U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations Chapter 5 Section 4 states
:
"5404. BOATSWAIN'S PIPE AND LANYARD. The boatswain's pipe and lanyard may be worn around
the neck while carrying out official ceremonial duties and military watches. The lanyard is braided with Belfast cord* (see
below) in a traditional style and sennit. When hanging free, the bottom of the pipe shall not fall below the top of the belt.
Wear white lanyards with dark / blue uniforms and black lanyards with white uniforms. Men place the pipe in the left breast
pocket when not in use. Women wearing Service Dress Blue place the boatswain's pipe attached to the lanyard between the top
and second button of their jacket when not in use. Do not wear them on liberty."
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I have
received numerous requests of "How do I make a Boatswain’s Mate Lanyard" from the "Ask Boats" section at www.1navy.com. The best way to learn is to sit down
with some of the senior or "saltier" BMs and practice the various knots needed to make one. I highly recommend The Ashley Book of Knotsby Clifford Ashley. This book is a must have for any Boatswain’s Mate interested
in knots and lanyard making. It is available at most book stores and can also be found online. This book has over 7,000
different knots.
Below is some guidance on making
a basic four-strand Boatswain’s Mate Lanyard. You should take pride in making your Boatswain's Lanyard - plan
how it will look when it is completed and be patient while working. The lanyard should be constructed using a number
of various knots, hitches, sinnets and Turk’s heads. Fabricating the lanyard from a larger number
of strands tends to produce a sharper, more intricate lanyard.
To Start
: Take two pieces of line and loop them around a metal
hanger or ring that will support it as you work. Loop it so that you have four working ends hanging freely.
Below is a basic layout of how
a lanyard may look using the various knots. Start with either one of the following sinnets and braids, depending on what look
you would like to achieve.
Remember, there are a wide variety
of other braids and sinnets that you can use to give your lanyard a unique look.
As you move along, work each round
of tucks snug for a nice tight looking finished product.
Bannister:
Make a series of half knots,
alternating from the two outer strands.
The center strands
will be used as a core.
Solomon Bar:
Make a series of left and right half
knots using the outer strands. Always keep the same strand in front as you work.
The center strands will be used as
a core.
Square Sinnet:
Tuck each strand through a
loop in each adjacent strand.
Work each tuck snug and repeat.
Round Sinnet:
Take the
outer strand behind the two center ones and then bring it back in front and place it between the two that you went behind.
Repeat these steps.
4-Strand Braid:
Take the outer strand in front of
The center two strands and then the opposite outer strand in front on one strand.
At points
where you change the pattern, or where the loop joins the shorter section where you will attach the Boatswain’s
Pipe, a Turk’s Head will cover up the seam or joint nicely. You can use any size Turk’s Head; 3, 4, 5 strand…
Here are the directions from NAVEDTRA 14343 Boatswain’s
Mate, on how to construct various size Turk’s Heads.
Pics compliments of the BM NAVEDTRA
Again, this is a basic Four-Strand
Lanyard, as you practice and sharpen your skill, you can may want to add additional strands and other sinnets and knots for
a fancier look. Good Luck!
* What is Belfast Cord?
Belfast
Cord was a
term applied to any hard-laid three-stranded cotton line used for doing fancy-work about the ship. It could range from
#12 (for very small and fancy lanyards and the like, fine paunch mat or miniature bell-ropes) up to 1/16”
(hard trot or seine twine type).
The advantage of using Belfast instead of regular twines
or strings was the fact that it was a ‘hard-laid’ cord; that is, the lay of the cordage was akin to the tightness
one would expect of a good manila line, not the sloppily laid product one can buy in your local hardware store, as well as
the fact that it was ‘sized’ or starched during the manufacturing process. This produced a hard-surfaced, easily
handled line which resisted un-laying when doing fancy work and which also resisted hand-soil to some extent.
There
are a few good hard-laid twines, such as cable
cord, which are a suitable substitute for original Belfast cord. Para-cord, which is available in numerous colors
and diameters works well also, but poses problems when finishing off certain knots.
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