately correct when tested empirically. No similarly successful theory has been developed for knots in general. Knot tying consists of

624-489: Is far more practical than using rope splices , even though the latter can maintain nearly the rope's full strength. Prudent users allow for a large safety margin in the strength of rope chosen for a task due to the weakening effects of knots, aging, damage, shock loading, etc. The working load limit of a rope is generally specified with a significant safety factor, up to 15:1 for critical applications. For life-threatening applications, other factors come into play. Even if

663-422: Is often used ornamentally or decoratively. Knots weaken the rope in which they are made. When knotted rope is strained to its breaking point, it almost always fails at the knot or close to it, unless it is defective or damaged elsewhere. The bending, crushing, and chafing forces that hold a knot in place also unevenly stress rope fibers and ultimately lead to a reduction in strength. The exact mechanisms that cause

702-450: Is still found today in some whippings and wrappings of small diameter line on boat tillers and ships' wheels to enhance the grip, or to identify rudder amidships. Knots used in coxcombing include Turk's head knot , Flemish , French whipping , and others. Knot theory is a branch of topology . It deals with the mathematical analysis of knots, their structure and properties, and with the relationships between different knots. In topology,

741-561: The Second Matabele War , he introduced it to Robert Baden-Powell , the founder of the Scouting movement. Baden-Powell first began forming his idea for a programme of training young men in Scoutcraft whilst scouting with Burnham in Matobo Hills , Matabeleland (now part of Zimbabwe ). Later, Baden-Powell wrote a number of books on the subject, and even started to train and make use of adolescent boys, most famously during

780-535: The Siege of Mafeking , during the Second Boer War . After the Second Boer War , Baden-Powell enjoyed a celebrity status for his command at Mafeking. He set about writing a new book, Scouting for Boys , which was published in 1908. This was removed from his earlier, more martial works, but kept the idea of Scoutcraft as a core part of the Scouting program. Some critics accused Baden-Powell of trying to create

819-566: The woods —such as hunting , fishing , and camping —whether on a short- or long-term basis. Traditionally, woodcraft pertains to subsistence lifestyles, with implications of hunting-gathering . In more recent times, and in developed countries , it relates more to either outdoor recreationalism or survivalism . A partial list of recreational woodcraft techniques might include knowledge of wildlife behavior, identifying and utilizing wild plants and animals (especially for food), camp cooking , orienteering (including hiking skills and use of

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858-544: The ability to undertake activities such as rappelling. Knots can be applied in combination to produce complex objects such as lanyards and netting . In ropework , the frayed end of a rope is held together by a type of knot called a whipping knot . Many types of textiles use knots to repair damage. Macramé , one kind of textile, is generated exclusively through the use of knotting, instead of knits , crochets, weaves or felting. Macramé can produce self-supporting three-dimensional textile structures, as well as flat work, and

897-952: The area of mathematics known as knot theory . Knots and knotting have been used and studied throughout history. For example, Chinese knotting is a decorative handicraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) in China, later popularized in the Ming. Knot theory is the recent mathematical study of knots. Knots of ancient origin include the bottle sling , bowline , cat's paw , clove hitch , cow hitch , double fisherman's knot , eskimo bowline , figure-eight knot , fisherman's knot , half hitch , kalmyk loop , one-sided overhand bend , overhand knot , overhand loop , reef knot , running bowline , single hitch , thief knot , Turk's head knot , and two half-hitches . The eleven main knots of Chinese knotting are

936-482: The capsized form of the knot offers little resistance to slipping or unraveling. A reef knot , when misused as a bend, can capsize dangerously. Sometimes a knot is intentionally capsized as a method of tying another knot, as with the "lightning method" of tying a bowline . Some knots, such as the carrick bend , are generally tied in one form then capsized to obtain a stronger or more stable form. In knots that are meant to grip other objects, failure can be defined as

975-546: The early American frontier . In the UK, the Woodcraft Folk are an organisation founded on the principles of woodcraft. This article about a tradition is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches , bends , loop knots , and splices :

1014-460: The event of someone falling into a ravine or a similar terrain feature, with the correct equipment and knowledge of knots a rappel system can be set up to lower a rescuer down to a casualty and set up a hauling system to allow a third individual to pull both the rescuer and the casualty out of the ravine. Further application of knots includes developing a high line, which is similar to a zip line, and which can be used to move supplies, injured people, or

