Cane Sword--Got One?

[quinn]

I found this hilt & blade at a local flea market some months back. It was cheap, so it followed me home. No markings anywhere, but very well made and probably older. I have a friend (a retired NASA space station & propulsion engineer) who is into wood working. I asked him if he had any suggestions for making a replacement cane barrel. He offered to work on it. When it came back from Florida, the finished project was fully worthy of NASA engineering: "hard" maple with nickel plated turned brass fittings to match the eagle head.

Pictured with my 2 family heirloom pig stickers: a mid 1700's herschfanger (German hunting sword) and an 1800's Scottish dirk.

Any info on the cane blade would be appreciated.

[KSDeputy]

I use a cane, and thought about a Cold Steel model. I decided against it. I carry a pistol and a knife, plus my cane, that is quite enough.

[Marshwheeling]

No sword cane, but I sometimes use one with a nice, heavy brass knob for a handle.

[H Richard]

I use a cane at times, especially when traveling, but I don't think I want to try and get that through any TSA screening. There are also some laws I would be concerned about, I thought Sword canes may have been included as an "AOW" in GCA68. I would want a clarification before I carried one.

[vytoland]

i practice with a cane only. i find it to be a good defensive tool.....

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, I only have two!
SEMPER PARATUS

[rburg]

Have one? I don't have a clue where that singular came from. We're gun guys here, and one just doesn't cut it. OK, I've got some, about every one I've seen at a fair price. One not so fair, but its great.

Maybe 20 years ago we were seeing a bunch of cheaply made ones with a metal shaft and a poorly made handle. Sure, I bought a few. Ended up rebuliding one into a walking stick. Then I gave it to a friend because he wanted it. As time passed I found others. Some of Indian origin. Make that far east Indians, not our domestic woo-woo-woo type as seen in The Duke's films. Quality wasn't really great, but acceptable. I even broke one over the withers of an attacking dog one evening. I was minding my own business and this chick was out on her front steps, up above the sidewalk. She saw us and told he dog "sick-em Jasper". So on he came. My dog was well trained. He'd hold his ground next to me. Attacking dog try to run up on you and flush your dog so he can get a good cheap bite on the hind quarters. It didn't work with old Spot. He'd hold his position and then lunge forward when the other dog would stop. Then the fight was on.

As they tried to circle me and tie me up with the leash, I got a good kick into the rib cage of the attacker. I could tell because of how hard I hit and the yipe I got for a reward. So the attacker made another mistake. He turned his attention to me. It gave Spot a clear chance to attack. When the dog turned on him, I broke my sword cane I hit it so hard. He'd had enough and ran back to momma. She called the cops. The nice officer came along a while later as I was nearing home. He wanted to kinow what happened. Always a good citizen, I explained it, showing him Old Spots license and rabies tag. I also noted the other dog had neither. He already knew that. He'd had trouble with her and her dog before. Fun times.

And l tthen one day I was at a gun show. Big Louisville show. I'd walked the show but nothing much memorable. Then my table partner asked me why I'd not seen the sword behind us. Like a fool I canvassed the show, but didn't pay much attention to our own island. The old Hillbilly (a term of endearment, not an insult) had the most beautiful sword cane I'd ever seen. He was a trip to talk with. He started out by saying "I bet you wonder what an old Hillbilly like me's doing with such a fine piece of work". It a genuine Gil Hibben custom. 20 some odd inches of Hibben steel polished to a mirror, then inside a cherry shaft. The handle is brass and ivory. Guess I can't sell it in interstate commerce. Technically, its not a cane but a walking stick. I don't care. Its built solidly enough that I could slice something in half with it. Thick blade, long enough, and properly concealed.

Here in Kentucky, where Gil Hibben lives and where I live, its covered by our CCW law. Same for the old gent that sold it to me. Back when we were passing our CCW law, some commie state rep hyperventilated over the idea that a person could carry a gun into a bar. So the accomodated her and removed guns from bars. But not sword canes, brass knucks and any order of other evil. Those are legal most places.

