Rat staff?

stoffi said:
Cool idea, but I think it strays from the "no nonsense" motto that RAT has. One doesn't really need a walking stick. It's a bit of a luxury. A spear typically needs to be longer, but I like the ol' Rambo survival knife idea at the handle, with a compass and storage area.
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Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you never stray from the beaten path a walking stick may just be an extra thing to carry, but I find them quite useful when traveling "cross-country" on really uneven ground (scree, tundra, stream crossings) and wading through water. Excellent for providing another point of stability. Also good for stabilizing extra-long steps or short jumps.

However, I want it to be LIGHT, stiff, and STRONG and don't care if it holds a knife inside. Being able to attach an external object like a stabby blade, saw blade, fish gig, or camera would be nice though.
 
Looks like a pretty cool idea mean.

I'm kind of a semi gear whore, but one thing I've learned is that it sure is nice to just cut a good walking stick if you think you need one, then when I get tired of it, I can toss it and don't have to worry about hauling it out if I don't want to.

Wal-Mart used to (still might) carry a monopod near the camera gear. Collapsed down, had a retractable ice spike in the bottom and the top had a nice foam grip and a threaded top where you could screw your camera on. It came with a rubber ball cap and also a forked V-cap for resting a rifle. Very lightweight and I used it hunting several years. Think it was around $20.
 
adaman04 said:
Wal-Mart used to (still might) carry a monopod near the camera gear. Collapsed down, had a retractable ice spike in the bottom and the top had a nice foam grip and a threaded top where you could screw your camera on. It came with a rubber ball cap and also a forked V-cap for resting a rifle. Very lightweight and I used it hunting several years. Think it was around $20.
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I have one of those. Good piece of kit. :cool:
 
I bought a 5' long rake handle from my local hardward store, then wrapped a shoulder-high swath using the same cloth tape used on the handles of aluminum softball/baseball bats. Makes a great walking-stick, and cost me about $10. Perhaps that makes me part of the REI/LLB crowd, but what the hell, some of us backpack for the pleasure of it without harboring dreams of escaping-and-evading some dastardly villains. lol

KD
 
oruacat2 said:
Perhaps that makes me part of the REI/LLB crowd, but what the hell, some of us backpack for the pleasure of it without harboring dreams of escaping-and-evading some dastardly villains. lol

KD
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Being prepared for the unknown never hurt anyone. Tell me the same thing after you hike across a pissed off momma mountain lion, black bear with cubs, or a million other things that may decide they don't want you in their world ;)
 
oruacat2 said:
Perhaps that makes me part of the REI/LLB crowd, but what the hell, some of us backpack for the pleasure of it without harboring dreams of escaping-and-evading some dastardly villains.
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Naw. Not unless you used some exotic leather wrap, and your hardware store carried rake handles made out of some wood I've never heard of.

And while I mock them, I carry an LLB pack, their boots are great, and I had a Gore-Tex jacket from them until it got stolen out of my truck. REI would be a great store if they cut their prices in half.

I don't worry much about E & E against humans. They're dumb and overlook things. But as Jeff mentioned...situational awareness is a good thing to have. Packing for pleasure turns into a mess when you walk into 200-800 pound predators.

On Topic, I prefer to cut a stick while on my walk. Part of the process for me.
 
stoffi said:
One doesn't really need a walking stick. It's a bit of a luxury.
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Maybe one doesn't but I do. I walk with a prosthetic foot and a cane, and I like a hiking staff for the woods. Many people who haven't tried them think they aren't needed, but they relieve a lot of stress on legs and joints.

Dizwolf said:
I prefer to cut a stick while on my walk. Part of the process for me.
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I used to go up to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, on the northern border of New York City. I would hit the woods, take out my Swiss Army Knife, use the saw to cut down a sapling, use the spearpoint blade to trim the side branches and smooth off the ends, and in minutes I had a good staff for the day. I passed many of them on to others I met on the way home.
 
Dizwolf said:
...
On Topic, I prefer to cut a stick while on my walk. Part of the process for me.
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I used to do that when I lived back east. Here on the northern plains the only sticks are corn or sunflower stalks that were not harvested :rolleyes:

I like a wood stick for keeping critters at bay, too - feral dogs, muskrats, etc.
 
R.A.T. said:
As always, ideas are much appreciated. Now, if we can figure out how Moses did that trick with his staff in the 10 Commandments, then we'll definitely make it.
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Heck, Chuck Heston could do anything he set his mind to :D

I do have a camera mono-pod/walking stick that does what he describes. For us old guys with bad knees, its helpful in muddy rough terrain ;)
 
LOL, lots of good posts here.

I started making my own staffs about 3 years ago. I like hickory and oak myself.
It is best to cut the small tree down in winter or late, late fall.

Best to let it set for a few months. Some people who fight using quarter staves say to let it sit for one year before you mess with it.

I needed a new staff so a few weeks ago I cut a small oak down and started using it that day. I am letting it dry out indoors for now. In another two weeks I am going to think it down a bit more and start adding coats of boiled linseed oil.

For my wifes staff (from the same small tree) I am going to use sand paper to smooth it down a lot, making have a smoother finish and going to use some poly, like a furniture sealer to finish it off.
 
Yea I think finding a good stick is fun, a Multi-staff just wouldnt get enough use.
I think your design is great by the way!
 
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