Hiking staffs & walking sticks: Parts available here.
- Thread starter maximus otter
- Start date
I got myself a nice piece of spiral hazel for mine - it's amazing what honeysuckle can do to a tree. I cast my feet out of pewter ( yeh it's a bit soft ), all the polish and varnish is homemade. I'm working on a removable staff sling head for the top.
Ever fought with one? I used to do battle reenactment, the staff is an amazingly graceful weapon.
Realgar
Ever fought with one? I used to do battle reenactment, the staff is an amazingly graceful weapon.
Realgar
I've never fought with one. But there's an interesting link here: http://ejmas.com/jnc/jncart_barton-wright_0200.htm
I love the illustrations!
I love the illustrations!
maximus otter said:
Maximus have you used them before, and are they limited to lenghts of maximum 48", the idea of making my own hiking staff would be a good one, but I would prefer a little longer lengths to work with. Good link though for all the rest of the bits :biggthump
Finding a stave or staff long enough, strong enough and straight enough around here is a real piece of luck, so I decided try using a hickory rake handle as my staff. 61" long and 1.25" in diameter. Weight is almost 2 pounds. It handles very well and is stout enough to do some prying with it if needed. It has a narrowed section near the end that I wrapped 15' of 550 parachute cordage around and the tapered end that receives the rake had a metal sleeve attached. I removed the sleeve and whittled down the taper so that a frogging gig will fit tightly over it. Then all I have to do is use two small wood screws to afix it so that I can use it for frogs, fish and small game, etc.
My own staff or stick (which impressed JeremyH and his wife so much on treeless Islay) is a hazel wand seasoned carefully with a alpine ferrule (for a digging stick) and a silva button compass mounted in on the top.
A good stick is a pleasure to make and own and has many uses.
A good stick is a pleasure to make and own and has many uses.
I like to use a hazel thumbstick on longer walks as it's nice and light, it serves many uses from a wading stick a bushwhacker an an improvised support for my basha when there's no other guying point.
I use a Rowan staff for shorter walks, sturdier but heavier which is really good for getting through undergrowth etc.
My favourite wood for stickmaking though is blackthorn, difficult to find in longer straight lengths, but the bark polishes up to a beautiful colour and the thorns can leave a lovely pattern which look great with a coat of linseed oil or varnish.
ack:
I use a Rowan staff for shorter walks, sturdier but heavier which is really good for getting through undergrowth etc.
My favourite wood for stickmaking though is blackthorn, difficult to find in longer straight lengths, but the bark polishes up to a beautiful colour and the thorns can leave a lovely pattern which look great with a coat of linseed oil or varnish.
ack:I would'nt go anywhere without mine. having a staff instantly changes you from a semi-stable bi-ped to a very stable tri-ped. they're uses are limited only by your imagination. like almost all my gear I make mine. heres how my best are made, not quick or real easy but in this case the ends justify the means. you will need the following tools. strong clamps, waterproof woodglue, router. the key is lamination!!! there are many combo you can use,personal preference and access to material is the criteria, but use this formula, strong and springy in center strong and hard on outside. now pick your woods ,[ I forgot, you will need a good saw to ],cut into 2in. sqaure strips, glue and clamp, let dry for a couple days , router edges ,a roughly egg shaped cross section seems to be both ergonomic and very strong. thats the short story ,if anyone wants more details shoot me a private message I'll be happy to help. I have also used ss. tubing, aviation alum. tubing ,titainium tubing, and am now exsperimenting with aero-space composites. whatever you use, a staff is one of the most important pieces of your kit. so take your time ,make it like your life depends on it and it will never let you down come what may.
I've heard of a chap that goes by the name of "Martyn the Steyning stick-maker." Does anyone have any info on this? I'm quite local to him and I'm interested in getting a nice stick. Yet I can only find one mention of him on the internet and that is from the wilderness gathering.
any ideas?
cheers,
Martin
any ideas?
cheers,
Martin
bambodoggy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Interesting topic, I use a staff I made myself....it's only short, about half way between a walking stick and a proper staff.....a fun easy first wood project.
A staff or Stave is where the expression "To stave off something" comes from....it's now used in every day conversation like I managed to stave off a cold or flu but that's were it came from....when you used your staff or stave to stave off wild animals.....bandits etc.
A staff or Stave is where the expression "To stave off something" comes from....it's now used in every day conversation like I managed to stave off a cold or flu but that's were it came from....when you used your staff or stave to stave off wild animals.....bandits etc.
maximus otter said:
Thanks for this Maximus. I've been looking for stick making stuff for a while now - I'm in the process of making a tracking stick ready for a Shadowhawk tracking course. The site will also be useful as I've got a load of cut sticks that I've got to get around to doing something with (One of the problems of having a fantastic hazel coppice nearby with a plentiful supply of sticks)
has anyone seen those hazel ones which had a clemitis growing round them making a perfect spiral.. i saw a guy with one and though wow what are the chances... since then i have found two (but left them where they were)!
You can also get a variety of stick making bits from Craft Supplies, in Buxton.
www.Craft-Supplies.co.uk
Try looking at a traditional Basque Makila, for an interesting take on the swordstick.
http://www.argia.com/makilak/htdocs/
(OK, so it's in Euskara, but Googling will find you some more links in French, Galego, Spanish and maybe even English)
KKK.
www.Craft-Supplies.co.uk
Try looking at a traditional Basque Makila, for an interesting take on the swordstick.
http://www.argia.com/makilak/htdocs/
(OK, so it's in Euskara, but Googling will find you some more links in French, Galego, Spanish and maybe even English)
KKK.
not sure if it's a valid question or not but:
are there any laws about staffs and walking sticks?
just to be over cautouis can it be confiscated as a possible weapon, in the same way carrying a baseball bat would?
:sword: :tw: :dedhorse: :smashfrea
are there any laws about staffs and walking sticks?
just to be over cautouis can it be confiscated as a possible weapon, in the same way carrying a baseball bat would?
:sword: :tw: :dedhorse: :smashfrea
That's quite a party at the bottom of your post! As far as I know staffs are fine, even weighted ones, however bear in mind that legally anything is a weapon if you use it as such so if you beat up a copper with your stick he's quite within his rights to take it off you.
Does anyone know how tall a staff should be relative to yourself?
I know a walking stick should be from the ground to your hand, with your forearm held parallel to the ground.
Cheers
I know a walking stick should be from the ground to your hand, with your forearm held parallel to the ground.
Cheers
i normaly make them a little under head hight... dono if there are any rules though
make it tall.. if its too long cut a bit off
make it tall.. if its too long cut a bit off
A baseball bat would be fine and legal where you were playing baseball and a walking stick is OK when you are walking.RAPPLEBY2000 said:
Use either as a weapon though and you change it from being an everyday object into a weapon.
Similar threads
