How Many are Now Carrying a Cane?

I'm a young guy and have never had an issue with anyone, law enforcement or regular folk. Think about it, if you're walking down the street minding your own business and not covered in gang tats or associating with known members of organized crime, why in blazes would a LEO even talk to you?

As for regular folk, nobody ever says anything that I recall other than asking friendly questions about what it's made of and how I got it, never once bringing up medical issues at all. And nobody has ever even hinted they thought I carried as a weapon. Cane's just don't have that association anymore these days; it never crosses most people's mind. People assume you're either are disabled in some way their untrained eyes don't notice (only grade 2 limps are visible to untrained people) or at worst, that you're a hayseed or outdoorsy type that likes to keep a walking stick just 'cuz.

I was three months pst my 30th birthday when I had a construction accident while in the army engineers. I was given a medical discharge after my rehab at Walter Reed Army hospital in Washington D.C. The doc's at Walter Reed did a very good job getting my right foot and ankle working, and on a good day, I hardly had any limp when I kept up with my exercises. Only once in a while did someone ask me what the cane was for. If I was in a mood to answer prying questions, I'd just say a service injury, and the matter was dropped. Most people who didn't know me, never asked. I guess most people actually have the manners not to pry, with only a small number rude enough to ask.

This question just came up in another post, and I posted that at the VA hospital in Washington D.C. where I go for my health care, I see your guys all the time with a cane. I mean real young guys in their early 20's. I don't imagine they are getting grilled on carrying a cane.

Who's to say you didn't get an injury last weekend in that rugby game, or pulled a back muscle while working out? You don't have to limp to need a cane. Hck, an inner ear problem will affect balance.

Carry away, it's really nobodies business but yours.

Carl.

Sorry to go a little off topic, but I keep thinking of Fred Astaire while reading this thread. On the other hand, dress like that and I don't think anyone will notice the cane.

The only people who will notice are the people who know you.

I could be wrong on this, but I think most people will not pay a lot of attention to your use of a cane if you act like you are comfortable with carrying it.

Realize that you are not married to it. I leave mine in the car at all times and generally only carry it in hand in potentially dangerous situations like late night trips to the store or when I go into the city and will be on foot around a bunch of strangers. I NEVER carry it in at the gym, church or most of the normal places I go because they are fairly tame and I always have my knife with me.

I have posted this before but for the few places that you spend most of your time like work, you can almost always manage to have some suitable object that will serve as a fighting stick in an emergency but appears to be something else. Pipes, rods, tubes are such common items in our everyday environment that people are used to seeing cylindrical shaped objects and will not notice or think of them as potential weapons. For example, I replaced the flimsy aluminum tube in the coat rack at work with a more substantial length of steel pipe. No one noticed and I did not tell anyone either. If something goes wrong I can get to it in just seconds and it would look totally spontaneous if I used it to defend myself it ever went to court.

I'm young and no health issues and I would feel ridiculous carrying a cane, so I don't. I saw some hipster guy carrying a long staff on a bus and thought of this topic... I don't feel threatened enough to carry a staff or cane and get odd looks and puzzled remarks.

"Hey, what's up man? Did you hurt yourself? Are you OK?"

Not for me.

No Stick

Goosey said:

I'm young and no health issues and I would feel ridiculous carrying a cane, so I don't. I saw some hipster guy carrying a long staff on a bus and thought of this topic... I don't feel threatened enough to carry a staff or cane and get odd looks and puzzled remarks.

"Hey, what's up man? Did you hurt yourself? Are you OK?"

Not for me.

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Then carry no stick, and go in peace.

Don't feel like we're trying to sell you on the idea.

We evaluate usefulness and effectiveness, but as the Romans would say, "De gustibus non est disputandum," (there is no disputing matters of taste).

Young folks get injuries that require a cane all the time. Football is hard on the joints and back, car accidents. Standard hardwood crook neck is pretty stealthy and packs a hell of a wallop. You could check out CaneMasters:

http://www.canemasters.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

They are heavy duty into canes as a self defense alternative. A couple of threads below this one is a whole cane discussion going on.

