Unknown #2	Unknown #3	Unknown #4

Overview

History

I acquired these eights used from Colin Ware in 2024. I do not know who made them or when. All three are large eights with large, strongly hooked ears. Unknown #2 is unfinished appears to be homemade, while #3 and #4 appear to be polished and clear anodized. Unknown #2 and #3 are bent, while #4 is not. I received two copies of #3. These were so closely matched (identical) that hand production seems unlikely.

I've written to Colin to see if I can get more information.

[ Top | Unknown #3 | Unknown #4 | Return to Figure Eights ]

Unknown #2
(#3395)

Front	Rear

Technical Details

I acquired this Unknown #2 on eBay from Colin Ware in 2024.

This eight is milled from aluminum alloy plate. Mine is 176 mm. tall, 161 mm. wide, and 17 mm. thick. The rope hole is 64 mm. high and 64 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 52 mm. and 39 mm., respectively. The eye measures 32 mm. by 32 mm. The ears are 36.3 mm. long. My Unknown #2 weighs 269 g.

There are no markings on this eight.

Comments

The Unknown #2 is another milled aluminum rescue eight. Like all rescue eights, this one is too large and heavy for my taste.

The ears are massive and have a moderately large downward hook. Their size and location add unnecessary bulk to this eight.

There is a slight bend in the shaft of this eight. Some eights have bent shafts to provide higher and lower friction rigging options, but on this eight, the bend is too small to have any noticeable effect. In addition, the bend's location below the normal rope reduces the little effect it has.

[ Top | Unknown #2 | Unknown #4 | Return to Figure Eights ]

Unknown #3
(#3396)

Front	Rear

Technical Details

I acquired this Unknown #3 on eBay from Colin Ware in 2024.

This eight is milled from aluminum alloy plate and clear anodized. Mine is 178 mm. tall, 139 mm. wide, and 19 mm. thick. The rope hole is 64 mm. high and 64 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 52 mm. and 30 mm., respectively. The eye measures 38 mm. by 38 mm. The ears are 20.9 mm. long. My Unknown #3 weighs 233 g.

There are no markings on this eight.

Comments

The Unknown #3 is another milled aluminum rescue eight. Like all rescue eights, this one is too large and heavy for my taste.

This eight is smaller than Unknown #2. The ears turn fully downward, providing an effective hook for catching the rope if the user finds a way to improperly use the eight so it tries to girth hitch. While the ears are not necessary if the eight is used properly, at least these don't increase the bulk too much beyond what this oversized eight would have without them.

There is a slight bend in the shaft of this eight. Some eights have bent shafts to provide higher and lower friction rigging options, but on this eight, the bend is too small to have any noticeable effect. In addition, the bend's location below the normal rope reduces the little effect it has.

[ Top | Unknown #2 | Unknown #3 | Return to Figure Eights ]

Unknown #4
(#3397)

Front	Rear

Technical Details

I acquired this Unknown #4 on eBay from Colin Ware in 2024.

This eight is milled from aluminum alloy plate and clear anodized. Mine is 202 mm. tall, 159 mm. wide, and 13 mm. thick. The rope hole is 74 mm. high and 75 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 55 mm. and 30 mm., respectively. The eye measures 39 mm. by 38 mm. The ears are 31.6 mm. long. My Unknown #4 weighs 309 g.

There are no markings on this eight.

Comments

The Unknown #4 is another milled aluminum rescue eight. Like all rescue eights, this one is too large and heavy for my taste.

The extra-length ears hook downward to form tight notches for the rope. This might increase friction if the eight's misuser finds a way to get the rope to run into the notches.

I like to think that this is a later version than Unknown #2 and Unknown #3, and that the designer realized that bending the shaft did not accomplish anything.

[ Top | Unknown #2 | Unknown #3 | Unknown #4 ]