I blew my knee out pretty bad this weekend on the rugby pitch; I’m probably going to need surgery. I have crutches, but every time I’ve ever had a knee injury, I end up only using one of them (it just seems easier that way). Now, I know I should probably use two, but I’m not going to.
So I’d like to buy a cane. I’d prefer something handmade in the USA. Any advice on where to shop? The only place I can recall seeing them is at Walgreens, but if my memory serves me, they were all cheap aluminum machined in China.
A lot of gift shops have them, especially the ones that sell woodcraft or wilderness-themed items. I’d think there’d be a lot of that kind of thing around Santa Fe.
You could also try a walking stick; Mr. S has a dozen or so, and he swears by them when he has knee or ankle trouble. His favorite is a cattlemen’s cane that he got for something like $5 at Fleet Farm (farm supply store). Just a plain wooden cane, but very solid. I imagine that places like Cabela’s or Gander Mountain might have them.
And at Rite-Aid, they have cheap aluminum canes, made in Taiwan. If you look hard at Target, you might find cheaply-made wood canes, machine-bent from the finest bamboo.
Canes and walking sticks have become one of those odd little artforms - there’s no shortage of people making them, but they’re generally either by custom order or if you’re lucky, you can find someone selling them at a local crafts fair or Renaissance Faire.
If you’re in no rush, google with something like handmade canes walking sticks and see what’s out there.
Also, have a look at eBay - take a look in the Clothing, Shoes & Accessories > Men’s Accessories section. If you don’t narrow it down like that, you’ll be buried with wicker furniture, beaded things and candles.
Thanks! I’m getting pretty used to being injured, the last two times I’ve been elected captain I’ve been injured within the month. Last time I was elected captain of the England touring side in March of 2006, and blew out my hamstring. Our team’s been having it bad, this’ll be the third knee surgery in the past year for us, and the second in as many months.
Thanks also to those who have replied with suggestions, I appreciate it! Keep 'em coming.
Well, there should be no shortage of woodworkers in Santa Fe…you could contact a woodworkers’ guild and see if one of the members will make you something. The downside is, you may have trouble finding someone experienced at making comfortable, functional canes; on the other hand, the members of such guilds are all probably 70+ year old men who use canes themselves, so you may strike gold.
Hell, my dad’s a woodcarver, I’ll ask him what he’d do for a cane. I’d bet he could turn one out in less than a day, easy.
