I can’t help myself rom saying: This cane is really, really awesome!

It’s a raptor’s claw cane (my largest handle shape) made using figured Sonoran desert ironwood, my favorite wood species (which is saying a lot for how many species I have used!). Its shaft is even more special, it is genuine lignum wood, the densest wood in the world!

The handle has a rich, chatoyant golden color intermixed with chocolate browns, all with a gorgeous figured grain. Desert ironwood is dense, durable, chatoyant, colorful, and in this example its figured - can wood get better? Sonoran Desert Ironwood has been protected for decades now, conservationists have identified the species as a vital cornerstone of its ecosystem. The tree itself is stunted, small, and scraggly, see the last image for an example of the ironwood tree in its native range. Its hard to get my largest handle shapes from this wood with such remarkable figure!

This Genuine lignum shaft is one of very few I have ever offered in my 15+ years making canes. The wood is very rare, its scarce even in small sizes, but cane shafts are especially large pieces for this wood so it is a privilege to offer it. Genuine lignum is a highly protected species with only old stock remaining that was harvested decades ago, pieces are hiding here and there in people’s basements or shops, and they come up for sale occasionally when lucky. Several related species all carry the common name “lignum”, and all are similar looking and profoundly dense, and I use them in my work too, but this one is the rarest and the prize, the densest wood in the whole world. It’s a beautiful piece too with a little curl figure and a series of small burl clusters. There is a little bit of yellow sapwood on one side at the bottom of the shaft. The second to last image is of a lignum tree in bloom.

A heavy cane, perfect for someone looking for a piece that’s very stable and substantial feeling, yet not chunky and unrefined. May not be appropriate for users of small stature. Total length measures 38” and can be shortened to fit.

M A T E R I A L S

Handle – Desert Ironwood from Arizona

Divider - Brass

Shaft – Genuine Lignum from Mexico

Rubber tip

Every Gillis Cane is a photographed original, you’ll always receive the exact cane in the images.