The Ashley Book of Knots

Product Information

The definitive book on knots—including approximately 3,900 different kinds of knots, from simple hitches to “Marlingspike Seamanship," this book and a piece of cord will open a new and challenging world of practical adventure to readers of all ages. Budworth, Geoffrey, ed. (Spring 1985). "Profile of Knotsman Clifford W. Ashley". Knotting Matters. London: International Guild of Knot Tyers (11): 6–7. ISSN 0959-2881. This is--of course--the bible of knot books. What it does not have is information about modern synthetic ropes and specialized knots that have been developed for them. Although Ashley was an esteemed painter, the cover illustration was painted by George Giguere. It shows a sailor displaying a Tom fool's knot.

Our runner-up is the Geoffrey Budworth knots book. With over 15,000 copies sold, a very high online rating, and tons of positive critiques behind it — you can hardly go wrong with this one. Many sailors, fishermen, campers, climbers, and hikers see it as a must-have guide for clear demonstrations of a collection of solid, useful knots. This book has them all from overhand, figure-of-eight, and crossing knots to bowline and sheet bends! Ashley suffered a debilitating stroke the year after the book was published. [3] He was not able to produce an erratum nor oversee a corrected edition. It also provides a sort of sociological insight into how people worked not so long ago, too, with knots specific to stevedores, teamsters, movers, bakers, fishermen and others who once depended on knots but to a great extent no longer do so.The definitive book on knots—including approximately 3,900 different kinds of knots, from simple hitches to “Marlingspike Seamanship,” this book and a piece of cord will open a new and challenging world of practical adventure to readers of all ages. Due to its scope and wide availability, The Ashley Book of Knots has become a significant reference work in the field of knotting. The numbers Ashley assigned to each knot can be used to unambiguously identify them. This helps to identify knots despite local colloquialisms or identification changes. Citations to Ashley numbers are usually in the form: " The Constrictor Knot (ABOK #1249)", "ABOK #1249", or even simply "#1249" if the context of the reference is clear or already established. [2] The glimpse into the history that goes along with some of the knots adds even more value to the book. This is the go-to reference for knots. It is the book that other books reference. The infamous Square Knot is frequently referred to as ABOK #1402 by other books. Almost any knot of antiquity can be found in this book.

Clifford W. Ashley was born in 1881 at the whaling port of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He sailed on many kinds of boats in many capacities, from ship's surgeon to interested observer. His ruling passions were marine painting and knot-tying, on which he was one of the world's leading authorities. His paintings are represented in the permanent collection of many American museums and libraries. He spent six weeks on the whaling ship Sunbeam. During the voyage he witnessed the hunt and killing of three whales. Schmidbauer, Joseph, ed. (September 1998), "The Ashley Book of Knots: Corrections and Observations", Knot News, International Guild of Knot Tyers - Pacific Americas Branch (13): 1–3 Warner, Charles; Turner, John (1996), Turner, J.C.; van de Griend, P. (eds.), History and Science of Knots, K&E Series on Knots and Everything, vol.11, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, pp.22, 274–275, ISBN 981-02-2469-9 Budworth, Geoffrey (Autumn 1991). "Amending Ashley". Knotting Matters. London: International Guild of Knot Tyers (37): 26. ISSN 0959-2881. I only give this book four stars because it is (understandably) dated. The book refers exclusively to natural fiber and twisted rope. There is obviously nothing in the book about the synthetic ropes that have come out since it was written, or the knots that were developed to deal with the slipperiness of those ropes. It is also missing one of my favorite bends, the Zeppelin Bend.Reprint with amendment of Geoffrey Budworth: The Ashley Book of Knots. With amendments of Geoffrey Budworth. Doubleday, New York 1993.

Remember that a book that’s “too easy” will leave you bored, while a book that’s “too complex” will leave you confused. So, the right knots book depends on your experience level.It would get five stars for the illustrations alone. It adds interest that it identifies dangerous variations of well known knots with a skull and crossbones! I wish more books would do that. In 1991, corrections submitted by the International Guild of Knot Tyers were incorporated. [5] [6] The original list of revisions submitted to the publisher is believed to have been lost, but many had been collected from a series of articles in Knotting Matters, the Guild's quarterly publication. [7] [8] Additional errors have been identified since the 1991 corrections. [9] Cultural references [ edit ] All sailors know the significance of knots in their day-to-day lives. Whether you operate a dinghy boat or a full-blown yacht, you can’t get by without tying things around to maintain your ship. This book aims to be all-inclusive for that demographic in particular. It guides them through the basic knots, useful hitches, canvas work, hand-sewing, and the art of splicing — all of which are key tools for any sailor. For an example see the footnotes in harness loop and butterfly loop articles. Additionally, this IGKT posting contains many verifiable examples. This is the definitive book on knots. Here are approximately 3900 different kinds, from simple hitches to “Marlinspike Seamanship.” Mr. Ashley has included almost everything there is to know about them. Precisely named and classified (some new ones for the first time officially), they can be easily found in the big index. He tells when they appeared, something about their history, and what they are good for.

The Knotting Matters issues cited in the above Knot News article are: KM1, KM28, KM31, KM32, and KM33.By the bestselling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is Michael Pollan's ingenious companion book about the surprising and close relationship between people and plants. It is no longer the last word in knots, now that slippery, brittle materials with incredible tensile strength such as spectra (made of kevlar) exist. With a few exceptions, though, it is encyclopedic. Next up, we have a knots book that’s specifically geared towards complete beginners. Berndt Sundsten and Jan Jäger have emphasized how it’s a memorable experience for children when they first learn to tie their own shoes! Since the content is so beginner-friendly, it can easily double up as an artsy children’s book for your five– or ten-year-old (s). It’s a ton of fun and a lifetime of valuable skills!