fireman's chair knot

A Fireman's chair knot, also known as the handcuff knot is an inline knot with two adjustable loops in opposing directions. The fireman's chair term comes from the ability to use this knot as a harness capable of supporting a person, for example when lowering them during a rescue. One loop supports the body, under the armpits, and the other loop supports the legs, under the knees. A reasonably snug fitting of this knot should not allow the person to fall, even if unconscious. The handcuff knot term comes from the ability to tighten the two loops around hands or feet, although the knot doesn't posess any noose action, so the knot won't be as easy to use for such purposes as the name might suggest. The knot is also known as a hobble knot for similar reasons, as it is said that the knot was sometimes used on the legs of horses to limit the distance their riders had to walk in the morning to retrieve them. The knot consists of two simple loops, overlaid, and with the ends pulled through. At that stage, the knot is slippery and easy to adjust. The sizes of the two loops can then be fixed by tying a half-hitch around the opposite loop (see diagram)

Fireman's Chair Knot

See also