Collectors of swords and weapons know one uncomfortable truth. There are a whole lot of “sword shaped objects” out there, along with other “collectibles” that don’t do much besides look cool.
Take sword canes as a general collective. Some of them are made with forged construction with suitable steel alloys and even feature full-tang construction. Others are made from cheap, low-grade stainless steels and have a rat-tail tang, if they have a legit tang at all.
In other words, some sword canes are real, and others are not.
The same goes for defense umbrellas, which generally consist of a hidden blade that’s concealed within the shaft of an umbrella, which should function for personal defense if the wielder were called to it.
Of course, you might be wondering the same thing: will it work, or is it a gimmick?
The Million Dollar Question: Are Defense Umbrellas Legit?
First things first, a defense umbrella can be legit, as long as you know what to look for. Not to suggest there aren’t some low-quality models out there, but with the right features and construction, a defense umbrella certainly can be a viable tool for self preservation.
That being said, here are some of the things to look for in a defense umbrella.
What to Look for in a Defense Umbrella
If you’re going to put your hard-earned money into an umbrella that conceals a blade, you’d better be ready to identify quality. Here are some things to look for:
- Appropriate steel: Many sword canes are made with high-carbon steel which is generally harder and stronger than most grades of stainless, but some stainless steels can be appropriate, and at the very least, they will require the least maintenance. Stainless steel can also be appropriate for a sword umbrella since naturally you will be carrying the thing in wet conditions that would rust many grades of high-carbon steel.
- General overall construction: The use of high-quality materials in the construction of the rest of the umbrella, not just the blade steel, is also important as a determinant of quality.
- Full-tang construction: Like any sword cane or other sword, a defense umbrella with a concealed blade should have full-tang construction. This will in part help ensure the blade is structurally sound to be used for defense, if it ever is.
- Easy deployment: Whether you need to unscrew the blade or it drops free with a button or lever, you need to be able to access it quickly.
- Unassuming appearance: You don’t want a defensive umbrella to look like such; it should look as much like a typical, run-of-the-mill umbrella as possible.
- A comfortable, no-slip handle: Umbrellas are carried in the rain. For that reason alone they should be made with a comfortable, ergonomic handle with a non-slip grip.
- An actual umbrella that works: Lastly, let’s not lose sight of the fact that this is an umbrella first and a weapon second. If it doesn’t work for its intended purpose, you’re only getting half the value of the whole thing.
Where to Get a Real Defense Umbrella
If you landed here not just because you were curious as to whether or not a defense umbrella could be real in the sense that you could use it for protection, but were actually looking for a place where you could buy one, that place would be True Swords.
Aptly named, True Swords carries a wide collection of swords and weapons, including sword canes, shillelaghs, and of course, the sword umbrellas that are the focus of this short post. For more information visit their website or get in touch with them today.
For more information about Rengoku Sword and Japanese Sword Please visit: True Swords.
