You can use any walking stick as a defense weapon.

Forget the caveman swing. Grasp the stick in both hands, and push it towards your target. Think thrust, not swing. Accompanied by a loud yell, this is effective on people and animals.

If it's collapsible, collapse it. Tends not to break this way.

Guaranteed, you shove the end of a stick, pointed or not, into somebody or something, they will not want to play after one or two pokes.

Thrust and holler.

You might want to look at this product:

http://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Designs-50...ck+staff+travel

It collapses/disassembles into a fairly small package.

It is a bit more heavy duty than most collapsible staffs. One end has a very durable carbide spike concealed by the screw-off cap and top has a sturdy walnut knob.

I've used one of these for years and, while it certainly wouldn't be my first choice as a defensive tool, I would pick it over any other collapsible staff I've seen.

I figure if you scream like a maniac while swinging a stick in the same maniacal fashion, it may deter the baddie. Being struck with anything should stop the advance for just that moment needed to get away. Besides, a frayed end of a carbon composite stick has lots of little sticky, pointy things.