Cane

[John A]

I've been looking for a cane,  crook handle, hickory 1" diameter , 40"+ long. I've found some combat canes with a price tag beyond my budget. Now I'm looking for a cattle handling cane approximately what I want, price more reasonable. I'm not getting anywhere on the internet so I thought this group would give me some insight, thanks

[guzzisteve]

How about a walk in the woods, find tree select branch, chop chop and widdle away.

[Sheepdog]

Try Brazos Walking Sticks. I have a hiking stick and a cane from them. The quality is great and you can pick from a variety of woods:

https://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/mens-walking-canes/

[Lannis]

If I'm walking anywhere anytime that might require any off-pavement excursion, I use a stick ... saved me from quite a few falls.   My balance has never been that great, and the older I get and the more the old neuropathy sneaks up on me, the more help I want.   With a good stick, I can walk just about anywhere that isn't a solid field of bowling-ball sized boulders ...

But I've never found anything that suits me like the one I can make.    Some searching in the woods, a collection of saplings to lay out to dry, a spokeshave and knife,  two grades of sandpaper, some tung oil, different tips (spiked, rubber, sand, etc) from companies that sell them, and some leather string and 550 paracord, and I have sticks for every condition, just the right height with cutouts made for MY hand.

I did take a folding hiking stick (nesting sections held together with shock-cord like a tent-pole) on our Cornwall walking trip last year, and it's great for travel (fits in a big pocket) but even on the rocky Cornwall coast there's occasional mud, and a folding pole will come apart when it gets stuck ....

Lannis

[John A]

I looked at Brazos, didn't see what I wanted.  Lannis,  I like the idea of making my own,  Ive not done it in years but its the dead of winter here and Im stuck without a couple lengths of hickory or ash

[Texas Turnip]

John,
A lady asked my 90 yo mom why she needed a cane. Mom said, "to beat off dogs and horny old men.!"
Good luck on your search.

Tex

[Rich A]

For a cheap but decent walking stick, go to a Goodwill or second hand sporting goods store and get a graphite shaft driver. Cut off the club face and use a 38 special or other shell to protect the cut end. Light and quite strong.

Rich A

[John A]

John,
A lady asked my 90 yo mom why she needed a cane. Mom said, "to beat off dogs and horny old men.!"
Good luck on your search.

Tex

that's horrible, Tex I just need it for little kids.

[StuCorpe]

I met this gentleman at the MI rally last year, he makes and sells canes.  Unfortunately I have lost his name and address but maybe someone on here will recognize him and pass it on.

 

[StuCorpe]

Oh yes I believe he was from WI.

[garbln]

I looked at Brazos, didn't see what I wanted.  Lannis,  I like the idea of making my own,  Ive not done it in years but its the dead of winter here and Im stuck without a couple lengths of hickory or ash

Winter is the best time to cut wood for a cane or stick, most of the moisture is in the roots.  It will not tend to split and you can leave the bark on if you choose.  Cut the wood in the spring or summer it will split as it drys and the bark will fall off.  Chop away!

[cliffrod]

I keep a regular livestock cane in each of my trucks to reach, push or hook whatever I can't easily reach in the bed  from the side.   Google Seymour Hickory house handle cane.  Seymour is a good name for handles in general.  If a cattle cane is too short, buy a real shepherd's crook and cut it to length.  That's the cheapest way to go.

If you want something more elaborate, what's your budget?  Do you want bentwood, ball end shilalae (sp?), natural crook, ?   I carve & sculpt granite, marble, some bronze and more for a living, plenty of that on my website and YouTube for reference.   Carving wood is no problem- I've done wood since I was a child, then professionally, then award-winning ice, and now stone full time for nearly 20 yrs.  I can email some wood pics if you like. Contact me directly.

