The falconer's knot is a knot used in falconry to tether a bird of prey to a perch. Some sources show this knot to be identical to the halter hitch,[1] but with a specific method of single-handed tying needed when the other hand is occupied holding the bird.
The falconer's knot is usually tied one handed with the right hand (using two fingers to hold the end, and the thumb to hook behind the end) as follows:
The rope is passed around the perch, with the tail end to the farther side extending to the left.
The right hand, is placed palm up, underneath both pieces of rope and a middle point of the tail piece is pinch/gripped between the index and middle fingers, as if one were cutting the rope with scissors.
The thumb reaches over the main part, and over the "scissoring fingers", points first down to the right under the tail side, then upwards to hook the tail side rope with the back of the thumbnail,
Keeping the thumb in the same position hooking the tail side, the wrist with the pinched tail is then rotated to the right as if signalising "GO AWAY!" so that the back of the hand ends up facing up at the near side of both ropes while the scissoring fingers still hold the tail, and pulled now under the main part to the right.
Due to the rotation, the thumb (still over the main part) will have a loop of the tail side wrapped around. The "scissored" rope (still under the main part) is then to be put through the loop around the thumb, pushing with the fingers. The thumb may also help it through the loop.
The result is an Overhand knot of the tail, where the knot is around the main part, with a slip i.e. a Halter hitch. This is achieved without involving the left hand which usually is busy holding the animal attached to the main part. The knot is then tightened towards the perch, then the free tail end passed through the new slip loop, to secure (just in case the animal has learned to untie the slip knot by pulling the end).
To untie, one simply pulls out the free end, tugs hard, and it should untie. When securing birds of prey often two knots will be used as birds can learn to untie them.
Falconer's knot 1 : pinching fingers from below, hooking thumb from above
Falconer's knot 2 : hand rotated counterclockwise
Falconer's knot 3 : Loop around the thumb, end between fingers
Falconer's knot 4 : End bight slipped through loop around thumb
Instructional video on tying the Falconer's knot at youtube.com
How to Tie a Falconer's Knot at themodernapprentice.com
January 01, 1970
falconer, knot, falconer, knot, knot, used, falconry, tether, bird, prey, perch, some, sources, show, this, knot, identical, halter, hitch, with, specific, method, single, handed, tying, needed, when, other, hand, occupied, holding, bird, categoryhitchrelatedh. The falconer s knot is a knot used in falconry to tether a bird of prey to a perch Some sources show this knot to be identical to the halter hitch 1 but with a specific method of single handed tying needed when the other hand is occupied holding the bird Falconer s knotCategoryHitchRelatedHalter hitchReleasingNon jammingTypical useFalconry Contents 1 Tying 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTying editThe falconer s knot is usually tied one handed with the right hand using two fingers to hold the end and the thumb to hook behind the end as follows The rope is passed around the perch with the tail end to the farther side extending to the left The right hand is placed palm up underneath both pieces of rope and a middle point of the tail piece is pinch gripped between the index and middle fingers as if one were cutting the rope with scissors The thumb reaches over the main part and over the scissoring fingers points first down to the right under the tail side then upwards to hook the tail side rope with the back of the thumbnail Keeping the thumb in the same position hooking the tail side the wrist with the pinched tail is then rotated to the right as if signalising GO AWAY so that the back of the hand ends up facing up at the near side of both ropes while the scissoring fingers still hold the tail and pulled now under the main part to the right Due to the rotation the thumb still over the main part will have a loop of the tail side wrapped around The scissored rope still under the main part is then to be put through the loop around the thumb pushing with the fingers The thumb may also help it through the loop The result is an Overhand knot of the tail where the knot is around the main part with a slip i e a Halter hitch This is achieved without involving the left hand which usually is busy holding the animal attached to the main part The knot is then tightened towards the perch then the free tail end passed through the new slip loop to secure just in case the animal has learned to untie the slip knot by pulling the end To untie one simply pulls out the free end tugs hard and it should untie When securing birds of prey often two knots will be used as birds can learn to untie them nbsp Falconer s knot 1 pinching fingers from below hooking thumb from above nbsp Falconer s knot 2 hand rotated counterclockwise nbsp Falconer s knot 3 Loop around the thumb end between fingers nbsp Falconer s knot 4 End bight slipped through loop around thumb nbsp Falconer s knot 5 Tightened nbsp Falconer s knot 6 LockedSee also editList of knotsReferences edit Parry Jones Jemima 1994 Training Birds of Prey David amp Charles p 73 ISBN 0 7153 1238 3 External links editInstructional video on tying the Falconer s knot at youtube com How to Tie a Falconer s Knot at themodernapprentice com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Falconer 27s knot amp oldid 1096299984, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