Again, you can keep it in your car all the time and only carry it in hand for high risk situations. If the police pull you over simply ask them "Is there some law against carrying a walking cane?" If they press the issue ask the officer if he is familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (they are).

I am always armed, if the law in a particular place forbids it I have my cane and a sharp pocket knife to back it up. What's nice about a cane is it is LEGAL anywhere and gives you REACH. A slam to the face or neck, a hook to the groin or a simple leg sweep gives you room to escape. Thanks I'll keep my cane, hell its a nice distraction anyway.

You don't HAVE to "pull it off". Walking canes are legal everywhere. You don't have to prove a medical necessity either. If you are young and healthy you may choose to leave it in the car most of the time (I do) but it is always there, even if I drive to some state that does not allow me to carry a firearm in the car. If I have to check in to a motel in the middle of the night or have a breakdown and have to get out and walk through a bad part of town I will have my stick. I really see no reason not to keep one in your vehicle at all times.

Yep Owen is Right; I know several local Lawyers who are chomping at the bit for a ADA cane harrassment case.

Yep Owen is Right; I know several local Lawyers who are chomping at the bit for a ADA cane harrassment case.
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Yep, had that discusion the other day with an old lawyer who uses a cane. He would take the case in a heartbeat.

Then carry no stick, and go in peace.

Don't feel like we're trying to sell you on the idea.

We evaluate usefulness and effectiveness, but as the Romans would say,
"De gustibus non est disputandum," (there is no disputing matters of taste).

Click to expand...

That post exemplifies why Arf is a mod and I am not.

My language in response would have been ... stronger.

I'll restrain myself while saying just this.

I've carried sticks since I was 8, walking in the woods of west TN.

I carried them in CO, NV, NM, OR, WA ... all above the treeline.

I carry short ones, also.

I'm now 61, and swing a mean stick.

Go in peace, indeed.

For those that do need a cane...I just got fitted with my new "Donjoy" brand knee brace. It places pressure on one side of the knee to prevent the otherside from having bone to bone contact. It is very light weight steel and cloth and does fit under your plain jane khaki Dickies trousers quite well. It will take some getting used to the pressure on the outside of the knee and the straps.....but immediately on putting it on I could do twists and turns that would have landed me on the floor had I tried them five minutes earlier. The joint pain is flat gone when the brace is on. I will still have my cane available ...and now can do more with it than when I certainly needed it. I am currently in shorts and look like something from a Marvel Super Hero Comic of the 1960's from half way down the right thigh to half way down the right calf. Having just seen the Avengers it sort of makes me want to take my cane and battle interdimensional booger-men.

-kBob

I working on a new ball head that is all wood. I got a nice hardwood ball that goes on a staircase bannister and a 1 inch Oak Dowel. I got them mated today and later this weekend I will sand and finish this 2 wood cane. Pictures to follow.

What type of oak are you using?
I have had bad results with oak breaking along the grain on impact. Black Jack seems to be the only variety that can withstand blocking drills because it is somewhat flexable.

Red Oak Dowel !

If you are talking about those 3' dowel rods like they sell at Home Depot and Lowe's they are not suitable for a fighting cane. They crack too easily. If whatever you have will stand up to a few full power blows on a pine tree trunk it should be OK.

Why test on pine?

Pine bark is soft enough that it should not do any surface damage to your stick like hardwood tree bark will. Aldo it will not damage the tree.

I making a going to Church cane that I don't expect to need for defense since I carry my 38, knife, pepper spray and defensive flash light a long with my Zebra 701 or Cross metal ink pens with me to Church.

After this one I am going to buy one of those 4 foot long stock canes and cut the crook off and add a hardwood ball to it.

Can I get a "hell yeah!" over here?

Yes you can Heck yea!!!!! Oak breaks if you wack it too hard but I had a hard time breaking a square 1 inch section of red oak that was 45 inchs long and I was baseball swinging it into a telephone post.

carl,when were you at walter reed,older bro was head gas passer in charge of the or