Fiador Knot Gear Carrier + Tutorial Link

The fiador knot is used to make bridles for horses. It has other uses as well. There is one upper loop and two lower loops that can be made any size. It can be hung from a belt or any appropriate place. The sliding knots I added to the lower example clamp down snugly on flashlight, water bottle, or whatever.





For a tutorial see
http://pineapple.myfunforum.org/about1942.html

Thanks a lot, never heard of that one before. And neither has my favourite app "Animated knots by Grog". At least, I couldn't find it there.

http://www.animatedknots.com/fiador/inde...imatedknots.com

The ordinary fiador knot (as shown in the animated knots link) is basicly a four strand diamond - left and right of center- lower knot. The Mattthew Walker Knot (MWK) style fiador knot is a four strand MWK. The tutorial link for the MWK style is given in my first post. Tony

What sliding knot did you use?

I used a cobra knot same as in making a simple bracelet. Tony

Quick question. I've been thinking about the fiador since you posted it.

The fiador is a relatively complex knot. Using the fiador for horses fulfills a need that nothing else does but I am at a loss of other uses. A quick google search also fails to bring up other applications.

What does the fiador bring to the table that something simpler doesn't? I suggest an alternative knot could be a bowline on a bight and then tying the two ends for the third loop (with a sheetbend or anything convenient).

You are right that the bowline on a bight would be simpler. However the MWK style fiador can be tied tighter than the bowline so that the ends can be trimmed close to the knot without fear of the knot coming undone. There is no bulky extra knot (sheet bend)to worry about getting in the way or loosening up.
The fiador IS designed for a specific use that other knots can not accomplish. But it serves other uses as well . Tony

Tie a bowline using a bight rather than a single strand. You will then have three independent loops which are independently adjustable. If two loops will suffice, it is hard to beat a bowline on a bight, IMHO.

But what are these other uses? I can't think of anything OTHER than on a horse. Any other application, simpler knots suffice.
KISS.

I am reluctant to add the fiador to my bag of tricks until I can think of such a use. For instance, I commonly use the zeppelin Bend over the sheetbend even though it is more difficult to tie because

1. It is stronger then the sheetbend
2. It doesn't bind even after stress is applied.

What does the fiador bring to the table that the bowline on a bight with an additional sheetbend doesn't? Except for equine applications, the fiador is listed as a decorative knot only.

I like using a "decorative knot" in a practical applicatin. The advanage of the MWK style fiador (as opposed to the normaal diamond knot fiador) is that it DOES bind. The loops stay locked in place and because of the MWK strands constriction properties.
I have snown the uses for the MWK fiador in my original post. Why not use a decorative knot that holds tighter than a simpler knot. It is really not that difficult to tie. And you can trim the ends close to the knot. Cheers. Tony

This topic interests me since I occasionally need to retrieve large bulky paleontological specimens typically weighing 300-500 pounds, using some fairly elaborate rope rigging techniques. Is there any information on destructive testing of the fiador knot, i.e., at what load will it fail, especially if the rope ends are trimmed close?

I do not know of any such testing.

Agreed, and I very much enjoy tying decorative knots in the comfort of my own sofa, with online access to detailed instructions. More so if the result has some practical application. Handiwork is underrated.

But my arsenal of knots I can tie anywhere, by heart, is very limited, and does not include decorative knots.

If you want to dry a decorative/practical knot try the pineapple knot. I just posted a link.
http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=273057&#Post273057

The use of a matthew walker knot in horse tack is not unknown. While looking for more information about the fiador I came across this from Wilipedia - Fiador (tack)

Construction
In North America, a fiador is usually made from rope or cordage. Materials used may include horsehair, rawhide, cotton sash cord, or nylon. Cotton or nylon rope of approximately 6 mm diameter is the most common material. It runs behind the ears, over the poll of the horse, then joins under the cheeks with a fiador knot, or occasionally a Matthew Walker knot.

I finally found a haaltger maker who uses the Matthew Walker Knot as a fiador knot. See halfway down the page.
http://userpages.chorus.net/dldanie2/halter/halter.html