What knots are essential to know

[Aloha_Shooter]

As a Scout leader, I teach and use a wide variety a lot: square knot, clove hitch, half-hitches (in multiples), tautline, bowline, figure 8, timber hitch, surgeon's knot, square lashing, tripod lashing, round lashing, slip knot, etc. Probably the most universally useful (IMO) are the square knot, bowline, clove hitch, half-hitches, slip knot, and shoelace bow.

[Ah Pook]

Don't forget splicing. We were given a length of rope and told to make a belt using three splices.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I don't use splicing as much anymore since I frequently use paracord these days but I find myself doing backsplices anytime I find twisted rope with loose ends.

I'm not sure why you'd need three splices for a belt -- most common way I've seen for making rope belts was eyesplice around a wooden toggle and another larger eyesplice that you could slip the toggle through and lock against.

In keeping with the request that resurrected this thread, I use the bowline anytime I want a loop that won't slip -- that includes mooring boats and tying gear down on a truckbed. Haven't had to use it as a rescue knot yet (knocking on wood).

I'll use the clove hitch to tie up on any bar, pole or tree. I don't do surgery so my primary uses of the surgeon's knot are for cooking (tying up roasts) and fishing. Tautline and two (or three or four) half-hitches is to tie off to something but let me take up or let out some slack -- I use them frequently when putting up flies, used them more frequently in cooking when I was making a stew or similar one-pot meal over a campfire. Of course, I also use the tripod lashing in those cases .

The square knot is of course all-purpose as is the slip knot.

[Irving]

I was looking at the eyesplice earlier, and that seemed pretty useful. I did something similar when I made this rock sling:
http://slinging.org/index.php?page=m...ustrated-guide

I've actually made three of them now.

[BlasterBob]

[clublights]

God I've not seen one of those in YEARS ...

[Irving]

I have a piece of paper printed out like that, bit would love to have that. Where can I get one Bob?

[Ah Pook]

God I've not seen one of those in YEARS ...

Judging by the faded red rope it hasn't been used in years.

The best book for knot tying, that I have found, is "The Art of Knotting & Splicing". It can be found on Amazon. If you look in the right places, there are full online versions.

Splicing. Maybe too vintage now but worth learning. Our belts usually an eye splice, end splice and short/long splice. Wearing it as a belt was more of a way to show you had learned and done it. Did the same thing in my Wood Badge course.

[clublights]

I have a piece of paper printed out like that, bit would love to have that. Where can I get one Bob?

http://www.scoutstuff4sale.com/servl...40-Knot/Detail

even better

http://www.scoutstuff.org/kit-knot-tying.html

[Irving]

Thanks.