Need advice on cane selection

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Preacherman

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Thanks to HSO and his family, I've just had a wonderful holiday up in TN. While there, Mike talked to me about fighting canes, and how useful they can be. (I'm going to have to use a cane just for walking, never mind fighting, for a long time to come, as a result of a back injury, resultant surgery, and some permanent nerve damage.)

So, I'm now in the market for a couple or three nice canes, that can support me when walking, but also serve as a self-defence tool if needed. I'm looking for recommendations and Web site links from those who know more about this than I do. Also, I'd like pointers to good training materials dealing with the defensive use of canes. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
*rubs paws together*

A subject near and dear to my heart.

One thing to keep in mind, most canes and walking sticks made today are not constructed with self-defense in mind. Anything is better than nothing, but spend the extra money and get a cane built for the rigors of playing Whack-A-Critter.

For your classic crook-top, the top-of-the-line is Canemasters. They offer both hand-made canes and training in their use, based on the hapkido system.

To purchase canes from them, go here.

If you're looking for a straight stick, Cold Steel has walking sticks designed with smacking critters in mind. They ain't cheap, but they won't break on you, either.

They also have a DVD (Stun, Stagger and Stop) available with walking stick fighting techniques, but I've not been able to peruse it yet.

I'll look about a bit more, but that should get you started.

LawDog
 
I don't need or own a cane (...not yet at least) so take any advice with a grain of salt. I really liked the traditional root knob canes such as those made from ash or traditional Irish blackthorn. The CS sticks are nice but feel flimsy to me.

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Cold Steel is good, they have a free DVD and i believe they have the cane there and they show you what it can survive... personally, i like Derby style canes (kinda like a crook top) if only CS made a City Stick in a Derby head...

~TMM
 
Get a CaneMaster I belive you can order with no marking or name. Length is important so make sure it fits your height. In Ky we can have a suprise in our canes if we have carry Lic. So I carry a little steel in mine.
 
I got a simple Cane-Master cane last year. It was only like $50 with shipping I think, and I finished it with tung oil. Very strong, these canes. I recommend 'em. :)
 
In South America there are these trees called bloodwood trees. The wood is blood red colored and it is 2-3 times heavier than any type of oak. I ordered a 40" long 2 by 2 piece and carved it into a normal sized cane. I also made a handle out of ebony. If you are have a lathe and a drill press or even if you are just handy with a knife and a bit brace, its pretty easy to make a nice looking cane like mine. I love my cane because its fighting capabilities are similar to a iron pipe and yet it just looks like a plane old cane in a weird color.

If you don't want to do any work or if your injury prevents it, I also must reccomend canemasters. My uncle got one after a mororcycle accident and he thinks its great.
 
 
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As much as I appreciate the style of fighting sticks, do yourself a favor when you start out & get a real medical cane. Go to any health/medical equipment store & get a light-weight, adjustable, aluminum one with a large curve in the crook covered by soft rubber. It will preserve your muscles from a lot of aching. Later on, you when you hit your stride, you can wield a fancy fighting cane.

Best of luck.
 
Bubbygator, I've been using one of those canes for over a year now. Time to upgrade! :D

HSO, many thanks for all the links. I'm probably going to end up ordering three or four different ones, to have variety and versatility in my "armory". Those octagonal canes from Woodensteel look yummy...
 
Thanks for the links, hso. I do not need a cane, but that fighting umbrella is mighty tempting. Who would have thought such a wacky item exists!
 
Peter,

Keep in mind that the simpler cane techniques are just escrima stick techniques slightly modified. Tip thrusts and strikes are where you'll start. Remember that you're not hitting with the "sweet spot" a hand and a half down from the tip, but with the first 3 inches of the tip.

Save some money and get a standard stock cane for less than $20. Cut it down to fit and have someone put a brass ferrul on the tip and mount a rubber cane cup over that. Angle cut the tip of the crook and spend a little time with that before springing for a more expensive "combat" cane.

Mike
 
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I use a cane for walking when the back acts up or an Arthritus flare-up.I usually use a stout Blackthorn(mine is Scottish by the way) and sometimes a Hog Cane but when dress up occaissions or a Lodge meeting comes around I use a Cold Steel City Stick.All give good support and all can be used in a SD role.YMMV.tom. :)
 
If you can find one the right size, the thick fiberglass livestock sorting poles are absolutely indestructable with unaided muscle power. I've pounded on rocks and cinderblocks with them and only scuffed the surface.
 
Guys, think about the requirements for a good devensive cane. It's gotta support you, be able to withstand repeatedly whacking the living crap out of some creep(s) and have enough mass to do real damage. The Al orthopedic cane Peter currently uses only meets the first criteria, but it would collapse if he pops some troll over the head with it. Many walking canes will splinter if you bust some creep with them. Blackthorn, hickory, apple make good defensive canes. A stright grained wood with the grain running along the axis of the cane works well also.
 
I got my cane at the local feed store for 10 to 15 bucks. (I think it's intended for working sheep in a pen, it's not a full length shepard's crook). I believe it's made out of oak, but possibly hickory. As purchased, it was too long (but not much) and I cut it to an appropriate length. I don't like big stoppers on the bottom end, so I just put a dab of silicone on the end, so it's not slick. The curved handle was a little tight for use in my martial arts class, so I put the handle in boiling water for about five minutes and opened it up a little (it stayed open when it dried).

This makes a very serviceable cane that is inexpensive enough to have several stashed in various places where a need might arrise.
 
hso said:
Aren't the fibeglass sorting poles a bit too flexible to use as a walking cane?
Click to expand...
Not the whippy ones, I'm talking about the thick ones that are about 1" diameter, not flexible at all...
 
Hey Preacherman, sorry to hear about your back!

I have a couple of the canemasters canes. One of the practice models and one with some decorative hand grips and a special hook.

They are an excellent tool and the defensive ones look nice too. You might request that they leave the logo off of the cane if you are going to fly with it.

I sanded and rubbed mine with just mineral oil. Left a real nice satin sheen.

You can't go wrong with these people for the money. The quality of the product is first class.
 
http://store.yahoo.com/yhst-1129393017033/index.html

I purchased one of his walking sticks. Super quality. Great selection of hard wood knobs. The shafts are steel pipe coated with epoxy.

I'd recommend one of the thinner shaft models. Mine is a thick shaft and is quite heavy. These will not break no matter how hard you whack something. The only downside is that the stick does not feel "alive" like a good wooden shaft stick does.
 
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