Decorative Notches

When to use this

• Personalizing a walking stick
• Marking grip points
• Quiet creative time at camp

What you need

• A bark-free, sanded stick or handle
• A camp knife
• A pencil for marking (optional)

Step by step

1. 1.Mark the notch positions lightly with a pencil. Even spacing matters more than perfect placement.
2. 2.Make the first stop-cut: hold the blade perpendicular to the stick at one edge of the notch and press straight in, about ⅛ inch deep.
3. 3.From the opposite side of the notch, angle the blade at about 30° toward the stop-cut and take a thin push cut. The chip should pop free against the stop-cut.
4. 4.If the chip doesn’t pop free, deepen the stop-cut and try again — don’t force the angle cut.
5. 5.Repeat the stop-cut/angle-cut pattern around the stick at each pencil mark.
6. 6.Smooth any ragged edges with a very light pull cut (thumb-assist).

What success looks like

Clean, uniform decorative notches around a stick or wooden handle.

Pro tips

• Three patterns to start with: a single ring (one notch row), a chevron (alternating angles around the circumference), and a spiral (notches that move down the stick).
• Notches catch dirt over time — that’s the point. They’ll darken into the wood.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the stop-cut and going straight to angle cuts — chips tear and notches look ragged.
• Cutting too deep on the stop-cut. ⅛ inch is plenty for visible texture.

Variations

• Stained notches: rub charcoal from the fire into the cuts for sharp dark lines.
• Date and trip notches: one notch per camping trip, dated below.