mc5aw
Member
If you carry a cane for self defense purposes, you best know the fundamentals of stick fighting. A cane by itself for the uninitiated or inexperienced is simply another tool that can be turned against the owner.
Canes for self defense
- Thread starter 7shooter
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Maddog 521
Member
How about the oak canes. Will they hold up like the aluminum ones? Has anyone had to use an oak one in self defense?
This is Mark Shuey's site. I bought several of his canes when he first started out about 15 years ago. Superb quality at that time, although I have not handled any of his current production.
Cane Masters!, Walking Canes for mobility, self-defense, exercise and rehabilitation
Cane Masters!, Walking Canes for mobility, self-defense, exercise and rehabilitation
Fastbolt
Member
Helps to know how to use them.
Helps to have the strength, coordination and balance to wield one against an attacker.
Helps to have one that lends itself to the particular owner's ability to make use of it as a defensive tool.
I've long been a collector of various canes, sticks, staffs, walking sticks, etc.
They actually came in handy when I found myself needing one for support when I was going through a 6 month course of chemo, and then whenever a problem might flare up with my left hip & knee. (No damage to the hip or knee, aside from the usual accumulation of things that have occurred during what my doctor charitably called my "rough & tumble life".) She rather made it sound like some age-related arthritis, and some ilium remodeling at one spot, were something akin to a badge of honor of having been active.
I still like to collect them, and occasional take one out for a spin, especially if I'm doing something where I'm not going to be armed with a retirement CCW.
One of my early stout walking sticks actually prevented me from breaking an ankle while hiking underground in a cave (alone, of course, but it was when I was a younger, less cautious man
). That one only gets taken out when I'm going to be off the pavement, and outside town, as it has a pointed steel spike on the business end ... but it does usually reside close to one or another doorways in our home.
I rather expect that as I reach my 70's & 80's, I'll probably find them of more practical benefit.
Helps to have the strength, coordination and balance to wield one against an attacker.
Helps to have one that lends itself to the particular owner's ability to make use of it as a defensive tool.
I've long been a collector of various canes, sticks, staffs, walking sticks, etc.
They actually came in handy when I found myself needing one for support when I was going through a 6 month course of chemo, and then whenever a problem might flare up with my left hip & knee. (No damage to the hip or knee, aside from the usual accumulation of things that have occurred during what my doctor charitably called my "rough & tumble life".) She rather made it sound like some age-related arthritis, and some ilium remodeling at one spot, were something akin to a badge of honor of having been active.
I still like to collect them, and occasional take one out for a spin, especially if I'm doing something where I'm not going to be armed with a retirement CCW.
One of my early stout walking sticks actually prevented me from breaking an ankle while hiking underground in a cave (alone, of course, but it was when I was a younger, less cautious man
). That one only gets taken out when I'm going to be off the pavement, and outside town, as it has a pointed steel spike on the business end ... but it does usually reside close to one or another doorways in our home.I rather expect that as I reach my 70's & 80's, I'll probably find them of more practical benefit.
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shawn mccarver
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I would get a new son-in-law. Problem solved. Chances are 50% or higher that your daughter will eventually come to the same conclusion.
SAFireman
SWCA Member
I have a cattle sorting stick that is a similar size & shape to a cane (made of really tough wood too). It has made more than a few believers out of unruly bovines 
When/If I get older, I would gladly educate unruly wayward youths with it too
When/If I get older, I would gladly educate unruly wayward youths with it too
Adk.IBO
Member
I have a cattle sorting stick that is a similar size & shape to a cane (made of really tough wood too).
My father was a farmer for 50 years and my grandfather before him. You may be surprised to find out about that "really tough wood". He had hired men that worked for him and one that he had gave me a surprise I'll never forget. I walked in to the shop for machinery maintenance and hanging from the ceiling was this 4' pink thing with I'd say a 25lb weight hanging from it. About maybe 3/4" to 1" in diameter and a turned up end at the bottom where the weight was wired on. I could not for the life of me imagine what it was. The hired man had just recently butchered a bull and explained that the "bull" part after it dried would be schellacked and used as a cane.
