just finished a rock sling and a video-how-to. not done putting together the vid, but checkout the rig I use to make it, and these pics for now! will add vid link asap

Here is the how-to video I promised:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv5uPzLEGAg

That's neat. Where did you get that marlinspike for the paracord? How is the paracord attached to it? I'm not sure if "marlinspike" is the correct term. Maybe it's a "fid"? Or something else?

I guess you'd call it a fid. one end is threaded and you can "screw" a burned end of paracord into it. it was made by a friend for me. I've heard the ones available here are good for paracord (the large ones) http://www.angelfire.com/ak/skateworld/index.html

Until recently I made this with wooden beads on the release rather than knots. While recently slinging some rocks into a local river, I lost all three beads on a throw. They were wooden beads so breaking is unlikely, maybe they got over the figure 8 stopper knot. Whatever happened it was weird! My first thought was to just do a larger stopper knot, but then after tying the single strand turks head (ABOK #545 p. 90) I realized that three of these in series would make a great release grip; better than beads. Just before release there is a tremendous force on the release, if you let go early you have an errant throw and could kill someone or something!! Here are a few photos showing how I plan to make it from now on:

OK - your beautiful ropework and pictures have convinced me. I just have to make one of these for myself now. Thanks for publishing the instructions!

thanks! it doesn't take longer than one evening. the key to having it look good is to focus on equal tension for each pass. even then, you'll probably have to work the line through from one end to the other when you are done with the weave to get it really "clean". good luck, and please post a pic if you do one!

I can't quite identify your loop knot. I feel like I should know what it is - it seems familiar - but I can't put my finger on it. It has a nice lead. Do you have an ABOK number for it?

the finger loop knot? its a bowline with a yosemite finish; I think I found it in mountaineering, freedom of the hills. I'll look it up.

EDIT: Here you go http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_bowline

OK! Now that you point it out as being in the bowline family, I can see it. I knew I basically recognized the loop, but something was just a bit different. I had not heard of that "yosemite finish" before. I like it! Thanks for providing the link.

[edit] I like it a LOT! I just tied several of them to practice. It certainly makes the standard bowline more secure and much neater. Thanks! [/edit]