David,<br><br>Em, I'm having a hard time picturing what you're describing. I keep seeing double-ended poles in front of me... perhaps I don't understand what you mean by "boat hook". Perhaps you have something like a pike pole in mind for one end or???<br><br>Don't need a forked rest for a pistol, although you'd especially have to mind your Ps and Qs if you're supporting a revolver with the weak hand on the side of the pole. Otherwise no real advantage to a fork - it's still a monopod, and using a fork locks you in to a specific "elevation" on the rest - would it be right for standing on level ground, kneeling, facing uphill... you get the picture. The side of a straight staff offers infinitely and instantly variable rest elevations. There is a method for using a fork that way, but it's awkward and not usable in a number of situations.<br><br>Lots of fancy walking aids developed over the years. I get twitchy about "sophisticating" some once in a while, but so far have managed to resist. A plain old head-height-plus 6"-12" sturdy staff that's not too heavy is hard to beat for utility and adaptability.<br><br>Others here have good things to say about various commercial treking poles, and I'm sure they have multiple uses as well. I do note that most of them, particularly the variable-length ones, will not stand up well to the extreme bending moment applied when used as a fast-water fording aid, but they have many other features that one may conclude outweigh that sort of weakness.<br><br>Tom