Slim Stick question

A

average gimp

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Jun 5, 2009
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The footage of this stick always shows the damage done with the aluminum head of the cane on targets. No testing was shown of the shaft except its ability to resist flex when men were hanging from it. What is the durability of the shaft as a striking tool? I ask because I'm considering one (even though it's a little short for me), and I think the head-first striking shown in the video leads to retention problems as well as possible injury to the user given the weight balance in swinging.
 
I use the Slim Stick mostly as a walking device and partly as an affectation or "man accessory." I also have 2 decades of stick-swinging practice, so I feel qualified to give my two cents on it's use as a weapon. I hold it by the ball end for walking, so I swing it holding the ball end. I have big hands and the shaft is thin, so the ball helps retention versus centripetal force. The walking end has a rubber Leki tip, so it's a little squishier than you would care for in an impact weapon. That said, it is capable of delivering very solid blows quite rapidly, much like the old cane work of boxe francaise. I don't think you are going to injure yourself swinging either end because of the low weight allowing nice control. I am 5' 10" and the SS is technically too long to use as a cane, I would need to cut a few inches off so I use a walking stick grip on it. The big problem with the polypro models is their size and weight; they look like clubs and they are noticeably heavy on long walks.

My last thought is that there is a tendency to judge canes by their ability to whale away on a target, when everybody who wants to pick on you (from animal to person) is going to close and latch on to you to prevent the whaling. Canes are better employed as hanbo or long batons than fighting sticks IMO. The SS definitely qualifies as an improvised self-defense tool that won't automatically make people think you are carrying a bat around.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
I use the Slim Stick mostly as a walking device and partly as an affectation or "man accessory." I also have 2 decades of stick-swinging practice, so I feel qualified to give my two cents on it's use as a weapon. I hold it by the ball end for walking, so I swing it holding the ball end. I have big hands and the shaft is thin, so the ball helps retention versus centripetal force. The walking end has a rubber Leki tip, so it's a little squishier than you would care for in an impact weapon. That said, it is capable of delivering very solid blows quite rapidly, much like the old cane work of boxe francaise. I don't think you are going to injure yourself swinging either end because of the low weight allowing nice control. I am 5' 10" and the SS is technically too long to use as a cane, I would need to cut a few inches off so I use a walking stick grip on it. The big problem with the polypro models is their size and weight; they look like clubs and they are noticeably heavy on long walks.

My last thought is that there is a tendency to judge canes by their ability to whale away on a target, when everybody who wants to pick on you (from animal to person) is going to close and latch on to you to prevent the whaling. Canes are better employed as hanbo or long batons than fighting sticks IMO. The SS definitely qualifies as an improvised self-defense tool that won't automatically make people think you are carrying a bat around.
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Thanks for the input. My aim is not to whale on the BG but to quickly break an arm, shin, or ankle, so I can limp off the X as fast as possible, so that's why I asked about the structural strength of the shaft. I don't think the SS lends itself to hanbo techniques given the uneven weight distribution (good quality canes can be adapted, but I find the crook gets in the way). I did see a walking stick given by Hatsumi to one of the shihan that looked artful and not weapon-like. It was still viable as a fighting tool as it had a wider top without a knob, then tapered somewhat to the tip.

BTW--Freman, I wanted something that didn't look weapon-like, and thus avoid all of the CS polypro models. Besides which, only the Seagal model is long enough to start with, it isn't out yet, and I'm leery of the crook design and where I'd begin to find tips for it.
 
A good quality, genuine Blackthorn stick fulfills my self-defense needs with no fear of it breaking . Or of overenthusiastic LEO or TSA dolts claiming it to be a weapon.
 
I think you are okay on the structural strength. My boys hated car seats and the only way to soothe them was to stick them in a backpack and go for a walk, and I often used the Slim Stick as a 3rd balance point or to soften the impact of going down curbs. 200 lbs of me, 10 pounds of pack and baby gear, and 20 pounds of toddler never made the SS flex on the way down. The weight is also negligible so you can even almost forget it's there. I did try some hanbo techniques and choked up punching on a heavy bag, and the SS did great. The last point I forgot to mention is that the shaft of the cane is hollow and still strong as hell. If you need to extend it out, epoxy in a threaded rod to the right length, loctite a nut next to the shaft, and cover the rest of the rod with a threaded barrel. A little dremel, a little paint, and it will look like a feature. I would highly recommend using a Leki hiking staff rubber tip, since they last forever and grip like a glued monkey even on wet pavement. I have forded a few rocky creeks where the bloody cane was the only thing not slipping. I have only had 2 problems: the aluminum head takes micro-dents easily and that upset me until my boys got it so banged up so much it just looks and feels textured; and the threads holding the head were already buggered up so the head would rotate loose. A little glue solved that problem. All in all, I have been happy with mine for the last few years, and I think if you are looking for a cane that is both an actual walking aid and is more than capable of self-defense use, then this is the one. I do like to make my own sticks, but I can't get them as light and slim, though I did have some success with making an ironwood head on one of the kamagong garrotes from kriscutlery. For serious DIY inspiration, there is a guy over at myarmoury.com who does some neat work for himself and posts on a walking stick thread.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
I think you are okay on the structural strength. My boys hated car seats and the only way to soothe them was to stick them in a backpack and go for a walk, and I often used the Slim Stick as a 3rd balance point or to soften the impact of going down curbs. 200 lbs of me, 10 pounds of pack and baby gear, and 20 pounds of toddler never made the SS flex on the way down. The weight is also negligible so you can even almost forget it's there. I did try some hanbo techniques and choked up punching on a heavy bag, and the SS did great. The last point I forgot to mention is that the shaft of the cane is hollow and still strong as hell. If you need to extend it out, epoxy in a threaded rod to the right length, loctite a nut next to the shaft, and cover the rest of the rod with a threaded barrel. A little dremel, a little paint, and it will look like a feature. I would highly recommend using a Leki hiking staff rubber tip, since they last forever and grip like a glued monkey even on wet pavement. I have forded a few rocky creeks where the bloody cane was the only thing not slipping. I have only had 2 problems: the aluminum head takes micro-dents easily and that upset me until my boys got it so banged up so much it just looks and feels textured; and the threads holding the head were already buggered up so the head would rotate loose. A little glue solved that problem. All in all, I have been happy with mine for the last few years, and I think if you are looking for a cane that is both an actual walking aid and is more than capable of self-defense use, then this is the one. I do like to make my own sticks, but I can't get them as light and slim, though I did have some success with making an ironwood head on one of the kamagong garrotes from kriscutlery. For serious DIY inspiration, there is a guy over at myarmoury.com who does some neat work for himself and posts on a walking stick thread.
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Excellent news and tips--thanks!

ichor said:
A good quality, genuine Blackthorn stick fulfills my self-defense needs with no fear of it breaking . Or of overenthusiastic LEO or TSA dolts claiming it to be a weapon.
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I couldn't agree more, but most genuine Blackthorns seem to top out at 36" or so. Rarely have I seen 37" sticks for sale, and never at 41", which is what I need.
 
Two thoughts on striking with a stick in self defense, and you alluded to them when referencing Boxe Française--the blow that breaks bones or incapacitates, á la blackthorns/shillelaghs/clubs and the blow that creates great pain and possibly muscle trauma through whipping action á la canes/slim sticks/sjamboks. You probably want something quick and whippy given your capacity as you've described it and it seems the slim stick has the strength to provide walking support and a powerful cutting blow. If you don't need a crusher or an arm-bar tool, I am with you on leaning (d'oh!) towards that slimmer tool.

Zieg
 
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