Walking sticks and canes...

[Guest Jamie]

As some of you have gathered from the other thread, I'm working on a piece for one of the members here. And I've been picking his brain in order to get an idea of what he wants.

Now, I'm considering doing this stick carving/building/whatever a little more frequently than I have been. And if all goes well, for more than just myself and one or two others.

So, given that, I figured I'd ask, what do folks like? Plain, semi-ornate, very ornate... what?

How 'bout materials? Do you lean more toward pretty, or strictly functional and utilitarian?

Weight... Do you want something that feels like a Louisville Slugger with a hand grip on the end, or would you prefer something that you don't notice too much, but is sturdy enough to "take a lickin' and keep on tickin'"?

I'm not trying to sell anything here, just kind'a curious as to what folks look for in a "walkin' stick", if and when they find a need or use for one.

Keep in mind that I'm quite capable of "weaponizing" any stick, no matter how ornate... though I can't build a sword cane or anything of the like, mostly because I don't have a ready supply of blades.

Iron or steel reinforcements with spikes and sharp edges is a whole 'nother matter though.

So let's hear it... give me some input of what I can expect out'a folks, both here and elsewhere.

[Guest spoolie]

[Guest Jamie]

So you want one with legs on it...

[china coaster]

I've got a couple of Bodark (osage orange) sticks that I keep in my trucks.They are just small limbs growing off a larger one which becomes the handle. I have some cured bodark I plan on making a curved neck stick out of one day. Hickory also makes a good stick.

[Guest Jamie]

Hickory is a very good wood for hitting things, or tool handles that are put under a lot of bending strain. It's pretty heavy though, and could get tiresome to lug around, if you have to use the cane on a daily basis to get around.

Still, even for that, sculpting and carving can lighten the load without compromising the strength.

Hadn't thought about the osage orange... I think I have one or two of those here as well, after thinking on it a bit. They're usually called "Hedge apple" or "Horse apple", around here.

Edited January 12, 2011 by Jamie

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Wife's parents got old and needed to downsize closer to us so we could help out. Her dad was a high school teacher who taught everything mechanical, wood and metal. He was always making neat stuff over the years.

He gave me a fine-furniture-quality oak walking stick about 6 feet long. About 1 inch rounded corner square stock with a 2 inch lathed oak ball on top. I nick-named it the staff of moses. Haven't taken it out for a stroll, but it ought to work great.

[Jonnin]

Wife's is something called "diamond willow" which is nice looking & strong, not too heavy. Used it just this week, to help walk over the ice.

[Guest Jamie]

Hmm... So far, it seems to be "plain or relatively so" and "Natural" are the front-runners... And that's not counting the insects.

I guess something like a "Rune-stick" is not all that popular then.

[Guest Jamie]

By the way... here's some pics of carvings done on bone and various antlers... Yeah, in this case it's sword and knife hilts, but it's the sort of stuff - or something similar - I'm thinking about incorporating into a walking stick or cane:

That is the work of a fellow by the name of William Lloyd, btw... I used to talk to him quite a bit on another forum, years ago...

Edited January 12, 2011 by Jamie

[enfield]

I'm partial to plain but distinctive sticks, with a good sized knob. Sort of the Shillelagh type. I have no objections to metallic inserts.

"Bodark" is a corruption of Bois d'Arc, French for bow wood. Osage Orange was a popular bow material amongst the aboriginal Americans.

[Guest Jamie]

About the only type of stick I don't really wanna fool with is one with the traditional "Shepherd's Hook". Knobs, Tee-handles, or something of the like is fine, but having to set up a steamer to bend wood is just not in the cards for me.

Besides, you can go down to your local drug store/pharmacy and find those all day long.

[Jonnin]

If you have enough trees around, you can sometimes find a decent hook naturally. But I also would not want to make them by hand!

If I were really, honestly going to fight with a stick, give me one with a 6 inch blade on each end, about 4 feet long total. If that counts. If it could not have any metal, make it more like a police baton, but a little longer, with the handgrip a little more central. If its just a cane, make it pretty and I will just shoot anyone that aggravates me.

[Guest Letereat!]

Hmmm. OS, you got a crystal ball, or are you some sort of deductive reasoning GURU. That was no snipe at all.

Especially if I add a little iron and/or copper to the mix.

A must for sure!

"Rune-stick" The antler carvings are most excellent!

With the mention of Mystics, Magic ,Goddesses and other pagan symbolism, Indians and the like; I think it would be a discredit not to add some *Occult and or Runic

inlays and or carvings.. As far as "weaponizing" IMHO I like a stick as a stick, a jab or a hard whack in the right area is sufficient unless your planning on entering full on Battle of course. Mabey a small spike for a "hand rest/stop". Just in case you gotta kill a Bear... or some other crazy outa hand Mamel. A a thin strip of steel in the right place for deflecting blows mabey too. Did I mention Pagan, *Occult or Runic markings....who said it wasen't popular? Its gotta be utiltarian enough to be a day hiker too.:shhh:

*"Occult science is the systematic research into or formulation of occult concepts in a manner that follows - in its method or presentation - the way natural science researches or describes phenomena of the physical world."

The whole inception of Occult activity was driven by the need to hide ones beliefs, ideas, world view, scientific opinions etc. to spare ones life from torture and or death at the hands of the Church for being a heretic. This is fact.

