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Cane Shields (Or Stick Medallions)


jollybgood

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When I lived in Germany I used to collect these little metal cane shields that you nailed to your walking stick. They gave them out at Volksmarches and sold them at nearly every train station -- sort of the European take on U.S. State decals and shot glasses sold here.

 

Recently I logged a cache in a local park in Illinois and picked up a brochure. I was surprised to find that they are selling Cane Shields with the name of the park.

 

This got me thinking -- it would be nice to have some cane shields made in the same manner as GeoCoins. Find a challenging cache and recieve a cane shield to affix to your walking stick.

 

I know the ones I have from Germany were made of tin and often hand painted. Many of the designs are identical with only the name of the town or attraction being different.

 

Does anyone know if there's a business that will take your design and make these shields the same way some sites make wooden nickels or geo coins?

 

Might be an interesting signature item.

 

Jolly R. Blackburn

http://kenzerco.com

"Never declare war on a man who buys his ink by the gallon."

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I use some for my signature item that I try to leave in caches that I visit. I have them custom imprinted on a standard emblem (a deer in my case). For larger quantities, you can get completely custom designs. Check out Hike America. Roy is a good guy to work with. I can recommend his walking sticks as well (I haven't had any experience with the geocaching specific ones, and my apologies to the person making those). Hope this points you to where you want to go.

 

I never get lost!

I simply investigate alternate destinations!

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quote:
Originally posted by Butano:

Check out http://hikeamerica.com/. Roy is a good guy to work with. I can recommend his walking sticks as well (I haven't had any experience with the geocaching specific ones, and my apologies to the person making those). Hope this points you to where you want to go.

 

I never get lost!

I simply investigate alternate destinations!


 

No apologies neccesary. icon_smile.gif There is plenty of business out there for everyone. I may even contact him on the medallions so that I can offer them as an option.

 

El Diablo

 

Everything you do in life...will impact someone,for better or for worse.

http://www.geo-hikingstick.com

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Nice look, I don't see a price guide for custom shields, or that they do custom shields at Hike America. What is the price structure for them if you know, otherwise will have to give in and use that invention of Bell's.

 

GeoCache Pickup Line: Hey I'm looking for treasure, Can I look around your chest?

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Super Cool icon_cool.gif

 

The medallions are pretty neat. I'll have to get up to S.J. to see if I can find any of Butano's signature items icon_biggrin.gif (or maybe you can come down Monterey area and leave a couple icon_wink.gif)

 

Love the Diablo-staffs icon_smile.gif My 4 year old little boy is always scavenging sticks when we cache, and of course I get the honor of holding on to them. I always tell him at the end of the day that we have to leave them behind because we're not supposed to take things from the park. Maybe a hiking staff is what he needs! I explained the hiking stick/medallion concept to him and he was way excited icon_smile.gif

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quote:
Originally posted by Dream Alchemist:

Nice look, I don't see a price guide for custom shields, or that they do custom shields at Hike America. What is the price structure for them if you know, otherwise will have to give in and use that invention of Bell's.

 


 

On the medallion index page it says $3.25 each (one free one for every 10 ordered). I don't see pricing for bulk orders though.

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I've seen these as well. I actually almost bought one the other day from the Nature Center in Henry Cowell State Park to attach to my stick, but I didn't have my wallet with me. Went back this morning and they were closed icon_mad.gif.

 

A medallion with the GC logo (or any type of signature print) would be a great find in a cache!

 

I was going to grab a bunch from HC, but if I remember right they were $7.99 each. A little pricey for a sig item but maybe I'll grab a few to place while traveling to other State Parks.

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When I got mine from Hike America, I just had Butano stamped on a standard emblem. These were $1.25 plus shipping for 100 I believe. Pretty reasonable. I don't recall how much they were for completely customized designs. I sent off an e-mail to Roy and asked him how much the custom ones were. As I recall, they weren't that outragous, and I believed he would even help with the artwork (if desired). I don't think that it was that much more, but a larger quantity was required. I will post the information when I get it.

 

BTW, I have updated my avatar to show the medallion that I use (if it gets updated).

 

I never get lost!

I simply investigate alternate destinations!

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quote:
Originally posted by Dream Alchemist:

ok 1 last question, then back to thinking what to use as a new sigit. How do they fasten to the staff? sticky tape, velcro, gum, screws, nails, wooden magnets?

 

GeoCache Pickup Line: Hey I'm looking for treasure, Can I look around your chest?


 

The ones I have seen at National Parks come with little nails. I always think they are cool, and then never buy them for whatever reason.

 

"I'm 35 Years old, I am divorced, and I live in van down by the river!" - Matt Foley

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I just got the e-mail back from Hike America. They can do a minimum order of 25 doing a name drop on a bear, deer, moose or buffalo for $1.25 each. This would be similar to my avatar. Roy also said they can do custom medallions at the same price for a minimum order of 500. He also indicated that he has been talking to someone at Groundspeak (Jeremy?) and they may have Geocaching medallions by the end of the year icon_biggrin.gif If you are interested, you can contact Roy at 1-800-880-4453.

 

These are probably the same ones that you have seen at the National and other parks. These do attach with small nails. That is how I first found out about them. Check their web site, you can probably find any parks that you missed there.

 

I never get lost!

I simply investigate alternate destinations!

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quote:
Originally posted by Butano:

I just got the e-mail back from Hike America. They can do a minimum order of 25 doing a name drop on a bear, deer, moose or buffalo for $1.25 each. This would be similar to my avatar. Roy also said they can do custom medallions at the same price for a minimum order of 500. He also indicated that he has been talking to someone at Groundspeak (Jeremy?) and they may have Geocaching medallions by the end of the year icon_biggrin.gif If you are interested, you can contact Roy at 1-800-880-4453.

 

These are probably the same ones that you have seen at the National and other parks. These do attach with small nails. That is how I first found out about them. Check their web site, you can probably find any parks that you missed there.

 

I never get lost!

I simply investigate alternate destinations!


 

Very kewl. Thanks!! Glad I posted.

 

I have about thirty such medallions from my stay in Germany on a walking stick I bought in Bavaria. They're kind of fun to collect. If the idea caught on with geocaching it mike add another fun element to the craziness. ;D

 

Jolly R. Blackburn

http://kenzerco.com

"Never declare war on a man who buys his ink by the gallon."

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Jolly,

 

Great thread! I think I may go grab a few from Henry Cowell here in the Santa Cruz Mountains - Home of the Redwoods (very bad for GPS...very bad....we hatez it!)

 

Anyway, I think I'll leave them in caches in other State Parks and out of state when I travel.

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quote:
Originally posted by Kealia:

Jolly,

 

Great thread! I think I may go grab a few from Henry Cowell here in the Santa Cruz Mountains - Home of the Redwoods (very bad for GPS...very bad....we hatez it!)

 

Anyway, I think I'll leave them in caches in other State Parks and out of state when I travel.


 

Thanks. You know I was just looking at the shield medallions on my old walking stick from Germany. (It must be twenty years old by now). And noticed a lot of them are actually printed on a coated card stock paper which in turn has been placed on a metal (tin I guess0 background with the edges folded/crimped to form a protective border around the paper.

 

I know it sounds cheesey but they are acutally quite attractive. Given they're almost twenty years old and have been through a LOT of hiking they've held up surprisngly well.

 

I'm assuming these would be far easier (and cheaper) to make as far as cutomized designs. (no embossing, die making or hand painting to worry about).

 

If I can figure out how to post them, I'll try to take some pictures. Someone out there must make these.

 

With that aside, Hike America and see what they have.

 

Jolly R. Blackburn

http://kenzerco.com

"Never declare war on a man who buys his ink by the gallon."

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