Wood Wizard Walkin' Stick

[Gunstock Jack]

This is my first attempt at wood carving. I used a limb from a Korean Maple tree I took out of the yard. After I finished it, I decided to go ahead and buy some decent woodcarving tools! Bought a couple hunks of basswood from Edensaw Hardwoods here in the Pacific NW to try out, but it's been almighty cold and dark up here for a few weeks. It's gonna be a long winter....

[tjmurphy]

WOW! Barry. That is very cool. Your talents are endless

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks TJ! It stems from a lack of employment. I'm in the construction industry which is pretty flat at the moment. I'm trying to carve a "NW native American style wall hanging of a hummingbird next. Boredom is the mother of creativity!!! If I don't go back to work soon I'm gonna have to curtail my knife purchases, which I currently finance through the sale of other knives. What's a mother to do??? Oh well; I heard a rumor that there was a job available at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard with only a few hundred applicants. What's another resume?

[Gunsmoke47]

Great carving GJ!

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks Gunsmoke!

[karmasabish]

this is your first attempt at carving? i can't believe it!!! goodness i can't wait to see what you come up with after this one....well done!

[carvin don]

Beautiful job Gunstock! You did a great job of beard texturing with that knife, nice s-curves on his top-knot...you need to start sellin' them things! I know a guy that sold nothing but walkin' sticks for a couple of years, and did real fine.

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks Don; comin' from you that's a real complement! Maybe there's hope for me! Guess I better get to work on the carvin'.

[tjmurphy]

Would this be considered "Tramp Art"? I like it a lot

[tjmurphy]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Gunstock Jack no longer owns the "Wood Wizard Walkin' Stick". I DO!! YeeHaw!! I can tell you from in-hand examination, it is soooooooo much nicer than the picture shows and more than I expected. Wonderful job. Thanks a lot Barry.

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks, Murph. I hope you enjoy it for many years! If ya break it beatin' off muggers, I will fix it for free!

[tjmurphy]

I don't believe in getting that close to muggers, if you get my drift

[Gunstock Jack]

I Do Murph!!!!

[Gunstock Jack]

Here are a couple more sticks I just finished. These are both made of Madrone that I cut last winter ('09) and it is a very stiff hardwood. You could easily use these sticks for self defense, but they are not unbreakable. The bark is very thin and I left a lot of it on the sticks.

The first is pretty much a natural form, I just added a few cuts here and there. It is taller (43") and more of a walking staff; guess I'll call it "The Creature of Suquamish".

The second is another "Wood Spirit" character; he looks related to Murph's wizard. This stick is a cane style about 35 inches in length.

[tjmurphy]

Nice work Barry. I kinda like the "Creature". They say that the images are already in the wood, you just have to dig them out. I think I see what they mean.

[gmusic]

Just ran across this......................Nice job Gunstock!

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks guys! This is the look I get on my face when I get the bill for the knives I've bought that month.

[ouhunter]

Wow, awesome workmanship there Gunstock I love 'em both!!

[Gunstock Jack]

Thanks, Ouhunter! I appreciate the encouraging comments!

[carvin don]

Another great woodspirit Gunstock, and that abstract creature is mighty slick too!

[theblindog]

this is your first attempt at carving? i can't believe it!!! goodness i can't wait to see what you come up with after this one....well done!

what he said.

[wizrd]

Your Wizard walking stick is great, now I've gotta start trying to carve up a few of mine. I always use a sturdy walking staff in the woods while hunting, makes a geat rest for either a handgun or rifle. Now to go sharpen my whittling blades.

[knifetime]

Very cool walking stick.Very good work

[TripleF]

Magnificent!!!

[biglmbass]

Nice stuff, Barry.