walkng-sticks-msg - 12/23/16

Period walking sticks and canes.

NOTE: See also the files: Pilgrims-Trvl-art, sedan-chairs-msg, fans-msg, hnd-fan-hist-art, umbrellas-msg, disabilities-msg, Diabetes-SCA-art, Women-Riding-art, SPD-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: "Richard Cullinan" <rcull@ozemail.com.au>
To: fencers@lochac.sca.org; lochac@lochac.sca.org; lochacfighters@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 18/10/2015 6:41:27 PM
Subject: [Lochac] Maestro ibn Jelal's fencing documentation challenge

One of the common non-offensive fencing weapons in the SCA is the
walking cane. People typically use a cane of around hip length, mostly
because that is the standard cane length available today. We have no
proof that this style of cane is period. The best I've been able to
manage is Victorian period for the majority of cane styles available
for purchase today. All other references I've found talk about or show
staves, with a minimum length of 5 feet (armpit length).

So I hereby issue challenge to all and sundry, and will put a bottle
of wine or beverage of the winners choice to the value of $50 on the
line. The first person that can present proof that period walking
sticks were of the 3 foot length that we now associate with canes may
claim the bottle from me That is, one where the hand rests on the top
of the cane making a straight line from shoulder to ground, of around
hip length. You have from now till Rowany Festival 2016 to claim the
prize. Any successful claimant will have the prize presented to them
in Court at Festival.

If you have questions or want to claim the prize (with proof) please
contact me via email or phone (details below).
Please feel free to pass onto your local lists.

Yours in service to building the knowledge of the Kingdom,
Maestro ibn Jelal(Richard Cullinan)


From: "Lynlee O'Keeffe" <lynleeok@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Maestro ibn Jelal's fencing documentation challenge
Date: October 18, 2015 at 6:48:32 PM CDT
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list" <lochac@lochac.sca.org>

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_An_Allegory_of_the_Old_and_New_Testaments_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg Has an allegorical image painted about 1530 with a walking stick with handle. Not quite as short as modern but definitely with similar handle and useage. If this were not something known, he would not have painted it such, even in an allegory.

Claricia filia Wilelmi dapiferi


From: bakerskeep@antiferus.net
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Maestro ibn Jelal's fencing documentation challenge
Date: October 19, 2015 at 3:03:50 AM CDT
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list" <lochac@lochac.sca.org>

I've found four near possibilities all from the Maciejowski bible.

The first is really a short shepherds crook but does match the size (based on the figures being somewhere between 5 foot and 6 foot) and shape I've seen used in rapier combat - http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf4/otm4va.gif, http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf7/otm7vd.gif, http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf32/otm32rc.gif, http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf26/otm26va&b.gif and http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf27/otm27rc.gif. The last few of these are held by David as a child so even though they look longer David's probably only 4ft or so tall which would make the shepherds crooks around the 3ft mark.

The second is definitely a walking stick though of a two piece construction - http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf5/otm5ra.gif

The third is this one - http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf6/otm6vb.gif - which is just a straight stick but of the right length. There are a few of these through out the Maciejowski bible mostly used to encourage people and animals to get a move on.

The fourth one is a ball pommel walking stick - http://www.medievaltymes.com/courtyard/images/maciejowski/leaf15/otm15vd.gif

Dede Kilic


From the fb "SCA Garb" group:

Bob Molter
August 30 at 11:27am
My sciatica is getting the best of me. Can you guys suggest a "period" walking stick that a viking might use? Thanks

Rowen Grove 
A plain wooden staff of appropriate height works for me.
August 30 at 11:30am

Jenn Crewell 
Any plain wooden staff or cane would be fine.
August 30 at 11:43am

Jeff Benson 
Odin is often popularly pictured in his guise as The Stranger as walking with the assistance of a plain staff, about eye height.

Use of the singular 'eye' was intentional. ;-)
August 30 at 11:46am

Mark Grass 
Simple wooden canes work quite well. A staff of works well too. Just remember that decorating wooden objects was popular as well so if you feel the need to carve it have at!
August 30 at 11:53am

Ann Schde 
I'd think a strong branch..1.5" diameter..striped of the bark...with a "knot" at either hand/hip height or make it taller so the knot is eye level...very easy to carve a little, or burn a little and make the knot look like an "eye" of odin...yes?
August 30 at 12:08pm

Ryan McKay 
Perhaps a spear would serve, it's certainly a period weapon and I can't imagine it not being used as a walking aid from time to time.
August 30 at 1:26pm

Alexandria Abarria 
I have a polished wood walking staff that I bought at a mundane art fair years back. At Pennsic saw someone w/ a carved walking staff. Mine saved me from many falls. (bad knees) Also do not skimp on the sturdiness of your shoes.
August 30 at 4:58pm

Micaela Burnham 
The use of runes for healing was known. Perhaps a staff with runes to "guard your back."
August 30 at 7:35pm

Rebecca Le Get 
There's a couple of walking stick crooks (well, something with a handle like a walking stick at least) that might be useful:

One from Dublin: 
http://www.100objects.ie/portfolio-items/wooden-crook/
and from a different angle: http://irisharchaeology.tumblr.com/post/126599093599/carved-viking-age-wooden-handle-in-the-shape-of-a

One from Lund: http://www.runesnruins.com/runes/lund_stick.htm
A brighter photo, though uploaded to pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/548031848386485546/

Kristin Hacker-Hickman 
If you live close to a large enough river, drift wood is a fun option. You get root balls, which are often oddly shaped, and the wood is lighter because it was waterlogged and then dried.
9/6/16

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Edited by Mark S. Harris	walking-canes-msg	4 of 4