Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Miscellania
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 17th February 2024, 11:31 PM   #1
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default Sword canes

Unusual topic, and honestly had never thought much on it, but just realized this field might deserve some further attention. I have not been able to find any reference material specifically discussing these.

While there seems to be a great deal of attention to self defense using the walking stick, to the point that use of these was even taught in certain fencing schools from 19th-into 19th c. there does not seem to be the information on those which had the blade within.

Does anybody have information/interest in these? WAY esoteric!
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th February 2024, 12:51 AM   #2
werecow
Member
 
werecow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Leiden, NL
Posts: 493
Default

They are interesting. A local antique shop had one with an 18th century hollow ground triangular section smallsword blade, but unfortunately I was out of sword moneys again and when I went back to make an offer a little while later it had been sold. I should have taken pictures.

Since I don't have much in depth knowledge myself I will leave a couple of videos by Matt Easton:

Swordsticks - the walking cane with a sword blade inside

SWORDSTICKS! Use in historical newspapers & the law

EDIT: Oh and also, this Chinese example:
Exceptional Qing Sword Cane

Last edited by werecow; 18th February 2024 at 01:07 AM.
werecow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th February 2024, 12:12 AM   #3
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Thanks for answering Werecow!!!
Not a great deal of interest in these it would seem, and they appear to have a lot of legal concern as concealed weapons. What piqued my interest was watching a Sherlock Holmes movie and in the Victorian clutter of Holmes' place was a rack of about 7 or 8 sword canes...just thought they were cool.
Much appreciated and thanks for these video clips......surprised there seems to be no published volume on these.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th February 2024, 10:53 AM   #4
fernando
(deceased)
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
Default

Jim, providing i understand the meaning of your query, starting from the forum 'search' button to 'searching' out there, the sword canes (or sticks) subject opens are a wide range of data; from toothpick styles to lethal examples, from various Countries ... to even more than one Continent.
Since a long while back i have owned a few of these, covering various purposes, some close to fakes to others of official use. Eventually those with authentic early sword blades



-
Attached Images
      
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th February 2024, 07:13 PM   #5
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Thank you Fernando! These are as I would expect with you, superb examples and exactly what I was looking for. I am much chagrined for not going to the search here, which I invariably use, but I suppose wasnt sure what category these would fall into. Thinking they might not be considered 'real' weapons, but perhaps a novelty in the 'weapons curiosa' genre, I didnt think of the search.

While I am hoping of course to find an authentic 19th century example, with of course a rapier blade (as yours have !) I have little confidence in most of the popular sources. Also, as these are concealed weapons, the regulatory madness has encroached on the owning of these in some areas.

Also I was hoping to find a good reference that might discuss these in depth, as my references seem to have a great void in study of these. There is some detail online, but very old school, I was hoping to find a hard copy of something.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th February 2024, 09:47 PM   #6
drac2k
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,230
Default

In Japan, these canes were called Shikomi-Zue and they gained in popularity after the Hatorei Edict in 1870 forbidding farmers and merchants from owning swords and the Haito Edict in 1876 also made it unlawful for Samurai to wear swords.
Attached Images
         
drac2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th February 2024, 09:35 PM   #7
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Thanks Drac, I would never have thought of the sword cane etc. in Japan, but after westernization and the end of the Samurai (at least as officially recognized) it seems understandable this concealed form of sword would prevail.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st February 2024, 12:16 AM   #8
drac2k
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,230
Default

Thank you for bringing the subject up.
drac2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th February 2024, 12:23 PM   #9
Pertinax
Member
 
Pertinax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: City by the Black Sea
Posts: 156
Default

Presumably Germany early 20th century
Attached Images
     
Pertinax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th February 2024, 11:30 PM   #10
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,761
Default

This one I've found in my saved pictures!
Attached Images
  
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.