[John A]

I keep a regular livestock cane

That was the key," livestock cane "in a search engine gets me what I want to see. I had tried cattle cane , horse cane and a gob of others with no luck. Thanks, and thanks to the others for good suggestions

[normzone]

Probably outside the field of this thread, but there is a martial arts discipline based on handing out beatings with a cane - if the winter is long we could use the exercise.

[pebra]

I looked at Brazos, didn't see what I wanted.  Lannis,  I like the idea of making my own,  Ive not done it in years but its the dead of winter here and Im stuck without a couple lengths of hickory or ash

Hazel  -  very light, easy to find straight pieces.
Rowan  -  not so light as hazel but also easy to find; more robust, and nicer wood (personal taste)
Ash? I wouldn't think that's suitable?
Cherry, apple  -  heavier, beautiful wood, cracks easier
Quince supposed to be very suitable (according to a Scottish specialist)

[Ringosdad]

Hazel  -  very light, easy to find straight pieces.
Rowan  -  not so light as hazel but also easy to find; more robust, and nicer wood (personal taste)
Ash? I wouldn't think that's suitable?
Cherry, apple  -  heavier, beautiful wood, cracks easier
Quince supposed to be very suitable (according to a Scottish specialist)

Osage orange!

[twowheeladdict]

I have an aluminum adjustable length cane from when I was learning to walk again.  It is light, and when adjusted to shortest length fits nicely in my truck.  It was maybe $12 - $15.  I may need it again someday so it stays in my truck.

[giusto]

I met this gentleman at the MI rally last year, he makes and sells canes.  Unfortunately I have lost his name and address but maybe someone on here will recognize him and pass it on.

He looks overjoyed at the moment...lol

I can tell by the donut boxes in the back-round it must have been Sunday morning.

[Vagrant]

If u have a pic of what u want i might hace one in my mother in laws collection.

[John A]

Probably outside the field of this thread, but there is a martial arts discipline based on handing out beatings with a cane - if the winter is long we could use the exercise.

It's why I have not bought one yet, I don't want to spend (Guzzi content) what they want for a decent martial arts cane. I want a hickory stick with a curved handle. 40"by 1" . My main defense cane is one with a ball on top and I've learned it could be a felony if someone got thumped by it. The regular curved handle cane can be carried and used anywhere and is not a felony if somehow someone walked into it. So I'm looking at livestock canes. There is a fleet/farm near Spring Valley that had a good selection but the last time I was there they had none so I'm on a frustrating internet search.

[cliffrod]

For durability, the livestock handle canes that I like best are faceted (6-8 sides) instead of round and either ash or hickory.  Some have a splotchy looking, inconsistent burned treatment to hide manure stains.   Easy to sand off if you don't need or like it.  They're lighter weight than the round ones and more consistent in general dimensions.  They flex a little so don't break as easily.

The round ones are heavier, go from fat to real skinny at the bend and that seems to be where those break.  They look pretty but don't last as well in my experience. 

To get to 40", you'll probably need a shepherd's crook to cut down to length.  Ask someone who has sheep and they may have one or two you can see.  They seem to have smoother & thicker bent handles because you actually use them to reach in and hook a lamb or ewe out of the flock.  A cattle cane handle doesn't get used like that.

[AJ Huff]

I had no idea canes were so complicated!

-AJ

[John A]

https://www.ruralking.com/seymour-hickory-house-handle-cane
I ordered one of these, it's not what I want but it's cheap enough. Keep them pesky kids from crawling all over me or the bike. It may break, kids can sure take a good wallup!

[Toecutter]

Probably outside the field of this thread, but there is a martial arts discipline based on handing out beatings with a cane - if the winter is long we could use the exercise.

"Canne de Combat"

[Chuck in Indiana]

https://www.ruralking.com/seymour-hickory-house-handle-cane
I ordered one of these, it's not what I want but it's cheap enough. Keep them pesky kids from crawling all over me or the bike. It may break, kids can sure take a good wallup!

Yeah, they can be tough little boogers, but that ought to keep them off of your lawn.