A Thread on Swordcanes

[Onomea]

Only way to have a sword in Japan, legally, is if it is recognized as a work of art, one handmade by a legitimate swordsmith. Interestingly, in Japan, the sword is registered with the government and its permit moves with it as it is bought and sold. The owners are not registered.

And today’s swordsmiths, I have read, are limited to the manufature of one sword per month, so a new legit sword is pretty expensive.

I have one permitted sword, a short sword, I inherited from my father. The US Civil War sword I inherited, now with my brother, could not be brought to Japan as it was “a sword without a purpose.”

Most WWII Japanese swords brought back to the US from the Pacific War were cranked out by arsenals, factories. Known as “guntō,” or military swords, they are now illegal in Japan.

 

[Texas Star]

In one of Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm spy thrillers, Matt faced a Russian agent armed with a sword cane in Sweden. Matt had a lockblade German knife with a four-inch blade.

It made for a nice fight scene.

 

[kthom]

Kthom, due to bad knees, I have spent several years using a very light, height adjustable, trekking pole, one by Leki and another by Black Diamond. Basically, hiking gear. I like the look of wooden canes better, and I really like the heavy ones, like shillelaghs, that can be used as cudgels. But.... In use, I don’t like their weight.

(Had a knee op a few months ago, and hope not to need the cane anymore after a while, but, for travelling... Hmmmm.)

Onomea,

I also have a couple canes made of good hickory. They are not very heavy and have a fairly large curved handle. There are a couple or three online vendors for these canes and some are designed specifically for personal protection as well as just a cane. I tend to like an "L" shaped handle but the crook on a regular cane has some good utility for personal protection. You can reach out and catch someone by the neck or arm and "gently" tug them in the direction you wish them to move! Again, there is info on the net, probably UTube that probably shows some of the techniques taught with these canes. The hickory ones are plenty strong and tough, plus you can trim them to exactly the length to fit yourself. I use a big rubber crutch tip on the bottom of mine which keeps it from slipping on some surfaces and it also provides a way to retain your grip on the cane if holding it by the tip end. They work pretty well for me as just a cane too!

 

[Simson-Suhl]

In 2010 I purchased a Burger Brothers #4 cane with the Damascus blade. It truly is a work of art and the price has certainly increased since my purchase. I always wanted such a cane and now the laws in Oklahoma have changed so they are now legal to carry.

 

[Onomea]

Simson-Suhl, would love to see pics of the Damascus blade! I thought about getting that option, but just couldn’t pull the trigger... Did you get any other options?

 

[Simson-Suhl]

Sword Canes

At this time I do not have a camera that can, or the skill to post photos to the forum. As I will be 81 the 15th. of this month I belong to the pen and pencil group. Go to the Burger web site, Custom Canes and near the end of the page several photos of the
Damascus blades. I believe I paid $600.00 extra for Damascus in 2010 for my MK4, today the price is $1100.00. With the Mk 4 now selling for $1400.00 makes the total price $2500.00!
They are truly a work of art!

 

[Wee Hooker]

UTUBE has quite a few interesting video's on how to defend yourself with a ( non-bladed) cane. Pretty amazing stuff actually.[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZg6b4RuUc[/ame]