WALKING STICKS AND CANES
For early man, walking sticks canes were very functional; creating a weight transfer at each step the traveler made along his way. They could also be used for protection from smaller animals to humans with nefarious intentions. In the Middle Ages, some canes had a small sword built into the shaft. When protecting themselves, it could be quickly drawn and used in self defense.
Jesus used a walking stick. Many Biblical historians believe He used His walking stick to drive the money lenders and changers from the Temple. Others say He used a whip. No matter that, the wooden walking stick goes back into antiquity — long before man learned to write.
The cane surely came along well after the walking stick had reached its zenith. Mankind has managed to take the antique design of the cane more than 10,000 years ago, to new heights in this new high-tech world.
Most canes are still mostly made of wood, but now they are also fabricated from metal, plastic, epoxy materials, glass, and some are made of the modern space age composites that new aircraft are fabricated from — the new Boeing 787 airframe is made, using well over half of its structural cabin shape, from composite materials. These new materials are ideal for canes. The cane can be made exceptionally strong but yet weigh less than a pound. These new canes are a far cry from the canes used by sheppards to 'hook' the animals, one at a time, and move them about in the herd or to sort out the sick from the well.
These high-tech canes now have built in radios, cell phones, miniature TVs, and are often lighted. Especially the white canes carried by the sight impaired. A person who cannot see will often go outside in total darkness while a sighted person would not. A lighted guide cane would not help the blind person, but would certainly warn a person, in a car navigating the dark streets at night, that there is a sight impaired person trying to cross the street.
These modern high-tech canes are often multi-colored and some have beautiful computer rendered designs along the shanks and handles. Many are designed for the individual and he or she can express their own mystic or persona by using the cane as an art form media.
Walking sticks canes function as canes in some societies. Scotland is well known for its Clan Walking Sticks or Shafts. The ornate markings and cloth patterns associated with the Scottish walking stick also display the colors of the Clan Tartan.
The souvenir trade in Scottish walking sticks and canes is a big business. There is a large industry making these wooden copies of antique Clan walking sticks and canes for tourists. Almost every village in the Highlands has a walking stick canes shop.
