Yawaras revisited

[p35]

After the last thread about the Yawara type stick, I started experimenting with making some using leftovers from my walking sticks. Tried a lot of woods, including white oak, apple, vine maple, and black locust. They all worked, but I'm getting pretty partial to using black locust for everything- some say it's the hardest wood in North America, and it's not inclined to check while it's drying.

I carry one of these all the time now. My job prevents me from carrying any metal weapons, due to lots of metal detectors, and I like the idea of having more than my bare hands in an emergency.

A picture of my efforts is attached. I would appeciate comments, and if anyone wants to try one, let me know!

 

[dev_null]

I'd be interested in hearing about your walking sticks?

 

[JShirley]

My concern might be about the thickness.

Yarawa/eta koppo sticks should be fairly thin, to provide greater concentration of force when striking. Think mini-Maglite thin. I can't really tell from the pic how thick your pieces are.

John

 

[bad LT]

that pointy one should work very well

 

[Omni04]

how do you carry it around with you? Like mentioned they look pretty thick!

 

[p35]

The thickness is around 3/4" on most of them- for some reason the picture makes them look thicker and shorter than they are. Interesting point- I have fairly big hands and the smaller diameters feel difficult to hang on to. Sort of like the difference between the old S&W wood factory grips and Pachmayers. Maybe I should try making the ends more pointed?

I carry them in my back pocket next to my wallet. Makes pulling out your wallet a hair more complicated, but no one notices either.

Here's a picture of some of the walking sticks I've made- from left to right oak, apple, 2 black locust, ash, 2 seafoam (Holodiscus Bicolor), oak, and hawthorn. I got into this just messing around as I tried to keep the forest from reclaiming my land, and got hooked on it. I carry a folding limb saw in my truck now and collect wood when I get the chance. The two with the stubby grips on the side are meant to be held by the main shaft with the side grip between thumb and forefinger. Makes a good rifle rest from the sitting position as well. The seafoam is a common roadside shrub around here, with large clusters of small white blossoms that last most of the summer. The wood is extremely hard and dense- I've heard that pioneers made nails from it, and it was popular with Indians as arrow material. While they look thin, I doubt anyone here could bend those sticks with their hands.

Again questions and comments are welcome.

 

[Omni04]

sorry one more thing... Isn't sitting on that thing all day a pain in the ass (pun intended ) i mean a wallet is thin and flat but that thing is a best!

 

[Erich]

Glad to see someone else is making these.

Mine are, well, a little prettier (sorry). I usually go for something just under 6" long, that tapers toward the ends (although sometimes I put pointed little hooks and things on the end). I may knurl the grip - depends on what the Muse says while I'm crafting one.

I also use a number of different woods. I'm probably happiest with our native single-seed NM juniper (old and dense!), but I've started playing with the nativised Osage Orange (Bois D'Arc) trees brought in by an Okie who tried to ranch where my house is about 100 years ago.

Thanks for posting, p35.

Oh, and Omni: you let the koppo sit along the outside vertical seam of your back pocket, and it's not under your hip/butt-bone.

 

[p35]

I used to make them longer, but found this length was where my hand naturally went when I was hiking. I can't imagine using a 6' stick-either you end up holding it above your head or, if you hold it in the middle, you've got all that extra length that's trying to poke you in the head. How do you use them? Do you do the knurling with a file or a knife? I'm always looking for new ideas or things to try.

BTW, Osage Orange is considered the ideal bow making wood, along with yew. I bet you could get good money for some of that from bow makers if so inclined.

 

[Omni04]

maybe it is the lack of sleep erich, but i still can't figure out how it would be carried (fyi im not asking for a picture )

ok now that i just got done checking myself out in the break room, when you are standing it would point straight up right? Or do you lie it down so it would be parralel with the ground?

 

[Erich]

P35 - I'm sorry, I was referring to your koppo/yawaras (I really did mean the six inches that I typed, not six feet! ), not the walking sticks (although I carry a Canemasters hickory heart gentleman's cane, I've not made a walking stick since I was a teenager). Your walking sticks are lovely - I was referring to your yawaras when I said mine are prettier. My apologies for my lack of clarity and for any unintended besmirchment of your attractive walking sticks.

Omni - it's parallel to my leg, pointing at the ground. (I tried to draw a picture using typewriter keys, but it didn't work. You can figure it out.)

 

[p35]

Erich-
Now that I look again, I see that I should have read more carefully. Suddenly it all makes sense...

Do you use a lathe or hand tools? How about a picture? Not being competitive, just looking for ideas to improve my work.

 

[doc jake]

P35 nice walking sticks, have you made a thumbstick yet ? very popular over here with the dear stalkers / hikers.

 

[Erich]

Hand-tools. Mostly just a knife, some sandpaper and some steel wool.

I'll try to figure out the webcam thing when I get home (if I remember!).