Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 14th August 2025, 01:58 PM

LOL! Good notes Keith.....The UK and the US separated by a common language! I recall going to London years ago, thinking this is a piece of cake, its the same language

......well, half the time I needed an interpreter!
Well noted though...it is indeed about communicating, but this exercise has taught me a great deal, and that is most important to me...learning.

Back to the sword canes:
I wanted to locate cases in written works where these were noted, and perhaps content supporting how and when likely actually used, hoping for historical context.

In the archaeological strata of my 'note mountains', I found an entry from 1997, an apparent auction offering described as the sword cane of Dr. Syntax.
Completely bewildered, I looked it up:
This was one of the first 'comic' adventures written by William Combe (1742-1843) in "The Three Tours of Doctor Syntax".
I have yet to find exactly which installment held reference to a sword cane, and even more puzzling, the offering of such a weapon from a fictional character. I wish I had more of the detail!

Thus far, still looking for more literary references, but it has become interesting to see how the sword cane, apparently not a focused detail of particular notice in these early works, has become a notably used prop in modern venues.

In the Antonio Banderas version of "The Mask of Zorro" his character, Alejandro Murrietta, uses a sword cane as a trope heightening his disguise as a gentleman dandy.
In the 1968 version of "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" starring Jack Palance, as he transforms into the evil Mr. Hyde, the sword cane again presents as a prop emphasizing his threatening character.

In "Batman", the evil character 'the Penguin' carrys a sword cane.

But in the 60's in the TV series, "The Avengers" the hero, John Steed, carries a sword cane formidably as the gentleman, FIGHTING evil and injustice.

In studying the history of such a mysteriously dynamic weapon such as the sword cane/stick, it is difficult to avoid recognizing the kinds of representations occurring in fictional sources. It is the seeds of actuality in these that give perspective to better understanding the true character of the weapon as perceived, despite the hyperbole and lore.

14th August 2025, 01:58 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,506	From status accessories to theatrical props LOL! Good notes Keith.....The UK and the US separated by a common language! I recall going to London years ago, thinking this is a piece of cake, its the same language ......well, half the time I needed an interpreter! Well noted though...it is indeed about communicating, but this exercise has taught me a great deal, and that is most important to me...learning. Back to the sword canes: I wanted to locate cases in written works where these were noted, and perhaps content supporting how and when likely actually used, hoping for historical context. In the archaeological strata of my 'note mountains', I found an entry from 1997, an apparent auction offering described as the sword cane of Dr. Syntax. Completely bewildered, I looked it up: This was one of the first 'comic' adventures written by William Combe (1742-1843) in "The Three Tours of Doctor Syntax". I have yet to find exactly which installment held reference to a sword cane, and even more puzzling, the offering of such a weapon from a fictional character. I wish I had more of the detail! Thus far, still looking for more literary references, but it has become interesting to see how the sword cane, apparently not a focused detail of particular notice in these early works, has become a notably used prop in modern venues. In the Antonio Banderas version of "The Mask of Zorro" his character, Alejandro Murrietta, uses a sword cane as a trope heightening his disguise as a gentleman dandy. In the 1968 version of "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" starring Jack Palance, as he transforms into the evil Mr. Hyde, the sword cane again presents as a prop emphasizing his threatening character. In "Batman", the evil character 'the Penguin' carrys a sword cane. But in the 60's in the TV series, "The Avengers" the hero, John Steed, carries a sword cane formidably as the gentleman, FIGHTING evil and injustice. In studying the history of such a mysteriously dynamic weapon such as the sword cane/stick, it is difficult to avoid recognizing the kinds of representations occurring in fictional sources. It is the seeds of actuality in these that give perspective to better understanding the true character of the weapon as perceived, despite the hyperbole and lore.