131 - A Cardigan stick. The handle is made from spalted and burred oak, capped with ram horn and mounted on a hazel shank. The joint is embellished with a plain silver band.

I haven't previously used oak for handles because the coarse open grain can feel uncomfortable in use. However, I just had to make an exception in this case and figure out how to get a comfortable, smooth finish once I had completed the handle. In the event, I achieved the desired effect by applying many coats of melamine lacquer (very tough stuff) as a grain filler, sanding down well between each coat. The resulting surface is hard, smooth, and highly resistant to wear as well as moisture. In fact, I liked the finish so much I used it on the shank as well, and expect to use it on a regular basis in future.

The nose of the handle is capped with ram horn and I've added a little bull's-eye decoration. This consists of a short piece of white fibreglass tube embedded in black epoxy resin. Unseen splits in the structure of the tube filled with the black resin, neatly dividing the white ring into four segments.

The shank is a nice straight piece of hazel of a rich bronze colour and faintly mottled. I added a bit of class with a band of silver (not hallmarked, which is acceptable on a small piece like this, but I can guarantee it's full sterling grade).