Usage
The Magnus Hitch is an adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension. It is useful when the length of a line will need to be periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension. Tension is maintained by sliding the hitch to adjust size of the loop, thus changing the effective length of the standing part without retying the knot.History
The Midshipman's Hitch, Taut-line Hitch, and Magnus Hitch have a muddled naming history that has caused all kinds of confusion over the years. The three hitches are closely related in structure and purpose, which has no doubt added to the confusion. To avoid ambiguity, Knots 3D refers to each by the Ashley reference number (ABOK #).- Midshipman's Hitch -> ABOK #1855
- Taut-line hitch -> ABOK #1856
- Magnus Hitch -> ABOK #1857
The term Taut-line is found as early as 1912 in Howard W. Riley's book 'Knots, Hitches, and Splices', although it is shown in the Midshipman's Hitch form. Additional confusion was introduced by the Boy Scouts of America who have published both the #1855 and #1856 knots as the 'Taut-line' in different editions of the Boy Scout Handbook. The current 13th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook illustrates #1856 for the Taut-line, but the 5th edition of the Handbook (years 1948–1959) illustrated #1855 — what we now call the Midshipman's Hitch — but referred to it as the Taut-line Hitch. This is unfortunate since the Midshipman's is likely a better knot for most things and the Boy Scouts would have been well served to stay with the 5th Edition illustration and name. Knots 3D currently uses the names defined by Wikipedia and they seem to be the most common at the moment. No doubt the naming confusion will continue for years if not centuries.
Also known as
- Magner's Hitch
- Taut-line Hitch
ABOK
- 1857
