Before I had tools...

As a way to start a tradition for their family, my niece’s husband takes the trunk of their Christmas tree each year and makes a walking stick out of it and marks the year in it. I figure by the time he’s a grandfather, he’ll have 20-30 of these sitting round to choose from, by then he’ll probably need them.

These remind me of the ones he’s made so far.

Nice Job.

-- Martin, Kansas

I also love walking sticks – but you say that you find the wood during hikes. Most of the wood I find is not strong enough after drying to make walking sticks. What wood are you picking up?

-- "In dog years - I'm dead"

These look like fine sticks, I like the rope handles. I have 2 stick I’ve been holding, I think they look like the might want to go for a walk :)

Since i moved to PA I have been looking for a few sticks I can call my own but most are to far gone or just nott (grin) right. Looking and sometimes finding is half the fun

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

I like the rope handles too. Did you carve into the handle a bit to inlay the rope?

Cool!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Thanks for all your nice comments!

Larry – I typically pick up downed wood, rather than dealing with it not drying properly. I look for nice shapes that are sitting off the ground, although one of the first had several insect tracks that made for very nice texture.

Rob H – In most cases, I carve into the stick to inlay whatever I’m using for a handle… I’ve been enamored of rope (I’m a rock-climber on the side…) but have used bicycle bar tape, and my most recent effort used 1/16” cork sheets that I doubled up and sanded to be flush with the stick.

-- Ryno