Short sticks

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PB,
No tree huggers here. We burn wood in a stove from Oct-Apr. Saves on electricity. We harvest wood on my place every year and let it cure for the next winter. City folks may not get that but trees are a renewable source of energy. With the cost of electricity it is foolish not to use renewable resources. Of course if you want to pay my electric bill.........

Jim
 
Defanging the snake is a classic in FMA
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Precisely...and is taught early on as a principle. Also, attacking ANYTHING that comes within a prescribed distance (generally an imaginary box 2' wide and projecting 2' in front of you). As long as it is not something feigned.

Otherwise we always taught "first come, first served", but an opportunity to defang the snake...being more desirable.
 
Yea, if you know me, I am the opposite of a tree hugger, but I do value their beauty. Personally, if I could, I'd rather live in a wooded area, maybe one day after college!

I'll take a second look at a few limbs in the back, my grandmother would kill me if I took down a whole tree.....

Edit to add: This thread has shed a spotlight on an area of defense that I rarely thought of, now I intentionally LOOK for possible limbs to use! Great thread!
 
PB, I have hundreds of trees on my property. They are an integral part of our life. We have been without electricity due to ice storms for several days. I fire up the generator for the water well. We really need water for livestock and flushing the toilet. The alternative really stinks:D.
Anyway, I did not mean to be critical. When you live in a rural area you use what you have when needed. There is no way in my lifetime that we will clear my place of trees. I even sell the cottonwood trees for pallets and we still have plenty. Been doing this for 15 years and the trees keep growing. Actually, as we thin out the woods, the remaining trees do quite well.
Sorry if I sounded like I was preaching,
Jim
 
Many years ago (70's), I made a short baton (Police Billy)complete with "hand grenade " style handle and thong from an Iron Wood root I dug up. I cured it for several months, and then went to work on it with the lathe.It was one of the most beautiful and durable peices I ever made. I carried it when I was assigned to the jail.

Iron wood is very hard to work with, and the get a good piece to turn it needs to be a root. digging, finding and cutting it loose was a pain. Of course it was during a time of battery powered hand tools were not around. lol
 
So, are roots stronger than limbs?

Edit to question: what does the cureing do to the wood?

Oh just got a 1.25 cubit limb, pretty heavy and dense feel to it, we'll see how it goes!
 
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Cureing or seasoning simply means to allow the wood to dry properly so that it does not crack and weaken. Unless you have access to a proper lumber kiln this takes time.
 
So, are roots stronger than limbs?
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When it comes to Az Iron wood the libs tend not to be thick enough to use for many projects or fit on my lathe at that time. However the root system on the older Iron Wood specimens are plenty thick and long enough. But are a pain to dig.lol.

Owen explained the curing.
 
Thank for the help, went to work on a limb today for a walking stick (~53"). And a pound, pound an a half "fighting" stick thats roughly 23".

Looking forward to the results!
 
I was reading about wood density and came across Mulberry. Those are almost a nuisance because of the berries staining anything they touch. Mine are near the house. Well, now they have a stay of execution as the wood got good reviews.
This winter I will be harvesting a few branches, like 30-40:D
Jim
 
The qualities to look for in a fighting stick are density and flexibility.

Some hard woods are too brittle and some flexible woods are just too light.

You need something that can withstand repeated impact without cracking yet carries enough mass to transfer energy deep into the target.
 
Good point Owen, I did actually give a section of the limb that I was not going to use (awkward curve shape) about 20-30 really good hits on a tree and it only started cracking about hit 25ish. Even then it was hard to crack in two!

I figure if I have to use it 20+ times on something/one, I need to run the opposite direction! Overall I am impressed by it thus far.
 
Owen,
Do you have an opinion on Mulberry? The article I was reading compared it to a "poor man's" osage orange. I didn't quite buy that.....

PB,
What type of wood are you using?

Jim
 
I have no clue, not to great at identifing trees.....

Some characteristics are: thin bark, easy to strip off; the wood under the bark is smooth. This limb is from a very small tree/sappling. The wood was moderately difficult to chop though. Oh and the wood under the bark is an off white, kinda like a tanned elephant tusk.

A smaller section is from a "Bradford Pear Tree", the wood has decent weight and feels quite dense.

Mabey ya'll could help me on the one with the description.
 
I have not tried Mulberry though I know where a tree is. I used to climb it to pick the berries when I was a kid. The problem we all have is that right now, in the heat of Summer is the worst time to harvest wood as it is in the middle of the growth cycle and the sap is high. Wood intended for anything except the fire place should be harvested in the dead of winter when the sap is low to keep cracking to a minimum.

A wood I am curious about is black jack oak. It is very springy like osage. It is very dense and burns hot. I am planning on cutting some small trees on my property to make a quarterstaff but not until after Christmas.
 
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Mulberry is hard and solid. (Think Field Hockey Sticks) You can find plenty of long straight peices. Trimming Mulberry does not hurt it in fact it can make them thrive. Crotch peices make excellent thumpers.
 
How heavy is Mulberry? I have heard that it is used for lacross sticks so I assume it is fairly light to avoid injuries. A fighting stick needs strength and weight.
 
If Mulberry will stand up to repeated impact it seems like it might be suitable. As I understand it, Mulberry is a cousin of Osage Orange which makes a fantastic fighting stick.
 
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As I understand it, Mulberry is a cousin of Osage Orange
which makes a fantastic fighting stick.
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Interesting. Both are members of the plant family Moraceae.
(I had to look that up; I'm a biologist, but not a botanist.)
_________

Just returned from ten very wet days in the wilds. :eek:

(Yes, one of my short sticks went on hikes and stood guard at the tent door every night,
because there was access by car to the camping area and you never know
who'll show up in a primitive campground known to be a local party spot. :scrutiny:

Good to see this thread still kicking.
 
I will be cutting a bunch of Mulberry branches this winter. I'll ship to any of the stick thread participants. You pay the shipping. Let me know anytime before the end of the year.
I'll get some diameter measurements and let you know what is available.

Jim
 
CW,
I have an ASP. My take on your question is that it is a matter of liability. If I am out with my ASP on my belt, I may be looking for trouble in a jury's eyes.
On the other hand if I have my "innocent" anti-dog stick it is a little less clear as to my intent.
Don't get me wrong as I am a life long CCW and am willing to assume the risk of that liability. Just my thinking through your question
Plus, making sticks from wood grown on my place has a definite draw for me.
Welcome to THR,

Jim
 
Thanks a lot. I thought it might be something like that. Asps seem to be a lot more effective, but I see the wisdom in what you are saying. Sad it's come to that, that we have to expect scrutiny for self-defense.
 
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