Walking Sticks

gajinoz

gajinoz

Joined
Sep 2, 2003
Messages
11,650
I've decided I want to get a walking stick. Not that I really need one but I can think of uses for it.

What I'm looking for is something sturdy, looks good and could, if the nasty stuff hits the fan, be used in a self defence scenario.

Any and all suggestions welcome. Links to places that sell them, production or custom, would be good.

Thanks.
 
I have a Cold Steel Walkabout. They no longer make this model but they have
a larger model the Walkabout XL. Check ltspecpro.com or cutleryshoppe.com
for info.
 
I had a lot of fun investigating walking sticks and staffs and there are a couple of good threads on the forums if you do a search. I think the "wilderness and survival skills" sub forum was where I found info. Anyway, after that I got a hiking 'staff' from Barrie about a year ago - birch, swirl and sectional (so I can easily throw it in the car's back seat). Take a look at his site. He's a nice man and will readily answer any questions you may have.
Have fun and Good luck,
Steve

www.downeastwalkingsticks.com
 
I like rattan. For the woods, a 1.5" x 6 foot rattan martial arts bo. Order on-line for about $20. Mine is over 30 years old now. For walking I make a rattan cane with a larger crook (a la 'Canemasters') but only 3/4" or less in diameter. I often need to use a cane for walking (knees are shot) and this is extremely lightweight, impossible to break and costs about $5. For 'dress' occasions I have a slightly thinner dark-stained rattan cane.

Stitchawl
 
I agree with Stitchawl that rattan is strong, light to carry, and inexpensive. I bought some raw rattan at a place that sells furniture repair components. A little Stanley Sureform work on the nodes and it was smooth to handle. I made 4, 5, and 6 footers around 1996 and they're still fine despite quite a bit of hiking and use in a martial arts academy.

DancesWithKnives
 
A real Irish blackthorn stick is hard to beat. Good looking and unique. Has been used for centuries as a walking stick, and weapon in plain sight. In fact, that's really it's history, in that after the English takeover of Ireland and the making it illeagal for any Irishman to have a weapon, the blackthorn stick became the covert weapon of the Irish.
 
I think a lot depends upon the age of the carrier. Us old guys can get away carrying just about any kind of stick, even ones that look like war clubs, provided we aren't wearing biker leathers. :) I still prefer light and fast to heavy and slow.

Seeing a 20-25 year old walking around with a walking stick (unless injured or trail walking) looks like someone carrying a weapon, no matter how benign the stick looks.

If you have martial arts training, you know better than to think of the walking stick as a club. If you don't have specific training, a club is going to get you into trouble anyway, be generally too heavy to ALWAYS have in your hands, etc., etc.. And if one is thinking of a stick as a defensive tool, it must ALWAYS be in your hands. Just like a kubotan or a gun... They don't do any good left at home, and if you're walking through a parking garage and it's not in your hands (if your kubotan is in your pocket you ain't gonna have time to take it out) it's not a defensive tool.

Sometimes a good compromise, such as a collapsing Loki hiking stick, can do wonders. It's light enough to always bring with you, can be big or small as 'area' needs dictate, doesn't look threatening, can be used very effectively for defence even when it's closed up, too large to put into your pocket so it's always in your hand, and small enough not to get in the way.

Stitchawl
 
gajinoz said:
I've decided I want to get a walking stick. Not that I really need one but I can think of uses for it.

What I'm looking for is something sturdy, looks good and could, if the nasty stuff hits the fan, be used in a self defence scenario.

Any and all suggestions welcome. Links to places that sell them, production or custom, would be good.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You may want to try one out locally before you pay for shipping. I'm not sure what shipping from the USA to your part of the world would be but, dimensional shipping charges from Arizona to Texas add up pretty quick.
 
I have had the same bamboo walking stick since 1972. It is very lightweight and almost indestructible. You can Google it to find places to buy them.
 
These are good. I have one and it's really nice. I don't carry it often though, I need to remember to take it with me when I go out. I'm disabled and walk with a pronounced limp so I can get away with some things most others can't. Take that into consideration.
 
I have the one with a brown handle:

005.jpg


It's made of carbon fiber (VERY light) and has an adjustable length. Works very well for me.
​
 
Johnny_Z said:
These are good. I have one and it's really nice. I don't carry it often though, I need to remember to take it with me when I go out. I'm disabled and walk with a pronounced limp so I can get away with some things most others can't. Take that into consideration.
Click to expand...

They make a fine product, beautiful and carefully executed, but it's waaaay too heavy for me to want to lug around all the time. As you say, you don't carry it often. We need something that isn't a bother to have with us at all times or it doesn't function as a self defense tool.

Stitchawl
 
If weight is a concern, why not use a carbon fiber one like mine? It weighs only 250g, and as I said, can have it's length adjusted. Not nearly as classy as one made of real wood, but as practical and way lighter.
 
I went to the thrift store and picked up a boron shaft golf club and turned it into this: keeps the strays at bay....spray with a bit of Krylon and add a rubber tip. I also taped the handle for better grip.

wacker2.jpg
 
Leki Wanderfreund.
Strong, light, adjustable to length, multiple hand grip positions, carbide tip under a rubber tip, accepts snow baskets, can be separated into two separate sticks for self defense, and has a lifetime warranty... ALL for around $50-$60. What's not to like?
 
Not trying to hijack the thread but is there such thing as about a 5 or 6 foot walking staff with a crooked top like a cane? Seems that would be a great hiking staff and you could use the crook to grab things or even help pull yourself up in incline or out of a ditch. The crook part would need to be able to support a lot of weight though. Like say the weight of two people if need be.
 
Here is a pic of my sticks. The first is ash, next irish blackthorn (38"), wax wood, white oak, unknown (to me), steam bent oak(51").
The steam bent oak is from the Scottish Tartan museum (scottishtartans.org). Strong and well sealed.
The irish blackthorn Pug's Ugly Walking stick is no longer available due to shortages, but other blackthorn may be available.
DSCN2855.jpg
 
My wife and I enjoy hiking at Starved Rock State Park.

4351682.jpg


As you can see, it is quite hilly. Once you leave the Park Lodge, the Rock and Lovers Leap, you also leave the plank boardwalks and staircases. There are 20 miles of trails along the Illinois River bluffs and canyons, very scenic but also very dangerous if you're careless. Here's a video:

[video=youtube;GbSW6mkb_0s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSW6mkb_0s[/video]

The river bluff trails have scenic views looking down. People fall off all the time, don't even think about it without a good walking stick.

The best we have used are rattan. Pick the lightest good one you can find. The right length is from the ground to the bottom tip of your ear. Nothing beats a good light rattan.

Next best is an Irish blackthorn walking stick. They are strong and light. They are also expensive and I have never seen one 5' long. Mine is a cane. It's a wonderful cane, but an extra 2' really helps in hilly country.

Everything else is too heavy.

As for beating on someone with a stick or club, I'm glad to say I have no experience, but the weapon of choice around here is a metal baseball bat.
 
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Infi-del said:
Not trying to hijack the thread but is there such thing as about a 5 or 6 foot walking staff with a crooked top like a cane? Seems that would be a great hiking staff and you could use the crook to grab things or even help pull yourself up in incline or out of a ditch. The crook part would need to be able to support a lot of weight though. Like say the weight of two people if need be.
Click to expand...

Again... Leki Wanderfreund!:)

(won't hold TWO people though)
 
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