guerilla1138
I hope that this fits into this `discussion' of `backups'? I know that *I* consider my cane(s) as *both* a `primary' and a `backup' device as the situation warrants. `Primary' for those times when a firearm isn't `socially acceptable' or may be possibly `overkill' and cause `collateral dammage' and `backup' for those times when I am not able to utilize or not have my gun available. Also... {GRIN!} So many people, BGs included, don't think of a cane or `walking stick' to be a `defensive' weapon and tend to overlook them. For most of us, on duty police officers being an exception, a nice cane or `walking stick' can even be somewhat of a `fashion statement' along with being part of one's defensive gear. (And even for some police officers, IE: If one was `undercover'?, it could very well be such, too.)
A while back when the subject of `alternate' forms of `defensive carry' items came up I'd mentioned that I generally carry a cane or `walking stick' of some sort due to a slight disability I have. I'd also described, somewhat, what one of my canes looked like and how it was made. I finally found some sites that had several examples of ones that were useful and one that had one of what the one I'd mentioned that I like to carry. Here are the `names' and URLs of these sites.
Canes and Walking Sticks from The House of Canes and Walking Sticks
http://www.houseofcanes.com/index.html
This one has quite a few interesting canes shown. But, the one that I am going to use it to point out and that I sometimes find useful to carry is the `seat' cane or `english shooting stick'. It has a handle that, when folded out, forms a sort of a `saddle' that one sits upon. It also has a pointed, peg like, end on it that has a `ground plate' that folds out to keep it from sinking into turf and soft ground. (Though, on mine it also has a rubber cover over the `spike' to make it useable on smooth / slippery surfaces and is, since mine is an antique that I inherited from a dear departed uncle, all metal construction except for the leather of the seat and wrapping the handles.) Part of why I am mentioning it is that while it is a rather `unusual' cane to be carrying quite few people are more curious about it rather than being `put off' by it and don't realize that it can be used as a very devastating `defensive' device. Especially if used as a form of a `Bata' or `Shillelagh'. (Just ask, if you'd like to look him up at the CO state `pen', one `thug' I had occasion to use it upon several years ago. {BSE GRIN!})
Walking canes - walking sticks - rollators - fore-arms - accessories and more --
http://www.walkingequipment.com/
This site also had some fine examples of all sorts of interesting canes and walking sticks, too. The two that I'd like to point out are the `orthopedic' and the `sap' canes. The first one because, the first one on the left in the picture of the different `orthopedic' canes, it has the handle shape like my custom made all metal one I carry the most. Not only is that handle probably one of the most comfortable handles I've ever used but, it also can be very effective as a `hook' that can be used to `catch' certain anatomical `features' of the body to inflict very devastating *pain* and also remove certain weapons while being fairly hard for a BG to grab onto since it isn't as `open' as a regular `crook' cane. On mine it is a lightweight metal casting rather than the usual plastic. The second cane, while like sword canes is quite often considerd a `concealed weapon', is interesting because it has a fairly heavy ASP like spring hidden within it's shaft. Taken as a whole it provides several different possibilities for defensive use. I'm fairly certain that people here will be able to appreciate all of them. {GRIN!}
Irish Stick Fighting, Faction Fighting, Celtic Martial Arts
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4933/shillelagh.html
This last site I'm including because besides offering a bit of `history' of the Shillegah also has information upon the useage of canes in general for defensive purposes. And for some may even provide a point of contact for people and places to get some possible training `locally'.
I hope that you have `fun' browsing the above sites and that they give you some interesting ideas for some `different' `backup' options. BTW, the `pool cue' cane actually works fairly well as a pool cue, too. {CHORTLE!} It *is* somewhat of a compromise either way but I haven't any real complaints with mine even though I do happen to have my own nice two-piece cue and quite a few better canes.