Walking Sticks

[Sionnachdubh]

I always liked cromachs myself. I have not seen a single blackthorn stick yet though, rabble, I am shocked at your behaviour! Does nobody own one of these lovely pieces of blackthorn?

[Big Mikey]

Check this page in this thread.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/w...24/index3.html

[Bugbear]

Yep, need to get myself a proper walking stick.

[svc40bt]

Here are a couple pics of my simple walking staff. Collected it from the property line at my parents' place in western PA. Not sure exactly what variety of thorny tree it is. They were formerly used as growing fences, but are now considered nuisance plants. Make excellent staves though, light but strong. This one is mostly an 1" or less in diameter, but can easily support my not inconsiderable full weight.

On a short hike at Gambrill State Park near Frederick, MD (couldn't get the camera to sit level)


Shot of the staff


Closeup of the top (left side)


Closeup of the top (right side)

[Streetcar]

I also picked up a blackthorn from Lollysmith about a week ago:



Here's a better view of the detail:


It's a sturdy stick - nice and knobby. It did have a few rough spikes I still had to cut off - real handshredders. Certainly not as nice as some of the other sticks on this thread, but then again that's why these are called "Pug Ugly Sticks."

[The Thing]

I present Sea Gulls snout, some beautiful sticks on this thread.

[DWFII]

I also picked up a blackthorn from Lollysmith about a week ago:
It's a sturdy stick - nice and knobby. It did have a few rough spikes I still had to cut off - real handshredders.

It's my understanding that the spike (thorns) are left on for a reason...the thorns are poisonous and if you got into a row with a hooligan or a highwayman, and he grabbed your stick, you could rip it out of his hands and it would do nearly as much damage to him (either shredding or poisoning) as if you'd hit him with the rootball end.

The guys that still harvest these sticks build up an immunity to the poison, but it's there...and that's one reason there are fewer and fewer every year.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Here are a couple pics of my simple walking staff. Collected it from the property line at my parents' place in western PA. Not sure exactly what variety of thorny tree it is. They were formerly used as growing fences, but are now considered nuisance plants. Make excellent staves though, light but strong. This one is mostly an 1" or less in diameter, but can easily support my not inconsiderable full weight.

On a short hike at Gambrill State Park near Frederick, MD (couldn't get the camera to sit level)


Shot of the staff


Closeup of the top (left side)


Closeup of the top (right side)

From the color (and I assume it is oiled and/or stained a bit) it looks to be Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage Orange, Bois d'arc, or just Hedge apple. The heartwood is yellow when cut but ages (or stains) a beautiful rich red brown. It is very strong and about as tough and durable as any wood. Native Americans used it for bows, hence the other name.

In the 19th century, it was planted extensively for fences, and when kept sheared and trimmed, was a formidable barrier. When let go, however, these trees get large, and I have trees in old hedgerows that are more than 2' in diameter and over 100' high.

I think I'll make one myself. Topped with an antler burl it should work well.

[svc40bt]

From the color (and I assume it is oiled and/or stained a bit) it looks to be Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage Orange, Bois d'arc, or just Hedge apple. The heartwood is yellow when cut but ages (or stains) a beautiful rich red brown. It is very strong and about as tough and durable as any wood. Native Americans used it for bows, hence the other name.

In the 19th century, it was planted extensively for fences, and when kept sheared and trimmed, was a formidable barrier. When let go, however, these trees get large, and I have trees in old hedgerows that are more than 2' in diameter and over 100' high.

I think I'll make one myself. Topped with an antler burl it should work well.

Probably is that one, though I think there are a couple others of the same family, common in western PA. I did stain it as best I could, (didn't really take stain at all) and a couple coats of danish oil. Not quite as light as the colapsible aluminum ones, but a bit more handsome.

[Donnie]

I have a sitck carved by KiltedCarver at fromthelimb.com, here are pictures: