Types of Paracord

A lot of the current interest in Knots has been driven by Paracord and Paracord creations. Most recreational knots being tied today are being tied in Paracord. What is Paracord? Paracord comes in many different forms. 

The original paracord was used in the suspension lines of U.S. military parachutes in World War II. I believe those cords were made with silk. Synthetic fibers were not real common until the end of WWII. Today's Paracord is manufactured with Nylon. The official Paracord is Department of Defense Military Specification "MIL-C-5040H CORD, FIBROUS, NYLON" This specification was adopted in 1987. The last revision to this specification was in 1994 It covers several different diameters and strengths of cord. The most common is Type III. This cord has a minimum braking strength of 550 pounds. Hence the nickname "550 paracord" The other types of cords range in strength from 95 pounds for Type I to 750 pounds for Type IV. The specification also requires that the cord be natural color (undyed fiber) or Camouflage Green 483 (a standard US Army camo color aka Olive Drab) The cord shall also have 7 to 9 inner strands. Each manufacturer also must put in three colored inner strands that are unique to them for identification proposes. 

BUT, that specification was replaced in 1997 by a civilian standard. "PIA-C-5040E CORD, FIBROUS, NYLON". This standard was developed by the Parachute Industry Association and adopted by the Department of Defense. That standard is physically the same but the testing standards are much more rigorous. The cord must be resistant to light and and be ph neutral. There is also a requirement for a fluorocarbon (Teflon) treatment. Also there are no color restrictions. So today's paracord has much better wear and tear features than old school paracord. It can probably last a long time.

Genuine Type III Mil-Spec Paracord should have a label as such; M5040-5x. X being the color. If it doesn't have this label, it's probably not genuine paracord. In fact, if your Paracord is not Black, Foliage Green, Coyote Brown 498, Khaki, Desert Tan 499, Camo Green 483, Natural (White), Olive Drab 107, Foliage Green 504, Red, Maroon, Sea Blue or Orange, it's definitely NOT Mil-Spec Paracord! Those are the only colors produced by manufacturers for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Military.

I seriously doubt any manufacturer is going to go through the process of; wet shrinking the yarns in 200° F water for thirty to sixty minutes, meet six ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards, six AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists) standards, four PIA (Parachute Industry Association) standards, component testing of; Denier, Tenacity, Melting Point, Twist Single Yarns, Twist Plied Yarns and Plying of Core Yarns, and testing EIGHTEEN end items. Not to mention a "Sunshine Carbon Arc Test" and a "Xenon Arc Test"!!!

That being said, there is a LOT of paracord on the market. Some cord says it is made by a certified U.S. Government Contractor. That doesn't mean that the cord is Mil-Spec. Some is labeled Commercial Paracord. This is cord that has the same general physical characteristics as Mil-Spec but probably won't meet all of the testing standards or fiber standards. And I seriously doubt that any commercial cord has been treated with Teflon. All of that would make it very expensive for the manufacturers to make Mil-Spec Paracord for the civilian market. I would suggest buying U.S. made Paracord. Chances are it is made by a company that makes Mil-Spec cord for the U.S. Military and would meet many of the physical construction and strength requirements.

A lot of people complain about cord they purchased online not being Mil-Spec cord. Well for the most part you get what you pay for. If you want to be assured of getting Mil-Spec paracord, and you need a lot of cord, it would probably be a good idea to go to one of the manufacturers of genuine DOD Mil-Spec cord. Such as E. L. Wood or Gladding. (By the way, E.L. Wood unique color strands are 2-yellow, 1-black, Gladding is 2-yellow, 1-green.). In the next post I will list some retail vendors that sell genuine Mil-Spec parachute cord. 

But this begs the question; Do you really need genuine Mil-Spec Paracord? Are you planning on rigging some parachutes for you and your friends? The answer is probably No. If you're making bracelets or tying knots, most any paracord will do. If you think you may need to depend on your cord in a survival situation, maybe you shouldn't plan on Paracord saving your ass. A choice of a much more robust rope may be in order. 

More Resources

Project Resources

A previous entry posted a few resources to get started. A number of years ago when I developed an interest in knots, there were few resources of information. But now it seems that interest has exploded in the subject with a subsequent explosion of information. The driving factor in interest in knots and paracord appears to be driven by the paracord survival bracelet. I don't know the origin of the paracord bracelet. Probably a military one, but I can't find any information. With constant war for the last thirteen years, military usage and availability of paracord has coincided with interest in knots and paracord.

There are limitless sites, videos, books, and resources dedicated to tying the paracord bracelet. Also known as a survival strap, it is a handy way to carry around a length of paracord.

My absolute favorite source of knot tying and paracord source of information and projects is Stormdrane. This guy has more information, resources and imaginative projects than almost anybody. His post date back to 2005 and is probably single-handedly responsible for the concurrent rise in interest in knotting and paracord. He also has a You Tube channel with many instructional videos. He also has a number of guides on Instructables. This is where I first learned to tie a paracord bracelet. He also invented the Rapid Deployment Spool as seen on Instructables and CountyComm.

