More details about the The Sheepshank
Avoid Using It: The Sheepshank should never be used. It is only included here because Boy Scouts used to be required to learn it. Ashley described Sheepshanks (ABOK # 1152 - 1154, p 210) but cautioned that they "......should be seized or otherwise secured to make them safe unless the need is very temporary...."
Failure Under Load: Modern synthetic materials tend to be more flexible and slippery. The illustration on the leftt shows a correctly tied sheepshank failing under modest load. This is a piece of three strand nylon rope and this failure was reproduced easily and repeatedly.
Let's Eliminate It: If you are asked to learn this, please suggest to your Troop Leader to request that this knot be eliminated from his or her requirements and replaced by something safe and useful.
Practical Limitations: In practice, this knot would be almost impossible to tie under load; shortening one end and resecuring the line would be preferable. As a knot, it cannot pass through blocks or sheaves. In the critical environments presented by climbing, search and rescue, and boating, there are no applications where the Sheepshank would offer an acceptable solution.
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