Livesay Grey Ghost

D

Dr. Thor

Joined
Mar 30, 2004
Messages
1,151
Hi Everyone!

Does anyone here have a Newt Livesay Grey Ghost hiking staff? If so, do you like it? I have heard good things about his WA-1 stick and am thinking about ordering both in a couple days. Thanks everyone!

Thor
 
You might have a look at The Good, the Bad, the Ugly forum at this website before you order anything. See what experiences other members have posted about and make up your own mind.
 
I have a Grey Ghost which is tough as nails but a little to heavy for my liking.
 
After reading some threads in GB&U, I see the Mr. Livesay doesnt have the best customer service. Should I order the staff and hope to get it promptly, or go elsewhere? Is ther an elsewhere to go to?? Can someone point me toward another stick of simmilar properties and price? Thanks.

Thor
 
Dr. Thor, I read the GB&U, and wondered what the odds were, but recently went ahead and ordered a 36" WA-1 and 41" Grey Ghost Walking Stick. Let's see if sticks are any more reliably available than knives. I'll let you know.
 
I ordered a 36" WA-1 and a Grey Ghost Hiking Staff a couple weeks ago. They were at my door within 7 days. I made sure to email Mr. Livesay and verify they were in stock. He promptly emailed me back and even sent an email indicating it had been shipped out. I was hesistant about ordering from what I have read, but at least with these he was really quick delivering them.
I have to agree with mrd74 that the staff is a little heavy but it is extremely solid. I probably wouldn't use it for an Everest trek or any trek where weight is paramount but I don't think you can go wrong with it as a staff and a defensive tool.
Not to hijack the thread but does anyone have an idea as to where I can find a rubber ferrule for the 3/16" diameter WA-1? I use it as a walking stick and the little plastic cap on it will surely wear out fast.

KS
 
KS, I usually find cane tips in various sizes and patterns in my local pharmacy, in the orthopedic section. Get the ones with the little metal washer inside -- they stay on straighter and protect the stick when the rubber wears all the way down, until you can replace them.
 
I don't have the receipt handy but it was just under $10.00 IIRC for the WA-1 and the GG Hiking Staff. I don't know if it changes with you being up in Canada though.
 
Well, If I order the staff, I will get it shipped to a friend in Michigan and pick it up. Much cheaper that way. :)

Thor
 
Just so you know I recently ordered a WA-1 and had no problems at all. I even had personal correspondence with Newt on the order.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
KS, I usually find cane tips in various sizes and patterns in my local pharmacy, in the orthopedic section. Get the ones with the little metal washer inside -- they stay on straighter and protect the stick when the rubber wears all the way down, until you can replace them.
Click to expand...


The cane master cane tips wear out in about 2 weeks of walking; yet I have a shillelagh which in 3 months of walking the tip is still fine.

I went to pharmacies to find good tips and found them: only the largest tip (futuro brand) though it said 7/8" to 1", did not fit on my one inch diameter cane.

Esav, I have been online and can't find good quality tips larger than the one above. Any ideas?
 
Try putting the 7/8" to 1" tip in hot water long enough to soften the rubber and I bet you can stretch it on. A little soap for lubrication is likely to help, too.
 
For one thing, you don't want one too big -- it can come off with a good swing at someone! Seriously, I like them just big enough. I get them started, then put the tip down and lean on it, hard. That does it. But you may want one 1.25" which I'm sure my pharmacy has. They may even be Futuro, they look like them, but they keep different sizes loose in a wall display.

I have sticks that the proper size is not really tight enough, and I drip some glue in before I put them on. That means cutting them off when they wear down, but I like cutting things. :)

BTW, plfromden, welcome to Bladeforums! Good to see you here, too.
 
An update on my Grey Ghost. It is holding up well but I have noticed one dificiency. I got a blister after going for about two hours on a seriously steep hike. The handle is very tacky and grabs your skin as your perspire. I am kicking myself for tossing some old handlebar tape from my roadbike when I re-wrapped the handle bars. The synthetic cork like material would have been just the ticket to wrap the handle of my GG. It is cushioned and absorbs sweat. I still think it is a great hiking staff but I really need to wrap the handle with something a little less tacky.

KS
 
Don't kick yourself, you can get all kinds of handlebar tape at a bike shop and it's cheap! Wrapping a walking stick with it is a good idea. :cool:
 
Bought the futuro 1" tip, boiled it, soaped it, and used every inch of strength in my ageing body to get it started; after 15 minutes of sweating and a near hernia I had about a 1/4 inch on and quickly hopped outside to pound it on the ground and get it all the way on;

as I stepped onto the porch the tip blew off like a cork from a champagne bottle. After about another 20 minutes I found it in the bushes across the street. I buried the squirrel that had the been decapitated by the jet propelled tip and then went back in and, after cleaning blood and squirrel brains from tip, reboiled and THIS TIME SUCCESS.

It took me 2 days to physically recover from the strain on my shoulders and pecs from the pushing and twisting, plus now I have taken up drinking to escape from the horror of the squirrel mutilation, but now the tip is on and it REALLY WASN'T WORTH IT.

If I can't find a bigger diameter tip I will go back to the crappy tips from Home Depot. Plus safer for squirrels and other living creatures.
 
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