Description
We are delighted to announce that at the Academy of Historical Arts, we are now designing and manufacturing our own lines of equipment at our workshop and full-time training venue in Glasgow.
The AHA Singlestick is our first item in production. We intend to keep constant stock of singlesticks so that we can fulfil orders immediately, without having to order any from abroad. Larger orders may require a little more time to manufacture, but our intention is to be able to send individual singlesticks from stock without any delay at all.
About the singlestick
The singlestick has an ash shaft and an HDPE plastic guard. The stick is about 1 metre (40-ish inches) in length and 22-25 mm (around an inch) in thickness. The guard is large enough that you can wear a padded glove underneath.
Storage & maintenance instructions
Dry ash will splinter with repeated use, so 19th century sources tell us to keep ash singlesticks damp, potentially even going as far as to store them in a barrel of water. The idea is that if the sticks are wet inside, they will dent rather than splinter, and this will prolong their useful life and will also improve safety during their use.
After sufficient use, the sticks will break and will need replacement; they are natural materials and can only handle so much stress before they break down. This will take longer if you fence with a lower level of intensity, and it will take less time if you fence with greater strength in your strikes.
To help keep your singlestick in good condition, please refer to our care & maintenance advice.