Do it yourself walking staff and kit....

Thanks Plainsman. It has many good ideas to think about. It has however two potential weaknesses that I learnt when I was re- and reorganizing my own kits:
1- It has all eggs in one basket lost easily if one falls. If worn across back it might interfere with movements.
2- Complexity and compactness of design might make quivk use of individualtools difficult.
Still, it has several good ideas built into it.

HM

 
Personally, I would still prefer to keep my survival goodies spread about my pockets and in my knife sheath pouch, than strapped to a walking stick. But, I have been thinking about a neat walking stick idea. I recently added my CS Bushman to my knife belt, after using it a bit and finding out it's MUCH nicer than I had originally thought. When I first got it, I was just planning on using it as a light e-tool alternative for digging Dakota holes and cat holes, etc., plus use as a spear head. Now, since I cary it more often, I plan on getting a 6 foot Lahti (rattan walking stick) from CS, with the optional ferrule. With a little bit of carving and sanding, it could easily be made to accept the Bushman as a spear head. Carry a sheet metal screw in your pouch, and you can have a spear in minutes, thanks to your walking stick and foresight. And a rattan spear shaft would beat anything you could improvise in the bush. Unless, of course, you live in a region where rattan grows alongside the trail. :~}
 
Personally, I would still prefer to keep my survival goodies spread about my pockets and in my knife sheath pouch, than strapped to a walking stick. But, I have been thinking about a neat walking stick idea. I recently added my CS Bushman to my knife belt, after using it a bit and finding out it's MUCH nicer than I had originally thought. When I first got it, I was just planning on using it as a light e-tool alternative for digging Dakota holes and cat holes, etc., plus use as a spear head. Now, since I cary it more often, I plan on getting a 6 foot Lahti (rattan walking stick) from CS, with the optional ferrule. With a little bit of carving and sanding, it could easily be made to accept the Bushman as a spear head. Carry a sheet metal screw in your pouch, and you can have a spear in minutes, thanks to your walking stick and foresight. And a rattan spear shaft would beat anything you could improvise in the bush. Unless, of course, you live in a region where rattan grows alongside the trail. :~}
 
V Shrake -- A couple years ago, when my walking stick obsession came along a few months before my knife obsession, I bought a couple rattan poles off the internet. I agree that nobody has the ferrules that CS offers, and that they could be very helpful. But, the rattan is obtainable for somewhat less money.

My memory is pretty seivelike, but as I recollect, I purchased 2-10 ft canes, one about 1 1/4" in diameter, and the other about 1.5" in diameter. I believe my cost, including shipping was about $18. Course, that could be wishful thinking. It is high quality rattan, tho not absolutely the best. I believe the company had about 4-5 grades of rattan.

Of course, one only needs one walking stick for oneself. Oh-- I had the canes cut in half, so I received four 5' sections of cane.

Having seen this scout pole may have inspired me to actually work on a couple of my sticks. I have some wild cherry that's been drying over a year, and was cut dormant, so it should be about ready. And poplar.

Have fun,


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
The ferrule that comes with the CS stick is lousy, just throw it away. There is a much better way to make a ferrule. You can see a pic. linked to this article http://www.sonic.net/~quine/hstick.html

I too have a rattan walking stick. Love it, and had fun making the ferrule too.

I saw this on a Hood's Wood's video (cave cooking I believe). There was a shot of it on Karen Hood's stick, but no discussion. I looked carefully at it and figured out how to make one pretty easily. You only need access to some copper sleeves used to fit lamp parts together. Instructions for making one from that point can be found at the above link.
 
V Shrake;

I have a 6' CS lahte with a Bushman on the top. I got the one with the ferral also but put a rubber crutch tip over the brass so it does not slip in the sidewalk. I use mine daily when walking the dog.
After I installed the Bushman I wrapped the whole handle and most of the first joint of the rattan in leather and sewed it up tight. I then rubbed bees wax over the leather to make it water proof. Finally I made a loose,flat sheath of leather to slip over the blade so it does not quite look like a knife sheath. Sometime in my neighborhood there are pit bulls and other large dogs running loose so I think this ratan will discourage even one of those.
It will also make a nice hiking staff when there are wild critters who might want to eat you.
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Ron,
Bremerton, Washington
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So I see that I'm not the only one with a weakness for rattan, and a good blade on the end to boot. I'll do a search for other places to buy rattan stock, and check out making my own ferrules. Should be a fun project. Thanks, guys. Now if I could just figure out why I keep getting double posts. The computer gods are angered, mayhap.
 
i have a 6 ft iron wood walking staff and a 5 ft white oak staff with a crooked top and a crocheted rope handel with lanyard loop, my bushman fits the 5 footer, i have not been able to bring myself to whittle down the tip of my iron wood yet as it has been a lifelong companion on many hikes.
 
Where does one get their hands on an Ironwood staff? I cut a maple sapling about 10 years ago and have used it for a long time, but I'm thinking of retiring it...

--Matt
 
A question about rattan. I have found a place to get rattan however they sell it with or without the "skin". Which is best for making staffs? On other wood staffs I make I strip off the bark. I have never seen rattan so I don't know what this skin is.

Also I usually oil my wood staff. Do you treat rattan in any way?
 
Hi Josh,

The "skin" of rattan is a very thin hard almost translucent layer much like a super strong clear varnish layer.
I would get a rattan WITH the skin not without.
They remove the skin when they put the ratton sticks through a kind of "lath" contraption to make the ratton sticks smooth and "the same size/diameter".

Just get it with skin which also makes it imprevious for weather influences.

Best scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera

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i live i wv we havea tree called the black locust it is also called ironwood on a sizable tree a branch will be big enough for a staff or use a sapling either way it is heavy mine i found in the woods next to te tree it had broken off during te winter snows and wind and was being eaten by termites (they did not get far into te wood but left some interesting tracks that i find to be very beautiful, any who I striped the bark and termites with my knife did some ligt sanding with a sandtone and polished it with linseed oil that was 17 years ago and it hardly has changed a bit except for a few scratches when sparring with swords this stuff is hard and strong, but a bit heavy i am very big and relatively strong so i dont' mind its weight (i used to train with rr tamping irons) THe black locust tree is often used in split rail fensing because without any treatment the wood can survive open exposure to the elements for generations even buriying as a part of the post in wet groand seemingly has little ot no effect good stuff for a life long friend
 
My current favorite walking stick is a 5 foot long section of bamboo. At the bottom I sawed it off just below a node & it has held up pretty good so far in terms of wear. Time will tell its longevity & ultimate durability. The price was right too, because I got it free from a friend's back yard that was getting crowded in with bamboo.
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But the really great thing about this staff is the weight ... or lack thereof. It weighs mere ounces. It feels light as a feather after hefting walking staffs of hickory, maple, alder, etc. It's super quick & light in the hand. Wrapping a handle/loop out of paracord or other line on it is easy. You could conceivably leave the top segment open, put firestarting materials or other emergency supplies in it, then stopper it to keep them secure.

If you get a chance to try a bamboo staff, check it out. Especially if you're looking to shave weight from your kit but don't want to forego a staff.
 
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