Very quick delivery, as usual - thanx again, TS. <br />My Dad had a couple of cheapie sword canes back in the day, and THANK GOD he never had to actually use one of them for serious; cheap steel blades that bent and wouldn't hold an edge, cheap wood sheaths that split and cracked way too easily - and they weren't very good as canes either.<br />Were he still here, THIS is the sword cane I would supply him with! It is solid, well-made, and well balanced. Comfortable in the hand and not too heavy, it's an excellent walking stick. Spring tempered sword blade is rectangular in cross section and tapers to a VERY POINTY business end; it is all thrust and no cut - Cold Steel demo video shows it being wielded rapier fashion. <br /> <br />I like the heck out of it.<br /><br />Stainless steel head looks like it would make a really spiffy mace, but RESIST THE TEMPTATION to use it as such - bad guy grabs it, HE'S GOT YOUR SWORD!<br />Getting skewered with your own sword is held to be a BAD THING in defensive fighting.<br /><br />Things To Watch Out For:<br /><br />When you unsheath the sword, twist the head CLOCKWISE ONLY as you unsheath it! That tightens the head on the shaft of the sword. If you twist it counterclockwise, you'll loosen the head on the shaft of the sword, and this is BAD for a number of reasons.<br />Reason No. 1: Loose grip on any weapon NEVER GOOD. Sword falling off the grip and clattering at your feet; or worse - grip coming off in your hand while the shaft of the sword remains in the sheath considered HIGHLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE in self defense situation. <br />Reason No. 2: The carbon fiber sheath has a 12" rubber liner or buffer that keeps the shaft of the blade from rattling in the sheath. If the blade unscrews sufficiently, if will catch in the liner, tear it, and foul the blade, making it darn near impossible to unsheath in a hurry. Point of the blade will continually catch in the torn liner, damaging it further. Did manage to finally extract the damaged liner with a coat hanger and lots of colorful language, and Roger at Cold Steel in AZ sent me a new liner gratis.<br />SO - I'd highly recommend that you put a couple of drops of BLUE Loc-Tite on the threads of the head very first thing, and eliminate all kinds of potential unhappiness. <br />Also, be circumspect when you sheath the blade. You don't have to baby it, but don't just slam it in there, either. That said, you do have to work at it to catch the point in the liner, but why look for trouble?<br />This is an excellent piece of gear; if Cold Steel offered this with a sterling silver head, it would be the perfect gentleman's accoutrement.<br />Hope this helps, <br />-G