Filling large cracks in sticks

The character of the shanks is mainly in the colour of the bark on hazel., holly, chestnut ash it has a very wide range of pattterns and colours depending on where its grown and the weather during the seasons.The bark its self provides a natural protection for the shank and is very difficult to remove ..All that needs doing to it is to oil it ,hadly any are varnished theres just no need to.Shanks such as hawthorn and alike are used with the bark stripped.but generally speaking hazel provides most of the shanks.

Supprised there not used in the states as there grown in the north of the country and its a very hardy plant

If a shank is oiled regularly it should last a lifetime.As for the character its mostly in the topper, this could be rams /buffalo horn or carved all are very different .But most are done to a high standard

Very few of my sticks look the same and each carving is researched and scaled correctly depending on the species of wildfowl etc.

But if you handle and look at the horn ones you will see immediatly its of a high standard and there a pleasure to use Most ramblers who use them treat them with high regard. and dont consider them a disposable item

They do take more time to make from the drawing research and selection of the shank but thats part of the pleasure to me

Any shank that has any kind of defect would be discarded and considered being of poor qaullity .Normally these shanks would be seasoned for 2 years before being used.

Sure I understand them and appreciate them and the work that goes into them. They are works of art...craft...both I do understand taking pleasure in the process and apparent perfect lines and joints. I love them. I have even made a market stick or 2 and something I'd call a crook though it is far below what would be standard...well they all would be far below standard

Maybe it's the American in me that fights that sterile conformation to a particular specification, or my nature in general. I want something that is unique, one of a kind. Not a cookie cutter of what the next 3 guys down the lane have, just a differing degree. Fight Cobalt! Break open the UK, make a gnarly crooked cane

We do have Hazel and hawthorn here. In fact I am growing some Hawthorne for sticks. I think it's like tea. We have it, we just don't think of it the same HA! (We being the US, I actually love and appreciate good tea as well. A nice deep black with a little milk)