Rope eye splice and systems, apparatus and methods for forming an eye in a rope

A rope structure comprising:

• a multi-strand, single-braid rope having a diameter and forward and rear ends, the rope being formed with at least four strands braided together in an original direction toward the forward end of the rope with each strand occupying a unique original tortuous path in the rope and having respective forward and rear ends at the respective forward and rear ends of the rope, the rope including:
• a braided eye having a length and being formed of a desired portion of the rope at the forward end of the rope, the braided eye having a braided splice extending through the entirety of the length of the braided eye, the braided splice including a first plurality of reverse-oriented strands extending rearward through the entire eye, each such strand disposed in a distinct tortuous path in the direction of the rear end of the rope, and a second plurality of strands extending through the entire eye, each such strand disposed in its respective original tortuous path in the direction of the forward end of the rope, wherein all strands of the rope are braided together through the entire eye,
• a braided transition disposed between the body and eye and having a tapered finish, wherein the forward end of two or more of the strands is tucked into the transition in the direction of the rear end of the rope, at least a first strand being tucked into the transition at least once so that it extends into the transition a first distance and at least a second strand being tucked into the transition more times than the first strand so that it extends in the transition a second distance, whereby the second distance is greater than the first distance;
• wherein a first half of the first plurality of strands comprises primary-oriented strands and a second half of the first plurality of strands comprises alternative-oriented strands,
• a first half of the second plurality of strands comprises primary-oriented strands and a second half of the second plurality of strands comprises alternative-oriented strands, and
• one or more of the reverse-oriented strands stop in the braided eye forward of an intersection of the rope where two sides of the eye meet.