A way to simplify this just occurred to me.
� Wind the strap around one dowel and run the other end through the slit.
� Take the dowel out of the loop.
� Pull the ends of the strap to straighten the loop out of it. (This will leave the leather on each side of the slit twisted.)
� Wind the other end of the strap twice around the other dowel and run the first end through the slit.
� Work the body of the strap through the slit in the first end to remove the twist on each side of the slit and form the second loop.
� Twist the body of the strap in the second loop to form the double loop.
� Slide the second double loop over the end of the second dowel.
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Also --
On the bottom end of each dowel (a couple of inches of which had to be reduced in diameter to accept 'em), I fitted a pair of brass ferrules made by trimming the necks, shoulders, and upper bodies off a couple of .50 Browning cases. Each ferrule covers a couple of inches of its stick's lower end.
I drilled and tapped the webs of these ferrules and threaded-in a couple of small bolts, each with a washer and a lock-nut, leaving most of the length of each bolt exposed. With the bolt heads ground off and the ends sharpened, these bolts (easily removed or replaced) become spikes for hard ground.
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The loops loosen a little with use and time. Just before each use, I grasp each stick in each hand, with the strap between the index finger and the second finger, and pull the loops tight on the sticks..
