How Many are Now Carrying a Cane?

"I can't pull it off. Everything works too well on me still, and I'm in pretty obvious good condition from working out and Yoga.

Every once in a while, I get a twinge in my right ankle after backpacking too much pack weight for a day or so. Other than the days following that, I'm stuck on two legs with no cane."
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I see answers like this all the time, and I think it's too bad. Here we are in a free country, and the political correctness police have us intimidated. The heck with them! Why do we need to justify anything we do as long as we're not breaking any of their insane laws.

wheelgunslinger, if you want, go ahead and carry a nice rustic walking stick like a blackthorn or hornbeam. If anyone does say something, just tell them an old injury from backpacking, soccer, rugby, golf, ping pong, or whatever is acting up a little, and giving you some trouble now and then. That's all you have to say. Okay, ping pong and golf is a bit of a reach.

But you don't have to justify it to any one. In fact, if you want, just tell them the truth, it's a head knocker. One of my neighbors, a really big guy named Terry, is about 6' 3'ish and easy in the 250 pound class. We walk our corgi's together as our corgi Pearl is is his family's corgi's litter mate sister. We live in a decent middle class neighborhood, but when out walking the dogs, Terry carries his headknocker as he calls it. He's very above board with it. It's one of those walking sticks with the big brass thing that's part of a horse harness for a knob on top. Not only does Terry not get any grief over it, but a few of the single women wait at night till they see him or I walking by, then they come out to walk their little flou flou dogs. They seem to like the idea of a couple of menfolk with big sticks close by.

If you want to carry a walking stick, make it one of the rough rustic looking ones, and play it off as an old injury if you feel a bit awkward doing it. After a few times of people seeing you with it, it becomes part of your persona, and people stop seeing it as something different. People adjust very quickly to new things. It's part of human adaptability. If you just do it, it becomes part of you.

I was just turning 30 years old when I had my construction accident while serving in the Army Engineers. Just halfway to my intended 20 year career, I found myself at Walter Reed learning to walk again on my right leg and foot. They gave me a cane with my medical discharge, and I hated the old fogy cane. My old Irish Uncle Pat, gave me a real Irish blackthorn, a knarley one with little nubs where the spiky thorns were and a nice knobby head. I loved that stick. I ditched the old fogy cane and never looked back. I healed up pretty good, and hardly had a wee bit of a limp, but the blackthorn b ecame my constant companion. On good days, I didn't really need it if I was on good even footing like pavement, but I carried it anyways. Over the past 3 plus decades, I think it actually kept me out of a few sticky situations. Having something right there in my hand was a very very good thing.

Go for it wheelgunslinger. Don't let the liberals stop you from doing something totally legal.

Carl.

 

Only when I go dancin'...

lpl ( http://www.reocities.com/glendoyle/bata/ )

 

I seem to one of those rare fellows who is younger and has no physical impairment, but I walk with a stick. It's just how I've always been. To me a cane is just a short hiking stick, and I've loved the outdoors since I could walk, just like my dad. Nobody's ever questioned it, and to many people I know, it is just part of me as Carl says.

I've always carried sticks I made myself (working on a new one as we speak). For one, it makes a very non-hostile distraction when anyone draws attention to it. It usually goes "Nice stick." "Oh thanks, made it myself. It's [insert wood] with [stain color]." And if I trust them to hold it (like if their a guard), I let them. It deflects any suspicion that it's a weapon. At worst they think I'm just a hayseed who likes to whittle.

I don't carry all the time though. My workplace is safe and has armed guards, so it stays in the car for practicality. Though if I have to take public transport to work I do carry. There are times when it's not practical to carry, like when shopping where I need to carry things, so I take my baton instead.

 

I do very little walking, use a Motor Scooter around here, but I always have a walking stick with me, I use it as a shooting stick. I have 8 or 10 walking sticks and 10 or more walking canes. Many I made from 7/8" oak w/brass Duck Head or Eagle Head for handle. Some are Hickory with Heavy handles. I've never counted them their in every corner. When I learn how to put pictures or this site I'll take some pictures. Canes with knives could get you in a lot of trouble.

