For some reason the previous thread on this topic has no blank box to post in. If it was locked and I missed it; sorry moderator and delete away! :-)
I read the entire thread but didn't find anyone mention a collapsible or folding stick strong enough to hit something with. Is there such a thing?
And a happy Christmas to everyone. Lets hope this year the recession ends and we can actually buy the gear we discuss here! :-)
qjs

Whenever I think of walking sticks as weapons, I recall the classic Robin Hood/Little John encounter on the bridge - your home turf, QJS...

I get a lot of use out of my collapsible pair of Lekis, which I have had for many years. They have been everything from tent poles to photo scales and measuring rods. "Defensively," I have used them to encourage snakes to leave the path.

In a brawl, they would be better than nothing, but would soon be reduced to scrap, I suspect. While I really like and use my Leki sticks, the best all round bargain is a slightly modified shovel handle from the local hardware store- fully functional and very cheap, and of much more use in the RH/LJ ssituation.

I really cherish a hiking staff as I age - they definitely help you get over the hill. Someday I will be in the market for a tactical walker. What features would that have?

I doubt that there is a collapsible walking stick that would survive a full force blow at half its length. At least I have not found one. And I have been looking for years. To be at all effective it has to have some weight as well as strength.

I have not found a hollow rod of a size and weight that would meet walking stick criteria that would take such a punishment.

That said, there are several things you can do with a typical walking stick that would help if you were in a bad situation.

My favorite is if someone grabs you by the lapels, swing the stick over their arms, hold both ends and push it up their arms into the throat. With practice you can do that very fast. Probably break the stick, but ...

A two handed thrust with the point into some soft tissue is also effective.

However I would not recommend relying on such tactics. But if you have the stick in your hands, at least it has some use.

Let me know if you find one that is strong enough.

Nomad... been beating things with sticks for a long time.

It might not be up to use as a quarterstaff, but a photographer's monopod has some useable weight, especially if you mount a small/medium ball head on it.

Think you are onto something UTalumnus.
Anyone got ideas for something that collapses, that could be used as a walking stick . Tent poles? ski poles? Or if I simply get 2 steel tubes where one will slide inside the other how would I join them? Or ones that fold (be BIG nunchucks! :-) )
qjs

There is the Black diamond Carbon Fibre folding stick with soft touch Derby handle from NHS suppliers Phoenix Walking Sticks.

http://www.sticks.org/acatalog/Carbon_Fibre.html

For the ultimate defensive walking stick, I see that Gandalf's staff, complete with "certificate of authenticity" is now available (made by United Cutlery and available from Knife Center, among others). It is only $129, so get several and save on shipping. Since it is adequate for Balrogs, goblins, and orcs in Middle Earth, it ought to be just fine for any emergencies today. It doesn't fold, and that is a minor inconvenience, but perhaps there will be a Gen 2.......

a little pricier...from Crawford



http://www.crawfordknives.com/SURVIVAL%20STAFF%20PAGE%201.htm

Dont know about folding but that carbon fiber is strong!

Good tips - but my line of thinking is in regards to animals on the trail not other humans. Seriously, when would somebody be using a collapsible walking stick? On the trail. What do you meet on the trail that is dangerous? I am thinking of things like bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, elk, and yes even deer. Can I hit him with the stick? Perhaps but given the light weight, it would be like swatting them with a fly swatter. Rather, I see the walking stick as a poking and jabbing tool and as an aide to keep a bit of distance between me and the beast. Effective? Well, ask me after I have an encounter!

I use sticks as an extention of my body and do a little poking and prodding with them before I put my hands into dangerous locations. I find it also works well in breaking cobwebs. It came in handy when I came across a rattle snake one day, it's use as a guard against its strike was perfect and allowed me to move it off the trail without harm to myself or the snake.

That said, I store my walking stick in the vehicle behind the back seat and any tool can be helpful when warding off a human attack, even a set of keys gouged in their face...