Abstract: A soft shackle is provided that incorporates a locking mechanism that prevents or limits travel of a loop from passing back over a shackle knot caused by slippage when not under tension of a load. The locking mechanism controls the loop's ability to expand in size, such as through a positive locking force or establishes a safety factor with respect to the size of the loop needed to slip over the knot, or both.

Abstract: A rope system for system level recoil control and method for providing a rope system for system level recoil control are provided. The rope system includes a first rope component and a second component, and the second rope component is connected in series to the first rope component. The first rope component includes a first rope subcomponent and a second rope subcomponent, the first rope subcomponent has predetermined failure strength and is designed and configured to be a controlled failure point for the system, and the second rope subcomponent has a predetermined elongation capability. Upon failure of the first rope subcomponent, the second rope subcomponent is configured to elongate to absorb a predetermined amount of a predetermined operational strain energy of the rope system and to stretch over a predetermined distance and/or predetermined period of time before the second rope subcomponent fails.