The Carrick bend is a knot used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is too large and stiff to easily be formed into other common bends. It will not jam even after carrying a significant load or being soaked with water. The Carrick bend's aesthetically pleasing interwoven and symmetrical shape has also made it popular for decorative purposes.

The knot features prominently as a motif the hard science fiction novel Picoverse by Robert A. Metzger.

Etymology

This knot's name dates back to at least 1783 when it was used by M. Lescallier in Vocabulaire des Termes de Marine. Its origins prior to that are not known with certainty. There are several possible explanations for the name "Carrick" being associated with this bend. The Elizabethan era plasterwork of Ormonde Castle in Carrick-on-Suir shows numerous Carrick bends molded in relief. Or the name may come from Carrick Roads — a large natural anchorage by Falmouth in Cornwall, England. The name may also have been derived from the Carrack, a medieval type of ship.

Variations

The eight crossings within the Carrick bend allow for many similar looking knots to be made. The lines in a "full" or "true" Carrick bend alternate between over and under at every crossing. There are also two ways the ends can emerge from the knot: diagonally opposed or from the same side. The form with the ends emerging diagonally opposed is considered more secure.

Unfortunately, with so many permutations, the Carrick bend is prone to being tied incorrectly.

Appearance

Capsized

The Carrick bend is generally tied in a flat interwoven form shown above. Without additional measures it will collapse into a different shape, a process known as capsizing, when tightened. This capsized form is both secure and stable once tightened, although it is bulkier than the seized form below. When knot is allowed to capsize naturally under tension, considerable slippage of line through the knot can occur before tightening. The knot should be set carefully before loading.

Seized

In the interest of making the Carrick bend easier to untie, especially when tied in extremely large rope, the ends may be seized to prevent the knot from collapsing when load is applied. This practice also keeps the knot's profile flatter and can ease its passage over capstans or winches.

The ends are traditionally seized to their standing part using a round seizing. For expediency, a series of double constrictor knots, drawn very tight, may also be used. When seizing the Carrick bend, both ends must be secured to their standing parts or the bend will slip.

Decorative uses

In the decorative variation, both standing ends enter from one side and both working ends exit from the other. In this configuration the knot is known as the Josephine knot (macrame) or double coin knot (Chinese knotting). This form of the Carrick bend is found depicted in heraldry, sometimes with the tails of heraldic serpents woven (or "nowed") into this knot. In heraldry the knot is associated with Hereward the Wake and is known under the name "Wake knot".

The knot can be tied using doubled lines for an even flatter, more elaborate appearance.

Security

The fully interwoven diagonal Carrick bend is the most secure variation. All other forms are inferior and not recommended as bends.

Although the Carrick bend has a reputation for strength, some tests have shown it to be as weak as 65% efficiency.

References

External links

• Grog's Animated Knots: How to tie the carrick bend