Sword Canes
Sword Canes
A Brief Sword Cane History
Canes were, for a period of at least three centuries, as crucial a part of the male wardrobe as a pair of trousers is now. Indeed, men were likely to have several canes, to be used on different occasions‚ at the office, going out in the evening and at the weekends.
They were carried, not as a walking aid, but as an ornament and an indication of the owner's wealth and status. Canes originated out of the male psyche, which associates carrying a stick with power. Kings carry scepters, Black Rod carries a rod, Merlin carried a wand and Moses used a staff to part the waves. And in the 17th century, when men had just put down their swords, they started carrying blades hidden in canes.
Weapon canes, as the name implies, concealed swords, daggers, spikes, flails, bludgeons and even guns. Some particularly sinister sticks were those outfitted with retractable razor blades and spikes along the shaft. The use of sword walking sticks was predominant in the 17th and 19th century.
Our Sword Cane Selection
One of the most intriguing uses of sword canes was in The Sandbar Fight, also known as the Vidalia Sandbar Fight, where a one-on-one duel ended up in a violent brawl on September 19, 1827. After Major Norris Wright failed to hit James "Jim" Bowie (the Texas Revolution hero) with his pistol, he then drew his sword cane and stabbed Bowie in the chest, but the thin blade was deflected by his sternum. As Major Wright attempted to pull the blade free, Bowie reached up, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him down upon the point of his Bowie knife.
Despite Major Wright's unsuccessful attempt at using the sword cane, we see them as beautiful blades for any collection and effective weapons that require less training than a proper sword. Because of their hidden nature, several US states have limitations on their carry and even possession, so please be sure to check your state's laws regarding knives and swords before purchasing.