Entrenching tools, logic tells me, are made small enough to carry, which means smaller than normal shovels. They may have other attributes than a shovel blade to allow for some parts of digging. I'd think using one would be like wielding a mace or axe.
Nightsticks are another one, there's the traditional blackjack, just about anything of sufficient lenth or weight can be used.
I thought for a minute you were talking about canes, when you said walking stick. The biggest concern would probably be splitting. Cure the wood properly, and maybe bind it, to help with that.