1053-407: The finished knot to maximize the strength of the knot. Tools are sometimes employed in the finishing or untying of a knot, such as a fid , a tapered piece of wood that is often used in splicing. With the advent of wire rope , many other tools are used in the tying of "knots." However, for cordage and other non-metallic appliances, the tools used are generally limited to sharp edges or blades such as

1092-480: The four-flower knot, six-flower knot, Chinese button knot , double connection knot , double coin knot , agemaki, cross knot , square knot, Plafond knot , Pan Chang knot , and the good luck knot . Knots of more recent origin include the friendship knot of Chinese knotting. The sheepshank knot originates from 1627 while the Western Union splice originates from the beginning of telegraphy . There

1131-408: The illustrated knots, others learn best by watching how a knot is tied. Knot tying skills are often transmitted by sailors , scouts , climbers , canyoners , cavers , arborists , rescue professionals , stagehands , fishermen , linemen and surgeons . The International Guild of Knot Tyers is an organization dedicated to the promotion of knot tying. Truckers in need of securing a load may use

1170-586: The knot cleanly and tightening it as much as possible before loading. Sometimes, the use of a stopper knot or, even better, a backup knot can prevent the working end from passing through the knot; but if a knot is observed to slip, it is generally preferable to use a more secure knot. Life-critical applications often require backup knots to maximize safety. To capsize (or spill) a knot is to change its form and rearrange its parts, usually by pulling on specific ends in certain ways. When used inappropriately, some knots tend to capsize easily or even spontaneously. Often

1209-421: The knot moving relative to the gripped object. While the knot itself is not untied, it ceases to perform the desired function. For instance, a simple rolling hitch tied around a railing and pulled parallel to the railing might hold up to a certain tension, then start sliding. Sometimes this problem can be corrected by working-up the knot tighter before subjecting it to load, but usually the problem requires either

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1248-404: The knot unravels and fails. This behavior can worsen when the knot is repeatedly strained and let slack, dragged over rough terrain, or repeatedly struck against hard objects such as masts and flagpoles . Even with secure knots, slippage may occur when the knot is first put under real tension. This can be mitigated by leaving plenty of rope at the working end outside of the knot, and by dressing

1287-452: The material will influence the tying of a knot as well. Rope is round in cross-section, and has little dependence upon the manner in which the material is tied. Nylon webbing, on the other hand, is flat, and usually "tubular" in construction, meaning that it is spiral-woven, and has a hollow core. In order to retain as much of the strength as possible with webbing, the material must be tied "flat" such that parallel sections do not cross, and that

1326-408: The rope does not break, a knot may still fail to hold. Knots that hold firm under a variety of adverse conditions are said to be more secure than those that do not. The following sections describe the main ways that knots fail to hold. The load creates tension that pulls the rope back through the knot in the direction of the load. If this continues far enough, the working end passes into the knot and

1365-413: The sections of webbing are not twisted when they cross each other within a knot. The crossing of strands is important when dealing with round rope in other knots; for example, the figure-eight loop loses strength when strands are crossed while the knot is being "finished" and tightened. Moreover, the standing end or the end from which the hauling will be done must have the greater radius of curvature in

1404-425: The techniques and skills employed in tying a knot in rope , nylon webbing , or other articles. The proper tying of a knot can be the difference between an attractive knot and a messy one, and occasionally life and death. It is important to understand the often subtle differences between what works, and what does not. For example, many knots "spill" or pull through, particularly if they are not "backed up," usually with

1443-403: The untrained across rivers, crevices, or ravines. Note the systems mentioned typically require carabiners and the use of multiple appropriate knots. These knots include the bowline, double figure eight, munter hitch, munter mule, prusik, autoblock, and clove hitch. Thus any individual who goes into a mountainous environment should have basic knowledge of knots and knot systems to increase safety and

1482-408: The weakening and failure are complex and are the subject of continued study. Special fibers that show differences in color in response to strain are being developed and used to study stress as it relates to types of knots. Relative knot strength , also called knot efficiency , is the breaking strength of a knotted rope in proportion to the breaking strength of the rope without the knot. Determining

1521-483: Was from Native American scouts that the art of Scoutcraft, or Woodcraft as it was more commonly known in the American Old West , passed to the early European pioneers. As the nineteenth century moved on, Scoutcraft began to be adopted by parts of some military forces, as the way in which wars and battles were fought changed. The American scout Frederick Russell Burnham brought Scoutcraft to Africa and, in

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