The Ashley Book of Knots

As a craftsman Maker there are books that get handled again and again...The Ashley Book of Knots is indispensable for it's discourse on the colonial trades and various places where knots were and are still employed. Lifting and rigging are still practiced broadly in industry and these livings traditions keep many of the knots in use. The Clove Hitch and its many names...The Sheet Bend and others are essential 1st principle skills in the traditional crafts...Knowing the knots and their applications marks a transition in a craftsperson's practice and skill.
I watched many apprentice Operating Engineers wash out of programs just because of the inability to tie a simple knot in the right place...The Bowline Knot sends them back to the Labor show more Gang most often...Easy to add to the library, watch for them used and well worn for just a few dollars. All of my Nieces and Nephews get a copy... show less

This is the most complete book on knots you will find. However, it is not the best guide on how to tie knots. It's organized by various tradesmen and the knots that they would use.

If you plan to buy a copy be sure to look it over. I have found numerous copies with badly printed pages.

This is my desert island book. It has everything: useful information, stories, humour, excellent diagrams and amusing drawings. And it's the most comprehensive book on knots there is.

This book is enormous and comprehensive. An old-school reference work.

From Wikipedia: 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]

Some knots have more than one Ashley number due to having multiple uses or forms. For example, the main entry for #1249 is in the chapter on binding knots but it is also listed as #176 in a chapter on occupational knot usage.

The Ashley show more Book of Knots was compiled and first published before the introduction of synthetic fiber ropes, during a time when natural fiber cordage – typically twisted, laid, or braided rope – was most commonly used. The commentary on some knots may fail to address their behavior when tied with modern synthetic fiber or kernmantle style ropes.

Corrections and additions
In the first edition, three entries have non-integer numbers: 794.5, 1034.5, 2585.5. Also, entry number 2545 contains no knot, reading only "This knot was mislaid".[1]

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. show less

definitive knots