Basic Knots

This is a list of basic knots that can be used in everyday situations that the average person may encounter. I've left off knots like the sheep shank. There are not many people who work with rope that can recall ever using it. I've also left off the most basic knot; the square knot due to low security. In my opinion it is better to learn one high security knot than a range of knots. Other knots are listed here due to the ease of tying and functionality. (ABOK is the listing number for the Ashley Book of Knots).

Buntline Hitch
The Buntline Hitch was originally employed to secure the buntlines to the foot of the square sails. Repeated shaking and jerking by a flapping sail tended to tighten this knot - hence its value. (ABOK # 1847, p 310)

Alpine Butterfly
This is a fixed loop that can be tied in the middle of a rope. Use it to attach items that you don't want sliding around. And it's a fun knot to tie. You could also use this knot to start the Trucker's Hitch (below). (ABOK # 1053, p 191)

Figure Eight Loop

I like this loop due to its security and ease of tying. The Figure 8 Follow Through allows the simple and reliable Figure 8 loop to be tied to a ring, a carabiner, or your own harness. It is reasonably easy to remember, tie, and check. When completed it forms a Figure 8 Loop (ABOK # 1047, p 190).

Figure Eight Stopper Knot
A easy knot to tie, this is used as a stopper knot. (ABOK # 570, p 95.)

Clove Hitch
A good general-purpose hitch of medium security. (ABOK # 1245, p 224)

Constrictor Knot
The best of all binding knots. It's so good, you will need a knife to remove it. (ABOK # 1188, p 216.)

Truckers Hitch
If you only learn how to tie one knot, this is it. When your friends ask you to help them move, if you can demonstrate this knot, you will be a hero. If you have ever needed to secure a load, this is the knot to do it. (ABOK # 2124, p 344)

Knot Resources

Project and Knot Tying Resources

For those of you new to knots, there are many references and sources of knots to be found. The acknowledged bible of knot books was published over sixty-seven years ago in 1944. It is The Ashley Book of Knots, written by Clifford Ashley. There are no other books that come close to the number and variety of knots shown in this book. There are over 3,900 knots and 7,000 illustrations. The book is divided into sections covering the usage and type of the knots. I found my copy at the local half price book store.

One of my favorite books is What Knot? by noted knot author Geoffrey Budworth. It has a flexible binding making it easy to lay flat on any surface.

At the other end of the spectrum are websites with excellent diagrams and animations detailing how knots are tied and their uses. An extensive and animated site is Animated Knots by Grog. Another animated site; NetKnots.

There are also apps for your iPhone illustrating knots; Pro-Knot. My absolute favorite iPhone app for knots is Knots 3D. You can also view videos on You Tube such as Tying It All Together. An exhaustive listing of links for knots can be found at Knots On The Web.

There are also many sites with creative knot tying projects such as lanyards and bracelets. The very best one is by Stormdrane. His blog covers many creative knot projects. He also has many links to relevant sites involving knots and sources of supplies for knot projects. Stromdrane also has a Flickr photo page illustrating his knot projects with his awesome photography.

The most popular and economical material for tying knots is Paracord. It's also known as Parachute Cord, 550 Cord, and Commercial Paracord. It is a light weight rope originally used in the suspension cords of parachutes in World War II. The Department of Defense U.S. Military version of paracord is Mil-Spec MIL-C-5040H/PIA-C-5040 Type III cord. In civilian speak this means the cord is rated for a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds. You don't have to worry about all of this unless you plan on rigging your own parachute and jumping from a plane. Just a little history. Exhaustive information on what Mil-Spec Paracord is can be found in my newer posts. Also great sources to purchase it.

Knots

When most of us think of knots we think of Boy Scouts. Yes, knots are still studied and used by Boy Scouts, although probably not as extensively as they once were. The heyday of knots was probably during the early to mid 19th century. Whaling ships plied the high seas and horses were still the primary means of transportation and moving goods across land.

But the truth is knots are everywhere around us. We only need to look at this partial list of professions and activities to see how knots are still used today.

Arborists
Ballooning
Basket Weaving
Bookbinders
Bookmaking
Butchers
Camping
Candle making
Carpenter
Caving
Climbing
Crochet
Dressmaking
Falconers
Farmers
Farrier
Fishing
Horse Riding
Horse Roping
Jeweler
Kumihimo
Macramé
Magic
Mountaineering
Prospector
Ranchers
Record Keeping
Rescue
Rigging
Sailing
Shipping
Steeplejack
Surgeons
Surveyors
Tatting
Transportation
Trapper
Trucking
Weavers
Whip Making

This is only a partial list and I am sure we could add many more.

Knot use ranges from the recreational to the decorative to life critical. Rescuers, and the lives of the people they rescue, depend upon the security of the knots they tie. If a surgeon was to improperly tie a knot, or use the wrong knot, it could prove fatal for the patient.

Many people today still study and learn knots. In this column, I will discuss a range of knots and rope, cord and small stuff. From general knots that everyone should know to specialized knots only used by few people.

Welcome to the Knot Blog! I will be blogging all about knots, knotting, cord and paracord. From common knots to sailing knots and all knots in between.