Hunter's Bend

Two interlocking overhands or a Carrick lattice — tails on the documented sides.

• !Tails on the wrong sides of the bend
• !Broken lattice or a reef-knot form in disguise
• !Undressed so one overhand takes the whole load

• !Both ends pass through the centre from the same side, so the two overhand knots do not lock into each other
• !The bights are laid over each other instead of linked, so the ropes come apart before the knot is built
• !The ends are left short on a join that takes a critical load
• !It has taken a heavy load and must be untied, as it can jam tight enough to need cutting

• Same-side tails

  Bend will not lock and spills

  Each tail must exit opposite after its own-loop tuck · step 03

• Started as a 6-and-9

  You tied a Zeppelin — keep it on purpose or retie Hunter's

  Hunter's overlaps tails; it does not start as a 6-and-9 · step 01

• Expected to untie after a heavy snatch

  Jammed double-overhand, knife job

  If you must untie after load, use a Zeppelin · step 04

• Bend spills, or will not break after load

  Check

  • ?Opposite working ends
  • ?Compact body, not a 6-and-9

  Then

  • →Retie opposite tails
  • →Use Zeppelin if you must untie after load

• Same-side tails

  Check

  • ?Bend will not lock and spills
  • ?Inspect step 03

  Then

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

• Started as a 6-and-9

  Check

  • ?You tied a Zeppelin — keep it on purpose or retie Hunter's
  • ?Inspect step 01

  Then

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

• Expected to untie after a heavy snatch

  Check

  • ?Jammed double-overhand, knife job
  • ?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.

• Zeppelin Bend
• Carrick Bend