Hiking Stick FAQ

Nice post and pics. Hope you spotted http://www.quine.home.sonic.net/hstick.html. Down near the end of that article is a picture of my stick tip. Basically I took a copper sleeve instead of an end piece. Then, after pounding it on a tapered end, I pounded the other end of the copper into a blade-like end that serves to grip both dirt and rock as well as do a little digging, etc.
 
Matthew- I read over your page on hiking sticks. I think I read over it before, but didn't see pictures from some reason on the first time around. The pictures showed nicely for me this time. That's a really great write-up on hiking sticks. I've also been wondering about something for digging the stick into the ground a little more. It looks like you came up with a pretty spiffy solution. Pointy enough to dig in a bit, yet not so pointy as to ruin the trail. Great job!!! I'm hoping to come up with something myself this winter, where flat, pointed and rubber tips can be interchanged when necessary. I'll have to use my noodle a little, and look through some industrial parts catalogs.

I've also had time to think about 'ohoisin's' philosophy on hiking sticks. I'm starting to wonder whether hiking sticks and survival staves are two different animals; one designed for the maximum amount of hiking assitance in as light a package as possible, and the other as more of a sturdy and heavy "do all" kind of stick. It's got me wondering if the "perfect stick" is a stealth design, where you just pick up a nearby junk stick for the rough and tumble stuff. Or is the "perfect stick" an indestructable resource, where one just lives with the possible weight factor? I'd really like to hear more on this from some seasoned hiking veterans.

I don't quite agree with the function instead of beauty thing though. I didn't choose cedar primarily for its beauty, but for its light weight and incredible weather resistance. The nice finish on the sticks I've done could easily be done on any stick, including ironwood. It's just a matter of a little time and elbow grease. Okay, it also requires some sandpaper, varnish....... and a sharp knife!!! :D
 
Oh yah..... One last thing...... BladeForum's own 'FF' will have a stick headed to him in the mail tomorrow. It's a beauty!!!!! His has an extra long handle section in order to help compensate for possible stretching of the braided leather over time. This stick came out simply gorgeous. I guess I got extra lucky with the grain on this particular stick. It has an almost 3D quality about it. I also changed the handle material slightly..... yet again.... opting for a mixture of leather and black rawhide. The leather feels as nice as the rawhide, and should prevent a bit of the inevitable stretching. Not to mention the fact that leather just looks beautiful. :)

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