Editing Sheepshank (section)

==Variants==

===Man-o'war sheepshank===
The '''man-o'war sheepshank''' is a sheepshank [[knot]] with a [[Handcuff knot]] in the middle.  This configuration with the half-hitches formed close to the central knot is used in [[rope rescue]] and is called a [[Fireman's chair knot]].

[[image:man-o'-war-sheepshank.png]]

===Sheepshank with Marlinespike hitches===
This version of the sheepshank is tied by using slipknots instead of half-hitches. It is one of the safest sheepshank variations.<ref name="ashley191">{{citation |last=Ashley |first=Clifford W. |title=The Ashley Book of Knots |year= 1944 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York |page=210 }}</ref>

===Kamikaze knot===
[[Image:Kamikaze.JPG|right|400px]]

The kamikaze knot is a slight variant of the sheepshank. To perform a kamikaze knot, a sheepshank is first constructed. While holding sufficient tension on the sheepshank so it will not slip out, the middle rope is sliced. This allows climbers rappelling down cliff faces to keep most of the rope used for the rappel, by tying the knot at the top, and shaking the rope when they reach the bottom. The shaking disconnects the knot at the top, allowing the longer section of rope to fall, meaning only a small amount of rope is retained by the anchor at the top of the cliff. Thin or slippery rope is unsuitable for such a knot, as it can easily slip, and the knot should not be performed unless desperately needed.

====Use====
This variant of the sheepshank knot appeared in an episode of the TV show ''[[Man vs. Wild]]''.  Although certainly not invented by him, [[Bear Grylls]] uses {{clarify-span|a modification of this knot|date=May 2022}} by cutting one of the lengths of rope in the knot, while [[rappelling]] down an edge during the Ireland episode of ''Man Vs Wild'' in order to retrieve his rope at the bottom by severing the middle leg of the sheepshank knot before his descent. He refers to it as a "Kamikaze" knot.

=== Bell-ringer's knot ===
A simpler variant of the sheepshank wherein a half-hitch is only tied around only one end produces a '''bell-ringer's knot''' (ABoK #1147). It will immediately spill under tension, and is used to keep a long rope from the belfry deck when not in use.

===Catshank===
<!--[[Catshank]] redirects directly here.-->
{{Knot-details
| name=Catshank
| image=Catshank.jpg 
| names= 
| type= shortening
| strength= 
| origin= 
| related= Sheepshank, [[Dogshank]]
| releasing= 
| uses= 
| caveat= 
| abok_number= 
}}

The '''catshank''' is a variant of the sheepshank, clinched by two [[overhand knot]]s with the [[bight (knot)|bights]] passed through the twists (one end of the rope must be available to tie the overhands).<ref>[[Raoul Graumont|Graumont, Raoul]] (1945) ''Handbook of Knots''. New York, Cornell Maritime Press, page 20</ref>

===Dogshank===
<!--[[Dogshank]] redirects directly here.-->
{{Knot-details
| name=Dogshank
| image= Dogshank.gif
| names= 
| type= shortening
| strength= 
| origin= 
| related= Sheepshank, [[Catshank]], [[Bowline]]
| releasing= 
| uses= Shortening rope
| caveat= 
| abok_number= 
}}
The '''dogshank''', or '''sheepshank pouch knot''', is a variant of the sheepshank where the eyes formed at each end have the ends of the rope passed through them to prevents the knot from spilling. At least one end of the rope must be available to tie or untie this knot. It is mostly useful for the hammock-like space it creates.<ref>[https://knots.neocities.org/sheepshank.html Sheepshank & Variants] ''knots.neocities.org'', accessed 26 August 2023</ref>

The '''dogshank''' can be thought of as two opposite [[bowline]]s where
* the two ends provide the respective standing lines each with its pinching turn, and
* the two elbows of the Z-folded middle part provide the bights that pass through the turns and come back from around the standing lines.