The Ashley Book of Knots

[Feraud]

After searching high and low and refusing to pay too much money for a copy I finally scored one! To the uninitiated The Ashley Book of Knots is considered "THE" book on all things knot related. Think of it as roughly the Apparel Arts of knotting.

I think there have been two reprints since the original 1944 printing. My version happens to be the '44 one. I was thrilled to see this encyclopedia has literally thousands of knots, braids, bends, splices, etc. harkening back to a time when cordage was used in many professions. Clifford Warren Ashley spent a decade collecting the information contained in this book. At around 600 pages I can feel the enthusiasm Ashley had for the subject.

I always have a length of cord tucked in my pocket and I run through different knots when I have down time. I'll never master all there is in Ashley's book but will have a great time trying.
Are there any other ropework aficionados at the Lounge?
If there is any interest I'll gladly take photos and share the wealth.

 

[BigFitz]

^
I'm fairly proficient with the bowline, double fisherman, figure eight, and the taut-line hitch. Less so with the sheep-shank and butterfly knot.

 

[InLikeFlynn]

It's great to see this classic book mentioned here. As a kid I always admired my Dad's old beat up knot book which was The Ashley Book of Knots and he gave it to me awhile ago. I remember using it when I was about 12 or so and tying some kind of sailing ship pulley contraption which took up half of the kitchen.
I learned the Monkey's Fist, Turks Head, how to properly lash up a suitcase, and my favorite, the Mathew Walker Knot which I have tied many times and told the story of this knot even more.
It is without a doubt the best knot book ever, with a close second being Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails by Joe Back.