In the British Army before
World War I, swagger sticks were carried by all
other ranks when off duty, as part of their walking out uniform. The stick took the form of a short cane of polished wood, with an ornamented metal head of regimental pattern. The usual custom was for the
private soldier or
non-commissioned officer (NCO) to carry the stick tucked under his arm. Cavalrymen carried a small riding cane instead of the swagger stick of infantry and other branches. In the
British Army and other military forces following the
Commonwealth traditions,
commissioned officers of most infantry regiments formerly carried swagger sticks (described as canes) when on duty, whilst warrant officers and senior NCOs carried
pace sticks instead. This practice continues in some regiments, especially by
warrant officers when in
Barrack Dress.
Cavalry officers would often carry a
riding crop rather than a swagger stick, in deference to their mounted traditions. In some Irish regiments in the British army, such as the
Royal Irish Regiment (1992), officers carried a
blackthorn walking stick, based on the
shillelagh. In the
Royal Tank Regiment, officers carried an '
ash plant' or walking stick instead, in reference to
World War I tank attacks, when officers would prepare lines of advance by testing the ground's firmness and suitability for tanks. ==United States==