Canes, walking sticks, and training.

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AJumbo

AJumbo

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On Christmas Eve, my Dad (age 73, and still doing his own stunts) suffered a fall and broke his left hip and shoulder. Neither will require surgery, but he will be in therapy for a (to quote his doc) looooooooooooonnnnnnnnnng time. The hospital hooked him up with one of those 4-footed walking canes, and he's getting around with it pretty well. He has mumbled about finally having an excuse to get a sword cane, a notion which I will do my best to discourage. It does appear that he'll have a cane with him for the foreseeable future, however.

This turned me to thinking about having a cane for myself, both for support and security. I don't need one for medical reasons, knock on wood, but one never knows, right? I'm 50, and have some lower back issues. If I'm going to own a cane, I prefer to own one that will be a decent means of self-defense. Which models and makers are recommended by the readership here? I've been surfing some makers' sites, but have suspended that endeavor so I don't fall in love something that won't meet my needs.

Are there any decent self-guided instructional systems for using a cane as a weapon? I'm also willing to take real lessons from a real trainer, since I figure my Lady won't be too keen on sparring with me. Perhaps I can also pass some of this education on to Dad, once he's reasonably mobile again.

Fire away, folks, I ain't scared!
 
I would recommend a hickory livestock cane available from many farm supply stores. They come at about 60" in length good for Christmas displays and may be cut to any length appropriate for walking, treking or self defense.
Cane self defense Youtube videos may be a starting place to study their use in that arena.
A non-ribbed cane, as apposed to those that "Cane Master" promotes, is legal to carry aboard any commercial aircraft and should not arouse suspicion should you wish to carry one with you in your car/conveyance.
A short "cudgel" on the other hand, might be considered nothing more than a club, sap or baton in areas that frown on active civilian self defense.
 
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LAPD Baton techniques,,,

LAPD Baton techniques,,,
They published a GREAT book,,,
Every thing they write about works with a standard cane.

Those techniques saved my skinny @$$ one time.

Aarond

.
 
Fire away, folks, I ain't scared!
Click to expand...

Sign up at a Hapkido school that trains on the cane. It is one of the favorite tools.

Go to a CoOp or livestock supply and purchase a good hickory livestock cane.

There, all your questions answered in two lines.
 
Heed post 5.

I have made my own canes and practice with them regularly. I take ongoing lessons from a Korean master.
 
Thank you, gentlemen! Great advice so far, this is why I keep coming back here....... it sure ain't for the beer...

Hickory stock canes...... so, Hso, does that mean I don't need a 520-layer solid fiberglass City Stick with a stainless steel skull knob?

A new wrinkle in Dad's saga, which impinges on this thread somewhat....I told him that last thing he needed was a sword cane, especially since his last blade training was provided to him by the US Navy just about the time he was getting BUD training. Ho mulled that over, and told me to find him one anyway. "I'm old, cranky, and when I die, I'd rather leave you a nice sword cane than a wad of devalued currency."

We discussed cane training, and he might be up for that (within reasonable limits) after he's somewhat mobile again. In any case, I'm going to snag a few of those stock canes from Tractor Supply on the way home tomorrow. Dad'll get two long ones, and I'll keep two. And maybe I'll look into building a sword cane so Dad can put at least one childhood issue to rest.
 
"I'm old, cranky, and when I die, I'd rather leave you a nice sword cane than a wad of devalued currency."
Click to expand...

Ahhh, then a Berger is what's needed if he wants to leave a nice sword cane that won't devalue. OTOH, a nice antique would be a nice touch for an older gentleman. http://shcivilwarantiques.com/catalog/antique-canes/

Keep in mind that carrying a sword can in many jurisdictions is illegal since it is a concealed weapon.
 
Well, Berger's out of the running...... Cold Steel makes a heavy-duty model that I can get for $90.

As for those antiques....... the non-sword cane, eight down from the top....... look at the hook on that handle..... ouchy..... I like it.
 
Canes are awesome. I carry one when I fitness walk at night. They don't raise suspicion and even if they do, law enforcement is loathe to say anything (police know what I'm doing when I'm walking fast and carrying the cane just below its bend) due to the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have not had to use it yet, but it's an awesome weapon.

My cane is all business. Clinical/industrial looking, solid, heavy duty, all aluminum. I paid $2.00 for it at a second hand store. I TIG welded it to a fixed length. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable carrying this sort of cane if I actually needed a cane, but I don't -- it's 100% for defense.

61x%2BY-4OyDL._SY355_.jpg
 
Aragon,

The bariatric (heavy guys) canes are the only ones like that with the mass needed to be well suited to defense. I purchased one just to find out and then used it on a heavy bag. It stood up very well. Not so much the standard models.
 
hso said:
Aragon,

The bariatric (heavy guys) canes are the only ones like that with the mass needed to be well suited to defense. I purchased one just to find out and then used it on a heavy bag. It stood up very well. Not so much the standard models.
Click to expand...

The cane I have is extremely heavy. Heavy enough that it's noticeable on a long (5 miles or more) walk. After I welded it, I wanted to ensure I didn't weaken it so I gave it a workout on a heavy bag. No problems.

It's also completely stock except for a carbide tip in place of the rubber end (commonly available for canes and walking sticks) and some skateboard tape on the handle and down by the tip. I would face box-cutter wielding thugs on a plane anytime with my cane.
 
Keep in mind that carrying a sword can in many jurisdictions is illegal since it is a concealed weapon.
Click to expand...

This is true. However the OP's username says he's in AZ which would make it legal. If dad's there too, he's fine.
I should probably point out through that the "swordstick" was typically carried by gentleman back in the day that at least had some training in fencing. It was an evolution from the smallsword than in turn had evolved from the rapier.

"Do you know how to use that thing?"
"Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man."
"...This is going to take a lot of work."
 
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So if a sword cane is involved, why is Burger out of the question?

Price most likely of course, but they are some gorgeous canes. They make regular canes, too.
 
I agree with MutinousDoug. A livestock cane is an awesome weapon for those trained in it's use. I have in the past taught and trained with this cane.
 
Burger is out because of funds- Dad just about swallowed his tongue when I told him what their stuff costs.

A few knife making supply sites have sword cane blades...... If I can't change his mind, I'll make him one, and he can tape it to the refrigerator.
 
If he's not going to carry it you can get him anything he likes the looks of. No need to worry about actual quality or utility that way.
 
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