Walking sticks

A Walking Stick is a stick people use to help them balance and give them added support when they are walking.

They come in lots of different shapes and sizes and are collectible. They have also been carried as a weapon and there are versions that conceal a sword or knife – knowns a ‘sword sticks’.

By the late 17th Century, a stout stick had taken the place of a sword as a necessary part of a gentleman’s attire and was used mainly as a walking stick, although it also had a decorative function as well as being able to act as a form of weapon if necessary.

The standard cane was made of malacca (rattan stems) with a rounded metal grip.

Types of walking sticks:

Ashplant — this was a favourite of the Irish made from the ash tree
Shooting stick — this was a stick that could be folded out into a single-legged seat.
Supplejack — also served as a cane and was made from a tropical American vine,
Penang Lawyer — made from Licuala (a type of palm). After the bark was removed the stick was straightened by fire and polished. One of these is owned by the fictional Dr. Mortimer in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Makila (or makhila) — this is Basque medlar wood walking stick or staff, with a gold or silver foot and handle, concealing a steel blade. The living wood is elaborately engraved and allowed to heal before harvesting to make the stick.
Kebbie — a rough Scottish walking stick with a hooked head
Whangee — is an Asian version made of bamboo and also used as a riding crop. This type of stick was used by The Tramp, one of Charlie Chaplin’s characters.
Malacca — A stick from Malay made of rattan palms
Pike Staff — this had a pointed end to help with slippery surfaces
Waddy — This was the Australian Aboriginal walking stick sometimes turned into a war club by attaching a stone head with string and beeswax.
Ziegenhainer:— This was a German stick, made from European Cornel,and often quite knotty. It was used by a duellist’s second as a melee weapon .