What is the first step in making a back splice using a knot?

The first step in making a back splice is to create a crown knot, which is essential for forming the foundation of the splice. The crown knot serves to secure the strands of the rope and begins the process of interweaving the strands to ensure they are tightly bound together. This establishes a solid base for the manipulation of the rope's strands that follows in the splicing process.

While slip knots, square knots, and bowline knots are commonly used in various applications of rigging and knot tying, they do not serve the specific purpose required at the outset of the back splice procedure. Each of these other knots has distinct uses and characteristics, but they do not provide the necessary structure to begin a back splice effectively. The crown knot is uniquely designed to facilitate this specific type of splice, making it the correct starting point.