Just remember that a wizard's staff has a knob on the end!
In my case, a big knob...
Rat
Blackthorn wood... when to cut?
- Thread starter BigShot
- Start date
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Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Just remember that a wizard's staff has a knob on the end!
In my case, a big knob...
Rat
as my knees get worse with every passing year i have to use walking poles more often
i have thought about a stick and have always liked the idea of a blackthorn
i thought they were generaly used by the irish rangers(military) though after reading this post i think i will start looking out for a nice blackthorne stick while im out and about now
will i suddenly be gandalf if i start using a stick though ?
i have thought about a stick and have always liked the idea of a blackthorn
i thought they were generaly used by the irish rangers(military) though after reading this post i think i will start looking out for a nice blackthorne stick while im out and about now
will i suddenly be gandalf if i start using a stick though ?
Blackthorns have a bit of history in Ireland. They were carried as weapons, sometimes to use on the British, sometimes on lads from the next village. "Blackthorns vs Belts" was a well-known phrase which meant the Irish lads swinging blackthorns, the British soldiers swinging their leather belts with big regimental crest buckles on the end. Officers in the Rangers still carry them in place of swagger sticks.
nice one feather stick you prompted me to have a little search and i found this
The Blackthorn bush is found throughout Ireland and the British Isles. It has been prized for centuries as a material for premium walking sticks. The original Blackthorn sticks were 2 to 4 foot long Irish shillelaghs (the national weapon of rural Ireland). In expert hands the shillelagh was so fearsome that during the final occupation of Ireland, the English outlawed it. To get around the law, the Irish turned the shillelagh into a 3-foot walking stick. The English didn’t want to appear unreasonable by outlawing walking sticks too, so the Irish kept their modified shillelaghs and the world gained a beautiful and functional walking stick known simply as the Blackthorn.
Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood (Prunus spinosa) or oak. The wood would be smeared with butter and placed up a chimney to cure, giving the Shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. Shillelaghs may be hollowed at the heavy "hitting" end and filled with molten lead to increase the weight beyond the typical two pounds; this sort of Shillelagh is known as a 'loaded stick'. They are commonly the length of a walking stick (distance from the floor to one's wrist with elbow slightly bent). Most also have a heavy knob for a handle which can be used for striking as well as parrying and disarming an opponent. Many shillelaghs also have a strap attached (hence the Irish name), similar to commercially made walking sticks, to place around the holder's wrist.
The Blackthorn bush is found throughout Ireland and the British Isles. It has been prized for centuries as a material for premium walking sticks. The original Blackthorn sticks were 2 to 4 foot long Irish shillelaghs (the national weapon of rural Ireland). In expert hands the shillelagh was so fearsome that during the final occupation of Ireland, the English outlawed it. To get around the law, the Irish turned the shillelagh into a 3-foot walking stick. The English didn’t want to appear unreasonable by outlawing walking sticks too, so the Irish kept their modified shillelaghs and the world gained a beautiful and functional walking stick known simply as the Blackthorn.
Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood (Prunus spinosa) or oak. The wood would be smeared with butter and placed up a chimney to cure, giving the Shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. Shillelaghs may be hollowed at the heavy "hitting" end and filled with molten lead to increase the weight beyond the typical two pounds; this sort of Shillelagh is known as a 'loaded stick'. They are commonly the length of a walking stick (distance from the floor to one's wrist with elbow slightly bent). Most also have a heavy knob for a handle which can be used for striking as well as parrying and disarming an opponent. Many shillelaghs also have a strap attached (hence the Irish name), similar to commercially made walking sticks, to place around the holder's wrist.
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