Walking canes? What thoughts and experiences do you have?

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
4,675
I have been looking at some of the various walking canes and staffs. Specifically, I am looking at: http://www.sword-cane.com/knives_page3.html http://www.chrisreeve.com/canes.html http://www.crawfordknives.com/html/staff.html

How many people actually use them? What impressions do users have? Is there another brand that is popular or highly recommended that I haven't run across?

These really seem to aim at 3 different markets. The Crawford looks like it is specifically targeted at the survivalist and the staff would not be appropriate for an older gentleman in an urban setting. The ones from Doc Gunderson appear to a self defense item in disquise. They do look good and seem like they would work well in an urban setting. The Chris Reeve walking canes appear to be elegance in wood and design. A real work of art that is functional as well.

I look forward to your comments and any user reports!

Sid
 
Sid;
I am in the process of researching the same sites. I found a few other sites that had inexpensive sword canes but I felt they would be to weak to support me, as I really do need a cane. I am now leaning to the Doc Gunderson
Shillelagh (Blackthorn stick). It can be had in any reasonable length, for about $250.
Another site is www.carvingwood.com, Mik Strevens is the craftsman there. Let me know if you come across any others. Thanks Bill
 
There were several extensive discussions on the topic over on rec.knives last millennium. You can probably dredge 'em up via dejanews.com.


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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
I fooled around and made a few. I prefer a walking staff about armpit high. I like ash wood for its light weight:strength ratio.
the extra length makes it a formidable self-defense tool with a little practice.
(I don't make them to sell)
 
Cold Steel used to offer a cane made from purple heart for about $40. It looked good and purple heart is VERY strong, I weigh 360 and can stand on a 1x1.5 stick between two concrete blocks. I plan to turn a cane from this piece. If you scorch the wood lightly and then seal it with a good wood oil product it stays a beautiful dark purple color. AND... if you need to..it will break bones.

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Jake Evans,War Chief of the Terrible Ironic HORDE, Wielder of the Mighty Blade SOUL STEALER
 
James Piorek at www.bladerigger.com made me a special order rigger coated walking stick. The stick is made out of a 36” long piece of rattan topped off with a wooden ball for a hand grip. He then coated the entire stick and ball with his rigger coat. You can see pictures and get an explanation of his rigger coating at his bladerigger web site. The ball and top 1/3 of the cane were done in a two tone black and cobalt blue color, while the bottom 2/3 are strictly black rigger coat. The effect is not only beautiful to look at but very practical. The beauty of the rigger coat camouflages the weapon potential of the walking stick, while at the same time giving it a very easy surface to grip that will not slip or turn in the hand. Made out of rattan, the stick is very light which lends itself very nicely to escrima and arnis techniques. Some canes are just plain too heavy and slow for these techniques but this one whips right through them. The price was very reasonable and the workmanship like all of the James’ products was superb. I’m 50 years old and have never been stopped anywhere, including airports, for carrying a walking stick.
 
I have several of Cold Steel's hickory walking sticks. I weigh about 350 and they are plenty sturdy. I actually use a cane daily. They are made in Arkansas and cost about $20

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In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take
 
Fudo, do you know where the Cold Steel sticks are available online? I also have to use a cane at times,and would like to have one such as this or a similar one at reasonable cost. I have a nice swordcane, but it does not lend itself to rugged use, legality aside.

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AKTI Member #A000934
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."-TACITUS (55?-130?)

 
If you want a cane, go with Canemasters! They're BEAUTIFUL, and I've heard nothing but praise for them. I plan on getting one of my own, I'm very picky.

If you want a walking stick, it might be fun to make your own. I made five as Christmas gifts, and they turned out great. I used 10' closet rods, cut in half. I rounded the ends, used a Ryobi multitool to engrave them, and put clear polyurethane gloss on them. The last one I made was different. I used the Ryobi to round that one, and a woodburner to put the name on. I had to use fir, which is not the best choice, but all I could find that was long enough. Put a hole in one end and countersink it, and you've got a good thonghole. I was very pleased with the results, as were the recipients!

Howie
 
I make walking and hiking staffs out of oak and other stuff. They are completely natural, no lathe or anything. Sometimes I straighten them using clamps. (If anyone has suggestions for an easy way to straighten that's inexpensive, i'm listening!) I use a knife to remove all the bark, sand with my homemade belt sander (It works surprisingly well, vacuum cleaner motors are great!) and hand sand with 220 grit paper. Then I bevel the top and bottom edges with the sander, put a coat or two of stain on, and finish with 3-5 coats of polyurethane. Some I engrave in Japanese characters with a dremel. I have also wrapped a few handgrips in cowhide splits.
wink.gif


*whew*

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David Gardner
Vineland NJ

"If you fake the Funk, your nose will grow."
-W. Bootsy Collins


 
I forgot to mention i am working on a cane in cherry. Does anyone know a place i can get a ball or knob to put on the top? The normal handle would be taxing my abilities since I don't have any specialized power tools.

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David Gardner
Vineland NJ

"If you fake the Funk, your nose will grow."
-W. Bootsy Collins


 
If anybody knows where to get the "T" type handles or the umbrella type tops, that would be helpful also! Thanks...

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David Gardner
Vineland NJ

"If you fake the Funk, your nose will grow."
-W. Bootsy Collins


 
King, you can soak the wood before you bend it. That should make it easier. I think Canemasters also ads some sort of laundrey detergent into the water. You're lucky! I had to sand all mine by hand! The dremel tip on the Ryobi tool is great, huh? I burned my finger with the woodburner.

Howie
 
I've had 2 of Doc Gundersens (swordcanes.com) handcarved canes...they're great! A customer liked the first one so much I had to sell it, then Doc carved one in the figure of a chef! Not only is he a great carver, there's a sword in the cane!

Send him an email...tell him the chef sent ya!!

-Michael

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Chefget's Knife Page


 
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