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Since childhood, I've always messed about with making Sticks of one sort or another, but for the most part they weren't 'proper' sticks like I do nowadays. Still, a stick is a stick and as long as it serves it's purpose at the time when needed, who cares.
I started taking stick making a bit more seriously simply because I've been able to and I needed a couple for myself. As with my knife customising activities, I didn't want just any old ordinary sticks, I like to indulge myself a bit with stick making.
I'm not an avid stick maker by any means and it's not often I get the urge to make a stick because I prefer to spend my time customising knives. But when I do, there's usually a good reason. Perhaps the fact that as I get older I know more people in need of a stick than people who don't, might have something to do with it.
It happens all too often that I leave home with a stick and come back empty handed - that's mates for you...
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Just a few of my Sticks to be going on with...
The shanks are either Hazel or Chestnut. The tops are either Buffalo Horn, Red Deer Antler and a mixture of the two. The gloss finish is an oiled one. I've no doubt that most of the above sticks, with the exception of the first two on the left, will most probably go walkabout sooner or later - it's only a matter of time...
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WOLSINGHAM SHOW STICKS
The photos below show the Sticks I made up to take with me to the Woslingham Show. Unfortunately the weekend was ruined on account of really bad weather and none of the sticks got anywhere near being seen by anybody let alone any of them finding a new home...
WARNING TO MY MATES: Just because I've got so many Sticks to hand at the moment, it doesn't mean you can come around and try to beg, steal or borrow any of them! Praise, flattery, hard luck stories and general bullshit stuff will not get me to part with any of these Sticks - but bribery might...
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Buffalo Horn & Ebony Walking Stick
This stick gave me a bit of trouble to put together owing to the various angles, which could have easily resulted in a weak and wobbly stick!
I like to 'over-engineer' things so they would withstand a bit of bashing about and not fall apart when used enthusiastically! The key factor was the ebony shaft, to which the Buffalo Horn and the stick shaft itself are bolted and epoxied to.
The bright work is to provide support and contrast as well. It turned out a nice looking and very comfortable stick and, most importantly, strong! I weigh over 15 stones and although it flexed as any stick would, it withstood my efforts to break it... I'm keeping this one for myself...
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Rams Horn Walking Stick
The photo doesn't do this stick justice. Not only is it nice, it's also strong and very comfortable to hold.
It's not over the top decorations wise and the colouring of the horn and shaft go very well together. I didn't go mad with polishing the horn handle as I didn't want it to look like plastic!
In my view at least, hand made stuff should not be too perfect in finishing terms. The slight imperfections are all part and parcel of the unique quirky character one associates with one-off hand made craft objects...
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Jointed Ebony & Ash Walking Stick
This is one stick I don't think I'll never be seen out and about with! It's excellent in use with a very comfortable handle, but it's just too ornate for me.
I didn't intend to make this into a mini sword stick, but I just couldn't find anything suitable to finish the handle with. I had a hole to plug and I was going to make a simple ebony plug. But, I ended up with an ebony handled 2.5" knife blade that fits perfectly and blends in well. I inserted two small leather pieces into the handle which hold the knife securely. A quick twist and the knife comes out with the sharp end pointing downwards.
If I ever come across some nice Ebony or similar dark hard wood I'll have a go at replacing the Ash shafts.
Update: Since making this stick I had to review and do away with the little knife as I don't want to break the UK laws. Instead, I made another 'plug' utilising an Ebony handled Red Deer antler point. It's not sharp any more, but anyone hit with this will get the point no problem!
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Red Deer Antler & Horn Walking Stick
A very simple stick format (for me anyway). Although I couldn't help embellishing it with some Horn and brass collars and caps. A very practical stick made from Red Deer antler with a Holly shaft.
It's very strong yet light and would certainly not be out of place anywhere - which is why I use it most of the time.
As can be seen from the photo, the background is nothing more than the plaque on which the Red Deer antlers were mounted on. All I did once I took all the plaster off, was set to it with an angle grinder and a bit of wood stain. makes a good background I say...
I have since relegated this stick to my rough and ready piece as it has been replaced with something substantial; actually two sticks in fact. I don't know what it is with me, I can really admire the prettiest and daintiest of things, but I need items of real substance to them otherwise I don't cherish them as much as I ought to.
Anyway, the new sticks came about because a mate of mine needed a Thumb Stick and my other regular stick I used I gave away to a disabled bowling mate of mine.
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Fat Olly the Owl Antler & Horn Thumb Stick
A bit spooky this one...
The owl is in teak with Stag antler tips for ears which makes him look like a right horny fat little devil!
Fat Olly is sitting on pale cream/brown buffalo tinted horn atop a silver brassed ferrule. An 8mm x 120mm threaded galvanised rod runs through the whole lot.
The shank is Hazel, 54" long and well oiled and waxed as is my way. I fixed a 2" rounded brass spike for extra grip at the bottom of the stick.
I wanted two types of grip with this stick, the traditional one on top in the 'V' formed by the horns and another one where the shank starts. The top grip was easily achieved, but the other one was trickier. I tried leather binding, but it didn't look right. Then I thought of embedding small pieces of antler tips. That too didn't look right.
The solution: Weeks earlier I asked my wife to save me some cherry pips and peach stones, which I cleaned and left out to weather. I messed around with halving, shaping and polishing the peach stones and hey presto - problem solved! That's what those knobbly bits are - worked peach stones. They polished up very well as can be seen from the photos.
I'm absolutely chuffed with this one...
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Silvered Crown Stag Antler Walking Stick
I try and make the best use of pieces of Crown Stag Antler, so they only get used on special knives and sticks projects. This particular piece was a bit too big for a knife handle, but looked ideal for a sturdy stick..
I had been working on an Ash shank for some time, picking it up every so often in an effort to figure out how to use it as it was thicker than the average walking stick shank. I needed it thicker because I wanted to carve it, but even so it was still quite substantial after being carved.
Then it struck me that one big thing deserves another, so I matched the spare Crown Antler with that carved Ash shank. And what a match that proved to be!
In the top picture can be seen the crown end of the antler, on the face of which I embedded a silvered heavily engraved cast plaque showing a Pineapple and leaves motif.
In both pictures can be seen that where the first tine originally emerged, is capped with a piece of Buffalo horn which makes for a very comfortable rest for the heel of the palm.
In the bottom picture can be seen the end dressed in black Buffalo horn within which is set another engraved piece of silvered cast plaque showing an Orange and leaves.
The whole is joined together by an 8mm threaded rod. A round silvered copper worked piece covers the joint. Another piece of embossed silvered brass tubing is used at the bottom to finish the stick off.
I'm very pleased with this one...
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Happy Beaky Antler & Horn Walking stick
I had been saving this piece of antler point for a while now. One of my friends had shown a tendency towards fancier type sticks, carved stem and all. With a shape like that what else to make but some form of cheeky beaky bird. Match this with a nice carved stem and voila - Quacky above was a hit with my mate Dennis.
I've put a small slab of white horn with the eye of Horus within it. The eyes are mother-of-pearl inlayed in brass and another long piece is inlaid to form the crown of the bird. the stem is probably Ash, which I gave the antique finish to, hence the dark colour.
It's destined for a very kind and generous gentleman as a surprise gift in appreciation of his mentoring me at Bowls and for being such a nice man and a true gentleman.
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Bill's Thumb Stick
He needed a thumb stick cum rifle rest combined, hence the wide 'V'. I used antler for the main body on a hazel shaft. The main collar is Buffalo horn with ebony tips and, where the thumb rests, it's Abalone. Bill is very happy!
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This is my best mate Bill, an ex-Gamekeeper
and past shooting partner of mine. I very rarely go shooting now, but
it's still Bill's passion.