I am taking "cane self defense" from Master Gary Hernandez-Realistic Defensive Tactics "RDT System"
https://garyhernandezmartialarts.com/instructors/bio/id/3137. I began taking classes from Grand Master Joe Robaina -American Cane Self Defense, and I follow Master Matt Pasquinilli-Quantum Martial Arts. All these instructors have YT videos you can watch to see what it is all about and great training videos free. Also they have online Zoome training with students all over the world. Additionally by far the best, but expensive, source of self defense canes is
Canemasters https://canemasters.com/. The three instructors listed above and Cane Masters are located in Florida. Robaina, Pasquinilli and Cane Masters are in the Miami area. Hernandez is in the Tampa Bay area about 60 miles north of me. The reason Florida and especially the Miami area is a hot bed for cane self defense is Mark Surey. He is still around and you can look him up on the net for information if interested. A walking stick is not a medical device. A cane with a crook is a medical device under the ADA and you don't have to explain or have an excuse for having a cane with a crook in your possession under HIPPA. You have the legal right to take the cane anywhere in the US-bars, courthouse, Whitehouse, airports, ect-no place is the cane prohibited. You don't have to limp or act as though you are among the walking dead or wounded. If is advisable to use common sense and not run through TSA with the cane under your arm. It is my understanding that TSA is rather liberal with the "crook requirement" and many walking canes without crooks are not questioned. Some of the pics I've seen posted may raise TSA and other locations with security "concerns". I am fortunate to belong to a gym that has a martial arts/boxing room and allow me to workout on the heavy bags. If you are interested in this subject I recommend you checkout the three instructors mentioned above and the Cane Master site. Very few people have any understanding how deadly and practical an appropriate walking cane is for self defense if the user has a reasonable level of training-don't have to be a black belt but have the basics down. Just like with a firearm your best defense is your brain, avoid stupid, and situational awareness.
The cane vs a firearm is not a mutually exclusive decision. Just because you "can" use deadly force doesn't necessarily mean you "should"-depends upon the situation. The cane give you another option, and you can take the cane where you can't legally take the gun, AND you have your cane already in your hand. You are 1.5-2 seconds faster with the cane. It can give you time to get to the handgun you're carrying. While the cane is a medical device, once you whack someone with it,
the cane becomes a deadly weapon, like a firearm, capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.
I would not intentionally strike someone in the head, throat, neck or spine unless I would shoot them under the same circumstances. The "carry" insurance we discuss and many have is for "self defense"-not limited to firearms. So such insurance includes coverage for "cane whacking" as well. Studying the Cane Master site will give you wood workes some ideas. Use oak or hickory, preferably the hickory.