Walking Sticks

**Birddog** · 22nd June 08, 10:46 PM

Someone a few posts back mentioned seasoning, or aging, the wood before working. This is a mistake I made in the past, and perhaps the reason behind some cracking. I should have waited. But for you lowlanders, here in the "American" highlands(read 7300 feet at my door), the air is so dry that wood cracks quite easily. A friend of mine didn't listen to us about oiling her new black walnut jewelry box purchased in Turkey. Three weeks after returning to Colorado, it literally cracked apart. Guess that means I will have to go cut a new stick, wait a year(who knows, maybe less with how dry it is here), and make myself another one. Gee, what a shame.

**Snythg** · 24th June 08, 01:22 PM

I actually bought one of the "Cold Steel" Blackthorns off Ebay a while back. Seems sturdier than the African walking stick I saw at the Santa Ana Highland Games, but retains the maintenance-free part I like. ;-)

**Yaish** · 24th June 08, 04:50 PM

Synthg, I'm really interested in how it was. Is it stiff enough to use as a support or will it flex? What's the grip like on the foot end? Does it slide around on smooth surfaces, or does it have some grip? Can you give some overall impressions?

**PiobBear** · 24th June 08, 07:31 PM

Synthg, I'm really interested in how it was. Is it stiff enough to use as a support or will it flex? What's the grip like on the foot end? Does it slide around on smooth surfaces, or does it have some grip? Can you give some overall impressions?

I'd like to know if it's suitable for stick fighting practice without buggering up my blackthorn sail éille.

**JRB** · 24th June 08, 07:56 PM

I've also been eying that CS "blackthorn" walking stick. Please do post a review of it if you don't mind.

**Riverkilt** · 24th June 08, 09:33 PM

A simple broomstick type staff. No clue where it came from. Have some of my grandfather's old canes too...but sadly too short.

Ron

**beloitpiper** · 24th June 08, 10:30 PM

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Technically not a cane, but it is a nice umbrella. Functional in two ways!

**Panache** · 25th June 08, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

...Technically not a cane, but it is a nice umbrella. Functional in two ways!

John Steed was quite fond of his, but as I recall it was functional in three ways

Cheers

Jamie

**Retro Red** · 25th June 08, 06:31 PM

I'm afraid this is the best pic I have at the moment of my only walking stick. I got it about 16 years ago in the gift shop of a state park (who's name I no longer recall) in Arkansas. I'd never given thought before to owning a walking stick, but this stick "spoke" to me & I was rather taken by its look & character, plus the fact that it was a bit "bent" & "twisted", like me.

.

**Big Mikey** · 26th June 08, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by PiobBear

I'd like to know if it's suitable for stick fighting practice without buggering up my blackthorn sail éille.

You may be aware of this site but I thought I'd add it after reading your post.

http://www.geocities.com/glendoyle/b....html#contents

Some great info on stick fighting, history, techniques, etc.