Cowboy bowline
The Cowboy bowline, also known as the left-hand bowline, Dutch bowline, or Dutch marine bowline, is a loop knot that forms a fixed eye at the end of a rope, serving as a variation of the standard bowline where the working end exits on the outside of the loop rather than the inside.[1][2] This configuration, documented as ABOK #1034.5 in The Ashley Book of Knots.[3][2] Historically, the Cowboy bowline gained prominence in maritime contexts, particularly adopted by the Dutch and German navies as well as various European sailing clubs, where it was sometimes referred to as the "winter bowline".[1][2] In The Ashley Book of Knots, author Clifford W. Ashley described it as "distinctly inferior" to the standard bowline in terms of security, noting potential vulnerabilities under certain loading conditions.[3] The knot's primary advantages include improved performance under transverse or ring loading—where forces pull perpendicular to the loop—making the tail less prone to accidental reversal compared to the standard bowline.[1][2] However, it shares similar overall strength to the conventional bowline but is generally not recommended for life-critical applications such as climbing, caving, or rescue operations due to risks of capsizing or slippage under dynamic loads.[2] It is recommended to verify its use with qualified instruction, particularly in high-stakes scenarios, and suggest alternatives like the Yosemite bowline or figure-eight loop for enhanced security.[1] Despite ongoing debates in knot-tying communities about its reliability versus the standard version, the Cowboy bowline remains a useful option for non-critical tasks in boating, camping, and general rigging.[3]Definition and characteristics
Description
The cowboy bowline is a type of loop knot that creates a fixed, secure loop at the end of a rope, suitable for applications requiring a non-slip eye under tension.[1] In basic rope terminology, the standing part is the long section of the rope that carries the primary load, the working end is the shorter free portion manipulated to form the knot, and the loop refers to the closed eye produced at the rope's terminus for attachment purposes.[1][4] Structurally, the cowboy bowline features a nipping loop formed near the standing part, around which the working end passes upward before wrapping around the standing part on the side adjacent to this initial loop, then descending outside the nipping loop to complete the form.[1] This configuration includes a clove hitch-like formation where the working end encircles the standing part, providing the knot's primary grip, followed by the tail securing externally rather than threading internally.[1] Visually, the knot resembles a standard bowline but with a mirrored tail placement, where the working end emerges on the exterior of the main loop, exposing the tail outside the eye in contrast to the internal positioning seen in related variations.[1][4] As a variation of the standard bowline, the cowboy bowline maintains an overall identical topology but reverses the direction of the working end's path around the standing part, resulting in the distinctive external tail exit.[1]Distinction from standard bowline
The cowboy bowline, also known as the left-hand bowline, differs structurally from the standard bowline in the path of the working end relative to the standing part and the eye of the loop. In the standard bowline (ABOK #1010), the working end wraps around the standing part on the side facing away from the eye before passing inside the nipping loop to finish with the tail sandwiched between the standing part and the loop's rim. By contrast, in the cowboy bowline (ABOK #1034½), the working end wraps around the standing part on the side closer to the eye and finishes on the outside, positioning the tail adjacent to rather than enclosed by the main structure.[5][6] This reversal in wrapping direction imparts a distinct handedness to the cowboy bowline, earning it descriptions as the "left-hand" or "reverse" variant in contrast to the standard "right-hand" bowline. The handedness arises from the opposite chirality in the collar formation and the orientation of the working end's passage around the standing part, mirroring the difference between right-hand and left-hand sheet bends from which bowlines derive.[5][7] Functionally, the external tail position in the cowboy bowline can lead to altered behavior under load compared to the standard form, potentially increasing resistance to capsizing from transverse forces while exerting greater pressure on the tail and reducing the nipping efficiency on that segment.[6] Despite these nuances, both knots feature the same nipping loop encircling the standing part, with the primary difference lying in the direction of the working end's wrap around the standing part (clockwise vs. counterclockwise) and its passage relative to the forming eye (inside vs. outside the nipping loop).[7]History and nomenclature
Origins
The cowboy bowline was first documented in Clifford W. Ashley's comprehensive reference The Ashley Book of Knots, published in 1944, where it appears as knot #1034½ and is identified as the "Left-Hand Bowline." Ashley describes it as a variation of the standard bowline formed similarly to the left-hand sheet bend, with the working end passing around the standing part on the side nearer the loop and finishing outside the loop, but he offers no details on its historical origins or prior usage.[5] Unconfirmed claims suggest the knot may have been employed by the Dutch Navy under the name "Dutch bowline," purportedly preferred because the external working end resists being inadvertently pushed through the loop under tension. Another allegation links it to cold-weather maritime practices in the northern Atlantic as a "winter bowline," where the exposed tail allegedly prevents jamming from ice buildup or wind. These accounts, however, remain unsubstantiated by primary sources and appear to stem from maritime folklore.[8] The development of the cowboy bowline is understood to have occurred as a natural mirror-image variation of the standard bowline, potentially influenced by left-handed tying techniques or localized European customs during the tying process. No verified evidence predates the 20th century for this knot, sharply contrasting with the standard bowline's ancient maritime roots, which are traceable to at least John Smith's 1627 publication A Sea Grammar, where it is referenced as the "Boling knot."[9]Alternative names
The cowboy bowline is known by several alternative names that reflect its structural features, regional associations, or unverified historical lore, though no single standardized term exists across knot-tying communities.[1][2] Primary alternatives include the Dutch bowline and Dutch marine bowline, which are linked to European naval and sailing traditions, particularly hearsay about its adoption by the Dutch Navy for perceived superior stability under load, despite some Dutch knot tyers disputing this connection and lacking confirmed documentation.[1][4] The term "cowboy bowline" itself appears to stem from informal American usage, often applied in the United States to distinguish the variant's external tail placement from the standard bowline.[4] Contextual names highlight specific attributes: "left-hand bowline" describes the tying direction or resulting structure where the working end exits outside the loop, contrasting with the standard bowline's internal exit; "outside bowline" similarly emphasizes the tail's position exterior to the main loop.[1][2] The designation "winter bowline" arises from unverified claims associating it with cold-climate utility, such as the exposed tail allegedly preventing freezing or jamming in harsh north Atlantic conditions, though this remains anecdotal without substantiation.[1] These names illustrate the evolution of knot nomenclature, where structural descriptors (e.g., "outside" or "left-hand") coexist with cultural or regional labels (e.g., "Dutch" or "cowboy"), often varying by maritime, climbing, or informal contexts without universal consensus.[1][4]Tying instructions
Step-by-step method
To tie the cowboy bowline, begin with a suitable length of rope, identifying the standing part as the long section that will carry the load and the working end as the free portion used for forming the knot. Ensure the working end is long enough to form the desired loop size plus a tail of at least 12 times the rope's circumference for security after tightening.[7] The tying process uses a mnemonic similar to the standard bowline but with the "rabbit" wrapping the "tree" in the opposite direction, resulting in the tail exiting outside the loop rather than inside.[1]- Form a small loop in the standing part to create the eye (the rabbit's hole), positioning it so the desired finished loop size is accommodated on one side. Leave the working end hanging free on the appropriate side for your handedness.
- Pass the working end (the rabbit) up through the small loop from underneath (inside to outside).
- Wrap the working end clockwise around the standing part (the tree), passing from the side closer to the eye—this is the key reversal from the standard bowline's counterclockwise wrap.
- Bring the working end back down and tuck it through the original small loop from above (outside to inside).