Keep in mind this was probably around 50 years ago so the dimensions may be off.
Stay safe, John
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Anything can be used as an effective weapon, if you know & have had a little training with it. I once told my teenage sons if I had to I could disable or kill with a rolled up magazine. They laughed until we did a little mock demo. Yep, a solid hardwood cane is a good tool if you know what to do with it. So is a pocket knife, metal ball point pen, etc. My hair is now grey enough, maybe time to go looking for a good cane.
I am the weapon. That other stuff is just tools.
Fastbolt
Member
I've pulled a line to that effect when encountering an occasional "No Weapons" sign, where I was known and knew the people at the entrance, saying I couldn't go past it.
Frizzman
US Veteran
I have several canes. A friend gave me the first one right after I had a stroke in 2002. It was from a medical equipment store and is very plain wood but it is oak and the grain runs lengthwise so it's strong. It had the traditional c shaped, crooked handle. At some point, I sanded the inner tip of the crooked handle to a blunt point...not sharp enough to stab...just enough to produce a pressure point. I used it to exercise and eventually started practicing some of the sidehandle batton techniques I was taught.
I have others, including a nice sword cane another friend gave me. I consider it a curio and plaything. I still find my old one to be the best combination of weight and strength. The rounded point to creates a good amount of pain and numbness when used in a hook/trap...I tried it on myself...OUCH...I have carried it everywhere and only had one person think the mod was for defensive purposes. Most believed that it was to help when picking up objects on the ground...I view it the same way as I did my baton and seven D Cell flashlight when I worked the street. It's a level of force between hands and lethal force. It can be lethal, just as any striking weapon can.
I have others, including a nice sword cane another friend gave me. I consider it a curio and plaything. I still find my old one to be the best combination of weight and strength. The rounded point to creates a good amount of pain and numbness when used in a hook/trap...I tried it on myself...OUCH...I have carried it everywhere and only had one person think the mod was for defensive purposes. Most believed that it was to help when picking up objects on the ground...I view it the same way as I did my baton and seven D Cell flashlight when I worked the street. It's a level of force between hands and lethal force. It can be lethal, just as any striking weapon can.
elm_creek_smith
US Veteran
I'd carry my blackthorn walking stick, and I'd have to lie to him. How'd your daughter get hooked up with someone like that, anyway? My daughters have their own guns. (Actually, one of them has one of mine that I've given up on getting back.)
rhmc24
Absent Comrade
Cane vs. attacking dog -- Cane-wise I probably have an advantage with my ex-golf club. Spring steel
just as it came from a golf course but for the putter head cut off. At 91 I walk about half mile every
day. Tiny dog half the size of a house cat came out yapping & trying to access my ankles. Busy with
him I spied a big dog, like an Alaskan husky over 100 pounds heading my way about 25 feet out.
About a foot from him taking piece out of my leg, I doubt if I could have practiced a better blow than
I delivered, on his neck & right shoulder. It changed his priorities & he fled the scene. Lady had come
out & corraled the little dog & was making apologies. I told her no damage done due my stick & glad it
was me instead of a little kid or old lady.
just as it came from a golf course but for the putter head cut off. At 91 I walk about half mile every
day. Tiny dog half the size of a house cat came out yapping & trying to access my ankles. Busy with
him I spied a big dog, like an Alaskan husky over 100 pounds heading my way about 25 feet out.
About a foot from him taking piece out of my leg, I doubt if I could have practiced a better blow than
I delivered, on his neck & right shoulder. It changed his priorities & he fled the scene. Lady had come
out & corraled the little dog & was making apologies. I told her no damage done due my stick & glad it
was me instead of a little kid or old lady.
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BearBio
Member
After the Jacobean revolt in the late 1600's, Irish Catholics (and some Protestant factions) were denied the ability/authority to carry weapons (The Irish National Movement was actually started by a group of Presbyterians as the United Men of Ireland). Anyway, after the Jacobean Rebellion, many Irish men had to flee under pain of death (The Wild Geese of Irish history). The remaining few developed the use of the shillelagh as a defensive weapon and there is quite an art to it.
