riverman wrote:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/Zeppelin.html

I just tried it on two pieces of 4x, and it seems very strong and is
quite easy to tie. Its not as simple as the Surgeons Knot, but it has
the advantage that it leaves a linear knot, and its much easier than a
Blood Knot.

What do others think...is this a good leader-tippet or tippet-tippet
knot? I wonder if its even worth doing two or more passes through
rather than the one.

No opinion on efficacy of the knot. However, I did look at the website
and then checked the information presented there against Ashley. I was
mildy suprised to find that the knot wasn't listed under either of the
names given on the website. According to the footnote on the website,
the knot was in use in the 30s (not surprising for a knot named after
Zeppelins). "The Ashley Book of Knots" was first published in 1944.

Another note on the website states that the Zeppelin knot is not the
same thing as the Rigger's bend/Hunter's bend. This one DOES show up
in Ashley under the label 1425A, described on page 260 and illustrated
on the following page. Looking at the illustration, I'm inclined to
agree both with the statement that it is not the same knot and that it
looks pretty much the same upon completion. However, knots are
tricky....that's why they're fun. As any knot maven will declare
(correctly), a knot that differs in any respect.....even in the tiniest
detail.....is a different knot. But....and this is a very important
qualification.....that is true only of the finished product. How you
get there doesn't matter. And two processes that look radically
different in illustration (knots are notoriously difficult to
illustrate anyway) may end up in identical products.

For what it's worth.

Wolfgang
is there a topologist in the house?