Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban From: rudolph@cis.umassd.edu (Lee Rudolph) Subject: Re: hangman's noose Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 12:06:23 GMT >My dad insists that a Hangmans noose has to have at least 13 turns/coils in >the (k)not to break the neck. I agrued that a simple slip (k)not would do just >fine. Can anyone farmiliar with execution technology confirm or debunk >this story. Clifford W. Ashley, in _The Ashley Book of Knots_, has this to say, in his section on "Occupational Knots" (between "The Hammock Maker" and "The Horseman"): 366. THE HANGMAN'S KNOT. There are several knots recommended for this purpose, and there are several variations of the one gien here that may be found in the chapter on Nooses. But this knot of eight turns appears to be the standard one, and it may be counted upon to draw up smoothly and snugly when it fulfills its office. The noose is always adjusted with the knot slightly below and immediately in back of the left hear. This is to provide the sidewise jerk, which is one of the refinements of a successful hanging. Hangings at sea were infrequent. Such an occasion furnished a bit of extra-routine labor, in which the boatswain took especial pride, and in which no bungling was tolerated. A boatswain's reputation would be forever ruined if there were any hitch on such an occasion. Although most of the details were left to him, there were certain well-established conventions which had to be observed. These are given in detail in an old work on seamanship. A fall was led through a single block at the fore yardarm and thence to a second single block under the fore cap. Between the two blocks was a SHEEPSHANK KNOT (#1154), the upper bight of which was not _half hitched_, as is customary, but was merely _stopped_ with light twine. This stopping would carry away the instant the knot was hauled against the block, so spilling the SHEEPSHANK. The weight at the _noose_ end at once dropped to take up the slack given by the spilled SHEEPSHANK, and it was brought up with a jerk by a toggle which fetched against the yardarm block. The toggle was _marlingspike hithced_ (#2030) and seized to the rope at a point which allowed for an exact six-foot drop outside the rail. In preparation for this the fall was laid at length along the deck ``ready to be hurried aft'' when ``twenty stout fellows seized the rope.'' Later, in the chapter on Nooses, we find 1119. THE HANGMAN'S KNOT. This is the knot generally used for the purpose suggested by the name, because it may be counted on to draw up smoothly and not let go. ... It is sometimes contended that there should be nine turns to the NOOSE, so that ``even if a man has has many lives as a cat, there shall be a full turn for each one of them,'' and I have heard thirteen turns urged as the proper number on the assumption that there is some connection between bad luck and being hanged. However, I learned the knot ... with only eight turns, and I have found the preponderance of authority in favor of eight turns only. I believe this 620-page hardcover, first published in 1944, is still in print from Doubleday; ISBN 0-385-04025-3. Lee "your knottage may vary" Rudolph