[littleknife]

It looks like a vintage congo chestnut to me.

http://www.walking-canes.net/congoeffectchestnutcrook.aspx

Quote:

"The congo effect is produced by pinching the growing chestnut stick at intervals along its length, a year before it is due to be harvested. The wounds then grow over. When the stick is harvested, the bark is removed to reveal the knobbly cane underneath."

http://www.james-smith.co.uk/productitems.cfm?catname=country-bark-and-cane-sticks

http://www.canesgalore.com/images/9017400.jpg

 

[littleknife]

It could be also an antique Jersey cabbage (kale) walking stick:

http://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/Jersey_cabbage_walking_sticks

http://jerseyeveningpost.com/island-life/history-heritage/giant-cabbage/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VICTORIAN-CABBAGE-WALKING-STICK-WITH-HORN-HANDLE-/171279487127?pt=UK_Antiques_Woodenware_RL&hash=item27e10d9097

http://www.canesegas.com/materials/1.jersey.cabbage.cane.html

Evidently, some of the so called "briar" sticks were actually made of Jersey cabbage:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-BRIAR-WALKING-STICK-PRICE-REDUCED-/121302047619?pt=UK_Antiques_Woodenware_RL&hash=item1c3e2a5b83

Quote:

"This auction is for this stunning Victorian CABBAGE STICK it measures a little over 34" from it's crook handle to the fitted brushed brass ferrule. "

They are made even today:

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/pwj/walkingstick.html

http://homestill.co.uk/cabbage.html

 

[littleknife]

And yet another possibility is that of an antique FURZE (gorse) walking stick:

http://www.james-smith.co.uk/productdetails.cfm?prodname=Furze-Root--Nose-Crook

http://www.james-smith.co.uk/productimages/355.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furze

It seems that some of the "briar" sticks were actually made furze (gorse).

I guess "briar" did not refer to a specific species in the stick trade, but rather to a distinct appearance.

 

[littleknife]

Definitely not Gorse (at least in my opinion) but the pictures of Jersey Cabbage make me re-think my suggestion of either Hawthorn or Blackthorn.

I also doubt that it is hawthorn or blackthorn.

The knobs are too numerous and quite regularly spaced, and also have a raised edge, suggesting either an attachment point of a leaf stalk or a man-made scar.

The cut thorns should result in a smoother surface.

Furze (gorse) has a range of appearance. The links I found look different from the OP's cane, but I have seen antique furze sticks which resemble it quite well.

There is also a possibility that it is yet a different plant, not mentioned yet.

Victorian era canes were made of a bewildering variety of materials.