My first attempt at makin a Shillelagh

[Dr_Zinj]

As I understand it, a shillelagh should be made out of a tree root in order to get the taper, twists, and knobs. I suppose any hardwood would work: oak, apple (or maybe hawthorn), maple, chestnut, etc.

 

[Rad1956]

As I understand it, a shillelagh should be made out of a tree root in order to get the taper, twists, and knobs. I suppose any hardwood would work: oak, apple (or maybe hawthorn), maple, chestnut, etc.

Yes the root wood is preferable.

 

[Wagtail]

Mighty handy in a Donnybrook

Sorry for being off topic but there's a town outside of Melbourne (Victoria) by the name of Donnybrook. It always gave me a smile as I drove by that highway sign; kept my eyes open for its sister-town 'Fistycuffs' with no luck so far.

On topic: Very nice walking stick!!

 

[creekbend]

Nice work. I was wondering? After an evening of socializing at the local Pub, I wonder how many Husbands were hit over the head with ONE by their Wives.

 

[Rad1956]

Nice work. I was wondering? After an evening of socializing at the local Pub, I wonder how many Husbands were hit over the head with ONE by their Wives.

Thank you -- and according to Irish shillelagh law, woman were allowed to strike the men with the stick, but the men were not allowed to strike back -- sooo maybe!

 

[PhysAssist]

Thank you -- and according to Irish shillelagh law, woman were allowed to strike the men with the stick, but the men were not allowed to strike back -- sooo maybe!

From wikipedia's shillelagh page: Shillelagh (club) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A shillelagh (/ʃɨˈleɪli/ shi-lay-lee or /ʃɨˈleɪlə/ shi-lay-lə; Irish: sail 鬧殕le [ˈsalʲ ˈeːl̠ʲə], a cudgel with a strap) is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top, that is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore.

I always thought that they had a more cylindrical head, like a right-angle branch with a section of trunk attached, but wikipedia proved me wrong, and you right!

Shillelaghs are traditionally made from blackthorn (sloe) wood (Prunus spinosa) or oak.[1] Wood from the root was prized as it was less prone to cracking during use. The wood would be smeared with butter or lard, and placed up a chimney to cure, giving the shillelagh its typical black shiny appearance. Shillelaghs may be hollowed at the heavy "hitting" end and filled with molten lead to increase the weight beyond the typical two pounds; this sort of shillelagh is known as a 'loaded stick'.[1] They are commonly the length of a walking stick (distance from the floor to one's wrist with elbow slightly bent). Most also have a heavy knob for a handle which can be used for striking as well as parrying and disarming an opponent. Many shillelaghs also have a strap attached (hence the Irish name), similar to commercially made walking sticks, to place around the holder's wrist.

The name, an Anglophone corruption of the Irish sail 駟lle, appears to have become convolved with that of the village and barony in County Wicklow.[2][3]
The shillelagh was originally used for settling disputes in a gentlemanly manner様ike pistols in colonial America, or the katana in Japan. Modern practitioners of bataireacht study the use of the shillelagh for self-defense and as a martial art. Of the practice, researcher J. W. Hurley writes:
Methods of shillelagh fighting have evolved over a period of thousands of years, from the spear, staff, axe and sword fighting of the Irish. There is some evidence which suggests that the use of Irish stick weapons may have evolved in a progression from a reliance on long spears and wattles, to shorter spears and wattles, to the shillelagh, alpeen, blackthorn (walking-stick) and short cudgel. By the 19th century Irish shillelagh-fighting had evolved into a practice which involved the use of three basic types of weapons, sticks which were long, medium or short in length.

Thanks for sharing,
Thomas

 

[1bush2hog]

Good job man - I like it. You may want to give it a new name

 

[Wagtail]

The shillelagh was originally used for settling disputes in a gentlemanly manner

In your attached photo, PhysAssist, the second from the left does NOT look particularly 'gentlemanly'.

That's a Morning Star attached to it!!!

 

[k0ua]

In your attached photo, PhysAssist, the second from the left does NOT look particularly 'gentlemanly'.

That's a Morning Star attached to it!!!

Well.. there are gentlemen and then there are Gentlemen..some people just need a good drubbing.:laughing:

 

[PhysAssist]

Well.. there are gentlemen and then there are Gentlemen..some people just need a good drubbing.:laughing:

2nd that emotion.

It may not be very gentlemanly, but that would be a game changer for sure.

I forgot to say, nice work Rad1956

Thomas