Thread: Walking Sticks, Hiking Staves and Gentlemans Canes

So I've acquired a new interest of late...Well the interest was always there in one form or another, but it was brought home recently due to a minor injury. Over the years I've managed to sprain ankles quite a few times, the result of many years running and martial arts training (alas this has been impossible for soem time now). Now I seem to be able to hurt these joints much more easily, whether this is the result of past activities or just plain getting older and heavier, I don't know.
Of late, I've needed the aid of a walking stick, having once again managed to injure my left ankle. It's not so bad now. I can walk without the aid of a cane, but the joint tires and weakens quickly with any sort of distance, outside of wandering around the house, so I seem to have a constant companion in my walking stick.
I hate the bloody thing. I'm not old enough. Even if I am going very grey in the beard. I have visions of being set upon by gangs of youths because I look decrepit and easy prey (they might be in for a rude shock if they think that though). I'm currently in the process of making a walking stick with a little less of the crook'd old man stick I currently have. Something more akin to a Shillelagh. I'm using a hardwood hoe handle cut down to size and shaping it.

Which brings me to the reason for this thread. Who here uses, or carries by choice, a cane or stick designed for walking either as an aid or as a fashion statement?
What are the reasons you carry one, if not just as an aid or fashion statement? Bartitsu or La Canne practitioners speak up here.

Heres my current cane. I've tried to customise it with a bit of french grape vine lace work and round plaiting (braiding) on the handle. It'll do for now until my homemade one gets done.





Mick

I used my last one as a fire poker.

I have no vestibular function so when I walk down the street, I tend to stagger like I'm falling down drunk. Leaving the house after an ice storm can be pretty dicey, so I picked up one of these about fifteen years ago:



The tungsten stud on the end provides the stability I need to navigate icy sidewalks and it comes with a heavy rubber cap for use indoors, too (the basket snaps off if you won't be slogging through deep snow or mud). And should I find myself on clear, dry pavement, I collapse it like a camera tripod and slip it into my backpack.

Those gangs of youths you speak of? I imagine that tungsten stud would do a fair amount of damage to someone's face or neck. The best thing about it is that it doesn't look like an old man's cane. That makes me feel better about myself using it.

Leki no longer makes the inexpensive model I purchased through LL Bean, but backpacking stores will carry brands that have a more reasonable price tag.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

When hiking, I often carry an aluminum hiking pole. It looks less fancy than the post above -- just plain black, with a wooden ball at the head -- but it's similar. I like it a little shorter than shoulder height.

I've never used it for street walking -- would probably work OK.

I have used "Nordic walking poles" -- two poles, shorter than the hiking pole. If you use them vertically, like canes, they have a definite "old man" quality. If you use them like cross-country ski poles, pushing off behind you, there's nothing "old man" about them.

I've never liked conventional canes. I get better support with a strap around my wrist and a solid grip on a longer pole.

Charles

If it's got the curve like the one you are using Mick, IMO, it's for an old man. I'm with the other guys on this...straight stick. I've been rough on my joints as you and have caught myself using a walking stick here and there. I like the shillelagh/black thorn straight sticks for level ground walking, with a big ball on the end for your palm. For hiking, stick needs to be as tall as you are & have a strap. I've got a oak stick that I cut myself for this, used nylon 3/8 cord for the two places I hold onto the stick with and for the wrist strap. Practice bokens also work well for walking sticks...

I thought I was going well and doing without the stick for a little longer, until I managed to jar myself again today. Back on the stick. I'm going to go down to my workshop now and sit down while I work on my straight stick.
I think I will make another like the one Shooter has suggested for hiking (not that I think I will be hiking anytime soon, but I like the thought of having a project stick to work on after this first one for current practical needs.
Thanks for the replies so far Gents. I was beginning to feel alone...Well, insomuch as a man can feel alone when he has a stick for a companion .


Mick

I'm 19 and after my second leg injury in under 5 months ( first my hip flexor shredded and now I've got several breaks in my foot) my "friends" found it humorous to make old man jokes and give me a cane similar to the one pictured. I feel your pain...literally.

Mick...you r gonna need to go hiking with a saw n find a 2-3 possible sticks n strip the bark from them. Tie them down well to something strong n straight. Put then out in the sun n let them dry...then take the sander to them n finish however you wish.

Which brings me to the reason for this thread. Who here uses, or carries by choice, a cane or stick designed for walking either as an aid or as a fashion statement?
What are the reasons you carry one, if not just as an aid or fashion statement? Bartitsu or La Canne practitioners speak up here.

Hello Mick,
I'm finding out what a cruel trick age can be, I've been paying for the stupidity of my youth in aches and pains. As far as walking sticks go, I turned 40, eleven years ago, to find that I needed hip replacement. The stigma of having to rely on a cane was somewhat humbling. All the canes I found were totally old fart canes. I ended up buying a rattan cane from a knife and weapon site. Love it, besides that it looks cool, it's very light and has a bit of give to it. Now, at 51, I find myself in need of help again. This time, my lower leg/ankle. Broke it, bad, a year ago. Nothing went right, swelling, infection, three times under the knife and looking at more to come. What's messed up is, I gave that cane away to a guy at work, he needed one, and I sure as heck didn't need it. So, this thread will be interesting to me as I now find myself cane shopping again.

Insofar as your comments regarding ruffians, after playing around with that rattan cane, if I saw someone with one, I wouldn't mess with them. But, being young once, I can see how a couple thugs wouldn't see a cane as a weapon, but as a sign of weakness. I'll be watching this board to see what pops up, but I'll start looking for a replacement for the rattan. I'm trying to learn how to post photos to these boards, I'll show you'all what I come up with. I'm going to try to attach a site I thought was interesting, hope it works.

Later, Don


JNC, Barton-Wright, Self Defence with a cane part 1

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Mick...you r gonna need to go hiking with a saw n find a 2-3 possible sticks n strip the bark from them. Tie them down well to something strong n straight. Put then out in the sun n let them dry...then take the sander to them n finish however you wish.

That sounds like a lotta hard work there Shooter. I reckon you just need to go down to the hardware store and buy a hefty hoe handle, modify it a bit on the lathe or belt sander and Bob's yer Uncle Betty!
My new walking stick is being made this way. Just been in the process of sanding it smooth now. When I finally get her done, I'll post a picture. Providing I'm happy with the way it turns out.

Don, I feel for ya mate. That's a nasty run of luck you've had there. I'm lucky I had a cane handy myself. I bought it years ago when the wife did herself an injury. I quite forget what it was she did, but she ended up just using one of those hospital crutches to get around with. She didn't feel comfortable using a cane for precisely the same reasons you and I have had.


Mick