Terracotta soldiers sporting neckties

Arguably the most popular and most widely used neck tie knot is the four in hand knot. Its popularity lies in its elegant design and the element of class it adds to the person wearing a four in hand knot. There’s a lot to know about one of the oldest tie knots in our history.

Unfortunately, it cannot be exactly pointed towards a time when the use of a four in hand tie knot began. However, use of the four in hand knot in different wear goes right down to ancient Chinese age. Neck scarves on the statues of the famous terra cotta army soldiers, were found to be worn in a four in hand knot. It is believed that the four in hand was worn, as it was believed to channel power.

Use of the four in hand knot can also be found in the Roman era. Roman soldiers used to wear ribbons in the four in hand knot form, for the purpose of identifying themselves in battlefield. However, the decorative use of the four in hand started mainly from the Croatian soldiers.

After the victory of Croatia and its ally in the war against Turkey in 1636, the Croatian soldiers wore colorful scarves on their necks tied in the four in hand knot, while celebrating their victory in Paris. This was very well received and gradually took the shape of fashion.

Modern Origin Of Four In Hand Knot

The birth of modern neck tie took place in the industrial revolution era. The urge to look presentable was at its peak, as everyone wanted to look outstanding. The trend of neck ties gained popularity here as it was easy to wear and added a great amount of class to the attire.

With the popularity in the neck tie trend, the need for an easy yet elegant knot was imminent. This is where the four in hand tie knot gained massive popularity.

Origin Of The Name- Four In Hand

The name four in hand was derived from the four horse carriage. The knot has a resemblance with the reins of the carriage, thus the origin of the name four in hand.

Another theory links to the famous, London gentleman’s club, Four In Hand’s adaption of this knot. They made it fashionable, and the name is thought to be linked to the club.

Four in Hand Knot- A Closer Look

In today’s age, there are too many styles and variations of knots available to choose from. A gentleman should know how to choose the popular Four In Hand tie knot. Its characteristic feature is that when tied, it takes the shape of a small yet asymmetrical knot. The knot has a resemblance to the alphabet “V”.

The Four In Hand is essentially one of the most ancient knots to be used in neck-wear. The great thing about it is that it can be worn to a great deal of occasions. So, here you have a great deal of information related to the origins and more about the Four In Hand tie knot.

Here’s a video brought to you by Howcast that teaches you how to tie the Four in Hand Knot. If you’d like a free necktie, Spiffster.club is giving away a free tie with promo code “FREETIE” till the end of this month!