Canes and walking sticks are fun to collect and are found in a large variety of styles. Canes were once a staple in American society. Civil War & Spanish American War veterans were often given a cane for military or community service that were engraved, which makes them fun to research. (The top is heavily gold filled with a floral or swirl motif.)
Gadget canes are fun, too. A cane with a watch is worth 3 to 10 times the normal $50 to $150 value. Canes with hidden whiskey vials inside, glass tubes or hidden knives or swords are sought after. Gun canes (with working guns) are for the most part illegal and must be registered or dismantled. Valuation is also affected by the handle. The occasional solid gold cane top or fanciful carved ivory, or oddly shaped handles are interesting. Sometimes canes were made of animal parts like horns or Narwhal parts. (Don’t ask!) Large, sturdy and taller canes excel.
Unexpected Opportunities
Walking sticks are different. They were fancy affectations for finely dressed gentlemen, or they were used as a genteel-looking weapon. Some had heavy blunt handles to be used in combat. Some were a huge, leather sap to use
as you swung the heavy handle at the head of an aggressor. Some had sharp points at the bottom to thrust into the body of an attacker. Many were just for show, with ivory or sterling silver fittings, and decorated with diamonds or other gems.
While most nondecorative canes made of just wood are only worth $10 to $20, a typical gold-filled cane will bring
$50 to $150. Fancy walking sticks can bring $100 to $1,000. Our record on that was owned by “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, who was well researched and well written about historically. His cane had a large old mine-cut diamond in the center; we sold the cane for $7,000.
Pictured are three ivory-tip gold walking sticks and one silver cane that belonged to a famous Polish novelist and politician, Galecki Taddeus. Auction estimate is $500-$700.
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This is an archival article formerly written and is for informational purposes only. The valuations in this article have likely changed since it was first written.
