Canes are a frequent topic of discussion here, and popular. I'm enthusiast myself and have several canes and walking sticks despite not being disabled in any way.
My favorites are a half-crook cane I made from American Hornbeam (aka Ironwood), a jatoba cane with a brass pick-axe head (not an actual pick-axe; it's not sharp, it's just shaped like one) and a 4 foot walking stick made of a canvas phenolic rod that resembles wood and is as dense as Lignum vitae.
People underestimate the stick. It requires training to use, but has the advantage of accessibility (you're already holding it), reach, legality of carry, lower lethality and the pretense of an improvised weapon. The latter two make it's use in defense more favorable from a legal standpoint, especially if the assailant is unarmed.
