[Steve Plambeck]

I suppose a hollow staff could have a narrow sword such as a foil hidden inside it. It wouldn't add anything to the damage done by the staff, and again it could NOT be a magnetic metal or the staff would have to be dropped for normal spell casting, and that would be rather silly. It would just function as a concealed backup weapon.

Hmmmm.... now I picture a silver spike embedded in the head of the staff, so it could do double duty as a sharp-pointy-thingy :)