When it comes to explaining tools and techniques of the practical craftsman, Paul N. Hasluck is a true master of nearly any trade or task that can be completed around the home. The same expertise behind such classics as ''Metalworking'' and ''The Handyman's Book'' is found in the newly revived classic ''Knotting and Splicing Ropes and Cordage''. Though many know it as a decorative hobby, knotting, as Hasluck describes, is an ancient device that has proved key for man's survival since the dawn of time. Still today, ill-made knots can prove to be disastrous - even fatal - for tradesmen and women in a variety of work environments. In ''Knotting and Splicing Ropes and Cordage'', all topics are covered, from the basics of rope formation to tying simple and useful knots, to splicing rope, working cordage, tying fancy knots, using different ties and lashings, and more - all among more than 200 intricate illustrations. Great for sailors, scouts, climbers, cavers, rescue workers, or anyone who is simply interested in learning the skills behind knotting and splicing, this classic work holds the very foundation of the art.