Anyone make shillelaghs or cudgels?

S

sjdport57

Joined
Aug 9, 2013
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2
This is kind of my introduction post. I'm new to the forum although I've often read some threads as a casual observer. I've been making knives, machetes, slings, clubs and other weapons in my grandfather's garage for years but recently I got into making shillelaghs and cudgels. I had a couple people express interest in buying some of my work and I've sold a couple. Now I'm looking to sell online and just wanted to see if anyone else is making them, has advice, or ideas.
 
How about some pictures?
It might help to define your terms. To some cudgel-play is the same as single-stick (walking stick dimensions), to some a cudgel is shorter and stouter with more weight at one end. To some a shillelagh is a bit of bigger branch on a smaller branch for a handle, to some it's an oak sapling with its root-ball, to some it's a ca 40-inch blackthorn stick made famous by Irish tinkers.
There are probably many who would argue with one or more of the above.

If you're looking for an insatiable market, have a look at the "Native American war club" thread in this sub-forum.
 
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Welcome to the forum.
To follow up on what Porch said, I just bought a big shillelagh from an Irish maker through ebay and if i'd known about yours I probably would have tried that instead. I don't know how big a market there is out there but there are some folks who use canes and walking sticks who would use a nice blackthorne stick. After quality, making yourself known is the biggest thing
 
I've been making clubs for about 5 years. I hesitate to call them shillelaghs, because they are not made in Ireland or of blackthorn, but they are made in the traditional Irish way. Most are about 28-31" long and made of ROOT GROWN Oak, Elm, Ash, or Hickory. To be true to the style, the stick has to be made from a tree pulled from the earth, which is an exceedingly rare practice these days. My largest sticks are from about 30 year old trees with root ball heads 4-5 inches in diameter; the smaller ones are slimmer and more handy.

Tragically, I can't take pictures for you, as I don't have a camera or fancy cell phone, but I hope this helps you. As said above, shillelagh/cudgel lore can be extremely varied. I personally have never sold any of my sticks, and have a rack full of about 20. I have given some away though. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

John
 
I'll work on it. About time I bought a digital camera.

In the meantime, here is the amazon page to a very helpful book that confirmed a lot of the techniques I use:
 
I'd love to have one but I'd like to see some pics first.
You can email me @ ammohouse (AT) yahoo.com
 
Heres a very old Shilleagh I have its more of a walking stick than a Cudgel but wouldn't want to get hit with it I know was a few times belonged to my Grandfather then my Father both of them adjusted my attitude with it more than once.
 
Thank you all for replying, I'm trying to figure out how to post photos here on the forms hahaha! My sticks vary from walking sticks with knobbed tops, to short heavy cudgels, longer war club-like weapons and everything inbetween. I've got a few posted on Etsy under the store name SwingLowShillelaghs. I mostly use local woods (I'm from Washington but soon moving to Texas) such as pacific madrona (an incredibly hard knobby wood that grows exclusively along the coast), elm and lilac. Check out the store for a few photos!
 
You need to get an account with photobucket or some such. I'm pretty sure there's a thread among the stickies that has detailed directions.
I don't know what I'll do with this 43.5" stick of lilac. If it were longer I could use it as a walking stick and grip it below the knob. I hate to whittle down the knob to grasping size.
IwvwChMN
 
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That would make a great club strip off the bark make sure its dry finish it maybe something like this without the claws and face.
 
sjdport57 said:
This is kind of my introduction post. I'm new to the forum although I've often read some threads as a casual observer. I've been making knives, machetes, slings, clubs and other weapons in my grandfather's garage for years but recently I got into making shillelaghs and cudgels. I had a couple people express interest in buying some of my work and I've sold a couple. Now I'm looking to sell online and just wanted to see if anyone else is making them, has advice, or ideas.
Click to expand...
I am trying to teach my self how to make shillealeaghs. The traditional woods are Blackthorn, Irish Oak, Holly, Ash, & crab Apple. I live in the Pacific Northwest and there is No Blackthorn here. Oregon white oak is native here & there is a lot of Red Oak that has been imported & naturalized. We do have Holly, Ash, & Apple. We also have Oregon Black Hawthorn ( native) & a lot of naturalized English Hawthorn. I would be happy to share what little I know. I would also would like to find out about how Blackthorn, English Hawthorn & Oregon Black Hawthorn compare for strength & durability. Please let me know if you find out anything along those lines.
 
HJK said:
Welcome to the forum.
To follow up on what Porch said, I just bought a big shillelagh from an Irish maker through ebay and if i'd known about yours I probably would have tried that instead. I don't know how big a market there is out there but there are some folks who use canes and walking sticks who would use a nice blackthorne stick. After quality, making yourself known is the biggest thing
Click to expand...
I too am trying to learn about making shillelaghs. I live in the Pacific Northwest & Blackthorn doesn't grow here. We have Red & white Oak,& Ash, Holly, & Apple wood. The last 3 are also traditional woods for Shillelagh making. I am trying to find out how Oregon Black Hawthorn & English Hawthorn compare to Blackthorn. As Blackthorn is the traditional Irish wood & English is a traditional English wood, at the risk of starting a war for even asking, I would like to see some scientific comparison between the 3. Janka hardness rating, compression strength, impact strength, flexibility ect. Do you know where I could find such information?
 
I have made quite a few over the years, mostly from north american ironwood - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrya_virginiana

thanks for posting those links, I'd love this discussion to have more depth

I really love the variety of ironwood we get up here (southern Canada) - it's amazingly strong, never seems to rot or dry out
 
jpeeler said:
I've been making clubs for about 5 years. I hesitate to call them shillelaghs, because they are not made in Ireland or of blackthorn, but they are made in the traditional Irish way. Most are about 28-31" long and made of ROOT GROWN Oak, Elm, Ash, or Hickory. To be true to the style, the stick has to be made from a tree pulled from the earth, which is an exceedingly rare practice these days. My largest sticks are from about 30 year old trees with root ball heads 4-5 inches in diameter; the smaller ones are slimmer and more handy.

Tragically, I can't take pictures for you, as I don't have a camera or fancy cell phone, but I hope this helps you. As said above, shillelagh/cudgel lore can be extremely varied. I personally have never sold any of my sticks, and have a rack full of about 20. I have given some away though. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

John
Click to expand...

Do you also put them up in your chimney to cure and blacken? That is supposed to be one of the really traditional approaches : )
 
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