D.I.Y. Cromach/Shepherd's Crook.

**Jock Scot** · 21st August 12, 02:29 AM

You are indeed one cleaver fellow Harold! Well done.

On a practical note-----I am not trying to be a smart Alec-------you may find that the Turks head(leather collar) will hamper you when you use the cromach, as it sticks out a tad and will catch the hand.

Let me try and explain. The horn top is not the only bit that one uses with the cromach to hang on to, when one walks we usually find it more comfortable to grasp the shaft(the cromach is too long, usually, to grasp the handle comfortably all the time) at about the place of the turks head. Added to which you will develop a "light grip" where the shaft moves up and down through the hand as you walk and you will possibly---OK, will--- find that the collar will be slap bang in the wrong place. OK a detail that might not worry you if you are not a regular user of your masterpiece, but as a regular user of a cromach I would find a raised collar very annoying.

Oh and if you are looking for something to do at any time, you could always make me a cromach!

**Harold Cannon** · 21st August 12, 07:13 AM

Jock if it wasn't so hard to find a source for shafts already cured and straightened here in the States I would be glad to make you one on commission.

This will not be my go to crook. I have walked with it and my style works well I grasp it between the turks head and the knot growth so there is plenty of slide room. I have noticed that it somehow got tilted to the rear a little and have been debating pulling it apart and reworking it. This would shorten it by about 2 inches. I have thought about steaming it and pulling the shaft forward a little to correct this as it looks as though the shaft is curved to the rear a little. The shaft does respond well to steam.

I have a wooden cleek head and a black horn head on their way. I have to find shafts for these.

**creagdhubh** · 21st August 12, 08:27 AM

Great job, Harold! You never cease to amaze!

Cheers,

**Baldybrown** · 21st August 12, 09:23 AM

Oooh, Harold, very nice indeed!

**BuchananBiker** · 24th August 12, 03:05 PM

That's really cool! The birch staff I'm seasoning may have a new fate.

**A Hay** · 24th August 12, 06:11 PM

Well done Harold.

For the cromach I purchased, I put a 6 inch band of braided leather where I grasp the cromach. I find this more comfortable to hold than just the plain shaft. I probably use mine differently than Jock Scot however. Don't do much rough terrain walking here.