A fid is made of separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user. In this manner the fid components can be easily stored or transported and then assembled when needed to create a fid of sufficient length to splice a synthetic rope or other types of rope. The fid includes an elongate shaft or needle with a first that tapers to a point. The opposing end of the shaft may be machined to form a connection structure. A coupler may have an elongate form with two opposing ends along a center axis. One end of the coupler removable attaches to the needle at the connection structure. The second end of the coupler permanently attaches to a rope holder, which may take the form of a cylindrical, helically wound braid of thin wire cable forming a wire basket.

The present invention provides a production method for a closed-loop cable. The method includes the steps of providing a cable including a core and metal strands helically wound around the core, connecting two ends of the cable in splice areas via splice knots formed by ends of each metal strand, inserting the metal strand ends inside the cable after locally removing the core and subsequently overmolding each splice area using a polymer.

An apparatus (10) for selectively opening up a portion of a cable (12) is provided. The apparatus (10) includes a first guide (14) arranged to receive a core (16) of the cable (12). A second guide (18, 20) is spaced laterally apart from the first guide (14) and is arranged to receive one or more outer wires (22, 24) of the cable (12). The second guide (18, 20) is also arranged to draw a portion of the one or more outer wires (22, 24) of the cable (12) away from the core (16) of the cable (12) as the cable (12) is passed through the apparatus (10) when in use.

A fid is made of separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user. In this manner the fid components can be easily stored or transported and then assembled when needed to create a fid of sufficient length to splice a synthetic rope or other types of rope. The fid includes an elongate shaft or needle with a first that tapers to a point. The opposing end of the shaft may be machined to form a connection structure. A coupler may have an elongate form with two opposing ends along a center axis. One end of the coupler removable attaches to the needle at the connection structure. The second end of the coupler permanently attaches to a rope holder, which may take the form of a cylindrical, helically wound braid of thin wire cable forming a wire basket.