Customer Reviews:
The King of knot books July 6, 2008 If you need to learn knots, or just enjoy knot tying as a hobby, this book is essential for everyone.
fantastic book March 6, 2008 this is a classic, the definitive resource on all manner of knots, easy to follow and full of "old world" charm
Darn fine book January 3, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is everything I hoped for! I previously purchased Graumont & Hensel's Encyclopedia of Knots, but as I did more research kept hearing about Ashley. I finally got it and it does have material about most every knot known. I would recommend it as an anchor for anyone who does fancy work, research, or uses rope on a daily basis. There are other web sites and books that have better details for tying the knots, but nobody has all of them in one place like Ashley. I would have liked to have purchased the first ed., but did not have the money and this edition does have corrections or clarifications. Anybody who buys it should be well pleased with their purchase.
The Standard Knots Reference--yet to be updated or replicated November 13, 2007 7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Firstly, I want to chide all those whose lame counting of the book's contents parrots publisher information, such as "The result of Mr. Ashley's research was a significant collection of 7,000 drawings of 3,900 knots" -- this is nonsense: Ashley numbers every **illustration**, culminating with "#3854"; and among these there are both a great many duplicates (a quick look in the Index will show many occurrences for "Two Half Hitches", "Clove Hitch", & "Constrictor", e.g.), and there are many illustrated items that most folks won't regard as "knots". A more realistic figure for hitches, e.g., is around 100-200, and likewise for loopknots & bends.
People who are fascinated by knots refer to this book as "the bible", and often refer to particular knots by some Ashley illustration number -- which is a good step towards removing the typical ambiguity of knot names!
More than most knots books, Ashley gives historical and practical information about his subject; and, also more than most, his information is more reliable. I.p., this book is VASTLY superior to the seemingly competing knots tome, _Encyclopedia of Knots & Fancy Ropework_, which seems to be mostly a product of silly imagination by authors unconcerned with reality or good sense (to put it mildly!).
But Ashley wrote in a time preceding modern synthetic fibres such as nylon, polypropylene, and polyester (to say nothing of HMPE, aramids, composites, and coextruded fibres), and his inventory of knots reflects this -- perhaps most especially regarding anglers knots. Someone interested in learning about arborists' climbing/friction hitches or rockclimbers belay and anchor rigging or fishing knotting/rigging will find little or no help here.
Difficult but outstanding... the bible of knots October 11, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a difficult book for beginners, but it's outstanding...Some knots have to be complemented with information of other books (step by step books). I recommend!
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