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 The Original NORSON SPLICE. Designed by the author to be the simplist to learn and perhaps as strong as it can be done.

 "PRO SPLICE" This splice was discovered by "reverse engineering" when the author cut apart a splice done by a professional rigger in the UK. It's simple and easy.
 The new NORSON DOUBLE SPLICE is designed to satisfy the most sceptical rigger and sailor. A little more complicated but with double the graphics to learn from, should be do-able even for the novice.

 In previous versions of this article I had linked to a page from an American cordage supplier that had what looked like a good, if complicated, splicing techique. My intention was to go with their instructions and do one to compare for strength with what I had developed. I spent two days trying to make their miserable instructions work before giving up. I found I wasn't the only one to try and fail. I began to believe the instructions were never meant to be successfully followed... in fact at closer look I think the method was not possible as described. So.. back to the drawing board to develop another method that can actually be done.
First step, get hold of the core and pull it out the end of the cover for about 2 to 3 inches. (50 to 75mm) Wrap some PVC tape tightly around the joint and cut. This leaves you some extra cover material that will make life easier when doing the last step. Also note the knot, this one is a little to close to the work but I wanted to get it in the photo. This prevents having to "milk" the cord over a longer length. Recomend about 5 feet (1.5 metre) from the end.

 With a fid or any small tool, carefully pry through the cover and get under the core and pull it out through the carefully parted cover weave.
 Pull the core out fully as shown...
 I have a long screwdriver for this but any long tool with a smooth surface so it doesn't snag fibre will do. Carefully push it through the centre of the core and tape the cover tail to the tool.
 Then as shown, pull the tool and cover through the core. The more the core is shortened, the bigger it becomes and easier to get through.
 Stop there...
 The cover shape can be manipulated to increase the inside diameter to a point. The space available is finite however. So.. since all this has to be buried inside the cover eventually, we need to start trimming some of the strands away to allow room. Near the 'top' start trimming strands and pulling out the end.
 Stagger the strands you pull out. The idea is to reduce the bulk of the cover (that is now a core) to about half .  
 You should eventually have a pile of strands as shown
 Now start doing the same thing to the old core that is now on the outside. Stagger the removed fibres.....
 and this should be what you have. Pull the maining core smooth and don't worry that the end is rough and uneven.
 Now pinpoint where you want the loop and dig out the core as before. Pull the core from the long part of the rope. Try to keep the loop taunt.
 With your 'fid' or whatever.. push it through the middle of the core you've extracted. The end of my screwdriver is on the side of the extracted core that faces the loop. Cut the excess and ragged ends of the new core so you can ...  
 tape it to the end of the fid and start carefully drawing through the core..  
 until it's through...  
 and the spot where old cover and core are joined is just inside the core.....
 then cut off the taped section. It doesn't pay to try to peel the tape off.. makes a mess of the loose ends..
 looking tidy..
 now milk the cover over the old cover/core without disturbing the location of the part near the loop.
 find something sturdy....  
 and start milking the cover over the new core assembly...  
 notice how fat the cover is on the side facing you...  
 more...
 you may repeat the milking from the length of rope up to the knot to get that last bit... or...
 if it is really being difficult it could be because the core has bunched up next to the loop. so get a very snall screw driver or something similar and get under the cover and gently pry is up using the core as a fulcrum, thus pushing it down in the same move. Do this all around the bunched up core and milk again...  
 if you still have a spot or two that isn't buried well, you can repeat the step with the tool and or...
 put the splice on a hard surface and use a hammer to gently tap around the lumps and high spots that are causing the bottleneck and milk again...
 I took three splice attempts to work out this system and perfect it. The next three are shown here. The one on the bottom was used in the "test" (see below) and because of the strain applied is particularly smooth and tidy.

You must note that all this is a method in art as well as science. If it doesn't work well the first time you have lost some time and a half metre of rope. Think about it and try again.

 Have a question, comment or suggestion to improve the method? Email me

 So.. what happens when you put the Norson Splice on one side of a test line and the Norson double on the other, then drop the clutch on the four wheel drive?? Click above and see....