hi everyone,

What is your favorite knots book?
What is your opinion about this one:
http://www.clydesoles.com/ClydeSoles/Front/Knots.html

Thanks

I haven't seen that book, but, as you probably know, a web search will turn up many sites with cool info on knots.

BTW was there a change in the knots described in Doug's PSP instructions? I just looked at the PDF instructions at http://www.equipped.org/psp/psp_survival_instructions_0204.pdf and they aren't the ones I thought I remembered <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />.

Anyway, somewhere on this site I thought I learned two useful knots: a sheet bend "with an extra loop", and a "more secure" form of bowline. Does anyone know where to find diagrams for these?

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

Give this a shot:

Outdoor Knots

There are several knots on this page, including the sheet bend and bowline.

Sounds like they might be the same variation on two essentially similar knots. (A bowline is simply a sheet bend that's tied in a different fashion and for a different purpose - instead of tying two pieces of rope together, it ties one piece of rope to itself.)

To tie a "non-inverting bowline" (this is the terminology that Mors Kochanski uses), tie a regular bowline but the 'rabbit' goes around the 'tree' twice before going back down the 'hole'. Apparently, under certain conditions, a bowline can "invert" and turn into a slip knot; by taking a second turn around the standing end, this is prevented. If you can figure out how to do that, then you should be able to tie a sheet bend the same way.

But I don't believe these are the knots you're talking about; I suspect you're talking about the double bowline:

http://www.chockstone.org/TechTips/Bowline.htm

and the double sheet bend:

http://www.troop7.org/Knots/SheetDouble.html

The most comprehensive book on knots is Ashleys Book of Knots. (not positive of spelling). Over a thousand knots and a very good description of each. I had a copy for years and enjoyed just wandering through it reading the very good stories about knots. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a more than casual interest in Knots.

I agree. I bought that book over 30 years ago and still use it. There are better books on how to tie knots, but none more enjoyable to read and just look through. Pete

I too agree on Ashley's Book of Knots.It is more of a tome,with 7000 illistrations for 3500 knots.If a knot or bend isn't in there,you dont need it.Ashley's was first published in the early twentieth century so some verbage may be unusual.
BOATMAN
John

We can be such ... guys ... at times. "What are you doing, dear?" "Just looking through this book of knots, honey." *wife goes away shaking head in bewilderment and disgust*

What is worst than that is, I have a book of knots in the bathroom and some short lengths of cordage to practice knot tying while on the throne <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. My daughters and wife make fun of me all the time for stuff like that, but I would not want it any other way. Pete <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Nomad. It seems the author took eleven years to write the book. It must be great. This book seems to make unanimity and looks like a classic. I'll try to find it in a library.