"The advantages of a walking stick that you know how to use as a weapon are really amazing. Proficiency permits you to inflict severe injury without killing – and injury that produces pain beyond belief!
Owning and carrying a walking stick is, as far as we know, legal virtually everywhere. The weapon is always in your hand. This makes it faster into action than a holstered gun under your coat, and faster than a knife that you must produce and open. The walking stick gives you reach, power, and the ability to use force up to and including deadly levels, should that become necessary (vs. a gang attack; a much younger, larger, stronger attacker; or knife-wielder, etc.)."
--excerpted from the July 2018 edition of Bradley J. Steiner's monthly newsletter, "Sword and Pen," available on his website, americancombato.com.
Also see here, and here.