The Walking Stick Method of Self Defense

[JAB]

Like I said, I sort of collect canes.  Because of that, I own one or two 'sword canes'.  Many such canes require the handle to be unscrewed in order to draw the blade.  Seems pretty useless, to me.  The one I have that I might even carry were it legal to do so simply requires a sharp 'jerk' to start pulling the blade from the shaft.  The way it is made, you'd never even suspect it is a sword cane unless it were x-rayed.  I don't carry that one because doing so would be illegal (funny that I can carry multiple handguns on my person and loaded long guns in my vehicle when 'out and about' but a foot and a half long blade hidden in a cane is illegal.)  I just have it as part of my small collection - sort of like owning auto opening knives which cannot be legally carried.

 

Honestly, though, if I can't neutralize a threat with a sturdy, three foot piece of wood (especially one that has a metal hame as the handle) that basically only requires gross motor skills to swing then I doubt I would be able to neutralize that same threat with a 18 inch long blade.

[10-Ring]

Though I wouldn't trade my gun for a cane I believe a cane is an excellent tool for going into areas where other defensive tools may be forbidden.  Without more training I would prefer a good staff over a knife for defensive purposes.  Of course if I'm cane shopping mine will need to be black and have quad rails, get your assault canes while you can folks, the liberals will be passing legislation on those soon enough.

[Guest PapaB]

As someone that uses a cane I noticed two things that haven't been mentioned. First, if you find yourself in a bad situation, with a cane you can make yourself look more infirm than you may be. This will cause the bad guys to underestimate you as a threat, giving you the upper hand. I carry wherever allowed so I practice with my cane as well as without it. Second having a cane doesn't have to tie up one of your hands. If the cane I use has a wrist lanyard, I simply let go as I draw my weapon. If it has no lanyard, I drop it to the side of me so it's not in the way. Practise, practise, practise, as with all things defensive. The cane can also be used to distract your opponent, giving you more time to draw your weapon. Even an armed individual will usually react to a flying object, like a cane coming at their head, by blocking and/or ducking. That gives you more time to do what the situation calls for. A cane need not be a hinderance to self-defense, it can be a benefit.

[JAB]

cane swords and knives are still popular; the airports take a ton of them off people every year.    Long ago, you could find some models that had a pistol as well; no one makes them now but if you look for antiques you might find one.

 

There are and have been all sorts of neat 'gadget' canes.  One of my professors at UT was from Wales and he also collected canes.  Unlike me, though, he had more money to devote to the hobby.  One of his had a handle that screwed off to reveal a drinking flask built into the top portion of the cane's shaft.  There was also a compass built into the underside of the portion that screwed off.  He joked that once one consumed the contents of the flask the compass would be needed to find his way home.

 

Huh, I went searching online for a cane pistol (I'm thinking there is a company that still makes them - or maybe they are 'non-firing replicas') and came across this ad for a cane with a built in 'stun gun'.

 

http://www.defensedevices.com/rattan-sword-cane.html?utm_source=bingshopping&utm_medium=cse

 

This company offers canes with a built-in air gun.  Given that the canes, themselves, are nearly $500 before the air-gun conversion, though, I don't think I'll be getting one any time soon.  Those are some really nice canes, though.

 

http://borispalatnik.com/CaneGun_BCG.htm

 

Ah, here is an article about some old cane guns:

 

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/questions/Canes.htm

[Guest PapaB]

There are and have been all sorts of neat 'gadget' canes. One of his had a handle that screwed off to reveal a drinking flask built into the top portion of the cane's shaft.  There was also a compass built into the underside of the portion that screwed off.

 

Those were real popular in the UK for fox hunts and other sporting events.

 

Another was the walking cane/stool. I've seen examples from bamboo, with rush seats, that were from the 1800's.

[xjsnake]

The guy who owns Everything Weapons in Brentwood has a stun gun cane along with his pistol.