Offered in this lot is a vintage Hand-carved Blackthorn Walking Stick. A species of flowering plant in the rose family, native to Europe, Blackthorn wood is used to make walking sticks including the Irish shillelagh, a straight blackthorn stem fighting club. The Irish Blackthorn Walking stick also known as a Shillelagh is one of the most sought after walking sticks in the world. Blackthorn is a dense wood with a tight grain making it perfect for use as a walking stick. In the British Army, blackthorn sticks are carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment; this tradition is also found in Irish regiments in some Commonwealth countries. This Blackthorn walking stick has a round carved knob top handle, tree growth rings are visible. Initials carved along the side of the knob head are W.I.S and P. G. H along with 19.13, most likely the year this walking stick was made. Blackthorn wood has to be seasoned for 2/3 years before it can be hand carved into a walking cane. Cane bottom Blackthorn tip is exposed and is surrounded by a brass ferrule which resembles a rifle shell casing. Provenance: Originally collected by noted artifact dealer Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota and recipient of the coveted Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation in South Dakota. This Blackthorn walking stick is in exceptional overall condition, 32"L, knob handle is 1.75" diameter.