Saw this video on Knot Theory a while back — the developments in this obscure branch of mathematics have been phenomenal in the last century, with wide-ranging impact.
The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
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Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#12When I was a kid on the gillnetter I'd read that book all the time and would practice tying some of the more elaborate knots. I wish I still had my dad's old marlin spike. Had it for years, with a wobbly old turk's head I'd tied on the eyelet. Gobbled up by the mists of time (an old girlfriend threw my shit out a dozen years ago and it was a casualty)
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#13A long time ago, I took the Sierra Club Basic Mountaineering Training Course (which was since abolished after some lawsuits!).
We practiced the bowline-on-a-coil and belaying someone on flat land, and then we did rock climbing, belaying each other.
I had a gentleman on the climbing end, who shouted "on belay" to which I responded "belay on."
Then he yelled "falling." I was sitting with my feet braced, and I'd practiced holding with my legs instead of my arms, so I was able to keep him from getting hurt. I guess nowadays I could monetize that, if I had it on video.
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#14I have problems with knots, I am terrible with them, despite having some books.
I think what I really need is a flowchart (what are you tying to what else? what kind of cordage do you have? what kind on the other end, if applicable?) with a list of knots at one end, with their various strengths and weaknesses.
The jargon is a bit of an issue, too.
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#15What I love about ABOK is that, while it's exhaustive and technical, there's still a lot of personality in the descriptions and commentary. Not only in the chapter headings, but even the knot descriptions sometimes have random little anecdotes, and you get the sense that the author must have been quite a guy.
A favorite quote:
> The topsail halyard bend is said to be a yachting hitch, but it is possible that it has never appeared outside the covers of a book. It has one more turn than the studding-sail bend and this, like the second tablespoonful of castor oil, savors of redundancy.
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#16Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#17Know knots or tie lots! Knowing a few different knots for a variety of situations comes in handy. The right knot holds properly and can usually be undone when needed without having to cut it out. If you're starting out then the square knot, two half hitches, taught line hitch, clove hitch, and bowline cover most use cases. And, yes, those are among the basic ones taught to Scouts.
a very simple knot that has been very useful to me and yet simple to learn is the - round turn and two half hitches knot. for tying a line or rope under tension
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#18Saw this video on Knot Theory a while back — the developments in this obscure branch of mathematics have been phenomenal in the last century, with wide-ranging impact. https://youtu.be/8DBhTXM_Br4?si=vDfNBPXpj4OMfLPY
Topology is super interesting. Thanks for the video!
Re: The Ashley Book of Knots (1944)
#19Does it have an index pointing to each knot or categorizing them? It would be really nice to know which knot to use in each occasion. I couldn't find the index.