Semi-mechanical Ascenders

In his book Prusiking, Bob Thrun divided ascender knots into "knots consisting entirely of rope" (which I now call "ascender knots") and "semi-mechanical knots." I've chosen to break the latter into "carabiner knots" which use only a sling and a carabiner, and "semi-mechanical ascenders," which include the rest.

Paraphrasing Bob, carabiner knots and semi-mechanical ascenders use the sling rope to do most of the gripping. The semi-mechanical ascenders in my collection appear in the first table, and the carabiner knots are discussed below.

ID Device Description Acquired Weight Height Width Thickness Std. volume

161 Eight-Link 7/16" 8-link for connecting chain, for Eight-Link or Heddon Eight-Link knots Robert W. Storrick, 2002 146 74 38 11 30

176 H-Bar, Version A Two 7/16" steel side bars with two 1/4" steel crossbars, for semimechanical Prusik Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2004 122 70 60 11 46

177 H-Bar, Version B Two 7/16" steel side bars with two 1/4" steel crossbars, for semimechanical Prusik Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2004 133 74 58 11 48

107 Interalp Camp Look Forged Al plate /w notches, for single or double rope. Repetto Sport, 1982 58 98 42 8 33

108 Salewa Forged Al block /w hole and notch, for semi-mechanical helical knot. Eiselin Sport, 1982 11 31 27 8 7

109 Snap Hook Small hardware store snap link, for Varnedoe V-knot. Tru-Value Hardware, 1989 25 77 27 10 21

112 Storrick Hand cut Al block /w hole and notch, Salewa copy, noncommercial Dr. Gary D. Storrick 22 35 34 10 12

198 Thrun Drilled Al sheet with 2 5.16" holse, for semimechanical Prusik Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2005 6 51 20 3 3

ID	Device	Description	Acquired	Weight	Height	Width	Thickness	Std. volume
161	Eight-Link	7/16" 8-link for connecting chain, for Eight-Link or Heddon Eight-Link knots	Robert W. Storrick, 2002	146	74	38	11	30
176	H-Bar, Version A	Two 7/16" steel side bars with two 1/4" steel crossbars, for semimechanical Prusik	Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2004	122	70	60	11	46
177	H-Bar, Version B	Two 7/16" steel side bars with two 1/4" steel crossbars, for semimechanical Prusik	Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2004	133	74	58	11	48
107	Interalp Camp Look	Forged Al plate /w notches, for single or double rope.	Repetto Sport, 1982	58	98	42	8	33
108	Salewa	Forged Al block /w hole and notch, for semi-mechanical helical knot.	Eiselin Sport, 1982	11	31	27	8	7
109	Snap Hook	Small hardware store snap link, for Varnedoe V-knot.	Tru-Value Hardware, 1989	25	77	27	10	21
112	Storrick	Hand cut Al block /w hole and notch, Salewa copy, noncommercial	Dr. Gary D. Storrick	22	35	34	10	12
198	Thrun	Drilled Al sheet with 2 5.16" holse, for semimechanical Prusik	Dr. Gary D. Storrick, 2005	6	51	20	3	3

Carabiner Knots

I've placed the carabiner knots in a separate table because the weight and dimensions depend on the particular carabiner being used.

The Gallery shows the following knots, which form a small portion of all the variations invented over the years:

Knot

Bachmann Knot

Bachmann Knot with Turns
(a.k.a. Silverterknoten)

Bachmann Ring Knot

Carabiner Knot
(a.k.a. Bachmann 1947)

Carabiner Hedden

Carabiner Prusik

Cheater Knot

Garda Knot

Marlatt Knot

RBS Knot

Prusik Around Carabiner

Snap Link Twist

Knot
Bachmann Knot
Bachmann Knot with Turns (a.k.a. Silverterknoten)
Bachmann Ring Knot
Carabiner Knot (a.k.a. Bachmann 1947)
Carabiner Hedden
Carabiner Prusik
Cheater Knot
Garda Knot
Marlatt Knot
RBS Knot
Prusik Around Carabiner
Snap Link Twist

I would like to thank Franz Bachmann for letting me know of his history of his knots that he makes available at http://www.itsportmontagna.it/technica/nodi_bachmann, and for the nice comments he has made there about my site.