I received an email from someone who said that he has been “commissioned to write a book on the essential skills every man should possess, one of which is being able to tie a decent knot - a multi-purpose knot.”
I mentioned a few issues, such as the fact that a knot which is good for one purpose will not always be good for another purpose, and that some knots work well in certain types of rope but are very poor in other types of rope, etc.
I also suggested that he might make a list of some basic “every-person” uses for knots, such as tying a package, tying a bundle of branches in the backyard, tying a young tree to a stake in the ground for support, tying things down on top of a car or truck, using a towrope for some purpose, lifting/lowering a person or heavy object, tying two ropes together, and so on. This will provide an idea of the scope of the uses which he is shooting for, which will help narrow down the list of candidate knots.
As we saw in the “Best of Breed” thread (http://www.igkt.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1104626435;start=0), different people have different ideas about a minimum level of knot knowledge. Given that the section on knots will likely be quite short in his book, got any advice for him? Granted it’s a huge subject, but if he’s got to say “something” about knots then what do you feel would be appropriate?
Dave
I think if I were writing a book like this I would use the “Surrey Six” - Six tried, tested easily tied and useful knots in both natural fibre and man-made fibre ropes/line/string etc.
www.Surreyknots.org.uk/surrey6.htm
Gordon
I think if I were writing a book like this I would use the "Surrey Six" - Six tried, tested easily tied and useful knots in both natural fibre and man-made fibre ropes/line/string etc.
www.Surreyknots.org.uk/surrey6.htm
Gordon
I’m glad they changed their “Six” from the last I saw them. :o They’re not all my picks, but they are certainly an improvement.
Some of my picks are on my webpage (click homepage icon on the left).
They are fair enough i think.
i’d like to see a Bowline/ SheetBend condensced to 1; with Bowline understood as a SheetBend to self to form eye.
Then, perhaps Anchor slid in, and it’s similair extension of an Anchor to self to form eye (even if you cross the turn!). This would add a shrinking noose to set for trapping, etc.; as well as the “beautiful example of simplicitym security and strength” (Cyrus Day) of the Anchor Hitch/ Bend(s).
I would think a fixed loop (Bowline or one of the improved versions), slipping loop (either a running bowline or a slipknot), a knot to tie things together (packing knot maybe the truckers hitch too) and a knot to connect 2 ropes/pieces of string (Carrick bend or double sheetbend).
And no reefknot at all, not even to tie things together. (If there is a chapter on medical first aid, there he can show it for bandages if needed.)
Willeke