In our newest Knot of the Week, we’ll be taking a look at a way to add a leash to the lid from your Liberty Bottle so it doesn’t grow legs and walk away.

One thing that I felt was missing from the US made ITS Liberty Bottles that we sell in our store, was a way to lanyard in the lid so it didn’t get lost. As I started taking Liberty Bottles with me while hiking and climbing, I quickly missed the ability to drink one-handed after removing the lid; which can be done with Nalgenes.

With a couple of easy knots and some Type 1 Paracord or the guts from standard Type III Paracord, you’ll be able to create your own Liberty Bottle Leash in no time!

Liberty Bottle Leash » Loops/Bends

(Strength: 5/Security: 5/Stability: 4/Difficulty: 3)

Please refer to our Knot of the Week introduction post for a description of what these ratings mean.

We’ll be using the Double Fisherman’s Knot and the Bowline for this Liberty Bottle Leash. Both are knots we’ve already gone over in our Knot of the Week series and while we show them being tied in the photos and video below, for a detailed look at each knot’s tying instructions, please refer to the following articles on the Bowline and Double Fisherman’s Knot.

Tying Instructions

• Start with a 24″ section of Type 1 Paracord, or a strand from the guts of Type III Paracord and follow along with the video or photos below.
• For detailed instructions on tying either the Bowline or Double Fisherman’s Knot, please refer to our articles for more info.

We’re kicking off our 2010 Knot of the Week series today with the Lanyard Knot.

The Lanyard Knot, also known as a Diamond Knot, is an excellent decorative knot that can be used for a multitude of applications.

Primarily we like this knot for its ability to create a fixed loop in a single strand of rope. This comes in very handy when making a Solomon Bar keychain like we’ve demonstrated in the past.

It can also be used for key rings, knife lanyards and anything that needs some kind of a pull. In fact, sailors used this knot to hold a knife around their necks, which is why you may see this knot referred to as a knife lanyard knot.

Lanyard Knot » Bends

(Strength: 3/Secure: 3/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 4)

Uses:

• Decorative knot used for lanyards
• Can also be used to join two strands of rope

Tying Instructions:

1. Hold the rope in your hand using your pinky to stabilize
2. With the working end, form an underhand loop
3. The standing end becomes your new working end and wraps around the old working end and under the itself in the center of the loop.
4. As you’re bringing the last coil past the top, form a bight in the working part
5. Leave the knot loose and pull your pinky out from the knot, leaving a diamond pattern in the center of your knot
6. Thread the standing end counter clockwise through the underside of the created diamond pattern
7. Repeat this step for the working end as well
8. *Now both ends should have been fed though the underside of the diamond*
9. Grasp the working and standing ends and pull (you should still have a bight around your fingers)
10. Slide the knot off of your fingers and continue pulling on the bight and the ends to tighten
11. Clean up the knot by pulling individual strands as we demonstrated in our Monkey’s Fist video

View the gallery or YouTube video below and follow along with the steps above!

Our Knot of the Week series continues this week with a fishing knot known as the Snell Knot.

Snelling a hook is a common practice in fishing to maintain an even, straight line pull on the fish.

It’s also know to increase catch rates due to the hook staying inline and not moving side to side, as with tying to the eye of the hook.

The Snell Knot also allows a leader to be tied directly into a hook, and is one of the strongest fishing knots.

You should consider adding instructions for tying this knot into your survival kit, or  just practice it from time to time.

*Note* There are other methods for tying this knot, and it’s also commonly referred to as a Uni (Universal) Knot.

Snell Knot » Bends

(Strength: 5/Secure: 4/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 1)

Please refer to our Knot of the Week introduction post for a description of what these ratings mean.

Uses:

• Tying a leader directly to a hook

Tying Instructions:

1. Start with your hook facing down
2. Insert the working end of your line up through the eye of the hook
3. Create a loop with the working end
4. Wrap 4-5 turns around the working end and the hook
5. Leave the working end outside of the loop
6. Holding the working end, pull on the standing part to tighten

View the gallery or YouTube video below and follow along with the steps above!

Our Knot of the Week series resumes this week with another fishing knot known as the Blood Knot.

The Blood Knot is primarily used for joining two sections of monofilament line together, but as there are many ways to joint to lengths of line together, why choose this one?

The most common of these is the Double Fisherman’s Knot, which is a considerably strong knot and holds securely. In fact it’s stronger and more secure than the Blood Knot.

So why use the Blood Knot over the Double Fisherman’s Knot? Different diameters of line.

A good example of this is Fly Fishing, where you may have to create a fly-casting leader with smaller diameter line.

One thing to point out on this knot is to moisten it before carefully tightening as we’ve instructed below. This will help to not weaken the lines.

Tightening the knot too quickly can also weaken the lines.

We’re not sure how this will hold up with Saltwater monofilament, but for freshwater it does just fine.

Don’t use this knot for anything other than fishing. the Double Fisherman’s Knot works much better for joining rope, as the Blood Knot tends to pull apart.

