Walking sticks with secrets...

[Nex]

What a brilliant thread I can't believe I missed it for so long.

All these sound so much more fun, and useful, than a cane sword, and a lot less problems with the police.

That Travel cane sounds brilliant Mr Harrow, I'm not really one for taking a cane about town, but certainly a stick/cane of some kind for hill walking with all the useful kit you could need is brilliant.

[DrTom]

Mr. Harrow's cannon cane concept got me thinking, again, of legal self defense applications. Defending yourself with a stick is, of course, just fine as long as you weren't carrying the stick around with the obvious intent of beating someone with it.  Even hitting them with the business end of a hammer fitted to the cane could be defended in court, as long as you can establish that it was intended as a "tool cane" and not the portable lobotomy device that it became out of necessity. 

The cannon, however, struck me as interesting in that, although completely nonlethal, a loud bang and flying confetti aimed at the face/eyes of an attacker can "stun" for just long enough to give you a significant advantage in getting away or smacking them with your stick, etc.

For those of us in the states, a pepper-spray cane would be even more effective and (and yet legal) form of defense in most states. 

I think I've figured my next project!

[Andy_W]

How about a hollow section for a scrolled up map?

Such sticks are called 'system canes'

[groomporter]

Or also "gadget canes" (at least on this side of the pond) This site is a great source to browse through to see lots of antique examples
http://www.antiquecaneworld.com/browse.php

I don't remember if I've asked this before the forum crash, but I've been looking for some kind of metal flasks or test-tube like vessels to use in flask canes. All the flask canes I see have glass flasks, and I'ld rather use something that's unbreakable. I found a tube-shaped flask that was part of a cigar case, but it's bigger in diameter than I want and it would make the top of the cane unusually large. Any ideas? sources? Something like a stainless steal test tube? Maybe 1/2 inch in diameter and long enough to hold  enough to be worth while?

[DrTom]

Or also "gadget canes" (at least on this side of the pond) This site is a great source to browse through to see lots of antique examples
http://www.antiquecaneworld.com/browse.php

Very cool!  Thanks!  I really loved the mandolin cane...I wonder if I can make a guitar or violin one...

[Smythy]

Perhaps a collapsible cup like this site has:
http://www.stanleylondon.com/dalveycup.htm

[Jemima Annabelle Clough]

Tool cane- turned ash shaft, brass ferrule from the Stickman, the head is a 7 inch brass hammer, in which nests four screwdrivers (purchased from Nauticalia) it is held in by brass hose fittings commonly available but modified by grinding and re-boring. The shaft is partially hollowed to accomodate the hammer handle.

If you decide to make any more of these, I strongly recommend you google for "brass hammer", as I've seen them for less than half what Nauticalia sell them at - here, f'r example: http://www.rnhorological.co.uk/hammers%20and%20mallets.htm - you need to scroll down see the screwdriver hammer one

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Thank you, yes I will be posting some pictures at a later date, a colleague wants to take some pictures of the canes assembled and exploded view, and I promised him first crack.(he is in during the day as heveuns a ghost walk, so he is around to collect parcels)

The cannon cane is nicely non-lethal, the parts are designed for water pressure and could not be adapted to fire a serious projectile. The suppliers I have listed are all useful, not only for the items listed but also for other items. For example Craft Supplies do a nice plain brass telescope (12 inch when extended) which can be easily decorated, in my case with wood veneers ( which theyvalso supply).

These canes are so nice you wouldn't want to risk them being damaged in an affray. I started off buying several canes a couple of years aga. But got my fist system cane this year at London Comicon, a telescope cane with bronze fittings, and brinE skull head piece, a truly lovely cane imported from Atlanta Cutlery(who also do swordsticks), but knowning a swordstick is deathly illegal started researching gadget sticks with a view to buy. Alas most are relatively expensive, and listening to 'Bleak Expectations' on Radio 4, had the hero attack the villain(a Mr Gently Benevolent) with his swordstick to no effect, only for the villain to escalate with a cannon cane. A bit of further research verified such did indeed exist, were unlawful even in parts of the former colonies, and were civil war era antiques. I vowed to make a replica, and searched assiduously for a toy brass cannon to no avail. The break through came with the garden hose nozzle and connectors, a £5 kit, two cuts with a hacksaw, a bit of grinding down, and I has a working non-lethal replica. A brass cup washer was added for a firing plate, and a brass plated screw eye holds it to a cane (milliput makes a durable washer),asthecexiating screw fittings and bayonet fittings allow these to fit into the screw eye.

