Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick - Walking stick made of polypropylene

Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick - Polypropylene Walking Stick

Details:
- Overall length: approx. 94 cm
- Pommel size: approx. 7 cm
- Weight: approx. 800 g
- Thickness: approx. 2.5 cm (shaft tip), 3.5 cm (shaft base)
- Material: Polypropylene

Blackthorn is common throughout Ireland and across the British Isles. For centuries it has been considered a valuable material for making first-class walking sticks. The original sticks carved from blackthorn were called Irish shillelaghs. These traditional weapons of the rural population of Ireland were approximately between 60 and 120 cm long. Used as a weapon in skilled hands, the shillelagh was so devastating that it was legally banned by the British occupiers. Thereupon, the Irish made their shillelagh into a walking stick about 90 cm long and could thus circumvent the law. Since another ban on walking sticks seemed inappropriate, the English allowed the Irish to continue. The latter were allowed to keep their modified shillelagh and the world was thus gifted a beautiful, functional walking stick, simply called Blackthorn.

Over fifteen years ago, Cold Steel attempted to procure and distribute real Blackthorns. However, this undertaking proved disappointing: the sticks sold well, but blackthorn is difficult to procure and somewhat inconsistent in quality.

The results of Cold Steel's recent advances in the development of polypropylene products were so impressive that they have now produced a new, injection-molded polypropylene Blackthorn. This retains all the advantages of real blackthorn, without the disadvantages.

This Irish Blackthorn walking stick is based on an authentic Blackthorn from the private collection of Cold Steel's founder and president, Lynn C. Thompson. It was first carefully and faithfully reproduced in detail and then so artfully modified that it looks as if it were taken from nature. However, this magnificent Blackthorn reproduction will never crack, swell, splinter, or warp. Furthermore, only a little soap and water are needed for care.