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by rburg

And then one day I was at a gun show. Big Louisville show. I'd walked the show but nothing much memorable. Then my table partner asked me why I'd not seen the sword behind us. Like a fool I canvassed the show, but didn't pay much attention to our own island. The old Hillbilly (a term of endearment, not an insult) had the most beautiful sword cane I'd ever seen. He was a trip to talk with. He started out by saying "I bet you wonder what an old Hillbilly like me's doing with such a fine piece of work". It a genuine Gil Hibben custom. 20 some odd inches of Hibben steel polished to a mirror, then inside a cherry shaft. The handle is brass and ivory. Guess I can't sell it in interstate commerce. Technically, its not a cane but a walking stick. I don't care. Its built solidly enough that I could slice something in half with it. Thick blade, long enough, and properly concealed.

You know it is not fair to taunt us with that description without pictures!

[les.b]

For some reason, I picked up one of the Cold Steel canes at Smokey Mountain Knife Works while driving back from Florida a few years ago. They are not a toy, and have exceptional blades. I keep it in the Jeep all the time. It is capable of cutting down saplings, and has a razor edge, and an exceptionally stout blade. This is definitely not a toy. Well worth the $99 or whatever they were going for back then. I don't have a picture handy, but Cold Steel has a video on YouTube, I'll try to post here. I have actually tested it out on various saplings out in the woods, and it would be up to continuous use as a first rate machete.

YouTube

I think this is the one.

Best Regards, Les

[ISCS Yoda]

I bought a sword cane about 45 years ago. I carried it for years in my car, along side the driver's seat. The neighborhoods in NYC where I worked was why I did this, and no guns were allowed, but it was for sure illegal. I still have it but since it would be illegal to have out on the street in Texas it just resides in a rack along with the rest of my cane collection.

A standard cane, with a shepherd's crook on top, makes an excellent weapon. I know one instructor who actually teaches students how to use one defensively. Any cane, obviously, can be used defensively. Shillelaghs were, as I recall the history, developed as canes in Ireland after the British outlawed their use as cudgels. They make excellent defensive weapons.

Airlines have no problem with folks with canes. One time I carried a straight cane onto a plane, made in Africa from 4 different types of wood, hollowed out and held in place by a metal rod. With a hippo's head on top. Not super comfortable in the hand but super comforting as a club since the danged thing was HEAVY!!

They put it through the metal detector and then tried to take it apart. It doesn't come apart. "No problem, Sir, have a nice day."

[steamloco76]

I have a heavy duty wooden cane.

Pennsylvania law specifically prohibits carrying sword canes along with a bunch of other edged weapons. You can legally own them, however they must remain on your property or in your residence.

[quinn]

Originally Posted by steamloco76

I have a heavy duty wooden cane.

Pennsylvania law specifically prohibits carrying sword canes along with a bunch of other edged weapons. You can legally own them, however they must remain on your property or in your residence.

Texas law is about the same. Texas does have some strange edged weapons laws. For example, I can walk around in front of the Alamo all day wearing a Model 29 and AR15 no problem. But if I strap on a Bowie knife at the place where he died for Texas independence... I go to jail. Go figure. My CCW covers only handguns. My sword cane will be a wall hanger except when I'm walking our immediate neighborhood as we have a major feral hog intrusion on our nature trail.

[Ivan the Butcher]

Every male in the family has at least one sword cane. When #2 son got married a edged weapon was required attire! The wedding party was all matching.

Ivan

[quinn]

Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher

Every male in the family has at least one sword cane. When #2 son got married a edged weapon was required attire! The wedding party was all matching.

Ivan

There has to be pictures if this really happened!

[Ivan the Butcher]

There are pictures, I'm looking at the wedding photo gallery on the living room wall. I however, don't care to be technically savey enough to post pictures on the Forum. You live about 900 miles away, feel free to drop by, have a beer and talk guns, you'll see the family with long blades.

Ivan