The thief knot is much less secure than the already insecure reef knot.

The Thief knot resembles the reef knot except that the free, or bitter ends are on opposite sides.

It is said that sailors would secure their belongings in a ditty bag using the thief knot, often with the ends hidden.

The working ends of the reef knot must emerge both at the top or both at the bottom, otherwise a thief knot results.

Half knot may refer to the overhand knot, as it forms the first half of a reef knot, thief knot, granny knot, grief knot, or:

A grief knot (also what knot) is a knot which combines the features of a granny knot and a thief knot, producing a result which is not generally useful for working purposes.

Knots which have been called single carrick bend in various knotting books include the reef knot, the sheet bend, the granny knot, the thief knot, and even several arrangements that fail to form a knot at all, and simply fall apart.