Please note that it is common for ironwood sticks to have cracks, especially on the ends. These naturally formed cracks do not inhibit the stability of ironwood staffs in any way. The Free Form Ironwood Walking Stick, also known as American Hornbeam, is a popular choice for those seeking an extremely strong stick coupled with a one-of-a-kind look and feel. Free Form Ironwood Walking Stick owners can feel confident that when walking through trails, or hiking through dense forests, their ironwood staff will be an invaluable support that will offer reliability for years to come. Its bark -- resembling a deer antler -- is naturally ridged. The staff is carefully cut, sanded smoothly, and sprayed with a protective clear coat lacquer bringing out rich contrasts between darker areas (those deeper inside its ridges) and lighter areas of the bark. The Free Form Ironwood Walking Stick can be customized with a quality, liquid-filled compass and a spike ferrule or combination spike per your choice. The staff -- like all of our walking sticks and canes -- can also be personalized with laser engraving, decorative pewter stars, a Texas State Seal, and a thermometer. The Free Form Ironwood Walking Stick comes in one of four sizes: 41-inches (primarily a child's size"), 48-inches, 55-inches, and 58-inches. The staff also comes with a standard rubber ferrule for a firm, secure grip on virtually any surface. For serious hiking, the rubber ferrule can also be upgraded to a spike ferrule or combination spike ferrule per your choice. Like all of our handcrafted products, the Free Form Ironwood Walking Stick is made in the USA by our skilled craftsmen using the highest quality materials and time-tested methods."