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181:, who would hide a sword inside a staff while disguised as a pilgrim. The swordstick became a popular fashion accessory for the wealthy during the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, it was becoming less socially acceptable to openly carry a sword, but there were still upper-class men routinely trained in swordsmanship who wished to go armed for self-defense. Swords concealed in ladies' walking sticks and parasols were also not unknown, as it was even less socially acceptable for a lady to carry a sword, or publicly admit that she knew how to use one.
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he sword-stick is an instrument I thoroughly detest and abominate, and could not possibly advocate the use of in any circumstance whatever . . . They are poor things as regards length and strength, and 'not in it' with a good stick. . . . The hollowing out of the cane, to make the scabbard,
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Allanson-Winn's objection may also reflect the prevailing view of concealed daggers as ungentlemanly, "of shady reputation": the weapon of a ruffian or "hasty hot-tempered individual" for the "shedding of blood over some trivial, senseless squabble."
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right to keep and bear arms, and a demonstrable tradition of carrying swordsticks in the late 18th
Century when the Constitution was adopted, at least one commentator believes the state law trend will be in the direction of less restriction.
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Code §18.2-308 which prohibits concealed dirks, stiletto knives, and "any weapon of like kind," considered "hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature."
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swordstick maker in South Africa constructs canes and walking sticks of light but exceptionally strong carbon fiber, or titanium, often with an ornately engraved silver or wood head, concealing an 18 inch stainless steel blade.
210:. Ornate designs, such as animal heads, skulls, and various emblems may also be carved into the wooden handles; these may make them harder to wield, but some find them more attractive. Sword canes are most often made with
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blade: strong, supple, and in skilled hands (that is, someone trained in fencing), decisive. A bladeless walking stick or cane has the additional advantage that it is not an illegal concealed weapon (see below).
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A French admirer presented this gold-capped walking stick to
Benjamin Franklin while he was serving as ambassador to France. Franklin later bequeathed the cane to his friend and fellow revolutionary George
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Having a swordstick is considered as having weapons of the 6th category. It is legal to own, however, specific care must be taken in case of transportation. (French defense code; Article L2331-1)
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Allanson-Winn's collaborator in self-defense training C. Phillips Wolley of the
English Inns of Court School of Arms, took a different, perhaps even opposite view: a thrusting weapon is
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Soon after their introduction, other "gadget canes" became popular. Instead of a blade, these would hold the tools of one's trade, compasses, and even flasks for keeping alcohol.
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The utility of a sword-stick for self-defense is questionable. A 19th-century
English expert on fencing, boxing, and close-quarters self-defense, R. G. Allanson-Winn, opined:
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because "English swordsmen realized that the point was much more deadly than the edge." But carrying a sword-cane designed only for a fatal thrust is problematic: the laws of
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Broadsword and Single-stick, with chapters on
Quarter-staff, Bayonet, Cudgel, Shillalah, Walking-Stick, Umbrella, and other Weapons of Self-defense
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Today, designer and collector canes have sterling silver handles, and are made with wooden shafts made from various woods, including
Malacca and
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wood was the most commonly used material in making the cane shafts, and the standard grip was rounded and metallic.
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carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less
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Instead these 19th-century experts recommended as more practical an ordinary walking-stick of Irish blackthorn,
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weapons from around the 18th century. But similar devices have been used throughout history, notably the Roman
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In many jurisdictions the ownership, carrying, manufacturing or trading in sword canes is restricted by law.
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The life of
Captain Alonso de Contreras : Knight of the Military Order of St. John, native of Madrid
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received such a walking stick from a French admirer, and in a codicil to his Will bequeathed it to
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Handling of swordsticks (including those with short blades) is forbidden as concealed weapons.
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U.S. law on swordsticks is inconsistent, varying state-by-state, and currently it is in flux.
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sell a knife to anyone under 18, unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less
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Possession of a swordstick is prohibited in
Belgium as it falls under concealed weapons.
