Signature knots

General Discussion
1

In science fiction novel “Assassin of Gor” the author, John Norman, discusses something he called “signature knots”, which were knots tied in such a way as to identify the knot tyer. The author asserts that the Gordian Knot was such a knot. The knot would be tied with twists, loops and other characteristics which the tyer would learn to reproduce, but no one else would be able to duplicate. If someone else untied the knot, the tyer would be able to recognize it.

I’ve wondered for a long time if this was an invention or if there’s some historical basis for the idea. Would anyone here have any idea about that?

There’s a concept called “knot signatures” which has to do with the mathematical concept of knots. That’s something entirely different than knots one can tie in rope or string.

Note that the book is part of a long-running series that gets pretty explicit in some volumes. I don’t intend to promote or endorse the books but have wondered about this concept since I first read it in the 1980s.

Thank you for any insights!

2

well a thief’s knot see attachment) would be a very simple example of this. The idea being that if someone unties the knot around your bag (presumably the in dark) they will just retie a normal reef knot when they’re done lootin’ you, and you’ll know someone’s been through your stuff.

As for knots specific to an individual that no one else could tie, i kinda doubt it. Maybe if it were just a pile of twists and half hitches (like the Gordian knot i suppose) but then i honestly doubt even the tier could remember it, and i see no use in it even assuming you could do it.

Hope this helps.

3

To a certain extent, that’s what Japanese tea bag knots (shifuku) is about. Without photos copying a really complex decorative knot may be close to impossible for someone without a lot of time to accomplish the task.

A post on the topic.
Lots of detail about the bags
A brief writeup by me