Gunner's Knot

The Gunner's knot is a most effective binding knot. It is made similarly to a Clover Hitch but with one end passed under the other, forming an Overhand knot held firm under a riding turn. Its security requires that the riding turn is able to apply pressure to the overhand knot portion. When this situation is met, it is an extremely secure knot and will be very difficult to untie once tightened. The Gunner's knot is appropriate for situations where secure temporary or semi-permanent binding is needed. Some use it as a whipping however a number in line produce the better results. Gunner's knots are also effective as improvised hose clamps or cable ties. Its usage as a hitch is limited to permanent applications due its difficulty to untie.

Many illustration and descriptions fail to adequately describe or show the formation of the overhand portion of the knot. It is this overhand formation, held by the second turn (riding turn), which gives this knot its strength. To tighten the knot, apply pressure to the standing and tag ends. A heavily tightened Gunner's knot will most likely jam. It may be possible to untie with the use of a pick, marlinespike or some other tool forced between turns. If the knot is hopelessly jammed, it can be easily released by cutting the riding turn with a knife. The Gunner's knot is best secured around convex objects. If binding is not around a fully convex or square-edged object, arrange the overhand knot portion to lie across a portion where the riding turn can firmly jam down on it. In situations where a gap exists under the overhand portion, and solid pressure is not able to be applied by the riding turn, it is possible the knots strength can be considerably weakened. The Gunner's knot's severe bite, which makes it so effective, can damage or disfigure softer items it is tied around. Therefore, consider using stiffer cordage when tying this knot to softer materials. The Gunner's knot is indeed an ancient knot disguised under various names. Its modern popularity and naming as the “Gunner's knot” stems from Clifford W. Ashley’s work ‘The Ashley Book of Knots’ (1944). In fact Ashley believed he had invented the knot, however, he was not its originator. Regardless, there is little doubt that Ashley popularized the Gunner's knot and led to it being better known today than in the past. Tom Bowling first described the knot in his book ‘The Book of Knots’ (1866). He called it the "Gunner's knot". Bowling described it in relation to the Clove hitch, which he illustrated and called the "Builder's knot". He wrote, "The Gunner's knot only differs from the Builder's knot, by the ends of the cords being simply knotted before being brought from under the loop which crosses them”. Over the years many have attempted to describe the Gunner's knot and in doing so have presented it with varying names. In more recent years Swedish author Hjalmar Öhrvall in his book ‘Om Knutar’ (1916) described the knot and called it “timmerknut”. Martta Ropponen provided the first known illustrations of the knot in her scouting handbook “Solmukirja” (1931). Finnish author Cyrus Day, ‘Ouipus and Witches’ Knots’ (1967) called it “ruoskasolmu”. The versatility, compactness, strength and sheer tenacity of this tried and tested ancient knot, was always going to attract attention. It is essentially the Gunner’s knot, these days better known as the Constrictor knot.