From Hatchet to Walking Cane -- photo essay

smith357 said:
The shaft tapers from 1 3/4 at the eye down to 7/8 at the shoe and it still pretty strong with minimal flex. The plan was, to keep it as light as possible, velocity over mass. It was never designed as an entry tool, it's meant to be fast and agile and I sure as heck don't want to get hit with it, maybe giving it to my wife is a bad idea. :) Ive considered some small rounded brass or steel studs for grip
Click to expand...

OK,...it was hard to tell the "scale" of the construction, and certainly 7/8" termination is still plenty strong and weighty for any potential lower end "work" on a bad guy. The photo looked like (or I "assumed" :rolleyes: ) it was starting from the usual 1" or so diameter, hence my comments.

However, the strong taper is still a potential concern were I to make one personally. Perhaps adding a slight "hand stopper" bulge just above the rubber cap if I get around to making one, or even a slightly thicker area at the base and adding in some finger grooves! :)

Another option maybe to come straight down with 1" or 7/8" diameter shaft material, with any additional thickness only at the head area and tapered perhaps a few inches below it.

If I had your set up in hand, I might consider adding a turned hardwood "accent" knob about 1-1/3" to 1-1/2" outside diameter just above the rubber cap. With a tight tapered fit and wood glued on, would be as secure as a baseball bat grip! (remove the finish on the shaft, of course) Adding a small 1/8" wooden dowel drilled and glued thru the knob would pin it to the shaft for a very secure grip.

Just thinking out loud here, BTW. I'm still drooling over the cane head you made up, and blinded by the beauty! :D


rwdata said:
Beautiful work regardless of whether it's a weapon or not. :)
Click to expand...

In New York State,...that would best (and should ALWAYS) be described as a "TOOL". :)
 
Last edited:
Pretty damn cool!

Not seen an axe turn I to a cane before, bet it'll keep the highwaymen and bandits away. ;)
 
I am currently putting together a fokos (aforementioned "shepherds cane"), ordered the head from Adam Thiele, a smith in Hungary. Got a metal cap for the end that will accept either a steel spike or a rubber piece. Once the head gets here, then I'm off to get the postholer handle. I also settled on that being the best and most economical choice.

Archaeosmith Adam Thiele's work:
il_570xN.644317463_cn53.jpg

il_570xN.644317461_lsis.jpg


I will mask off the pattern weld, then do some final shaping of the metal for smoothness, then sandblast and parkerize it.
 
Looks like you have created a custom pickaroon or a hookaroon for your cane. Nice work.

Tom
 
I decided I needed to try this out for myself...

I took the hammer poll off, thought it might look even less suspicious with the spike as the handle where it can't really be seen.

0906141057a_zpsefd0u1na.jpg
 
well gee i gots to have one. as iam getting up there (the big six oh looms) a cain might well come in handy and if i got to use a cain this is the one i would prefer. so got a head like yours off the bay for 4.75 and as soon as it gets here its off to the grinders and files thanks for posting this
 
smith357 said:
My latest project, I saw one of Beaver Bill's Bear Claw canes in real life and had to have one, but sadly it's way out of my budget.

So on a budget of $20 I'm re-purposing an old $5 hatchet to make my own Bear Claw Cane.


IMG_0973.jpg


IMG_0974.jpg


IMG_0975.jpg


IMG_0981.jpg


IMG_0982.jpg


I went to the big box store to look at the shovel handles, they were just a tad small in diameter so I picked up a post hole digger handle. I had to rummage through a bunch of them to find one with good straight grain. It's made of ash not hickory but it should work just fine. After cutting off the attachment holes I still had 4 extra inches for a fudge factor. I used a plane to do the shaping the shaft More than half the weight of the wood wound up on the floor. So far $5 for the hatchet and $10 for the handle and I'm still $5 under budget. :)

IMG_0984.jpg


IMG_0985.jpg


IMG_0987.jpg



I fitted the head to the staff before finishing it so as not to mar the polished head with tool marks from the fitting. I then gave the staff a quick burn, stain, and wax and set it aside until the head was polished and ready.

IMG_0989.jpg


I finished the head with a lot of filing, emery cloth, wet sanding down to 400 grit and then buffing with a heavy cutting compound. I went with a cold blue finish, it's not perfect, but it's close enough for me.
IMG_0992.jpg


IMG_0997.jpg


I hung the head, cut off about 3" from the foot and added the rubber shoe. It's now ready for the street and it came in under budget.

IMG_1002.jpg


IMG_1001.jpg


IMG_1005.jpg
Click to expand...

As I sometime (more than I care to admit) I want 1 of these badly! Beautiful work!
 
I think those are extremely useful tools but in every State and city I have ever lived in using one for a cane will get a lot of cops in your face. It says "gangmember" to a cop. Legal or not, I really don't like talking to every cop I see.
 
drail said:
I think those are extremely useful tools but in every State and city I have ever lived in using one for a cane will get a lot of cops in your face. It says "gangmember" to a cop. Legal or not, I really don't like talking to every cop I see.
Click to expand...


Fit a leather sheath,...er "Handle Cover" to her and I don't think he gets a 2nd look :-) A quick snap or two and you're back to "naked". :rolleyes:
 
drail said:
I think those are extremely useful tools but in every State and city I have ever lived in using one for a cane will get a lot of cops in your face. It says "gangmember" to a cop. Legal or not, I really don't like talking to every cop I see.
Click to expand...

Though I agree with your sentiment, I doubt an older gentleman with a metal handled cane is going to set of "gangmember" alarm bells with every cop.
A young and fit enough seeming guy might cause him to ask questions, but gang members carry automatics in their waist band, not canes.
 
smith357 said:
Yeah, old men like me carry wheelguns. :)
Click to expand...

like-button.jpg


I day hike a lot in bear and cougar country. There is no better sidearm for my needs than the 357. If I'm backpacking I'll choose a lighter automatic out of necessity. But otherwise the wheelgun is still king.
 
Thing turned out great!

My solution to the handle cover is a kydex lined leather piece that is held relatively securely on the head by the use of rare earth magnets in between the leather and kydex. Leather is glued to the kydex, then sewn to each other (could have used rivets, or just the glue)
 
Very impressive work, gentlemen! A sure way to get your "point' across to any would be hooligans.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top