I remember seeing a cane once based on the Polish Ciupaga or a variant. While all wood, it had an axe-shaped head, sturdy body, and a nice point at the tip. I thought it was intriguing from the self-defense perspective: there was a lot going on and it looked like you could explore the possibilities for quite awhile.

It looks like someone (you might recognize the fella from his pics if you’re familiar with Western MA) has begun exploring the real deal. At The Oprishki, you’ll find an exploration of the axe fighting methods of the Carpathian mountains. Even better, you’ll find plenty of folklore, fighting methods, and other cultural artifacts of the central and eastern European folk.