Anchor bend

"Fisherman's bend" redirects here. For a similarly-named knot, see Fisherman's knot. For the place, see Fishermans Bend, Victoria.

Anchor bend
Names	Anchor bend, fisherman's bend
Category	Hitch
Related	Round turn and two half hitches
Releasing	Jamming
Typical use	attaching a rope to a ring or similar termination
ABoK	#1723, #1841

The anchor bend is a knot used for attaching a rope to a ring or similar termination. The name is a misnomer, as it is technically not a bend, but a hitch.

Origins

"oncear bendum," an early evidence of use of anchor bends by Anglo-Saxons from Beowulf

Its name originates from the time when "bend" was understood to simply mean "tie to"; today, a bend strictly refers to a knot that joins two lines.

Techniques

While the knot can become jammed in some modern materials, it is usually easily untied after moderate loads; it can be made more resistant to jamming by taking an extra turn around the object—this will make for a one-diameter longer span of the end to reach around the standing part to be tucked (although in a case of tying to a small shackle or link of a chain, this might not be possible). It is the accepted knot for attaching anchors (or more usually anchor chains) to warps. The knot is very similar to a round turn and two half hitches except that the first half hitch is passed under the turn. In many everyday uses, the finishing half-hitch need not be made; alternatively, one might seek surer security by tying off the end with a strangle knot to the standing part.

Anchor bend step by step, with a finishing half hitch.

See also

• Round turn and two half-hitches
• List of knots
• List of hitch knots

External links

• Grog. "Anchor Bend". Animated Knots. Retrieved May 5, 2013.