Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick - Walking stick made of polypropylene
Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick - Walking stick made of polypropylene
Details:
- Total length: approx. 94 cm
- Knob size: approx. 7 cm
- Weight: approx. 800 g
- Thickness: approx. 2.5 cm (shaft tip), 3.5 cm (shaft base)
- Material: Polypropylen
Blackthorn is widespread throughout Ireland and the British Isles. For centuries it was considered a valuable material for making first-class walking sticks. The original sticks carved from blackthorn were so-called Irish shillelaghs . These traditional weapons of the rural population of Ireland were between 60 and 120 cm long. Used as a weapon in skilled hands, the shillelagh was so devastating that the British occupiers banned it. The Irish then turned their shillelagh into a walking stick about 90 cm long and were thus able to circumvent the law. Since a further ban on walking sticks seemed inappropriate, the English let the Irish have their way. The latter were allowed to keep their modified shillelagh and the world was given a beautiful, functional walking stick, simply called the blackthorn .
Over fifteen years ago, Cold Steel attempted to source and distribute genuine blackthorns. However, this venture proved to be disappointing: although the sticks sold well, blackthorn is difficult to source and somewhat inconsistent in quality.
However, the results of Cold Steel's recent forays into polypropylene product development have been so impressive that they have now produced a new Blackthorn, injection molded from polypropylene, that retains all the benefits of the real Blackthorn without the disadvantages.
This Irish Blackthorn walking stick is modeled after an authentic Blackthorn from the private collection of Cold Steel founder and president Lynn C. Thompson. It was first carefully reproduced in detail and then artfully modified to look like it came from the wild. This magnificent Blackthorn reproduction will never crack, swell, chip or deform. And all it takes is a little soap and water to care for.
