| Although the safety of the city was significantly | | | | These ornamentation actually made the sword |
| improved during Victorian times, many gentlemen | | | | canes difficult to use as weapons, but many |
| still carried some sort of weapon for protection. | | | | preferred appearance over practicality. |
| Carrying a sword was no longer in fashion so, | | | | Sword canes, however impractical in modern |
| although walking canes were not originally designed | | | | times, still attract many men's imaginations, and |
| for orthopedic use but for fashion (such as the | | | | are often used in movies. Recent Victorian-era |
| collectors' antique walking canes seen today), they | | | | movies, such as "Sherlock Holmes" and |
| were the de facto choice of weapon for many | | | | "Wolfman", displayed extremely attractive sword |
| gentlemen. Although most did not have any | | | | walking sticks. In "Sherlock Holmes", Jude Law, as |
| training in fighting, there were actually some | | | | Dr. Watson, carries around an ornate round-head |
| schools teaching "cane-fighting". Techniques taught | | | | bachelor cane with a slim blade. It is a very |
| in these schools were based on the traditional | | | | handsome thing for a young professional to carry. |
| European system of stick-fighting, and other | | | | In "Wolfman", Anthony Hopkins, father of the |
| sword-fighting systems. There were quite a few | | | | Wolfman, has a heavily decorated wolf-head |
| manuals written in the 18th and 19th centuries, | | | | sword cane with a thicker blade - more like a |
| and you can even find some written in the early | | | | saber. This cane was, again, very suitable for an |
| 20th century. One of most famous cane-fighting | | | | established old gentleman. |
| books of the early 20th century is A. C. | | | | You can still buy many models of sword walking |
| Cunningham's "The Cane As A Weapon" and | | | | sticks, but the majority do not come with a sharp |
| original copies can still be found occasionally in | | | | edge for good reason! These are more for |
| used-book stores. | | | | decorative use, and often used in theater. Some |
| Not surprisingly, some canes actually had a long | | | | sword canes come with a stainless steel blade |
| blade installed. The sword canes became more | | | | that can be sharpened (if it is not already sharp). |
| popular as the the carrying of swords declined | | | | They are not "real" swords, but sharp enough to |
| and firearms replaced them as the main weapons. | | | | cut though many things. |
| The popularity of these sword walking sticks | | | | You need to be careful, however, about buying |
| peaked around the mid-18th century, but they | | | | and carrying sword canes. The sword walking |
| were still used into Victorian times. The length of | | | | sticks is considered a concealed weapon and if |
| the blade changes significantly among different | | | | your state has strict rules there are also heavy |
| types of sword walking sticks. Some sword | | | | penalties for breaking those laws. Some states, |
| canes are more like a knife cane. Some have a | | | | such as Massachusetts and New York, prohibit |
| double blade, others have a single blade, and still | | | | sales of sword canes and you cannot buy them |
| others have a sharp point for thrusting, but not | | | | from here. You can buy sword canes out of |
| for cutting. Because it was simple to construct, | | | | state and may take them home, but you can't |
| the last type, a sharp-point sword, is currently | | | | carry them outside of the house (which actually |
| most commonly found in antique sword walking | | | | makes it difficult to transport the sword from out |
| canes from the 18th and 19th centuries. | | | | of state to your home). Please pay attention to |
| Since the sword canes, like walking canes in | | | | your state's laws regarding the sword walking |
| general, were also a display of the owner's taste, | | | | canes. |
| they were often extensively decorated. From | | | | In any case, please enjoy the antique sword |
| ancient times, most deadly weapons have often | | | | walking cane as an art form, not as a weapon. |
| been artistically decorated, as you can find in | | | | The most deadly thing can be a most beautiful |
| many museums. The same is true of the sword | | | | art form - or the other way around - depending |
| walking sticks. Many cane handles were made | | | | on its use. I hope that you enjoy the beauty in its |
| from ornate silver, carved wood, the finest ivory, | | | | creation, rather than its potential for destruction. |
| and even embellished with jewels and crystals. | | | | |