Hey, I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a resource or site, written in language that can be understood by a newb,
which would tell me how to build a half-decent quarterstaff.

Thanks!

Order one. Don't try to do it yourself unless you absolutely want to (speaking from experience here). They're usually less than $50, including shipping. Go do a Google search for Purpleheart Armories-they've got good prices.

Well, having zero knowledge of the topic, heres my two cents.

Bo and Quaterstaff are remarkably similar. However, a Quaterstaff as we call it is the Western term for a staff made for fighting (any shaped stick of wood is called a staff) wheras a Bo is the commonly used eastern term for a staff made for fighting. No doubt both the eastern and western versions of the item have had different names over time in the areas where they were used. And no doubt the essential design has also changed slightly from place to place and time to time.[/i]

Isn't a bo usually around 180 cm, whereas a quarterstaff ranges from 210 cm(as per Zach Wylde) to 8 feet or thereabouts(mine is 240 cm)? Of course, one has halfstaffs and longstaffs also.

Johan Schubert Moen

Many years ago I purchased a diamondwood staff from Museum Replicas. It is super sturdy bordering on indestructable. The color is an ash that looks very natural. It's 1" in diameter which feels just right for a staff. The only downside is that the longest you could get it was 5'. That is a bit short for a historical European staff but I never let that bother me. I'm really happy with mine. I'm not sure if their still available, however.

If the calling for making one is still with you, try the below link in the About section. The site recommends letting the staff dry a few months before stripping the bark , I would let it dry for a year, still in the bark and covering the freshly cut ends with wax . This lets the moisture out slow , through the bark preventing cracking.

http://www.quarterstaff.org/frame.html

Technically speaking, "quarterstaff" is a position or way of holding a staff - as TL Johnson says, one-quarter of the way from the butt. "Halfstaff" is holding a staff in the middle-third (which is the position typically seen in Robin Hood movies and the like).