Walking Staff

[ASinclair]

I'd keep the first one (with ram's horn handle and stag horn collar). I really like the shape of the handle.

[Nathan]

I'd keep the first one (with ram's horn handle and stag horn collar). I really like the shape of the handle.

Thanks for weighing in. I prefer the thistle handle but I like the stag horn collar... decisions, decisions. Perhaps I should start a new thread about this rather than shifting this one to a poll about my cromachs.

[JCShutout]

Those are gorgeous walking sticks. Whichever one you keep, you should sell the other to me! ... presuming its close to 55" tall or so, which a rough measurement a minute ago is about the middle of my chest.

[Cengle54]

[QUOTE=Panache;1235924]If you don't have a local shop nearby and if you have some basic woodworking tools it isn't difficult to make your own market stick or cromach. Just go down to your local discount sporting goods store and the odds are that they sell inexpensive hardwood walking sticks that are not only the right height, but also finished and probably have a metal spike / ferrule as well as a rubber tip for under $20.

Then all you need to do is fashion a crook head like this and attached it.





All in all, my market stick came to about $25 in materials and an afternoon's time to fashion, stain, and attach the crook head.

One thing about the staffs with a separate (decorative) head is that they are going to be a lot more delicate than a cromach made of one piece of wood. (Case in point: my lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess and my son were "helping" me unload the car one day and managed between the two of them to hurl my market stick to the sidewalk where the original head shattered. )

I made a new head for the original stick and gave it to my wife and using a new sporting goods store walking stick managed to reuse the top part of the crook to fashion a new market stick. In general I use it only for highland games





For actual hiking I prefer my one-piece ash wood cromach I bought at William Glen and Son in San Francisco because it is sturdier and I am not worried about damaging it




And it works for the Games as well



There is something nice about using something you made (not to mention saving a significant deal of $$$$$)

Cheers

Love the pics! Esp your wife's skirt! I'm new here and in the process of trying to find my Walker family clan connections. Was looking for Meggers recent posts but looks like she hasn't been here for awhile? Having a bit of difficulty learning how to navigate this site.
Connie

[ASinclair]

Hello Connie!



If you haven't done so already, you may want to introduce yourself in the Newbie forum.

[Hawk]

Just a short question, to those here, for food for thought.....what would you think to have a cromach that could be broken down for transport? Thinking of a design that would have excellent connections similar to those in a good pool stick ( solid brass or the such ), and a head that would screw off so you could have different carved ones? What say you Gentlemen? Just a thought.....

Hawk

[Cengle54]

Hello Connie!



If you haven't done so already, you may want to introduce yourself in the Newbie forum.

Thanks! I will do that soon. I was trying to wait until I had 10 posts so that it would actually associate me with my user name? Just trying to find my way around right now. Wasn't sure if my posts were even showing.

[Thomas H]

Just a short question, to those here, for food for thought.....what would you think to have a cromach that could be broken down for transport? Thinking of a design that would have excellent connections similar to those in a good pool stick ( solid brass or the such ), and a head that would screw off so you could have different carved ones? What say you Gentlemen? Just a thought.....

Hawk

That would be a great idea . We can do that

[Tobus]

Just a short question, to those here, for food for thought.....what would you think to have a cromach that could be broken down for transport? Thinking of a design that would have excellent connections similar to those in a good pool stick ( solid brass or the such ), and a head that would screw off so you could have different carved ones? What say you Gentlemen? Just a thought.....

Hawk

I have seen some stick makers who do offer the option of a joint so that it can be broken down into smaller parts for travel. It would probably be fine for a casual stick that is used lightly, but usually it's not recommended for a serious hiking staff or working stick that will see a lot of hard use and heavy loads. It's just a potential failure point.

[Panache]

I have seen some stick makers who do offer the option of a joint so that it can be broken down into smaller parts for travel. It would probably be fine for a casual stick that is used lightly, but usually it's not recommended for a serious hiking staff or working stick that will see a lot of hard use and heavy loads. It's just a potential failure point.

I absolutely agree with Tobus. Such a stick might look quite nice but will be far more of a fashion accessory instead of a real help for a serious hike. I have a two piece cane/walking stick that screws together and is pretty solid, but a cane is different from the longer staff

If you need a hiking staff that is portable they can be had, but they aren't going to look the part of a highland gent's crook.

I have one similar to this and it works very well. Not particularly attractive, but given a choice between a pretty stick and a functional one I'll take the one that is going to be a help instead of a fashion accessory on the trail.

http://www.amazon.com/Folding-Collap...TJ07AHS95ENENM

Cheers

Jamie ith: