Cane Construction

A lot of different materials have been used to make walking canes. From sturdy metals to exotic woods, walking canes come in all materials imaginable.

There was a time when a walking cane was considered to be a must-have fashion accessory for the elite. Canes from the mid 1600’s to the 19^th century were pieces of art, decorated with precious jewels and carved from whalebone and exotic woods from far away lands. The handles were made of ivory, gold and silver, and were embellished with rubies, diamonds and other precious gems. There were canes made of jade and quartz, and many had enamel colored collars. For those who are inclined towards something bold and unique, there were (and still are) canes made of a real bull penis!

Today the walking cane has evolved into a physical aid inclined towards practically while still being stylish. Common materials used to make Walking Canes include the following:

Lucite Canes:

Lucite canes, also known as Translucent / Plexiglas canes, are durable, stable and yet very stylish. Lucite offers the perfect compromise between style and comfort that make Lucite canes ideal for use. Lucite canes are particularly famous for their beautiful luster. These canes have high quality gray steel inserts thus providing you a durable and stable walking aid.

Aluminum Canes:

Aluminum canes are strong and extremely durable. They are ideal for well-supported walks and make daily tasks like walking, sitting and climbing stairs easy for the user.

Carbon Fiber Canes:

Carbon fiber is one of strongest and lightest materials that can be used in walking canes. Carbon fiber canes are extremely sturdy and strong. They are durable and lightweight and have a classic air of sleek style about them. Folding Carbon fiber canes are a great option as they can easily be stored in hand bags or carry-on luggage without being too heavy.

Wooden Canes:

Wood is perhaps the oldest and most common material used in walking canes. A great variety of woods have been used for this purpose. A Wooden Walking Cane is not only durable and long lasting, but also very beautiful and classically stylish. Wooden shafts come in all sorts of intricately carved designs, while the handle may also be made of wood. Sometimes exotic woods are used to create unique canes with understated style and grace.

Popular woods used to make Walking canes include Rosewood, Pine, Ash, Beechwood, Zebrano, Wenge, Ebony, and Mahogany. 

Bamboo Canes:

Bamboo canes are quite popular due to their light weight and earthy look. Walking canes get their name from the fact that rattans from the Cane Family, including Bamboos, have been extensively used to make walking sticks throughout history.

Leather Canes:

Sometimes the handle or the entire cane is covered in hand-stitched leather. This gives a sleek, dignified look to cane and helps absorb sweat and moisture to give a solid grip on the handle.

Handle Materials:

The handle of a cane can be wooden or made of brass, chrome, silver or gold. Ivory has been used in the past for making Walking Cane handles. Mother of Pearl encrusted handles, and those embellished with diamonds and other precious/semi precious stones have been a common sight in the past.

Ostrich leather is sometimes used to cover the handle. It is light beige and lends a unique look and style to the cane.

Sometimes horns of different animals are used to create handles, common type being Stag Horns.

Canes Made of Unusual Materials:

Some very unique and strange materials have been employed to make Walking Canes in the past. These include hippopotamus skin, tortoise shell, snakeskin, rhino horn, woven-wild grass fibers and yarns, wrought iron, glass, and even cabbage!

Canes have also been made using date palm cluster, palm tree and palm stem, snake spinal column, Shark spinal column canes and whalebone.