Other thoughts about Nauticalia stock which might be adapted include Kaliedoscopes and teleidoscopes. The also do a nice marine propellor candlestick which can be unscrewed, giving you a nice brass propeller which I have set between a shaft/brass collar on a cane and a brass knob, effectively creating a hand guard, to protect against a weapon sliding along the shaft towards the hand when the cane is in an en garde position. This brass hammer is useful because it unscrews halfway along its handle and allows you to use this to connect the hammer to the shaft of the connector to the cane.

It is worth getting an ash or beech shaft blank pre-turned if you do not have access to a lathe. You can cut them to the correct length for you and stain them the color you require. A cane should have a proper taper so a dowel or tube just looks wrong. The Stickman also sells part precarved animal blanks for heads, and blocks of carving wood (I will be carving a wooden Cthulu head with the wings forming a hand grip, as my Chistmas project). Brass ferrules look nice, they are a dull brown when bought, a bit if brasso polishes them up nicely, and complements a brass head.

If you are after a good tippling stick try the one from the Chatham Docks Museum Shop. You will have trouble finding anything other that glass vials to fit within a tippling stick, the amount of space is limited in a proper cane where the blank is a maximum 23 or 25mm in diameter.

I did have an idea for a nunchuk cane, using screw footings allowing it to break into three, with additional screw fittings connected by brass chain links stored in a detachable handle, which would fit into the three sections to create the final linked form. I need to research the legality of this, and would require a drill press to drill holes in the spare connectors precisely. All my designs require no welding or specialist equipment, a standard drill, hacksaw and a dremel, and are from readily available materials, so can be readily duplicated.

[Alexander Edmund Clough]

I must say Mr Harrow old chap, your canes sound entirely fantastic - especially the "cannon cane"

Can't wait to see the pictures!

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Previous examples of gadget sticks or system canes are good for inspiration, and i have recreated several if the classics, but it behooves us for the benefit of future generations to push the boundaries of the possible and update the concept. We all think immediately of weapons but musical instruments, professional tools and cutlery have all been used in the past.

This I have done with a working laser gun cane. The trick is to seek to incorporate new gadgets. One possible would be a Geiger counter cane, excellent for mad scientists. anythingradioactive do a keyring geiger counter dosimeter  which should be small enough to fit into a cane head, and you could always hollow out the shaft for spare batteries/iodine tablets.

Another suggestion would be for a submariners cane, a periscope, using a brass tube and mirrors from binoculars. This would not give the proper tapered cane shape though , bit would justify the the use of a tube instead of a proper wooden shaft.

[elShoggotho]

My cane project puts more emphasis on the weighting, simply because its main purpose is to defend its owner against assaults. It can be wielded like a sword, to give the owner additional reach against knife-wielding muggers.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Done the legal research on the Nunchuka walking stick, and it is not an offensive weapon under UK law, but would only be able to have it out in public in its walking stick configuration. Have though of a way round having to drill through the fittings which would work better for the handle of the stick.

[Elias]

What of something such as a dart or net launcher ? Perhaps a telescope even ?

[DrTom]

Done the legal research on the Nunchuka walking stick, and it is not an offensive weapon under UK law, but would only be able to have it out in public in its walking stick configuration. Have though of a way round having to drill through the fittings which would work better for the handle of the stick.

It's interesting how here in AZ, pepper spray is perfectly legal (not even a specified restriction on stregnth), but nunchukus are illegal.  As such, I'm currenlty working on my design of a pepper spray cane.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Always check the laws of the local jurisdiction, a dart firing mechanism or pepper spray are definitely illegal in the UK. Here guns and knives are a definite no-no as are tasers. Telescopic or side arm batons are classed as offensive weapons, but classification appears to follow a particular problem, so nunchucks might become listed as an offensive weapon at a later date. All the bladed martial arts weapons such as shuriken are banned, as are concealed knives and points and non- metallic blades. For example there is consideration of high power green lasers being banned as they have been used against police helicopters, so my laser gun cane (red laser) is still likely to be legal.

Better to look to a more innocuous gadget for a stick, as i have mostly done, unless you are prepared to research law and not take it out of jurisdiction, where it might cause a problem. The trick would be to update the concept of gadget sticks by incorporating gadgets from today.

[clockwork creation]

yup nun chucks are iligal in the UK my freind had his confiscated by the pigs in the summer

[Hektor Plasm]

It may be of interest to note that any Walking Stick shaped cane, ie with a Crook or curved handle, is not only legal everywhere, but as it is classed as a disabled aid, may not be removed from it's owner by police, 'security' operatives or similar. The owner does not have to provide evidence of disablement.
This is true even in US airports, where even shoes are suspect.

