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The History of the
Monkey Fist
Self-defense essential
or handy lanyard? YES.
You have all seen them. Sometimes with spikes, sometimes a
ball bearing, probably at the end of the lanyard; the Monkey fist has a rich
history rooted in practicality at sea. Sometimes seen as a self-defense gimmick
today, it can be easy to forget where the Monkey Fist came from and some of the
practical applications it possesses. I am here to show you a little about this
historical knot and explain how it can be useful to more people than simply
your friendly neighborhood ninja.
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Like many historical knots, the
Monkey Fist began at sea as a way to ease the impossibly hard lives of sailors.
The Monkey Fist was traditionally tied at the end of a light weight ‘heaving’
line to enable the sailor to easily throw it on shore or to another boat. The
knot was frequently wrapped around a rock or a piece of wood to add weight to
make it easier to throw. This simple knot actually significantly changed the
lives of sailors, because they had previously been subject to working with
heavy, extremely cumbersome ropes that were difficult to throw.
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Naturally, sailors saw
the dual-capacity of the Monkey Fist to also be a weapon, calling it the
‘Slungshot.’ Surprisingly effective, the Slungshot was on a much shorter length
of rope than the Monkey Fist and was tied around the hand, similar to the way
in which many people wield their Paracord Monkey Fist today. The Slungshot
continued to be adapted to fit its surroundings because of its simplicity and
was used widely by organized crime up until the depression era; variations
included the infamous ‘Black Jack.’
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Modern applications of the Monkey Fist are as varied as its
history. Today, a Monkey Fist can be found wedged in the crack of rock face for
a climber, falling from a plane as parachute pull or simply lying in someone’s
purse. The great versatility of the Monkey Fist is what makes it such a great
knot that really allows the creator to be highly unique. Whether spikes and
golf ball are your inclination or you have a proclivity for steel ball bearings, the Monkey Fist is easy to make your own. The Monkey Fist has also
never been easier to tie or customize, check out our jigs and ball bearings to
get started today!
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Thank you so much for reading, whether you enjoyed it or
hated it feel free to leave a comment below or share with your friends. And as
always, ‘Like’ our Facebook page for all the latest deals and Paracord news!
Author’s Note: The Monkey Fist is
also said to get its name from the way a Monkey Strikes
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