How to Tie the Highwayman's Hitch

The Highwayman's Hitch is also known as the Highwayman's Cutaway or the Bank Robber's Hitch.
The Highwayman's Hitch is easy to tie and fairly secure. However, some people have said that a clever horse knows how to untie this hitch. When the Bank Robber's Knot needs to be untied, just one tug on the working end and the knot falls free from the spar or ring.
This hitch can also be used when mooring, it can be tied in the bight and the working end can be lead to the stern of the boat, thereby creating a remote release for this hitch.

According to Art of Knotting and Splicing, by Day; United States Naval Institute "Hal McKail says that Dick Turpin is supposed to have invented this hitch"

Some people say that the Painter Hitch is the Highwayman's Hitch, and vice versa, however, there is a slight difference between the two hitches.

The Highwayman's Hitch is very easy to tie, you just need to remember; a bight, then another bight passed through the bight, then a third bight passed through the last bight.

Johnny Debt
##LetsGetKnotting Channel Handle: @KnottingKnots

[gwiyomikim]

I like the knot, and the phrase “dress it smartly”. I plan to use both quite often.👍🏼

[dm]

I have a friend who owns horses. After I learned this knot I couldn’t wait to show it off to her. She and her dad had a good laugh over it

[anangryranger]

Indeed, a great hitch to tie your horse up. Have used it for over more decades than I care to say.😬 While assigned to the mounted unit of the police dept., I had a very intelligent horse that knew how to pull the hitch apart with his teeth. I'd tie him up, and walk away only to have him follow me. Smart horse.🐴

[MichaelR]

Good knot, thanks for sharing, God bless !

[malporveresto]

Probably the knot I use the most. I use to carry a small man bag across the chest with a string. Everywhere I sit to eat or drink, I tie the highwayman's hitch to the armrest. In my case I have to tie it doubled, I tie two strings as if they were one, but work just as fine.

[lucassmith]

Wish I'd have known that knot when I was a kid. Would have made releasing horses so much easier when the rope was under tons of force.