Canes have long been used for various purposes. The main one is to work as support for older people to facilitate their walking. Other purposes have to do with styling and tradition. Depending on the culture, using a cane can be a sign of wisdom that comes with age or even a certain social position.
The point is that when you think off canes you usually think of older people or mobsters from the 1920s. Nowadays, the cane can be an excellent choice of a supporting instrument that will make for injured people to walk around. What many people don’t factor in is that canes are also used with the purpose of self-defense. As a weapon.
So, is a cane a good weapon? Yes, a cane can be an excellent choice of weapon, if you know what you’re doing. There are many variables to consider such as the material, your knowledge of the object, and the type of cane you’re going to use. The reason is that certain canes are considered a weapon, which requires a carry permit.
Still, if you know the answer to all of these potential decisions you’ll have to make, you won’t have problems. Now, if you just liked the idea of using a cane for self-defense but doesn’t know where to get started, don’t worry. You can find out everything you need below.
For instance, it’s important to understand what canes will be viewed by law enforcement agents as a weapon, and which ones will be considered just a supporting aid. A good thing to keep in mind is what is your reason to carry a cane around. If you don’t need the supporting assistance, people will raise questions.
So, make sure to read the article till the end to make sure that you find all of this out. Also, make sure that you get a high-quality cane. It’s common for average-quality models to break on their first hit.
The Element Of Surprise
The main reason to consider a cane as a self-defense weapon is that the cane is an element of surprise. No one is expecting you to know how to use the cane as a weapon. Often, people that make use of canes have some form of physical disability, or are, at least, physically weaker. This makes them theoretically an easier target.
Imagine that someone follows you down the streets. When this person approaches you to mug you, you hit them with the cane. If you know how to do it, you do it with efficiency and effectiveness. You take down your opponent easily and quickly. This is what makes the cane such a great idea. No one is expecting it to be a weapon, so no one will see it coming.
So, make use of the element of surprise as much as you can. It’s just important that you keep in mind that just having the cane isn’t enough. You must learn how to properly use the RMS Walking Cane in a self-defense situation. (Get the latest pricing on the RMS Walking Cane Here)
Regular Vs. Tactical Cane
This is the first important distinction that you’re going to have to make it. A regular cane is easy to find, and you won’t have to navigate any bureaucratic hurdle to get it. It’s a walking aid, and it isn’t viewed as a weapon, which means that you don’t need a carry permit. It’s usually the best choice because you won’t have problems explaining what you were doing with a cane. The only disadvantage is that it’s harder to find a model that won’t break in a self-defense situation.
Now, the tactical cane could be another excellent choice. The problem is that the tactical cane is viewed as a weapon, so you might need a carry permit for depending on your state. Not only that but if you go through a situation with the cane, you might have to explain to the police and in court what you were doing with a tactical cane in the first place.
So, as you can see, the best choice here is usually the regular cane. You should look for a model that is resistant and has a design that’ll make self-defense easier for you. You should check the Ohuhu Folding Cane with LED light here.
Learn Cane Fighting 101
The next step is to learn how to fight with a cane. Having the cane is not enough if you don’t know how to properly use it. Don’t think that is just like using a stick or a baseball bat. If you want to make sure that you can protect yourself with the cane, you must learn how to fight with it properly.
The first thing that you should understand is that the cane has to work as an extension of your arm. You don’t need to sign up for a lesson in self-defense. You can learn the basics online. Still, the important thing is that you do take your time to learn the basics.
Now, it’s equally important that you learn the basics for self-defense in general. Most people know very little about self-defense, but you shouldn’t be one of them. This knowledge will make your life way safer than otherwise. As long as you make sure to learn how to use the cane and basic self-defense, you’ll be equipped to protect yourself without problems.
Wooden, Plastic, or Metal
There’s a huge variety of canes in the market. Therefore, you’ll have to decide what’s best for you. The plastic cane is the most common. Even though plastic is not a reliable material at times, you can find great models of plastic canes. The important thing is that you make sure that it’s a high-quality plastic that won’t easily break. After all, you don’t want to be in the middle of an altercation and have your cane break in half.
Now, another alternative that you might choose is the wooden cane. This is a better choice when it comes to walking stick that you’re actually going to use as a walking aid. If you just want the cane as a weapon, then the wooden ones are not the best choice. In combat, they are not as reliable.
At last, you also have the metal cane. This one is harder to find and will be viewed more as a weapon. For this reason, it’s better to be avoided in most cases. So, choose the material that best suits you, but makes sure that it’s under your state’s laws. The Vive folding cane is a great aluminum cane that you can use as a self-defense weapon. (Click here for the latest on the Vive Folding Cane)
Walking Sticks Are Fine. Anything Else Is Not
Besides the tactical cane, you also have the loaded cane and the sword cane. These models are considered weapons, so you either need a carry permit or you might get in trouble for carrying one. The best solution for this is to use a walking stick. Pick the regular cane that you can use for self-defense but won’t lead to any trouble.
The walking stick, if made from high-quality material, will do the job well. You don’t have to worry about bureaucratic permits or anything else. All you have to do is to choose the model that works best for you, then learn how to use it correctly.
So, avoid all the types of cane that you can think of, except the old, regular walking stick. As you now know, the tactical cane and the other types will give you more headaches than actually solve your problem. Just make sure that the model is resistant and fits your needs.
Have A Reason To Be Carrying A Cane
The reasons for a person to be walking around with a cane are many. The important thing is that everyone who does it, have a reason to be doing so. Obviously, you could go for the more simplistic reason for style. It’s not a problem to be walking with a cane for fashion reasons, but an injury or physical need is better.
The main point is that law enforcement agents will probably ask you why you were with a cane in the first place. Having a good reason to do so, it’s better. If you have no reason to be carrying the cane, it increases the chance of it being viewed as a weapon.
So, make sure that you do have a reason. If you picked a regular walking stick like the x, you won’t have problems. As long as it doesn’t need a carry permit, you don’t need to worry about it at all.
Final Thoughts
So, remember that you don’t need a carry permit for a walking stick because it’s not considered a weapon. The same way that you could use a pen as a weapon, you can use the walking stick as such. Still, that doesn’t make either of them a weapon.
Still, be aware of other canes like the loaded cane. A loaded cane is a cane with lead at one end. This type of cane is considered a weapon in some jurisdictions; therefore, they do need a carry permit. These are the same kinds of canes that were used as an accessory by men in the 1920s.
