BIT: Walking stick

[MarkD]

Never overlook the obvious and low-tech:
3' of 3/4" or 1" black pipe, with a 90-degree elbow and 6" stub handle and a pair of caps.
You can cover it with thin wood laminate, a good faux-finish paint, woodtone shelf paper, custom fabricate solid wood surround and epoxy in place, have the local custom paint shop make it into a work of art, or leave it plain.
It's over-built as a cane, delivers one helluva wallop as an improvised weapon, hollow to permit putting anything inside, including a mini-survival kit, 8 ounces of lead shot, a tube flask of adult beverage, or all of the above, and it's pre-threaded at the ends, allowing access to same, as well as handy presto-change-o tip selection for fancy floors versus rocky trails.

And the materials price for the basic implement is under $20.

Having sprained knees a few times over the years wrassling with retards, I tend to take late night strolls for personal PT rehab. When you're less than totally physically agile to handle anyone who may happen by, and live in a state that until recently regarded CCW as the spawn of the antichrist, you get creative.

I actually like that idea, should my knees go far enough south that I need to use a cane regularly I may just make one of those.

[Weetabix]

I guess by Bob K's definitions, I have canes with no hooks at the top. I call them sticks because I don't like admitting I sometimes need a cane.

[Greg]

For some things, there's nothing like a good piece of hickory.

I'm also partial to a nice piece of hickory.

Oak, ash, walnut, yew or even Osage orange could serve as well. Hornbeam if you can find it.

[blackeagle603]

The Cold Steel Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick can be had for under $40 online (+shipping)

[BDK]

Oh, I agree that's a great idea when things get really bad - right now, on bad days, it just makes picking something off the floor a bit more steady (some days it won't bend and I have to side my leg out, which can get hard in right spaces), or on slippery days if my knee isn't feeling really stable - much less pain these days w all the yoga, but it has, as expected, lost some stability while the scar tissue gets worked out.

IOW, I can get whatever prescription I would need to have one in the UK, etc

[HTRN]

During the day, an ordinary cane.

Have you seen K-bars "self defense cane"?

[toad]

There is a umbrella/walking stick with fiberglass ribs that goes by the name "Unbreakable" model 115. I saw a video demo of it a couple of years ago and a guy put it between two chairs and stood on it. It has a curved handle and is designed for self defense use. IIRC I think I read that the Singapore police used it or something an awful lot like it. It weighs about 2 pounds and folded packs a pretty good wallop.

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Unbreaka ... B00C2TI14E

[Greg]

The Cold Steel Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick can be had for under $40 online (+shipping)

It's also plastic, FWIW.

[MiddleAgedKen]

I choose to raise this thread from the dead to note that the following work is available free on Kindle today (don't know why or for how long).

Broadsword and Singlestick: With Chapters On Quarter-Staff, Bayonet, Cudgel, Shillelagh, Walking-Stick, Umbrella, and Other Weapons of Self-Defense, by R.G. Allanson-Winn.

[JAG2955]

Nabbed it, thanks!