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in 2021, which removed possession and carry restrictions on essentially all knives.
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Some states recently removed statutory restrictions on sword canes, including
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carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife (of which sword sticks are one)
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with statutes that expressly prohibit the carrying of swordsticks include
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Swordsticks are considered a prohibited offensive weapon in New
Zealand.
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A precedent for the swordstick would be used by 17th century century spy
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Firearms and
Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1991 (
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imported from France and Spain displaced the native English and Scots
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The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988,
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Contributory Negligence: A Historical and Comparative Study
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use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife)
495:. Leiden & Boston: Brill Nijhoff. pp. 33–36.
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519:, translated by Catherine Phillips, introduction by
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also made it illegal to trade in sword canes in the
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49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
591:Allanson-Winn, R. G.; Wolley, C. Phillips (1890),
235:renders them almost useless for hitting purposes.
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263:require if possible to disable, not to kill.
394:Other state laws do not prohibit swordsticks
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125:Wood sword cane of Jean Baptiste Faribault
644:Department of Justice (25 January 2019).
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149:. The term is typically used to describe
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
735:
715:Virginia Legislative Information Service
410:in a 2017 amendment to M.C.A. 45-8-316,
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607:"Code de la défense. - Article L2331-1"
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379:(Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120(b)(3)(B)),
414:in 2016, 21 Okl. St.Ann. § 1272, and
646:"Firearms - your questions answered"
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
16:Walking stick with a concealed sword
742:American Knife & Tool Institute
609:(in French). Legifrance. 1939-04-18
538:National Museum of American History
534:"Benjamin Franklin's Walking Stick"
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666:). Signed on 25 March 1991 by
523:. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1926.
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693:"Prohibited offensive weapons"
674:. Statutory Instrument of the
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383:(Cal Pen Code § 12020(a)(1),
565:"(technical specifications)"
489:van Dongen, Emanuel (2014).
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744:. Knife Magazine, July 2021
717:. Virginia General Assembly
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631:December 20, 2012, at the
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736:Lawson, Esq., Daniel C.
738:"The Useful Sword Cane"
799:Modern European swords
515:de Contreras, Alonso,
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678:. Retrieved from
676:Government of Ireland
650:Government of Ireland
563:Burger Canes (2022).
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775:at Wikimedia Commons
672:Minister for Justice
141:containing a hidden
43:improve this article
711:"Va Code §18.2-308"
664:S.I. No. 66 of 1991
440:Ballpoint pen knife
179:Alonso de Contreras
697:New Zealand Police
680:Irish Statute Book
427:U.S. 2nd Amendment
346:It is illegal to:
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771:Media related to
502:978-90-04-27872-1
214:-pointed blades.
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746:. Retrieved
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521:David Hannay
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391:(269 § 12).
371:Examples of
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261:self-defense
247:deadly. The
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99:October 2009
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58:"Swordstick"
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41:Please help
36:verification
33:
773:Swordsticks
551:Washington.
373:U.S. states
319:New Zealand
253:broad-sword
783:Categories
613:2015-05-22
476:References
381:California
160:shikomizue
135:cane-sword
131:swordstick
69:newspapers
668:Ray Burke
629:Archived
567:. Burger
445:Cane gun
434:See also
412:Oklahoma
400:Virginia
385:New York
377:Arkansas
275:Legality
151:European
425:on the
408:Montana
313:Ireland
307:Ireland
299:Germany
283:Belgium
219:bespoke
201:Malacca
173:History
83:scholar
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455:Makila
396:per se
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291:France
249:rapier
212:rapier
208:bamboo
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421:With
257:sabre
166:gupti
155:dolon
147:sword
143:blade
137:is a
90:JSTOR
76:books
750:2023
723:2023
573:2023
546:2023
497:ISBN
416:Ohio
333:ISBN
268:sans
255:and
139:cane
62:news
311:In
245:too
145:or
133:or
45:by
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