What's in a name: Becket Hitch vs. Sheet Bend

[Spickus]

In this case, it's mostly semantics: a "bend" connects two ropes together. A "hitch" connects a rope to another object.

Ah, I wondered about these two knots.

[Redoleary]

Ah, I wondered about these two knots.

Technically, one is a bend, and one is a hitch, neither one is a knot. A knot is a line tied to itself such as a bowline knot.

[MiteyF]

Technically, one is a bend, and one is a hitch, neither one is a knot. A knot is a line tied to itself such as a bowline knot.

How about a square knot? Which is often between 2 lines?

[Redoleary]

How about a square knot? Which is often between 2 lines?

Yeah, but I think it's a case of a knot being used as a bend.

[jeff-oh]

This may take an etymologist to really decipher, but this is what is said in the Navy basic requirements...

KNOTS, BENDS, AND HITCHES:
Except among seamen, the word knot is ordinarily used as an all-inclusive term, covering the more specific use of knots plus bends and hitches. Even seamen find it hard to clearly define the terms knot, bend, and hitch because their functions overlap like the bowline knot and many other instances. In general, however, the terms may be defined as follows:Knots. Knots are used to form eyes or to secure a cord or line around an object, such as a package. In other words, the line is bent to itself.Hitches. Hitches are used to bend a line to or around an object, such as a ring, spar, or stanchion.Bends. Bends are used to secure two lines together.All Navy personnel should know the square knot,bowline, single- and double-becket bends, round turn and two half hitches, and clove hitch. Navy personnel should know when these knots, bends, and hitches are used.

[MattB]

How about a square knot? Which is often between 2 lines?

Yeah, but I think it's a case of a knot being used as a bend.

And a poor choice too as it slips way to easily to be trusted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dscotthep]

Except among seamen, the word knot is ordinarily used as an all-inclusive term...

This seems to be the way Clifford Ashley himself used the word. The same goes for Grog over at Animated Knots.

[MiteyF]

And a poor choice too as it slips way to easily to be trusted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After sailing my whole life with a bunch of old salts (some of whom have sailed around the world), and using square knots regularly, never having seen one fail, I still think it's one of the most important and universal knots along with the bowline and half hitch.

You do you though.

[MattB]

After sailing my whole life with a bunch of old salts (some of whom have sailed around the world), and using square knots regularly, never having seen one fail, I still think it's one of the most important and universal knots along with the bowline and half hitch.

You do you though.

I tend to. I've seen it and had it slip often across multiple line types to the point that I'll follow the ABOK direction on the Square knot.

"There have probably been more lives lost as a result of using a Square Knot as a bend (to tie two ropes together) than from the failure of any other half dozen knots combined." - ABOK p. 220
https://archive.org/details/TheAshleyBookOfKnots


There are better bends to use for joining rope to ever use the square knot for that task.

[MiteyF]

To be fair, I would never use it to join 2 different lines together, especially when a life depends on it. However, I still think it's one of the most useful knots for "normies" to know.