At the risk of going well-off thread,Let me assist in that--have a new Subject to itself!
the Highwayman's Hitch could well do with being forgotten, IMO. It was taught to Commando Forces during WW2 for a specific purpose (nothing to do with horses). It was intended for use with a standard 6 foot toggle rope.Where can one find this information? My recollection is that the knot is given by C.L.Day's [u][i]Art of Knotting & Splicing[/i][/u], with the myth(?) about being used by a notorious robber (himself somewhat of a myth). Day's work is ca. post-WWII by just a couple years--enough time to build a myth that passes him?
So, how did the commandos use it?
Although taught as a 'Highwayman's Hitch', there are significant differences (use of a martyr and an overhand locking knot) so we might perhaps re-name the version shown in 'Get Tough'and elsewhere as the 'Commando Knot'.I don't follow this: what are the differences with the knot (too) commonly shown.
knudeNoggin