Blood Knot » Bends

(Strength: 4/Secure: 4/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 3)

Please refer to our Knot of the Week introduction post for a description of what these ratings mean.

Uses:

• Joining small monofilament lines together
• Joining unequal diameter monofilament lines

Tying Instructions:

1. Start with your two lines overlapping (around 12 – 14″ of length after the overlap)
2. Make at least eight wraps with each working end
3. Pull apart the middle-most wraps creating an eye
4. One at a time bring one working end at a time through the eye in opposite directions
5. Ensure that you have opposing directions on the working ends
6. Moisten the knot
7. Pull the working ends apart while you’re cinching up the wrapping on each end of the knot
8. Trim off the excess working ends close to the knot

View the gallery or YouTube video below and follow along with the steps above!

Photo U.S. Navy (Released)

This week’s “Knot of the Week” continues with the third of five knots taught to Navy SEAL candidates at BUD/s for their Underwater Knot Tying Test.

During the test, the students must tie each knot on a single breath hold at the bottom of a 15 foot pool.

The instructors descend with the students to the bottom of the pool to observe and check that each knot is tied correctly.

Instructors play an integral role in BUD/s training, and are constantly right there with students to not only guide them, but to ensure safety on evolutions.

We’ll have a special video presentation during the last week of the five-part series, combining all the knots and showing them tied underwater like the test.

The third knot from the test we’ll showing today, is the Becket’s Bend (also known as a Sheet Bend).

Becket’s Bend » Bends

(Strength: 2/Secure: 2/Stability: 2/Difficulty: 2)

Please refer to our Knot of the Week introduction post for a description of what these ratings mean.

There’s a method to our madness in showing the Square Knot before the Becket’s Bend last week, as the two are tied similarly.

Much like the Square Knot, the Becket’s Bend is used to splice together two lines of Det Cord (Detonation Cord) when working with Demolitions.

The Becket’s is more secure than the Square Knot in certain applications. To add additional strength to the knot, a second turn can be added with the working end when tying.

As with the Square Knot, a six-inch tail must be left in both ends after tying. This prevents moisture from entering the Det Cord through the exposed ends.

Uses:

• In demolition to splice Det Cord
• Joining two ropes of unequal diameter

Tying Instructions:

1. Form a bight in the standing end, ensuring that the bitter end is hanging down
2. Insert the working end through the backside of the bight
3. Pass the working end around the back of the bight
4. Tuck the working end behind the working part of the line
5. Tighten by pulling the bight, the working part and the working end of the line

View the gallery or YouTube video below and follow along with the steps above!

Photo U.S. Navy (Released)

This weeks “Knot of the Week” continues with the second of five knots taught to Navy SEAL candidates at BUD/s for their Underwater Knot Tying Test.

Students start from the shallow end of the pool, and when called swim out to a waiting instructor. The student announces themselves and which of the five knots they’ll be tying.

Once give the nod by the instructor, the student then requests permission to descend to the bottom of the 15 foot pool with a downturned thumb.

The signal is returned by the instructor and the student begins his descent without splashing the surface of the water.

When the student reaches the trunk line he will tie the knot and signal the instructor with an OK. The instructor will check the knot to make sure it’s tied correctly and return the OK.

The student then gives an upturned thumb signal to ascend. Once he sees it returned by the instructor, can begin his ascent.

We’ll have a special video presentation during the last week of the five-part series, combining all the knots and showing them tied underwater like the test.

The second knot we’ll show from the test is the Square Knot.

Square Knot » Bends

(Strength: 2/Secure: 2/Stability: 1/Difficulty: 1)

Please refer to our Knot of the Week introduction post for a description of what these ratings mean.

Yes, the Square Knot is a somewhat simple knot, but the primary purpose of teaching this knot at BUD/s is for demolition.

When working with Det Cord (Detonation Cord), lines need to be spliced together. The simplest way to do this is with a Square Knot.

It’s debatable whether or not to backup the ends or not when dealing with Det Cord. It burns from one end to the other when ignited and is basically just cord with a PETN core that burns at a calculated rate.

When the Det Cord burn reaches the backed up portion of the Square Knot it will start burning not only towards the center of the knot, but also take off in the direction of the tail. This is why some don’t backup the knot.

At least a six-inch tail must be left after tying the Square Knot  to prevent moisture from entering the Det Cord through the exposed end.

During the BUD/s Underwater Knot Tying Test, it’s not required to backup the knot.

Uses:

• In demolition to splice Det Cord
• One of the most common knots in surgery
• Used in first aid to tie bandages, as it lies flat
• Tie boot laces to prevent boots getting pulled off by mud

Tying Instructions:

1. Pass the right end over the left end and back under the left
2. Pass the left end over the right end and back under the right
3. Check the knot (the two loops should slide on each other, if not you have a granny knot)
4. Tighten by pulling both strands on each side of the knot
5. Backup the square knot by making an overhand knot using the working end of each side of your knot
6. **The video below shows an alternate way of tying the Square Knot that will help with next week’s knot**

View the gallery or YouTube video below and follow along with the steps above!