Handcuff knot

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Tying the handcuff knot

A handcuff knot is an inline knot with two adjustable loops in opposing directions, with the ability to tighten the two loops around hands or feet, although the knot doesn't possess any noose action, so the knot won't be as easy to use for such purposes as the name might suggest.

The knot is also known as a hobble knot for similar reasons, from the idea that the knot was sometimes used on the legs of horses to limit the distance their riders had to walk in the morning to retrieve them.

Use as a hobble

The knot consists of two simple loops, overlaid, and with the ends pulled through. At that stage, the knot is slippery and easy to adjust. The sizes of the two loops can then be fixed by tying the ends in an overhand or reef knot (see diagram)

See also the Fireman's chair knot, which uses the same configuration of two loops