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!!! Safety Recall !!! - Field & Steam Safety Ropes

huntin_addict

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2018
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Erie County, PA
Mods, any way that the link can be fixed? This could be something that is useful to some folks. I'm sure the algorithm blocked out some of the letters in the web link.
 

DB4x4

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2018
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Thought I would share since I bet a lot of guys may be using this as their main point of attachment. My guess is the failure mode is likely caused by a sharp static fall out of a tree stand moreso than the softer constant load of a saddle hunter, but why risk it, right?
 

Apex7

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SH Member
Jan 6, 2017
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Pittsburgh Pa
If I would have those ropes I would definitely stop using them. Did the prusik fail or did it come undone ?
 

boyne bowhunter

Moderator
Staff member
SH Member
Aug 17, 2016
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NW Michigan
Any rope/friction hitch can fail in below freezing weather if the rope/friction hitch is wet. This is not to say folks who use this specific rope shouldn't be concerned, but that everyone should be concerned...
This is why I back up the friction hitch on my hunting tether with a slip knot directly below the Distel hitch once I'm at height, regardless of weather.
 
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kyler1945

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Dec 4, 2016
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Willis, TX
LOCATION
Willis, TX
This is why rock climbers use toothed ascenders instead of prusik knots on icy ropes.

saddle hunters, for better or worse, mostly rely on their hitch or rope grab as a single connection to their tether. rock climbers don’t rely on either a friction hitch or rope grab as their primary connection to their climbing rope - it’s simply a positioning device.
 

bj139

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
5,377
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SE PA
saddle hunters, for better or worse, mostly rely on their hitch or rope grab as a single connection to their tether. rock climbers don’t rely on either a friction hitch or rope grab as their primary connection to their climbing rope - it’s simply a positioning device.
A toothed ascender is a rope grab. I am not sure how well a toothless Ropeman 1 would hold on an icy rope. Friction hitches maybe not at all.