The Italian name checks out. In Germany, we call a clove hitch "Mastwurf" which means a hitch tied on a mast on a boat. The Italian hitch is called "Halbmastwurf" (half a clove hitch) or HMS for short. It's also where the name for the carabiner type comes from (I believe it was originally coined in Austria) that accommodates the extra space for a hitch.
And same in french ! Clove hitch = nœud de cabestan (litteraly : capstan knot), often shortened as cab’ Munter hitch = nœud de demi-cabestan (half capstan knot), often shortened as demi-cab’
To expand on the HMS bit, the s is short for Sicherung, so you would say Halb Mastwurf Sicherung Karabiner which means Half Hitch Belay Karabiner. The right tool for the job :)
The Super Munter is great. When used for rappeling it removes the twist that the regular Munter puts in the rope. I used to use it for lowering 10' microwave dishes off towers even pulling them down with a cathead in a trolley set up.
Not sure these are easy to answer in a comment, but: 1)when/why would you choose to use this method outside of emergency situations/back up in the UK? 2) as a part time climber it's always baffled me, if we're happy it's safe to use a prusik loop for all the things they are used for, why is it when it comes to abseiling it (almost) always has to be on the break rope rather than out in front of you? I do it myself, but only because I've been told to but without really knowing why.
I believe (sure I’ll be corrected if wrong) that on the brake strand the prussik only has to hold a fraction of the force it would out in front of the belay device therefore possibly safer and easier to release under load.
Good questions! 1. fraction quicker than guide mode and allows for a simple swap to lowering, it's also pretty elbow friendly. 2. as Stephen says, we put it on the brake strand so that the belay device / Munter does most of the work, the Prusik is there to mimic our hands should we get knocked out or whatever. There are occasions I may put the Prusik on the load strand such as if I'm planning to abseil past a knot, but it's rare.
Why not a munter-mule-overhand to tie it off? Seems to be the standard over in the states, at least for rescue work and rigging. Your way seemed slightly faster I guess.
