Dear All
Whilst practicing constrictor knots to use for securing the ends of needle hitching, I wondered what would happen if I used a cow hitch instead of a clove hitch, and got the pictured result
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glenys_chew/detail?.dir=/c1e1&.dnm=5915re2.jpg&.src=ph
(in case the upload doesn’t work here, I’ve also put it on my Yahoo album: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glenys_chew/detail?.dir=/c1e1&.dnm=5915re2.jpg&.src=ph )
1 - I formed the cow hitch
2 - I passed the Working End through the base of the front loops of both hitches
3 - I dressed and tightened the knot (or hitch, or bend, as the case may be)
I notice that it’s main feature (whether it’s an advantage or disadvantage depends on your point of view, I suppose) is that the bulk is entirely on the base of the knot, rather than on the front or back.
I tied it with both long ends as part of a practice sequence, and with a short stub at the bitter end for use as a terminal knot on the needle hitching.
I subjected it to as much pull as I could muster, on both the cord I was using, and the nearby arm of a shower stool, and couldn’t make it spill in any direction, although it did slip east/west, and on the stool arm it also slid north/south. But then, so did the constrictor.
I was using 3mm knitted polypropylene cord, initially secured onto 5mm polypropylene cord.
I also experimented with a complete turn round one of the other parts of the cow hitch, but it being midnight, I thought perhaps I’d leave that for another night…
Regards
Glenys Chew
It’s called a Pedigree Cow Hitch.
And if it comes the other away around; to trap from the Standing Part side it would be a type of Ossel.
Either way i think the finish is best with a Half Hitch; or Better Nip to opposite side of load for best security. As the Standing Part side is where there is more tendency to pull away from the load. And the opposite side of the load/ better nip side; the line has more of a tendency to seat into the load (if solid convex position on load/anchor).
Much chuckling< Well, I suppose I should have had a guess at the name ’ Pedigree Cow Hitch’ 
My further attempts to wrap a turn round other bits of the Cow Hitch proved very unreliable. May I ask if there are actually other variations of the cow hitch? And for that matter, variations of the Clove Hitch (as per the Constrictor)? Or is it a case of so many knots being built off one foundation that there are too many to conveniently name more than a few?
I certainly found it a lot easier to tie these once I figured out their bases.
Regards
Glenys Chew
i have h’eared the Clove called the mother of all knots. While not really true, it is certainly the base of many you could claim. This close to Mother’s Day; i can only guess they mean mother in a good way! i think some of the Snuggle and binding knots are most interesting.
i think the Constrictor gives great imagery of 2 concepts: Baby Holding a Bus and Squareness/ stableness. There is a way to make a Constrictor where you lay endA down and draw an 8 with the line, with endB ending on top; then fold endA on top of it(to point opposite direction of endB, then fold the whole contraption in half top loop on top of bottom; then slide on mount and set. A number of 8’s can be drawn with the cord before finishing with folding endA on top and folding the whole thing and sliding on mount for quiet a grip; if you can set the whole thing. A transom for kite sticks can be thought of as a type of Constrictor i believe too. i say endA and endB; because either could be Standing or Bitter; depending on perspective of initiating pull in these symmetrical lacings.
Here is one of my older pix of some Clove stuff; i especially like the “Snuggle” (which is probably a class of knot; or a different version of this to some other people, not to mention any names {Dan! :D}). But, anyway this version gives the centering squareness security of Constrictor; but easier to loosen and about as secure. Notice it performs it’s function with either end pulled; appears symmetrical in function as a Clove or Constrictor; but is not exactly the same play of forces pulling either end like Clove and Constrictor. Very handy; lil’easier to tie when used to it, great as a secure slip IMLHO.
Thank you, TreeSpyder. I’ve had to print your answer out to take it away and think about it, especially as I don’t get much time online. What a fantastic website, though. Accessible for a very wide age range and level of understanding. Please can I recommend it to the home education community I am part of?
Regards
Glenys Chew
One variation which Budworth named “Bull Hitch” is the Cow but with the collar
making a round turn of the two ends, and thereby friction-gripping them for some
degree of security (tensioned & untensioned). Arborists use something named
a “Cow & Better Half”, in which the end is HH’d to the SPart; I think it’s to some
advantage to include part of the collar within this HH. The binding, as with the
“Bull H.”, is largely independent of the hitched object (i.e., depends only upon
inter-rope friction), unlike with the Ossel H. or Constrictor/Strangle. And, yes,
one can play around and find myriad other arrangements.
“Snuggle” is going to get you in trouble, TreeSpyder, as Asher gave that name to
a more tedious hitch.
“Please can I recommend it to the home education community I am part of?”
Go right ahead, Glenys, the more the merrier. But make sure they know that it’s only about knots
Lesley
