If You Could Only Have One Cane, Which One?

[DeTerminator]

I started this thread after using several different canes for different reasons, and wanted to know what other people had to say about there's, and why.

I have a cane that, for me, would be my choice if all my canes but one were taken away from me, for whatever hypothetical reason.

It is this one, as much as I love my other canes too: http://www.woodenswords.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CROOK-CANE

It is the right length for me...39 inches. 36 inches doesn't seem to cut it for me, though I am 6 feet tall. The fact that it is fairly inexpensive for what it is ($25), that is not a factor in me making this choice. If I really needed a cane to walk with and use on a daily basis, it would be a crook -handled one. I realize that this one isn't hickory (it's oak). It would be even better if it was hickory. If the enasco elephant cane was 39 inches long, this PurpleHeart cane would be my second choice. If I was 5'8 to 5'10, I'd go for the elephant cane...

My current go-to walking cane is the blackthorn...but, what if you could only have one?

 

[hso]

There's no reasonable non-fantasy reason you'd ever be restricted in having a cane other than financial so let's stick with "if you could only have one cane what would it be" and leave any fantasy aspects out.

I wouldn't pick oak over hickory or other materials.

I have a hickory Cane Masters cane and I've modded hickory stock canes to my tastes for myself and others. I also have a variety of other canes and have played around with them for a long time.

I carry my umbrella cane almost all the time (currently waiting for me in the car) and am very very happy with it since it can also keep the rain and sun off of me.

 

[DeTerminator]

The only reason that I would select that particular oak cane over my hickory heart Canemaster 38-incher is because of the extra weight and length of my oak PurpleHeart. It has more mass, and I like that. It also has a tad more length.

I would love to have the Unbreakable Umbrella, and now that I don't actually need the preferred extra length that it offers for my walking, I may order one.

Is yours a crook or a straight model?

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I have a crook Unbreakable Umbrella, and I am pretty impressed with it so far.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Only one it would be a hickory stock cane from my local feed store for a mear 9 bucks.

 

[grumps]

I have several but 2 would be hard to choose from, One is Osange Orange that is a 1" by 1 1/4" oblong with a 95 degree branch. Dried it without cracks or checks, scrapped the loose bark with a butterknife to rid the loose stuff, smoothed with steel wool, cut to length and used 5 coats of exterior Helmsman Spar Urethane. She ai't straigt but she has class.

After reading numerous post about CE Phenolic rods I got a 1" diameter from here:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=40904
About 50 miles from where I live so when I was in the neighborhood I stopped in and they had some in stock. Used a 2x2 square of Cherry, rounded the corners, drilled a 5/8" hole through one end, a little more than 90 degrees, say a 93 degree angle, milled the rods top 5/8" and shaped the top of the rod to match the Cherry. made some grooves in both the rod end and hole in the Cherry, pushed the two together, drilled a 1/4" hole through the Cherry and rod, grooved both those hole also. Got a 1/4" dowel grooved it then mixed up some 2 part epoxy and glued them together. Don't think I could ever hurt this one unless I hit something VERY sharp with it.

I would have a very tough time choosing between the two. My other canes are nice but these two are special.

 

[Owen Sparks]

grumps,

Exactly what did that 4' rod weigh? It looks like the perfect material as long as it carries enough mass.

 

[grumps]

I will have to get to a scale to weigh them. I don't have an accurate scale that weighs something this light. It is heavier than the larger diameter Osange Orange cane. Bother are cut to be 36 1/2". I didn't weigh it before I cut it or put the handle on. Probably around 2 lbs or so for the Osange orange and maybe a half a pound or so more for the rod, from comparing it to a 32 ounce can of spar urethene by hand.

 

[hso]

The only reason that I would select that particular oak cane over my hickory heart Canemaster 38-incher is because of the extra weight and length of my oak PurpleHeart.

Pupleheart is genus Peltogyne while Oak is genus Quercus. They're not the same so I'm confused by the idea of an "oak purpleheart".

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Id take a rod of micarta or g10, 1.25" in diameter, 36" length, with a machined micarta/g10 knob handle.

 

[bikerdoc]

Only one? easy, this one.
A knobby piece of oak that has proven itself.

View attachment 632478

 

[Owen Sparks]

I made my handle out of a red snooker ball.

 

[mr16ga]

Just go down to the local drug store and buy one that fits you. I too am 6 ft tall and took a while to find a wood cane that fits right. It cost me about $10 and has lasted 20+ years. and would make a very good stick to whack someone or thing with if I wanted too. If I need a better whacker it would be a .45 ACP.

 

[Hammerson]

I avoided the "Bubba Stik" for a long time because I thought it would not pass the invisibility test. Then I got my hands one, used it for a day & stopped caring; hands down the most comfortable "cane" I have used.

I now have a brass/"walnut" & a chrome/black model depending whether I am in the office or wearing my jeans. They are about all I use anymore.

 

[gunner69]

My wife bought me a ZAP CANE for my last Christmas present. This last January I had the opportunity to try it out unfortunately. It has an adjustable length of 32-36 inches, Weight capacity of 250lbs, comes with ultra brite LED flashlight (already used this feature when I dropped my keys while visiting a friend) built in rechargable NI-MH battery, with wall charger and carrying case. This baby puts 1 MILLION volts on your agressor.

Last January my wife and I came out of a late movie. We were parked almost to the back of the parking lot. Three men approached us selling "jewelry. I told them I didn't want any and to let us pass. The middle guy stepped too close and I put my cane on his chest, his hands came up naturally grabbing my cane, I gave him a 5 or 10 second shock. He made a moan and went to his knees, his two friends stepped back. I next put the cain on the side of his neck had kept the power on until he toppled over. My wife was already calling 911. I told the other two guys that the law was on the way. They grabbed their friend from the ground and got the hell out of dodge.

The cops showed up 22 minutes later.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

The cops showed up 22 minutes later.

Good story with a predictable ending...22 minutes later

 

[Owen Sparks]

When lives are on the line and seconds count....