Thinking about a walking stick

upnorth

upnorth

Joined
Nov 25, 2006
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I have a gimpy lower back but I still like being outdoors. I was eyeballing the C.S. African walking stick and or the Irish Blackthorn. Does anyone own these ? Any opinions about them ?
 
I have the CS blackthorn. In my opinion it's heavy and the head is comfortable to lean on, but not to pick up and actually use as one would a cane.

Suitable as a weapon though.
 
`My self and I am a CS fan I just use a Hickory or Oak hook cane . They with a little practice work fine and no trouble at airports or other check points.
 
I wish I could tell you about those two sticks. I have a Cold Steel Ratan cane I carry and I have no issues carrying it anywhere. It is the standard crook cane. But for hiking, a good stout staff would be more to my liking. Those two sticks are too short for hiking to my way of thinking.
 
Thanks all. I guess that I'm looking for a compromise. A walking stick that will still work against dogs ( I was surrounded by 3 once, and had snarling singles more than once). And something that wont alarm the local police.
 
Hit up the local beaver dam. I have some really nice keepers from pokin about on them. The last I found was a beauty fresh but dried birch. The chews and branch nubs that still have the bark around them almost as if he knew I'd find it and enjoy it. Best part, they're free and if you pick up a couple they'll make some new ones to restock. ;)
 
I vote for the natural wood also. If the hook is uncomfortable, you can get Derby or Flitz handles; or whittle your own and mortise it on, if you're going the beaver dam route.
On the other hand, I'm sure the CS work just fine. They're too short for me.
 
I have the African walking stick and that big knob is too big to hold comfortably. It makes an awesome war club, though.

I find a crooktop is best for daily use. I can hook it over my arm to get both hands free. It gives me enough surface to lean on without being too thick to grip.
 
Ace Hardware, of all places, sells hickory hiking staffs that are not too tall, but a little taller than a walking cane. As for the dogs, I used a Keltec 380 to sort out an attack by a pack.
 
Thanks everyone, definitely food for thought. I have been experimenting with Choke Cherry and Larch sticks that I have made in the last couple of years. Thanks for the heads up on the African Esav.
 
I have both. Just used the Blackthorn as a cane for a sprained ankle for several days. It worked fine; but I echo others here regarding the ball top....not as sturdy a place to rest your hand as a crook top. Check out the Dragon walking stick....longer hand hold with the dragon's head would make for a better hand rest...closer to a crook top. I felt one at the Blade Show.....wished I'd had it last week!

The hand hold would be my only issue. No problems at all with either stick's strength or support.
 
I have an old CS rattan cane I picked up on sale. It was marked as heavy duty and it is incredible. They even sold iron ferrules (sp?) which I added with epoxy putty. It has been on many adventures and came in handy when I broke my leg once and had to walk for a few hours. It's a product I wish CS would bring back. I agree with some of the others, a good traditional cane style walking stick is my preference. I would even use the crooked top to grab onto mesquite trees to help get out of shallow draws.
 
Rattan is nice. It is so light, it's no problem carrying, even tied to a backpack. I had a couple of the Cold Steel lathis, straight sticks 4 ft high, great for strolling through the woods. I had the cane also, gave it to my wife when she had a problem walking. The crook was a bit narrow for my hand.
 
I was amazed at how strong it was. As I said, mine was sold as extra stout/thick on a CS flyer sale back in the late '90s or early 2000s, so the crook is very comfy, but light as air. I used it for everything from walking, climbing, pushing down barbed wire fences, and beating back dead mesquite brush. Rattan is like nature's carbon fiber covered in a titanium casing:D CS used to come up with cool little items like that regularly enough to keep things interesting. It's still my go-to hiking stick. I regularly hang it on my pack strap (by the crook) when I need both hands, instead of having to put it down and risk leaving it behind.
 
Agree with previous poster on the HUGE knob at the top of the African walking stick. WAY too big.
You can get hard wood canes that are great, then put a rubber knob at the bottom if you want.
 
Not your question, but I have a bad lower back and use a city stick by CS that I custom fashioned an antler handle for to replace the stainless knob. Love it!!
 
I also have a City Stick. I modded the tip though. Have you ever seen one
of the walking sticks they sell at outdoors shops and flea markets with a plastic tip
on the end that covers a steel spike(about 1") for the mudd and dirt? I took the tip
off of one, and mounted the steel spike tip onto my City stick(perfect size). Then I
took the plastic tip cover and bought a pack of the rubber tips they
sell at bigbox stores for chair feet. Fit right on. Made the stick a few inches
longer and great traction on and off road.lol.
ANyway, I really like mine. Hope you find what you're wanting.
 
I have a couple of Brazos, natural wood, walking sticks. I got them at GPknives a year ago. The larger size is better because it is thicker, and less likely to warp and bow. I can easily be shortened. My smaller sized one is pretty bowed.
I also have a heavy duty sword cane. It is great indoors, but too heavy to carry long distance, plus it can not be easily shortened for medium to shorter people.
 
I'm 6' 3" so a normal walking stick/cane just isn't going to cut it for me.

I've been using laminated walking staffs from Boyds Gun Stocks for years now and I can attest to their strength being strong enough to take out an aggressive Coyote with one power stroke to the neck. I'd prefer them to be around 6' long but Boyds said that their laminated wood blanks aren't long enough.

They do attract attention though, albeit a positive one, everyone asks where they can get one.

Current price is very reasonable at $39 and there are eleven color choices available. Boyd's website use to list dimensions for their walking staff but I couldn't find them anywhere. I measured one of mine to be; 50" O/A in length (including a 3/4" long rubber tip, 1" diameter for it's entire length. They also have a spiral groove running 18" in length to help serve as a hand grip.

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/SearchByKeyword?word=walking staff
 
Didn't know what the discussion was about so I figured I'd post a pic and a video
Enjoy

91WAS_1.jpg


[video=youtube;HmMBb4DShT0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmMBb4DShT0[/video]
 
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