How do I measure cane length?

Turn the stick upside down and measure from the base of the ferrule to the highest point of the handle. This gives the overall length used to gauge whether a cane suits a specific user. Historically, makers measured in inches. Most standard examples fall between thirty-two and thirty-six inches.

My grandfather left me a wooden stick with a silver collar but the ferrule at the bottom is missing and the wood is split, can I get it fixed?

Missing ferrules are a standard issue. You can have a new metal tip fitted by a specialist restorer to protect the shaft from further damage. They will need to trim the split timber back to solid wood before attaching the new ferrule. This shortens the antique walking stick slightly.

What does the wrist cord do?

A wrist cord stops the cane falling to the ground if the user loses their grip. It also allows the owner to hang the stick from a peg when not in use.

I bought an old walking cane with a heavy metal handle shaped like a duck head, why is it so much heavier than my others?

Metal handles cast in bronze or brass add extra weight to the top of the stick. This shifts the centre of gravity away from the shaft, altering how the cane swings during a walk. Novelty shapes like animal heads were cast solid rather than hollow. The heavy top requires a dense wood shaft to keep the cane balanced in the hand.

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Antique Walking Sticks from the 19th Century

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Antique walking sticks are rigid, hand-held mobility aids and fashion accessories crafted from various woods or metals, topped with a shaped handle and finished with a protective ferrule at the base.