 

I took a quick count and there's 17 between me and the front door. When I go on trips, I look for nice heavy walking Canes. Some people collect knives I collect Canes. I bought a real nice one in Hilton Head it is one piece of wood and looks like a Crane (Bird), the neck loops around and makes a handle and the birds head crosses the cane. It's made from one solid piece of wood. Never seen another one like it. I've got a Sheep herding staff also. There are more across the street in my Tool/work Bldg.

 

Carl, thanks for your response. I've enjoyed reading your many well written tales here on THR.

It's not so much about political correctness as it is about not letting someone be able to read me and my ability to respond to a threat. Maybe I'll rethink it.

 

I got two blackthorn walking sticks. One is real one is a Coldsteel. After spinal injuries, knee injuries, and ankle injuries I suffered in the Corps at times I need them. Not always but it happens though I always grab one as soon as the eyeballs open in the AM.

 

My old football and basketball ankle gives me some trouble. I carry one almost all the time.

 

I am carrying one now

I just got this a Cold Steel Blackthorn Replica. I am 6'3 so it is just about an inch short. But it is pretty sturdy. Sorry bout the bad picture. I could see using this in a defensive way if needed. Paid 36.00 and some change. Got it thru amazon.

 

Don't need to "pull anything off" a cane is legal for anyone to carry for any age & physical condition. Do a little research on one as a weapon that can be carried anywhere. I have never had a problem and consider it as a great weapon with training.

 

Thanks for the welcome John, Gotta say I really like the artificial blackthorn. I did get some cane tips but they are too small or i need to warm up the rubber to get one on. Before I had this one I carried a big ole hickory pole that was polished and had a lanyard thru it and I didn't care to much for it. I also used a collapsible Walking Stick from LL Bean it was nice but didn't give any support. The other thing is it probably would have been useless in a defensive type situation.

 

Carry your cane with Pride just like the men did in the days of Dr. Watson.

 

29 years old, injured at work (tore my achillies tendon) I use a cane sometimes, beats crutches. Until seeing this never thought of it as defense but hey why not, a cane reaches farther than a knife especially when I can't carry.

 

"Carry your cane with Pride just like the men did in the days of Dr. Watson."

Darn good point, Deltaboy!

It's a cryin shame that this nation has become sooo PC, that some feel the need to explain carrying something that is totally leagal, EVERYWHERE!

Even in proper old Victorian England, a man carried a stout walking stick with no feeling self consciousness at all. They did have in fact, schools in London and Paris on how to use the stick for defensive use.

Carry the cane with pride and use it with vigor when needed.

Or just pretend you're the walkin boss in Cool Hand Luke.

Carl.

 

Quote from Braveheart:

 

I voted "sometimes".

But it's not quite right. What I carry sometimes is not a 'cane' but a walking stick.

Well, actually, it's a Black Diamond solo trekking pole for back packing.
Works well on ice and snow, too, as in what's accumulating here in Maine now.
(12" - 16" in the first big blizzard of the year.)

The carbide tip is great for penetrating ice,
but could be deadly if needed for protection against an attack,
says one who's practiced SD moves using trees, and seen how deeply that point can penetrate.

 

Another option is the unbreakable walking-stick umbrella. Not cheap, but can be carried onto the airlines without difficulty.

http://www.real-self-defense.com/unbreakable-umbrella.html

 

As I get older, 98% of the time I feel very well armed with my cane, and my .357 Magnum covers the other 2%.

 

Canes have many great uses I used mine to remove my outdoor Christmas lights.

 

I don't have one now. I will in a little while when I start walking again. Right now I'm growing some scar tissue over hardware holding my ankle together.

Damned ice...

 

White Horse, hang in there.

Check out Andrew Weil's book,
Spontaneous Healing.

 

Thanks, Mr. Cyst.

I'll check into the book, that a respectable beard that guy is sporting.

 

And for smashing spiders that are on the ceiling.......and for wrangling cats from behind the couch.

 

And for silencing the neighbors cat.

I usually don't carry a cane. I'm recovering from shoulder surgery, and don't have very good use of my right arm, so it would handy cap me a bit on the everyday tasks like opening doors. I tend to use a hiking stick in the woods - helps me to keep my distance from a few dogs in that area.


White Horse, hope you get better soon!


Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson