Why a hand-crafted stick?

People who use sticks; hikers, casual walkers, shepherds or farmers know that a good walking stick, well made and crafted for its aesthetic qualities, quickly becomes a ‘companion’, a joy to use, and something to be appreciated and admired.

Many people see a walking stick, though, as something only to be used when they get old and, probably, only when they have to.  But when you are out walking, a good stick is more than just a piece of wood to stop you falling over; a comfortable stick helps maintain posture, seems to make walking less tiring and it comes in handy for pushing aside brambles and beating aside nettles.  You can even use a stick to help steady your binoculars, telescope or camera.

If you do need a walking stick then, as you are going to use the stick constantly, make this the opportunity to acquire something you enjoy using, something that looks good and feels good.

Good walking sticks actually do grow on trees!  They have to be crafted; turning the raw materials into a tactile item of beauty - one which fits both the user and the use to which it will be put. 

Factory made sticks are quite cheap.  They are mass-produced items machine-made from bland and uninteresting materials and poorly finished with a quick spray of lacquer.  They also tend to be made on the short side, so that most people can pick one out of the rack and use it without having it cut to size (see ‘Choosing a walking stick…’).  The traditional mass-produced steam-bent ash or chestnut orthopaedic walking stick are clumsy, ugly, not at all tactile.  The bending process flattens the handle into an uncomfortable shape to grip, and the bend will straighten out at the first hint of damp weather.

A real traditional stick is different.  The shank will be made from a straight stem of hazel, blackthorn, ash, chestnut, holly or other wood.  I use hazel mostly which has been seasoned for two years.  Handles are fashioned from a suitable hardwood or from antler or horn.

Every hand-made stick is unique.  Since every piece of wood I use is different, and the shaping process, mostly carried out with simple files, rasps and abrasives, is all carried out by hand no two sticks could be the same even if I wanted them to be.

The result is a stick that feels good, looks good, does the job and is different from the rest.

Have a look at the gallery and see if there's one you'd like...