David,
From what I understand a stick handle should be just over the inside of the wrist when standing with arms at your side.
Made my first two walking sticks today for my dad (91) and DIL (87).
I found the sticks to be buggers from start to end. Made one from redheart and the other from curly mahogany. Would post photos but have already wrapped them.
1. Needed to drill the connector holes 1/64 larger than called for as the wood was very hard and I couldn't make threads in it easily. Of course they aren't standard threads so I couldn't tap the holes like I do with bottle stoppers.
2. Put epoxy on 5/16 threads and start, then put epoxy on 29/64 threads. This way you're using the sticks turning against each other to seat the connectors.
3. The diameter they call for on top is too large IMHO so I kept trimming it till I could get the connector flange to screw on. Of course one got too loose, so good ole' epoxy was used to secure that one, the other was a tight fit.
4. Although I trimmed the stick ends square before drilling and seated the connectors flush, I found the sticks to be not quite straight when assembled.
5. I have one more to make,(not for tomorrow) and for it I bought the new top with the hole through it so you can turn your own handle. This is a slip fit over the shaft with a double headed lag screw to attach the head to the shaft. Hopefully this will assemble with less angst.
6. I was not happy with the way the jacobs chuck held the screws for turning. Hopefully, Santa will bring me a Beall chuck which I think would be better.
All in all I think they will make nice presents.