Where is a sword cane legal? Vermont? They're illegal in Texas and we're not exactly a socialist state. I would have guessed that they were illegal everywhere.....
As a semi-routine thing, I usually take a cane to NYC. I keep one there all the time with family but I like to have them on the plane. This past trip, maybe the past two, I didn't bring one, but I will bring one next time.....just because. Because?
Because they have metal detectors everywhere - you can barely walk into any public building without passing through a metal detector and a knife will ring it and most of the knives folks like us carry are illegal in NYC, anyway.
A cane will accomplish an awful lot if you're game to use it, straight or hooked. Hooked canes, if you're trained in their use, are somewhat more effective in accomplishing disabling moves against an opponent. Straight canes, however, work wonderfully well and, while training helps, a solid blow of any kind from a solid walking stick does wonders in slowing down the opposition.
I have a collection of about 15 canes. My favorite happens to have an iron rod running through it and a carved hippopotamus for a head - the only problem is that it's uncomfortable to walk with because that carved head digs into your hand.
Among my various canes are a couple of shillelaghs. Before the British banned them the shillelagh was actually a cudgel - more like the swagger sticks you see in old movies than a walking stick. Clubs were banned so the Irish lengthened them into walking sticks - equally useful but not plain clubs. The British gave up on the subject after that. At least that's how I understand it.
One of my shillelaghs is an antique from Germany with an antler for a handle - now that sucker is a weapon!
If you're old enough to look like you need one, travel with one!!!
***GRJ***
Because they have metal detectors everywhere - you can barely walk into any public building without passing through a metal detector and a knife will ring it and most of the knives folks like us carry are illegal in NYC, anyway.
A cane will accomplish an awful lot if you're game to use it, straight or hooked. Hooked canes, if you're trained in their use, are somewhat more effective in accomplishing disabling moves against an opponent. Straight canes, however, work wonderfully well and, while training helps, a solid blow of any kind from a solid walking stick does wonders in slowing down the opposition.
I have a collection of about 15 canes. My favorite happens to have an iron rod running through it and a carved hippopotamus for a head - the only problem is that it's uncomfortable to walk with because that carved head digs into your hand.
Among my various canes are a couple of shillelaghs. Before the British banned them the shillelagh was actually a cudgel - more like the swagger sticks you see in old movies than a walking stick. Clubs were banned so the Irish lengthened them into walking sticks - equally useful but not plain clubs. The British gave up on the subject after that. At least that's how I understand it.
One of my shillelaghs is an antique from Germany with an antler for a handle - now that sucker is a weapon!
If you're old enough to look like you need one, travel with one!!!
***GRJ***
This is a classic shillelagh:
Olde Shillelagh - Good Luck Charm
Any doubt as to what it's for?
No.
This, however, is what developed from that club:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/2Pic/Shillelagh.jpg
Olde Shillelagh - Good Luck Charm
Any doubt as to what it's for?
No.
This, however, is what developed from that club:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/2Pic/Shillelagh.jpg
PuertoRican
Member
A Club Brother got me one of these a couple years ago when I had back problems. Well worth the price & fits nicely in my truck rifle rack. Handling & balance are excellent.
BubbaStik.com
BubbaStik.com
Fastbolt
Member
Hey, thanks for the link.
I recently saw the same sort of brass handle design on a walking stick at a store, but without the "Bubba" branding. It was $79, and the screw attachment seemed really close to the end of the wood. Not quite the same as in the Bubba.
How's the security of the brass knob handle attachment on yours? Solid & stout?
I might just have to add one to my collection, but I'd want to call them and order one with the "Bubba" branding. I may live in the CA Central Coast mountains, but the beach town of Santa Cruz is barely a handful of miles down the road, and I spend a lot of time visiting the pubs and breweries in that beach community. It's not exactly a "bubba" sort of town.
I don't need any more attention than I usually manage on my own ...
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