Looking for Info on River Cane Forks

[DougS]

Hello,

Looking for any information regarding using river cane to make an eating fork.

Bill Farmer talked about a reference where Daniel Boone and his family were using cane forks, in the 2007 School Of The Long Hunter DVD Series.

Does anyone have a picture of what this looks like or how to make one?

Thank you,

Doug

[Ridge]

I was at School of the Longhunter that year.  Bill gave us forks made from river cane. 

All you do is cut an angle in from both sides so that it forms 2 points (the center being hollow of course).  That's it.

[Carney Pace]

Where do you get River Cane?  Where I live we only have sage brush.
Would be interested in getting some  for a project or two.
Thanks
Carney

[DougS]

Hello and Thank you Ridge,

I'll have to get a piece and try to cut one out.

Thank you again,

Regards,

Doug

[Huntschool]

Our "river cane" makes great powder measures...  That is how I have used it before but perhaps I will try this fork thing.  The stuff grows wild as heck here but believe it or not...  its protected to some extent and "harvesting too much might be a problem from what I have heard.

The other thing is the environment in which it thrives is also home to some rather unsavory species like cotton mouth and even copperheads.  One must be cautious when looking for that "just right" stalk...….  When I cut some, it is usually in the fall after the "locals" have gone in for the winter. 

Have fun. 

[Ridge]

I've always wondered about the different physical characteristics of river cane vs. bamboo.

We don't have a lot of cane here, but what we do have looks just like bamboo.

[Ridge]

BTW Doug, cut it while it's green and let it dry.  It gets a good bit tougher after it dries out!

[Greg Pennell]

Carney, you might try the gardening section at Lowe’s or Home Depot. I’ve bought bundles of cane or small bamboo for plant stakes...and powder measures, etc.

Greg

[rich pierce]

For me the trick is to use what’s local. Unfortunately sometimes we “ain’t there when they were”. Cane forks sound like any sharp stabbing implement to stick food and get it to one’s mouth. I generally make chop sticks myself when going primitive.  Easy but not authentic for here.