Buntline Hitch

A hitch that cinches to the ring or shackle and is not meant to break by hand.

• !Second turn tied outside — two half hitches, not a jam
• !Expected to untie after a snatch
• !HMPE without a splice — the hitch strips the cover

• !The half hitch sits on the far side of the first turn, so the end points away from the ring and it is only two half hitches.
• !It has taken a heavy load or shock and now has to come undone; it can jam too tight to untie without a marlinspike.
• !It was loaded with a gap to the ring or crossed turns, and shock loads jam it in that shape, which is harder to check and to free.

• Second turn tied outside

  This is two half hitches, not a buntline, and can walk

  The second clove turn must sit toward the ring · step 02

• Floating clove never dressed to the ring

  Walks, then jams in the wrong place

  Dress the clove up to the ring before load · step 03

• Expected to untie after a snatch

  Knife job on a painter you needed to cast off

  The jam is the hitch — pick round turn and two half hitches for a release · step 04

• Cannot undo after load, or walks if the clove is reversed

  Check

  • ?Second clove turn toward the ring
  • ?Clove dressed to the ring

  Then

  • →Leave it if it is a standing job
  • →Cut and switch hitch if you needed a release

• Second turn tied outside

  Check

  • ?This is two half hitches, not a buntline, and can walk
  • ?Inspect step 02

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

• Floating clove never dressed to the ring

  Check

  • ?Walks, then jams in the wrong place
  • ?Inspect step 03

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

• Expected to untie after a snatch

  Check

  • ?Knife job on a painter you needed to cast off
  • ?Inspect step 04

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

• Halyard Hitch
• Anchor Bend