Walking sticks / Canes

[ACORN]

I have a walking stick given to me by my Great Aunt. Allegedly Her husbands grandfather was the Mayor of Buffalo NY, and it was given to him by POTUS Millard Fillmore a former citizen of Buffalo. My Great Uncle’s middle name was Millard, maybe named for the past President. The stick unscrews and has a glass vial in it which I assume is for an adult libation, and a cap that unscrews that uncovers a smaller compartment for maybe snuff? Too bad they have all passed on.
My brother from another mother wants it bad.

 

[Onomea]

Sounds very cool, Acorn. Best hang on to it!

 

[Chubbo]

In my opening thread, I stated that if you folks were interested, I would with the help of our son, take, and post pictures of my canes & walking sticks. Due to memory loss I have lost the ability to take, save, and post pictures, using my digital cameras, and smart phone. I decided to try to use the camera app., on my my cell phone. With our son's help, I took a couple of pictures, of my meager collection, shown my display rack. The picture doesn't show much detail of the individual sticks, and canes. If you are interested I'll try later to show a couple of them individually.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=481312&stc=1&d=1605559256

Chubbo

 

[Rustyt1953]

Those are nice.

I "saw" what you did there.

 

[Golddollar]

Two things have happened lately that are cane related. I don't know if it's from walking or my new topical medication, or a combination of both, but my bum knee seems to have improved. Now i can go from my car into the VFW or American Legion without assistance and walk a little steadier.

The other cane related matter is that today I decided to spoil myself and bought another to match the configuration of my original cane. That way I will have a cane kept in each Batmobile and not drive off somewhere without a cane.

 

[rwsmith]

I was looking at getting one....

At 63 I'm old enough to bust a Kane across some young wippersnappers knoggon if feeling compelled to do so.

Most times I don't feel the desire.

I like those HARDWOOD Irish ones though.

You mean a SHILLELEGH!

 

[dasnake]

Me too.

Two things have happened lately that are cane related. I don't know if it's from walking or my new topical medication, or a combination of both, but my bum knee seems to have improved. Now i can go from my car into the VFW or American Legion without assistance and walk a little steadier.

The other cane related matter is that today I decided to spoil myself and bought another to match the configuration of my original cane. That way I will have a cane kept in each Batmobile and not drive off somewhere without a cane.

My ankle is a spoiler now bone on bone, there is a bow in an old compound ankle fracture and since january my walking is going south and I'm using the cane all the time to aid the pain threshold, gotta use it now.

 

[sceva]

I keep this one around. It's a folk art cane with a carved head and ( I think) a bark on piece if hickory for the shaft. It came from my Great Aunt and may have been my Great Grandmothers.

 

[Kitgun]

Chubbo, would love to see more of your sticks and canes. I’ve been whittling sticks and staffs for most of my life, here’s a few

 

[Golddollar]

My ankle is a spoiler now bone on bone, there is a bow in an old compound ankle fracture and since january my walking is going south and I'm using the cane all the time to aid the pain threshold, gotta use it now.

I feel for you. My orthopedic surgeon said I had developed bone on bone in my knee a good while after my knee surgery.

But good things can happen. About 30 years ago I was having substantial knee pain and my locomotion was not good. I was sure I would be walking with a cane by the time I was 40. The orthopedic doctor had said the cartilege was going bad. But then after some time of babying my knee the pain went away and I could move well again. I had heard about induction of new growth in cartilege, so I just figured my knee had spontaneosly grown new cartilege. So I ended up with a 25 year reprieve from knee surgery.

 

[wood714]

My mom gave me 5 she found that her dad had whittled out at some time. Pretty rough, but I love having them.

Also got the one with a 27" Toledo blade in it.

 

[Old cop]

I’d love to see your walking sticks and canes.

I’ve always thought walking sticks very cool and am old enough that thinking about a cane or stick isn’t theoretical.

I’m handicapped and need a cane to get around. Lately I’ve noticed videos featuring canes as self defense tools, but I’d just topple over if I tried any of those “moves.”

 

[Stevens]

Here are some of mine, the 3 on the left I made, I have given several to friends. The one on the right was made by my Great, Great, Maternal Grandfather in 1869, one of my treasured possessions! When the cane is passed down the name of the new owner and year are carved into the shaft. The date by my name is 1975. I usually have a couple of canes going as work in progress, whenever I see a likely branch or stalk I cut it for a project, I always initial and date them. I have an old photo of my Mom's Grandparents, he is holding the cane.
I don't use one yet, but am prepared for that time when it comes.
Steve W

 

[Muss Muggins]

Agreed. If you need your cane to stand, it's kinda hard to starting winging it around.

I've got a couple Cold Steel canes with blades, the city stick and the regular sword cane. When I get back spasms, I need one until they subside, which thankfully isn't that often. I couldn't begin to do anything with it defensively until I was on the ground . . .

I’m handicapped and need a cane to get around. Lately I’ve noticed videos featuring canes as self defense tools, but I’d just topple over if I tried any of those “moves.”

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Here are some of mine, the 3 on the left I made....

whenever I see a likely branch or stalk I cut it for a project....

We have pine, Doug fir, and aspen around here. I'm thinking you have access to far better candidates for those handsome canes. Is the second from left hickory?

 

[Onomea]

Speaking of cane material, I met a fellow about a year and half ago who had one made from a sunflower stalk. It was amazingly light. Not sure how strong it would be, but the owner was not a small man.

 

[MRB1]

Go to Cane Masters website - interesting reading, and beautiful products. All you have to do is mortgage your home to get one.

 

[Stevens]

We have pine, Doug fir, and aspen around here. I'm thinking you have access to far better candidates for those handsome canes. Is the second from left hickory?

That cane is from a branch I cut pruning one of my Satsuma trees, Satsumas are like first cousins of Tangerines they grow and produce very well here in South Louisiana. They are easy to peel, delicious, and usually seedless. I left most of the bark, which is very tight, on that one.
Steve W

 

[crstrode]

Old shovels (or other such heavy-duty tools with hickory or ash handles) are perfect for crafting utilitarian walking sticks/canes. Whack them off to just the right length, round the thick end with a rasp, sand, and varnish. A rubber cane tip on the end and I'm usually done. With a bit of stain and some spar varnish they look a bit like a Louisville Slugger on a diet.

I pity the fool that finds any of my sticks upside his head

 

[Kinman]

I got busted up years ago and needed a cane to get around for better than six months. I did not like the idea of looking like a vulnerable individual and decided to turn the cane into a decent weapon. I removed the big rubber tip, drilled and tapped a hole large enough for a 3/4" lag bolt, ran the lag bolt up into the hole, cut the head off and ground a decent point into the tip. It even allowed me to put the rubber tip back on. I tested it out on a pumpkin and found it was real easy to punch 1" holes clean through with very little effort. I was prepared to explain that I used the tip for travelling on ice.
I have a Blackthorn walking stick that came down through my wife's family, far too short for a cane, it has a gnarly root at the head and is quite heavy, I call it me shillelagh and keep it on the back floorboards of the A Bone.