How many fully functional hoopaks have been created (in this world), and by whom?

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Clarification of Question by tez-ga on 21 Nov 2002 14:28 PST

That is, a tipped walking stick with a sling on one end, hollowed out
so that, among other things, it produces a deep rushing sound when
whirled about quickly.

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Clarification of Question by tez-ga on 21 Nov 2002 14:29 PST

"How many" - order of magnitude.
"By whom" - at least one creator.

Just a comment...

Magical or non-magical?  :-)

Even though a hoopak appears to be not all that
difficult to make, I can't find that anyone has
actually made a fully functional hoopak.

The closest information I have found was:

- a drawing of what a hoopak would look like
- someone who made a nonfunctional hoopak

Both magical AND non-magical, if you please.

I agree that it seems straightforward to make... if you know how to
hollow out a cylinder so as to produce a suitably frightening noise. 
Anyone woodwind-maker who put her mind to it, perhaps consulting with
some old sling blueprints, could surely make a fine specimen.

But then, considering how hard it is to find even a heavily-pouched
robe, functionality isn't high on the list of requested qualities of
fan-gear.

I have seen your other question re: multipocketed robes,
and this comment might go to both the apparent lack of
hoopaks and wizard's robes in the fan-gear marketplace.

It is old rule of economics of supply and demand.  The
marketplace for either is probably fairly small, and
the cost of manufacture of both is probably fairly high.

The hoopak would be best with a metal pointed end, the
pouch should be leather, and the carving/lathing of
such to get the other features would make a functional
(non-magical) hoopak a pricey, and somewhat obscure,
(even among fans) item.

The multipocketed robe would be more marketable, but
a dozen of more pockets is alot (read: expensive) of
stitching to be done.  There are only a few makers
of "traveling" jackets and they only have a ten or
so pockets to them, with a wider marketplace, etc.

All of the above is probably the main reason that
most fan-gear is made by the fans themselves.