What IS a cane?

[Bobson]

Got into a brief discussion about carrying a cane, as opposed to a tactical pen, for SD. The primary balance of the conversation was in choosing a tool to carry in areas where guns and/or knives can't legally be carried: airplanes, courthouses, bars, etc.

I was shown this Louisville Slugger cane and was asked if it counts as a cane. In other words, would you be able to board an airplace or enter a courthouse with this?

For me, it looks like it's obviously a cane, as opposed to just walking around with a baseball bat and calling it a cane... but I didn't really know how to answer. It also forced other questions.

What actually is a cane, legally? Could you take a piece of rebar, give it a hand hook, attach a rubber base to the bottom, and call it a cane? Would they actually let you board an airplane with it? Where is the official line drawn, assuming it even exists?

Thanks in advance.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

A TSA representative wrote someone making the same inquiry as you -

Dear Sir:
Thank you for your e-mail message ... to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Contact Center asking if a walking stick is permitted aboard commercial aircraft.
Canes and walking sticks are not prohibited items and are allowed aboard aircraft after being screened at the checkpoint.
As a point of information, when TSA screens canes and walking sticks at the checkpoint, we occasionally discover a sword hidden in the length of the cane. In those instances, even when the passenger is completely surprised at our discovery, the walking stick is prohibited.
Thank you for your inquiry, and I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely yours,

Daniel J. McCann
Office of Security Operations

Other than not allowing lightsabers or canes containing any hidden weapons, the TSA appears unconcerned with the length, width, weight or material composition of a cane or walking stick.

I know someone who uses an old Japanese wooden practice sword as a cane, and another who has a Cold Steel Blackthorn shillelagh. Once it's explained that it is a mobility device that a person depends on for assistance/balance it wasn't a problem. You may want to fill out a TSA Notification Card explaining how you cannot walk more than x distance without it or whatever, but the TSA seems to recognize that a true walking cane has to be of quality construction.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php#martial

Items allowed through security checkpoint
Item Type,..............................................Carry-on Bags.....Checked Bags
Knitting Needles and Needle Point.........Yes...................Yes
Marijuana.................................................No....................No

 

[old lady new shooter]

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php#martial

Items allowed through security checkpoint
Item Type,..............................................Carry-on Bags.....Checked Bags
Knitting Needles and Needle Point.........Yes...................Yes
Marijuana.................................................No....................No

The maintenance man at a company I once worked for had straightened himself out after his gangbanger teenage years, and after we had both left the company he ended up working for a friend of mine, where I would occasionally run into him. When knitting needles became legal on airplanes he said "Do you have any idea what a guy in prison would do to get a knitting needle?" Nuff said!

 

[hso]

Could you take a piece of rebar, give it a hand hook, attach a rubber base to the bottom, and call it a cane?

Stupid due to the weight, but I've seen it.

Would they actually let you board an airplane with it?

Maybe, but probably not.

 

[bikerdoc]

Let us be practical. I make canes. Good solid wood canes. I have tried poly rods and theywere too heavy. I suspect the bat would also be. Last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Be the quiet trained, grayman that can react swiftly and decisively.

 

[Bobson]

I agree, doc. And I also agree that the rebar cane would be far more trouble than it would be worth. I was just trying to figure out where the line is drawn, and this has helped answer that question.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Just go to an AG store or on line and get a Stock cane a rubber tip and roll on with it.
http://t.tractorsupply.com/en/store/us-whip-wooden-cane-36-in

They also a 60 inch one if your really tall.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I reinforced on old aluminum cane with a 1/4 inch rebar and some JB Weld and it a solid heavey cane.

 

[hso]

And now you've made weapon of it and would find yourself having a very difficult time explaining what it was for.

If you want a heavy cane that's stronger than an aluminum adjustable buy a bariatric version of the thing and save yourself the potential "going armed" complication.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Yep I hear you but I leave it at home cause it too heavy to use. But it was a cool project to see how well JB weld would work with Aluminum. The lady who gave it to me was going to trash it cause it was an adjustable one and the elastic band the held it together broke.

 

[Coyote3855]

Seems we've had a similar discussion here recently. Bikerdoc is spot on. While it is entertaining to debate TSA policies on line, I don't want to have that discussion at the security screening. I've carried a heavy stockman's cane on several flights with no questions asked. I have a cane with a heavy brass harness hame on top, but I leave it at home when I fly.

My wife used the TSA card so she could take her injection MS drugs in her carry on.

 

[Stony]

I was having some back trouble a few months ago and had to fly from Texas to Washington state. I took a very lightweight aluminum cane I have and hobbled through the check in where they took the cane from me and gave it back on the other side. I managed to hobble through the metal detector and all that stuff, and got my cane back on the other side. I made it to my seat in the rear of the Southwest plane, where they promptly relieved me of my cane again and put it in an overhead a couple spaces up in front of me.
After landing, I got another passenger to pass my cane back to me again. I don't really think I buy into the line about canes being allowed on planes. Luckily I didn't have to get up and go to the bathroom on the flight.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Made this one a few years ago. It's ash, and the crook is the tap root. It's very sturdy, and with a cane tip, I don't foresee ever having an issue with it from TSA.



Made this other one from the same stand of trees around the same time, gave it to my step dad. I'd again seriously doubt any issues from TSA flying with this one, either.


Nor this one.

 

[alexander45]

Easy a cane is a bit of reed you beat people with

 

[Drail]

There's nothing like a good piece of Hickory. I have been using one for about 15 years now and it has taken some fairly brutal licks suffered no damage. (the cane that is) When using a cane for defense speed is much more important than weight. As for the TSA - they make up the rules as they go. Every Agent has their own rules. I think there actually might be a TSA rulebook but no one has ever been allowed to actually see it. Maybe they never bothered to write one. One Agent may pass your cane through and the next one will flip out (and quote the "rules"). If a TSA Agent tells you you cannot take your wood cane on a airliner - get a lawyer. Under the law they cannot even ask you why you need it.