Shooting stick

Walking Stick with a Carbine Modern people associate weapons concealed in long items with James Bond and gadgets used by him, but it should be remembered that since the beginning of their history, weapons were hidden due to various reasons (e.g. to surprise the enemy); firearms underwent the same procedure later. The most popular idea was to hide both cold weapons and firearms in walking sticks, which were a typical attribute of a man's attire. Initially, the cutting blades of cold weapons were hidden in walking sticks; after taking off (releasing the block) the wooden part, a slashing weapon was created. After the invention of firearms, attempts were also made to stow them away in walking sticks. This feat was accomplished by the English gunsmith John Day, who managed to hide a single-shot cap gun in a walking stick. The weapons were also hidden in officers’ whips, umbrellas or even in desks. The walking stick in the collection of the Castle Museum in Łańcut has a single shot carbine hidden in the wooden part of the walking stick. The trigger mechanism is assembled in the handle of the stick. It is disputable whether the device was used for personal protection or for hunting. The range of shots, the accuracy and the resulting efficiency puts the last function in doubt. The Museum collection also features walking sticks used during hunting, yet their function is limited to a makeshift chair which is created after unfolding the handle in the right way.