Of course, if a metre long blade or bolt of luminiferous ether were to suddenly appear from said cane.... the situation may become less favourable.



HP

[Dr Flonker]

It may be of interest to note that any Walking Stick shaped cane, ie with a Crook or curved handle, is not only legal everywhere, but as it is classed as a disabled aid, may not be removed from it's owner by police, 'security' operatives or similar. The owner does not have to provide evidence of disablement.
This is true even in US airports, where even shoes are suspect.

Of course, if a metre long blade or bolt of luminiferous ether were to suddenly appear from said cane.... the situation may become less favourable.



HP

Last time I had to go through airport security they demanded that I surrender my cane for xraying.  It's an obvous cane, but they had the audacity to ask if I could walk without it (I can't).

[Hektor Plasm]

Is nothing sacred to these ruffians? 

Grrrrrrrrr 

[Engineer]

If you decide to make any more of these, I strongly recommend you google for "brass hammer", as I've seen them for less than half what Nauticalia sell them at - here, f'r example: http://www.rnhorological.co.uk/hammers%20and%20mallets.htm - you need to scroll down see the screwdriver hammer one

Thanks for posting the link Jemima. This website is a real treasure trove for stempunk projects. At only £3.50 for the brass hammerand screwdriver set, this is a real bargain - and just what I've been looking for. I will certainly be buying one of these plus several other goodies from this site.

Dave

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Nunchuk's are not currently listed as an offensive weapon in the Uk, and have seen them for sale.  Offensive weapons cannot be lawfully bought, sold, imported etc, and they are specifically listed and banned. Swordsticks are offensive weapons as they co rain a concealed blade, so making one would be unlawful and would not be something I would even try.

However, going out with a set of Nunciks in public without good reason, will get them confiscated by the police, as would for example having a bicycle chain or a sharpened screwdriver, or a pickaxe handle, all otherwise innocuous items but problematic as they have no other purpose but to cause harm to another person, unless you can provide a reasonable excuse such as you really are a bicycle repairman, or are replacing the shaft on a broken pickaxe and can show the pick axe head. Nunchuks are used in martial display and tournaments. You would be okay out in public with foam practice nunchuks but may have to expain that they are foam. With anything like this always best to transport in a case which obscures it, as you would for a fencing sword or realistic relics gun. Ever noticed water pistols do not look like replica guns anymore?

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

yes there are cheaper suppliers than Nauticalia, but in installing a gadget it is useful to be able to assess its dimensions, feel, quality and fittings in person which I was able to do with Nauticalia, in their Covent Garden Shop. They encourage you to handle and it was this which convinced me I could build it and the pocket fishing rod they also sell into canes.

Again the same with Craft Supplies of Bradwell, whilst they have an excellent web-site they also have a shop, and again being able to handle and properly measure parts and gadgets before purchase. Website photos and descriptions are often inadequate, leaving you taking a chance it is really what you are after and can adapt it to your purpose. Going to Bradwell tomorrow, actually to pick up some cane making supplies, screw joints and maybe a brass duckhead handle, as it can be fitted to a umbrella. Also looking at brass lions feet table legs and brass acorn pinials for a new cane rack as the current one is full. They also do a kaleidoscope kit which contains a 2 inch brass bezel and glass which would possibly do for the lid of my proposed music box cane head, showing the movement, rather than hiding it.

[elShoggotho]

You could make a pretty standard cane that looks like it could be taken apart for ease of transportation, but in reality contains chain links under the brass covers, to be used as a three section staff like that:

Spoiler: ShowHide

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Collapsible canes are fairly commonplace, but I am looking at a two piece nunchuk , structurally stronger in a cane configuration. I have the necessary components, what I intend to do is make an 5 cm screw on extension to each, half which contains a screw eye at the other end, and use a caribiner to join the screw eyes together. Demounted the extensions should form the handle.

I have another idea, one for the ladies, Craft supplies do atomizer component kits, for perfume, with brass fittings which fit into a cane, suitable for perfume, 3 in 1 oil or holy water. This didn't pop up on their website when I searched for brass. A brass regency handle kit also from Craft Supplies should accomodate the top of the atomizer, although needs to be ground down a bit.

[Esmerelda]

I have a collapsible cane, mine has bungee cord in the middle and folds up, my husband also has one, his is telescoping. They are both BUTT UGLY, but, for me, medically necessary all the time and for my husband, on occasion. I just want something unusual and unique, ladylike but steamy!!!!
Anyone got any great ideas or suggestions?