When I was a small lad most old men in my area carried a "Hog Stick" which was a heavy walking cane (Hickory ?) plus a sharp pocket knife (Barlow) for whittling, a pocket revolver (usually hammerless .32/38) , and a pocket watch. Smart folks did not mess with these old men. The pocket knife was also used to cut off a "Chew" from a plug of "Brown Mule" chewing tobacco.