hand carved wooden walking cane

General information about stick

Walking sticks started out as a necessary tool for the shepherd and traveler. A nice hefty stick was an excellent way to protect against thieves and to keep animals in line. Over time, the walking stick gradually began to be known as a symbol for power and strength, and eventually authority and social prestige. Rulers of many cultures, past and present, have carried some form of walking stick or staff.

When used as a mobility or stability aide, canes are generally used in the hand opposite the injury or weakness. This may appear counter-intuitive, but this allows the cane to used for stability in a way that lets the user shift much of their weight onto the cane and away from their weaker side as they walk. Personal preference, or a need to hold the cane in their dominant hand means some cane users choose to hold the cane on their injured side.

Devrek walking sticks

Devrek walking sticks are not just sticks but works of art, with some individual sticks taking a month or more to make.

 Wood from the Cornelian cherry, which grows up to five meters tall, is used to make stick. The wood to make the shaft  is cut from the straightest branches of the tree  in November till January when the sap is low, and then left to season for three years. This time prevents the stick from warping after it has been carved and decorated and also lightens the weight of the stick.

Devrek has been the source of the material for making walking sticks since the time of the Ottoman sultanate. A stick is divided into three sections: handle, shaft and tip.

The handles are made from oak, hornbeam, and the tip is mostly  made of water buffalo horn.   The handles generally range from the plain and T-shaped to handles carved in the shape of horse, eagle, wolf, snake and lion heads, and knob-shaped handles. The stem is made of cornelian cherry.

How does a stick become expensive ? The difference between a cheap stick and an expensive stick is not that the materials used. It is because of the time it takes for a master craftsman to fully decorate a stick as a work of art.

Devrek walking sticks are presented to most of the statesmen visiting Turkey. Turkish president presented Devrek walking sticks as gifts to Elizabeth II and Prince Charles during their visits to Turkey.

Devrek walking sticks are world famous because of the art of work on the shaft not only on the handle. In other cities of Turkey and other countries mostly art of work is just  on the handle. 

The shafts are always made of cornelian cherry which grows in Devrek forests. All sticks are 100% hand made. 

The reason why we are using water buffalo horn for tip is because of the water buffalo horn  is sterile and it prevents slipping