The Book of Knots: How to Tie 200 Practical Knots

by Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton

Which is stronger, an Englishman's Loop or a Spanish Bowline? When mountaineering, should you trust your life to a Bachman Knot or a Clove Hitch? What's more permanent, a Needle Knot or a Butterfly Bend? Well, even if you can't tell an Icicle Hitch from a Frost Knot, you'll soon know these answers cold with this fully illustrated guide to more than 200 practical knots. Basic bends, loops and hitches are shown, along with specialized lashings, coils, stoppers, whippings and splices suitable for purposes as diverse as tying livestock, securing small boats and raising heavy loads. Learning to tie these knots is a cinch, with hundreds of color illustrations that demonstrate every bend, tuck and twist of the rope. Knots are rated for strength, security, and ease of both tying and untying, and concise historical information is also included, explaining both the origin and specific uses for the knots.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Geoffrey Budworth co-founded the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1982 and regularly contributes to its quarterly journal, Knotting Matters. He’s been described as “the father of forensic knotting” and occasionally gives evidence in court as an expert witness of knots found at crime scenes. Budworth is a well-known personality and author in the world of knots.

Reviews

[Misercord · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful book. It is, as it says, how to tie 200 practical knots. The diagrams are very clear. There is a nice rating system of what the knot is good for, how hard it is to tie and untie. Strangely, that rating system is explained on the copyright page. If you need to know how to tie a Portuguese or Spainish Bowline, this is the book. Didn't know there was a Portuguese or Spainish bowline? Then this is the book for you.