Farmer's Splice

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Without seizing at the throat (with cable clamp, or service, Constrictors, etc.) the splice won't get much past 70%, and is very liable to slip at lower loads. Properly seized, it can approach 100%, but then you are counting on the seizings not chafing away. The cable clamp is indeed ugly, and the fact that it localizes load (i.e. crushes the wire) is why it can't get to optimal; but you can put a swage on there, which is commonly done industrially, to get a 100% terminal that is fairer than bringing the end around as for a nicopress. Anyway, yes, it's a great field expedient, and there's even a way to do it with 1x19.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss