Antique Bamboo Ski Poles with full leather grip
c. 1930s - 40s, 20th Century
Bamboo, rattan, leather, metal
52" tall, 6" basket diameter
© Vintage Winter

A very unique set and great decorative pair. These original poles have full leather grips. They also have a unique makers label on the shaft of the poles. These poles have a steel tip and aluminum ferrule, have great red grips and some remnants of the blue re-enforcement up the bamboo pole for strength and "style".

Single Poles were used until about 1910 and made of a hardwood (hickory, willow, oak) to be sturdy and strong “push sticks”. In the 1920’s, bamboo shafts became popular because they were lighter weight and still strong. Ski Poles were also made of cane, in fact many of the 1940s WWII US Military 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops had cane poles with leather handgrips, rattan ring baskets with leather straps. The tip was steel and most had aluminum ferrules protecting the “snow” end of the ski pole (dating 1920s – 1950s). Adaptations continued in the ski pole “baskets” – going from a sturdy round wooden discs – to rattan rings and leather lacing. The handstraps of the ski pole were once simple canvas straps. Leather handgrips and straps were “in” for ski fashion in the 20s and 30s. Ski poles evolved to rubberized handgrips, metal shafts and metal rings in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Girl waxing a set of old wood Northland skis