The nubs are bases of thorns cut down.
Blackthorn is a flowering thorn shrub of the Rose family native of Western Europe.
The Fruit is made into a slue Gin and Jam....
The wood is used to make walking sticks, including the Irish shillelagh, that date back many century's
I have a couple.
However the Cold Steel version is a molded poly urethane made to resemble the real Root ball and stem of a
Blackthorn walking stick, It is formable defense carry stick.as is the real thing....