The Crook Shop

The tools

Anatomy of an honest crook

A crook looks simple. It is, and that is the idea. Here is what each part does, how it gets used, and how we make one.

3 1 2 4
The numbers match the parts listed beside the drawing.

  1. The hook

    The curve that does the work. It is wide enough to slip around a lamb's chest or a ewe's hind leg, and open enough that nothing gets pinched.

  2. The grip

    Where the hand rests. Ours are wrapped for a firm hold in wet weather, and balanced so the crook never feels heavy at the end of a long day.

  3. The shaft

    Straight, seasoned wood, about as tall as the shepherd's shoulder. It is stiff enough to lean on and light enough to carry across a whole hillside.

  4. The ferrule

    A metal cap on the bottom. It keeps the wood from splitting and gives the crook a bite on wet ground.

In the field

What a crook is actually for

Catching and holding

A quick, gentle hook around a leg or the chest holds a sheep still without a struggle, which is the whole point.

Keeping steady

On steep, wet or stony ground a crook is a third leg. Shepherds lean on it, test the ground with it and climb with it.

Pointing and reaching

It lifts a gate latch, pulls a stray branch out of the way and points a dog toward the far corner, all without a step.

A good crook should feel like it has always been in your hand.

Amos Crook

At the bench

How a crook is made

Six steps, most of them slow. It is a short list because there is not much to a crook, and a long time because every step has to be done properly.

  1. Choose the wood

    Hazel or ash, cut in winter while the sap is down. Straight growth with a natural curve near the top is what we look for.

  2. Let it season

    The wood dries slowly for months, out of the sun. Rushing this step is how crooks warp.

  3. Shape the hook

    Steam softens the wood so it bends over a form. It then dries in that shape and keeps it.

  4. Smooth and fit the grip

    Sanding until the wood feels pleasant to the hand, then wrapping the grip for traction.

  5. Oil the wood

    Several coats of oil keep the wood from drying out and bring up the grain.

  6. Cap the end

    The metal ferrule goes on last. After that the crook is ready to be leaned on, which is how most of them end up.

A few handmade crooks are on the bench at the moment. When they are ready, they will turn up here.