Whatever name you want to delegate to the Bale Sling Hitch, it has a lot of entries in Clifford’s Book. Be that so because the hitch is so simple, yet so useful and efficient at the same time. The entries are as follows:

Abok #165,

     ‘A BALE SLING HITCH (#1759) will never bind and may be applied in a variety of ways. Nothing else is required on a round knob save 2018, which is the easiest thing there is to untie. If put in the bight as #1816 both ends of the rope are available for lashing.

Abok #358,

     ‘In the banana trade stalks are equipped with a short length of rope yarn, secured to the stem with a strap or BALE SLING HITCH (#1759), so forming a loop at the top of the bunch, which is really the inverted bottom of the banana cluster.’

Abok #435,

     ‘Generally a BALE SLING HITCH (#1694) in fishline or rope yarn is used on a short strap in hanging wild fowl by the neck or foot. In camp the same straps are used over and over again.’

Abok #561,

     ‘An iron ring makes a practical stopper. It will prevent unreeving and, if wished, it can be secured by dropping it over any projection such as a nail or peg. It is easily put in the bight of a rope by first reeving the bight through the ring and then reeving the ring through the bight, which forms a RING or BALE SLING HITCH (#1859). It is the common stopper for a window-shade cord.

Abok #1673,

     ‘The Cow HITCH or LANYARD HITCH is the knot that is employed in securing a lanyard to a shroud. It is the same knot formation as the BALE SLING HITCH, or RING HITCH (*1859), and the RUNNING EYE (#1699), but the Cow HITCH is tied in the end of the rigging lanyard while the BALE SLING HITCH is tied in the bight of a continuous strap or wreath and a RUNNING EYE is tied in an EYE SPLICE.’

Abok #1802,

     ‘The Cow HITCH differs from the STRAP or BALE SLING HITCH in that the pull is on one part only and the knot is tied in the end instead of in the bight. The form, however, is the same; it is the hitch by which farmers stake out their cows to nibble favored grass in restricted places. It is also the knot by which the ends of rigging lanyards are secured. Other names for it are LANYARD HITCH, DEADEYE HITCH and STAKE HITCH. But the sailor himself is more apt to call it Cow HITCH.’

Abok #1859,

     ‘The RING HITCH and TAG KNOT are of the same formation as the BALE SLING HITCH (#1694) but are not necessarily tied in a wreath. This knot is found on rings and tags, as well as on key and curtain rings.’

Abok #2018,

     ‘A BIGHT HITCH to a knob. If a door sticks, tie a BALE SLING HITCH around the knob with as large material as practicable. The ends of the rope should be knotted together, forming a wreath or grommet fifteen or eighteen inches long. Having attached it to the knob, slip the hand into the loop, hold the loop firmly and, using your hand as a hammer, drive open the door. If necessary, use a section of iron pipe instead of the fist but, as this may break the knob, examine the hinges of the door first to make sure that the pins cannot be driven out, allowing the door to open at the hinge edge.’

Abok #2044,

     ‘To bang a loaded sack from an eyebolt or a hook. Make fast a strap, of marline or heavier material, to the eye with a RING HITCH (1859). Then make a BALE SLING HITCH (#1694) in hand and slip it over the neck of the sack.’

Abok #2540,

     ‘To tie a RING or BALE SLING HITCH with one hand: Hang a loop over the thumb, with both ends crossing the palm. Engage the little finger with the end that hangs from the back of the thumb and bring it forward underneath the other end. Then transfer it from the little finger to the tip of the forefinger. The knot is completed when the thumb and forefinger are brought together and the two bights are slipped to the thumb. The following series of knots consists of “trick” ways of tying the familiar and practical CLOVE HITCH. Most of these will, on occasion, prove to be practical methods. Number 2543 is perhaps the best and certainly the quickest way there is to tie the CLOVE HITCH in large rope.’