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First published in 1944, no one has ever issued a more complete volume on knots and ropework. Ashley was an experienced sailor who had lived through the last days of full-rigged sailing ships. He compiled this book in his retirement. It is the ultimate reference on a subject near and dear to many of our hearts and includes every knot known in the western world. It includes more than 7000 drawings of more than 3900 knots. Obviously many of these have no use for bdsm, but you never know what you might com up with. He does discuss how to make an authentic, rope, cat-of-nine tails. 

Right now it is out of print, but a good library should have a copy. The next best reference on knots is Raoul Graumont and John Hensel's, Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work (Cornell Maritime Pr, 4th ed., 1952). Amazon sells it for only $27.27, 30% off the cover price. Like Ashley's, it is not a good book for a beginner. Most of the knots are photographed in their complete form, and the instructions on tying them are a bit sparse. Both are intended as references for knot experts. 
 

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This is the knot book for the rest of us. Over 600 photographs and illustrations show you how to tie seventy of the more useful knots. Offers the most detailed and photographed instructions I've seen. Despite being translated from Italian, the text and examples are easy to follow and the illustrations actually large enough to see. Ropes of different colors are used throughout to avoid any possibility of confusion. While intended for sailors, it should have all the knots you're likely to need in tying up your partner.

If you are looking for fancier knots, two good choices are:

John Hensel's Book of Ornamental Knots which Amazon sells for 20% off at $15.96; and Peter Owen's Book of Decorative Knots which Amazon sells for 20% off at $10.36. Hensel's is more complete, while Owen's is easier to follow and a better book for a beginner. 

Amazon.com
Price: $15.16

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Geoffrey Budworth, The Complete Book of Knots
(Linden, 1997), paperback, 240 pages, $18.95

Budworth, the co-founder of the International Guild of Knot Tyers, knows his subject very well. His book, while not quite complete, come fairly close. It is illustrated and the instructions are fairly easy to follow for people with some experience with knots. This book probably offers the best balance between the number of knots included and the quality of the tying instructions. Ashley has more knots, but poor instructions. Morrow has fewer knots, but excellent instructions on tying them.

Budworth has also authored the Book of Decorative Knots which gives excellent, illustrated instructions on how to tie eighty of the more common decorative knots such as Turk's heads. Like the Complete Book of Knots, it also has a lot on the history of knots.

Amazon.com
Price: $17.47

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Ron Edwards, How to Make Whips
(Cornell Maritime Press, 1999), hardcover, 160 pages, $24.95

This is the whipmaking book we have all been waiting for. With simple, well-illustrated directions, Edwards (the founder and current president of the Australian Plaiters and Whipmakers Association) explains how to make Australian-style bullwhips and stockwhips out of either kangaroo or latigo. Edwards doesn't give away all his secrets, but anyone reasonably experienced with knots and braiding should have no trouble making a four or eight plait whip following these directions. Almost all of this material appeared previously in Edward's Bushcraft 8: Buschcraft leatherwork, so if you have that book, there's not much reason to buy this one.

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This book has well-illustrated instructions of more than 75 knots including all the ones commonly used in bdsm play. The author also includes chapters on fancy and decorative knots and a few simple rope-escape tricks. I don't know why, but this book has stayed in print over the years but is always being cleared out cheap by bookstores. 

Another good, short, and cheap manual to try is: 

John Cassidy, The Klutz Book of Knots
(Klutz Press, 1985), 21 pages, $10.95 ($8.76 from Amazon.com) 

Sure it only covers two dozen differnt knots, but it comes with two pieces of rope so you can start practicing right away. Its pages are thick cardboard, and you lace through them following the diagrams.

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This book contains plans and instructions to make a dizzying variety of simple toys. Projects include restraints and other bondage equipment, as well various pain implements including simple floggers. None of these projects will win awards for aesthetics, or in many cases durability, but you can't beat the price or the simple joy of making things yourself. Most of the items can be put together for a few dollars and a stop at your local hardware store. This is a good way to build a quick toybag. What you learn making in your own toys will also pay off when you shop for nicer items. You will have a much easier time separating the overpriced junk now flooding the bdsm marketplace from the items truly worth owning. 

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This book by the Dean of American leather braiding is the most comprehensive source for leather braiding. It includes patterns for a variety of knots, several quirts, a bullwhip, hobbles, and a variety of other projects. Grant's explanations are fairly good, but many of his drawings are hard to follow. Despite its problems, no other book comes close to the detail and information in Grant's books. If you want to save yourself some money, most of the braiding projects are in his much cheaper Leather Braiding, and many of the others are in How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear which is a great source if you're looking at making some of your own pony gear.

Bruce Grant, Leather Braiding
(Cornell Maritime Press, 1950, reprinted in 1992), $7.95, Amazon Price: $5.56. 

Bruce Grant, How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear
(Cornell Maritime Pr, 1956), paperback, 193 pages, $8.95, Amazon Price: $7.16. 

Still selling whips from his shop near Seattle, David Morgan is an expert in Australian-style, single-tail whipmaking. While not as instructive as the title implies, this book is still must reading for the beginning whipmaker. He explains how to cut the strands for a whip, how to prepare them, and how to braid them. It also has useful information on the care and use of single-tail whips as well as instructions for how to throw and crack a whip. Morgan has recently written Braiding Fine Leather that fills the gaps in Whips and Whipmaking.

If you're planning on buying from him, and many people do (his prices and quality are both excellent), be warned that he is not scene friendly. If he finds out you're into bdsm he will refuse to speak or sell to you. 

David Morgan's Store

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So far this is the only book on what is a very important topic. We all want to take care of our toys and clothes. Thibault gives a brief description of the manufacture and processing of both materials and then gets right to instructions on their care. The directions are concise and easy to follow. Thibault's information on latex is fairly good, but that on leather could use some work. Leather is manufactured in a number of different ways, and different types of leather need different care. Thibault's techniques are best for chrome-tanned leather, the kind all clothes and most flogger tress are made from. Vegetable-tanned leather needs different care--especially the vegetable-tanned kangaroo that expensive single tail whips are made from. For its size and the amount of information you get, the book is a bit overpriced, but Amazon's discount makes up for some of that. 
 

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Obviously leathercraft is not as popular a hobby as it once was. Few books are written on this subject near and dear to our hearts and those that are do not stay in print long. This is one of the few still in print. It covers the basics of the types of leather and the tools you will need. It explains how to sew, dye, and glue leather and how to attach fittings. The projects include boxes, belts, purses, wallets, briefcases, and masks. The instructions are concise and easy to follow. Obviously few of these projects have direct bdsm applications (belts and masks are the only directly applicable to bdsm), but some of the others are pervertible. Besides, once you have the basics down you can make whatever you want. If you know how to make watchbands and belts, cuffs are not much different. Just be careful where you place stress on the wrist and make sure the fittings are covered or recessed so they do not rub.