My mind wanders sometimes. This time it's towards a defensive / other purpose item in common circulation. At lease one of all three are at my house and could if needed, be pressed into a personal, animal or home defense role.
The Louisville Slugger is an old 36" 32 oz. ash baseball bat.
The easy to get to pick handle is also 36" in length and weighs 34 oz. It's hickory.
Multi crowbars here but if there was ever a rumble out at the shop, I'd pick up the one that's 35" long and weighs a solid 74 ounces of 1" octagonal steel bar that's crowbar hardened with appropriate toughness.
The Louisville Slugger, while nothing to dismiss on any level is just plain not first choice. In an out of the way storage place and it's becoming an heirloom. But would it do the job. Well they surely have now and again.
The pick handle has a lanyard for hanging and retention. Handle end is grooved about 12" up from the butt. The slightly oval shape is a plus. No one needs to point out the history of the pick handle as a weapon, and so I won't. In a pinch, you could actually use it as a pick handle.
Now to the crowbar. Of them all, it's the one I would fear the most. But it's so damned heavy. And not really grippy. I'm not at all sure I would go to it first. As a tool to never be without, it's top five for sure.
Other tools come to mind too of course. I have a shovel that's the functional equivalent of a broad axe for example. Forged very straight steel blade and shank, solid fiberglass short D handle. Sharp as any axe on all sides of the blade. It's chopped a lot of roots and would take a severe toll on body parts if ever put to that use.
So, forgive me for my wondering and dark wandering, and do share any thoughts you might care to!
The Louisville Slugger is an old 36" 32 oz. ash baseball bat.
The easy to get to pick handle is also 36" in length and weighs 34 oz. It's hickory.
Multi crowbars here but if there was ever a rumble out at the shop, I'd pick up the one that's 35" long and weighs a solid 74 ounces of 1" octagonal steel bar that's crowbar hardened with appropriate toughness.
The Louisville Slugger, while nothing to dismiss on any level is just plain not first choice. In an out of the way storage place and it's becoming an heirloom. But would it do the job. Well they surely have now and again.
The pick handle has a lanyard for hanging and retention. Handle end is grooved about 12" up from the butt. The slightly oval shape is a plus. No one needs to point out the history of the pick handle as a weapon, and so I won't. In a pinch, you could actually use it as a pick handle.
Now to the crowbar. Of them all, it's the one I would fear the most. But it's so damned heavy. And not really grippy. I'm not at all sure I would go to it first. As a tool to never be without, it's top five for sure.
Other tools come to mind too of course. I have a shovel that's the functional equivalent of a broad axe for example. Forged very straight steel blade and shank, solid fiberglass short D handle. Sharp as any axe on all sides of the blade. It's chopped a lot of roots and would take a severe toll on body parts if ever put to that use.
So, forgive me for my wondering and dark wandering, and do share any thoughts you might care to!
