Traditional Blackthorn Sticks

**Foxgun Tom** · 2nd February 12, 03:38 PM

I've been making sticks for over 40 years now with all manner of woods, blackthorn, hazel, sycamore, beech, holly etc: At this time of the year when there's hard frost I'm out checking the hedgerows for for suitable shafts! I've been looking at a couple of sights over the last two season's where there's a good covering of Blackthorn and there's few nice shafts to be harvested over the next week or so ! I then leave them in my garden shed to dry out and season while turning them and bending them over my knee to ensure straightness!! Here's some of my personal collection in different woods eg:

**Lime** · 2nd February 12, 03:39 PM

Is your tattersal shirt from House of Bruar in Perthshire? I have the same one. I recognise the 3 button barrel cuff (buttons obviously hidden from view) and the colours of the stripes - blue and green.

It's from Roderick Charles on Jermyn Street (who seem to have a sale on at the moment). I make an annual pilgrimage to stock up.

The senior partner at my previous firm is good friends with the owner of House of Bruar... I can never get a discount though... despite still being on excellent terms!

**JRB** · 2nd February 12, 03:46 PM

This is my blackthorn from Lollysmith. It's got a gigantic root knob bit it's still very comfortable. Lollysmith used to have much better prices but their original supplier dried up and they had to find an alternate which caused their prices to go up substantially.

**Lime** · 2nd February 12, 04:37 PM

This thread reminds me of a joke... "what's brown and sticky?" "A stick!"

**Nick the DSM** · 2nd February 12, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lime

This thread reminds me of a joke... "what's brown and sticky?" "A stick!"

Classic.

I'd love to learn shillelagh fighting.

**Chas** · 2nd February 12, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Classic.

I'd love to learn shillelagh fighting.

I don't think there's any rules!

Regards

Chas

**ForresterModern** · 2nd February 12, 06:15 PM

To Foxgun Tom

You sir have a truly enviable collection there. Very nice indeed.

(green stripe arises along the midline of my back).

**Nick the DSM** · 2nd February 12, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Chas

I don't think there's any rules!

Regards

Chas

No, but there are techniques!

**CMcG** · 2nd February 12, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Classic.

I'd love to learn shillelagh fighting.

Here's a list of people certified to teach the Doyle style in the US... not too close to you I'm afraid.

http://www.isfww.eu/grossbritannien-.../usa/index.php

You can check out some video lessons on YouTube to get an idea of the basic techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/user/byyon/videos

Originally Posted by Chas

I don't think there's any rules!

Regards

Chas

That is a common misconception

According to the historian and hoplologist John Hurley, Irish faction fights actually did have some rules, also know as Shillelagh Law:
http://johnwhurley.com/hurleyframeset-2.html

Nowadays, some people have become interested in shillelagh fighting as a sport and those sorts of competitions have rules as well:
http://youtu.be/VV8fDH4bg5E

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Not much kilt wearing going on with the Irish Stick Fighters, I'm afraid...

**creagdhubh** · 3rd February 12, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

It's from Roderick Charles on Jermyn Street (who seem to have a sale on at the moment). I make an annual pilgrimage to stock up.

The senior partner at my previous firm is good friends with the owner of House of Bruar... I can never get a discount though... despite still being on excellent terms!

Gotcha. The tattersal shirts offered by House of Bruar are made to Jermyn Street standards, so I am quite sure they are very similiar to the versions offered by Roderick Charles, which are quite superb by the way! Thanks for the heads-up on the sale - I just ordered a tattersal shirt, along with the pink and light blue gingham -very smart and at a great price!

Thanks,