Edited January 13, 2011 by Letereat!

[Guest Jamie]

I guess I better explain what I mean by "weaponized"...

I'm talking about making what for all appearances is an ordinary walking stick, at first glance. But on further inspection, has reinforced or hardened areas, textures or small innocuous spikes that's dissuade grabbing it, or act as a "DNA collector", if so applied.

Then there's making the grip shaped in such a way as to have a "breaker beak" or other surface that can be applied in a hammer or ax-like fashion. Also, a pointed "hook" that can be applied in all sorts of unpleasant manner, if one needs to.

So, I'm not talking about an object that would be an obvious weapon, like say, making a walking stick with an ice hammer head for a grip, or a mace head down on the lower portion.

[oldogy]

I have a couple sticks that I've found on my walks in the woods. I don't always take the beaten path. One is about four feet, very lightweight and I have no idea what kind of wood it is. I have wacked it a few times to test and found it very strong and functional. The other is a locust that was knocked down and was laying in the wet dirt for quite a while. Very strong and functional also. I like nothing fancy, just functional.

oldogy

[Guest Jamie]

Hmmm. OS, you got a crystal ball, or are you some sort of deductive reasoning GURU. That was no snipe at all.

A must for sure!

"Rune-stick" The antler carvings are most excellent!

With the mention of Mystics, Magic ,Goddesses and other pagan symbolism, Indians and the like; I think it would be a discredit not to add some Occult and or Runic

inlays and or carvings.. As far as "weaponizing" IMHO I like a stick as a stick, a jab or a hard whack in the right area is sufficient unless your planning on entering full on Battle of course. Mabey a small spike for a "hand rest/stop". Just in case you gotta kill a Bear... or some other crazy outa hand Mamel. A a thin strip of steel in the right place for deflecting blows mabey too. Did I mention Pagan, Occult or Runic markings....who said it wasen't popular? Its gotta be utiltarian enough to be a day hiker too.

I get the feeling I'm gonna be making another stick... Soon.

[Guest Letereat!]

:)Sticks are pretty great tough, I dont know why anyone would'nt want one. It'd be a good second to My good ole 8 guage Bluderbuss....with some cammo and a Pentagram on the but.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Letereat!
natas was here....

[Guest Jamie]

Sounds Medieval for sure, I sure wouldn't wanna provoke a person with such a "stick". Lessen I had a Gun of course.

If you're within 6 feet of 'em, your gun might not be any real advantage.

[Guest Jamie]

:puke:Sticks are pretty gay tough, I dont know why anyone would bother.

So what are you drinking tonight anyway?

[Guest Broomhead]

Cold Steel has a composite walking stick that I have eyed every time I have seen it at the gun show. It is about 4 feet long with a shaft that is ribbed through the thickness to make it look segmented. Then on top it had a dodecahedron (IIRC) that is about 3-5" in diameter. I think something along those lines would be very comfortable to walk with but would also give/take a hell of a beating, if I can't carry that is.

[Oh Shoot]

Hmmm. OS, you got a crystal ball, or are you some sort of deductive reasoning GURU. That was no snipe at all...

Actually, there was a previous thread somewhere wherein Jamie showed a stick he'd made. I didn't cheat and use any of my occult powers.

Cold Steel has a composite walking stick that I have eyed every time I have seen it at the gun show....

I actually have one of their City Sticks, a discreet "pistol grip" one which they don't seem to make any more. Long story why I grabbed it a number of years ago (as knock on wood, I'm far from needing a cane) but anyway it would flat do a number on ya, whether you used the stainless steel handle or just the fiberglass rod part either one.

- OS

[Guest Jamie]

Actually, there was a previous thread somewhere wherein Jamie showed a stick he'd made. I didn't cheat and use any of my occult powers

This next one's not gonna be quite so delicate as the last one I made... but it's probably going to be fairly well carved and sculpted.

I spent some time today skinning the bark off of it, and generally looking the piece of wood over, to see if it had anything to "say"... So I'll be off and running with various knives, grinders, files, rasps, and sandpaper next. After a little trimming with the jigsaw, that is.

It's going to be an entertaining project, if nothing else.

[Oh Shoot]

....It's going to be an entertaining project, if nothing else.

Well, they oughtta be cool as all gitout. Nifty that they're gonna be TN wood.

Guy at my Dad's church in 'Nooga went around and found grape vine sculpted spiral wood and made canes from them; my Dad had one toward end of his life. I had no use for it, wasn't a particularly fond thing to remember about him so I eBayed it.

- OS

[Guest Jamie]

Nifty that they're gonna be TN wood.

That was part of the requested specifications. I mentioned that I could do something out of purchased materials - hickory, in this case, since I don't have any cut and seasoned, at the moment - but local stuff was the choice.

I guess that before spring gets here, I'll need to go cut some stock, and get it drying. 'Cause it's certainly ridiculous to be buying lumber, when there are so many trees growing right here on my property.

I try to keep an eye out for anything interesting, when I'm wandering around the place, and get it layed up to dry for when something comes to mind, but I got a bit slack this last year, and am down to some cedar, a little red oak, tulip poplar, and maybe some maple.

And given the shear variety of trees around here, that's a bit pathetic.

[enfield]

Here's a tip for you Jamie - the stick I'm using now is sassafras with a big root knob. It's not heavy, surprisingly stout and it smells good!