Victorian sword stick esoterica

urbanspaceman · 13th August 2025, 08:46 AM

Hey Jim, for some odd reason the dealer and auction world of the UK has been saturated with sword-sticks of late. The variety of blades used is legion; many full length, and some no more a a foot long. A heavily weighted top to the stick was also popular.
Of course, carrying either one is strictly illegal in this country where we have to give the criminals and the thugs a decent chance; anything else is hardly cricket, is it?
Your example is extremely rare; most are trefoil or slim lenticular.
I came across this example which mystified me for a while, not being privy to the traditions of societies. It was missing the vital element of course, but once revealed, the mystery was actually more stimulating than the explanation.
Name: Sword in a Cane 2.jpg
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Name: Sword in a Cane 2.jpg
Views: 1393
Size: 35.1 KB

Akanthus · 13th August 2025, 09:44 AM

In Germany allone possession is forbidden by a very strict gun law.

Jim McDougall · 13th August 2025, 02:38 PM

Thank you so much gents!
One of the biggest problems I have had in acquiring one of these has been of course the legality issue. Naturally my quest has been to find a historic weapon for 'historic' study, but of course many laws have little reasonable meter in typical verbatim application, and characteristically are followed to the latter by plebian officials.
OK, that might have been a rant!

Keith, thank you for noting the blade. That was key in this! It is an early rapier blade rather than the trefoil type found in small swords mostly of the 18th century. While this is of course Victorian, it begs the question, how did the maker of this interesting example come to use such an early blade?
The 'anchor' symbol is of course among the variations used in Solingen in following the Spanish tradition using these, usually at the terminus of the fuller.

It seems there are certain variations of these devices by the numbers of arms and their varying widths as well as separations and other elements, but no particular study has been done as far as I know. It would be interesting to discover a comparison of this example on an intact rapier, but there is the dreaded 'needle in a haystack' axiom

It seems to me you once had a swordstick with Aiala blade?

This is a superb example, as the echelon of gentlemen carrying these sword sticks were typically trained and skilled in swordsmanship, and would have held such an esteemed blade in high honor and tradition.

13th August 2025, 08:46 AM	#1
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 722	Sticks Hey Jim, for some odd reason the dealer and auction world of the UK has been saturated with sword-sticks of late. The variety of blades used is legion; many full length, and some no more a a foot long. A heavily weighted top to the stick was also popular. Of course, carrying either one is strictly illegal in this country where we have to give the criminals and the thugs a decent chance; anything else is hardly cricket, is it? Your example is extremely rare; most are trefoil or slim lenticular. I came across this example which mystified me for a while, not being privy to the traditions of societies. It was missing the vital element of course, but once revealed, the mystery was actually more stimulating than the explanation.

13th August 2025, 09:44 AM	#2
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 86	In Germany allone possession is forbidden by a very strict gun law.

13th August 2025, 02:38 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,658	Thank you so much gents! One of the biggest problems I have had in acquiring one of these has been of course the legality issue. Naturally my quest has been to find a historic weapon for 'historic' study, but of course many laws have little reasonable meter in typical verbatim application, and characteristically are followed to the latter by plebian officials. OK, that might have been a rant! Keith, thank you for noting the blade. That was key in this! It is an early rapier blade rather than the trefoil type found in small swords mostly of the 18th century. While this is of course Victorian, it begs the question, how did the maker of this interesting example come to use such an early blade? The 'anchor' symbol is of course among the variations used in Solingen in following the Spanish tradition using these, usually at the terminus of the fuller. It seems there are certain variations of these devices by the numbers of arms and their varying widths as well as separations and other elements, but no particular study has been done as far as I know. It would be interesting to discover a comparison of this example on an intact rapier, but there is the dreaded 'needle in a haystack' axiom It seems to me you once had a swordstick with Aiala blade? This is a superb example, as the echelon of gentlemen carrying these sword sticks were typically trained and skilled in swordsmanship, and would have held such an esteemed blade in high honor and tradition.