Baseball bats anyone?

Status
Not open for further replies.
On the subject of home defense, I think there's a lesson here. If keeping a loaded weapon within seconds of reach is not an option because of children, you can learn something from your ancestors. An edged weapon or club can be easily as lethal at home defense range as a .357... and unlike a .357 it's very difficult to club or chop someone to death by accident.

After pondering this problem for years living in Chicago, I decided to model myself after one of the most lethal close quarters fighters in human history.
Samurai swords and baseball bats are simply too long for fighting in the bedroom doorway. The Romans had it figured out.....At close range a short gladius type sword with a small shield is simply unbeatable..... just ask the hoards of club or long sword wielding barbarians that fell to them. A quick thrust or chop and it's all over. Even against a handgun in a bedroom I think I'd have a 50/50 chance..... the fact that I took a small 18" shield and lined the inside with 20 layers of kevlar probably puts me over 50/50. At close range it's a lethal and safe combination.
 
Check your State laws.

In Michigan, for example, a club is an unlawful weapon (felony) even in carried for the purpose of lawful self defense That includes lengths of pipe, billy clubs, "tire checkers", or a baseball bat if carried as a club.
 
Wow, this gives me another opportunity to point out that those nasty Aluminum Assault Bats have no sporting purpose, are only the weapon of choice for roving gangs of drug dealers blah, blah, blah . . . [Take that, Brady Bunch! :neener:]
Of course it's best if you can just press a button and have your Trunk Monkey hop out and wield the bat, "tyre lever," whatever. :D
 
I suggest the slightly modified Double Handed Rational Viking Berserker Wood Chopper.
Click to expand...

Actually, I prefer the Raging Pict method. Paint yourself blue and walk around naked and you won't need the bat; people will leave you alone automatically. :D
 
Because if you get hit with it, something's gonna get bokken.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind something a little bit longer, I suggest a suburito. A subirito is a longer, heavier version of the normal bokuto which is designed to replicate the weight and balance of a shinken(live sword). The subirito is about double the weight of a bokuto and it's long enough to use jo technique if you practice a little. It's used for suburi (swinging) practice to build up your arm and shoulder muscles. After about a million or so repetitions, it pretty much feels as light as a shinai.

Here's a link: http://www.budovideos.com/shop/customer/product.php?productid=19250

An interesting aside, traditional suburito are made to resemble the wooden oar that Musashi whittled a handle on to use in one of his duels. As the old swordsmen attained mastery, many of them gave up using katana and used bokuto exclusively simply because they were easier to maintain than a steel blade. The technique was what mattered in the end.
 
sacp81170a : Actually, I prefer the Raging Pict method. Paint yourself blue and walk around naked and you won't need the bat; people will leave you alone automatically.
Click to expand...

Well I'm halfway there, but it's hard to walk around naked outside without getting arrested.

I'm sure that most men after seeing me would feel somewhat depressed about themselves. :what:
 
Gumper, have you read Duncan Long's book on edged weapons? The reason I ask is Long discussed the gladius as a potential home defense weapon in that work. So whenever someone mentions that sword, I am reminded of his commentaries about it. BTW, welcome to THR.


Timthinker
 
i can attest to how much a bat hurts when walloped upsite the head. in little league, i was catcher and one of the batters let go of his bat too late. *WHAP* upside my hemet. i now refuse to play catcher in any baseball game(no longer on any team except trap and skeet). it was a lights out experiance. a most effective weapon, especialy when weilded as one accidently.
 
In Michigan, for example, a club is an unlawful weapon (felony) even in carried for the purpose of lawful self defense That includes lengths of pipe, billy clubs, "tire checkers", or a baseball bat if carried as a club.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyones going to hassle you for using the baseball bat in the back of your car to defend yourself against those guys who tried to attack you... But you never know. My friends who don't have guns all have some sort of club in their room or what have you.
 
No Timthinker... I think I came up with that on my own..... but I'm gonna look up that book..... I like the way he thinks....

The bulletproof shield is actually something I think should be patented. A torso size shield would be an invaluable addition to any weapon. That's my free million dollar idea to anybody that wants it.....
 
actually. . . . .

the Romans were the ones who used the large interlocking shields with the gladius. I believe the short sword with a small shield style was developed by the Thracians. The Picts and the Scotti also used a smallish round shield of leather covered wood which evolved into the "targe" of the highlanders. In any event, the small shield has a long and distinguished history in personal self defense. I can only imagine the look on someone's face when you answer the door arrayed in full hoplite splendor. "Why yes, I'll take two boxes of Thin Mints and one of the peanut butter cookies." :D
 
I keep a mag lite flashlight in my car. Could make an extremely effective impact weapon if I can't bring my gun into play for some reason, plus a flashlight is always useful for its intended purpose.
 
Fire extinguisher ...

I recall seeing a couple movies where a fire extinguisher was used as an effective blunt weapon and to spray to disorient, deter, or injure an assailant. Apparently the CO2 based extinguishers are incredibly cold on the skin. I've been told the nozzle can be cold enough to freeze to your hand, so I imagine the effect on the skin can be quite painful.

I realize that using movies as a reference for self defense ideas is a poor choice but past experience shows that swinging a heavy object around tends to deter an attack. Also, what kind of police officer is going to cite you for having a blunt weapon by keeping a fire extinguisher in easy reach while in your home or car? In many cases one is required to have a fire extinguisher easily accessible. Commercial vehicles must have a fire extinguisher, as do boats, and rental property.

Alex45ACP mentioned Mag Lites. I happen to have one in my car. It's only because I put it there to help my brother look at some wiring in his basement many weeks ago and I neglected to take it out. I think I'll leave it there... and get a fire extinguisher. :D
 
Damn, hill billies!

When I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, the weapon of choice was a hollowed out aluminum pipe with electrical tape on one end for the grip. That pipe was at most 2 feet long. It was MUCH lighter than a baseball bat and easy to wield.

We used to carry these weapons in our cars all the time.

Can some one say "bada-bing!"
 
More info

The more ingenious types would drill two holes at the base of the aluminum pipe and, basically, turn it into an "aluminum night stick" that the police USED to carry in NYC. They would usually add a leather strap to it. That way, if you wrap it around your hand correctly, you would never lose the weapon.
 
i keep a number of club type weapons around home just in case.. a little league ballbat,a sawed off pool cue ,and in the car i always keep an ax handle. like i said just in case..
 
I happen to know a person that was unlucky enough to be beaten with a bat. He held a black belt. He got his skull fractured in 4 places and does not remember anything from his life before the beating. He is partially paralyzed on one side and drools.Ex wifes new boyfriend ambushed him. Sad. chuck.
 
When I first started dating the now wife, went over to her place for dinner. She had a pee-wee bat that she had bought for home defense. She has now replaced the pee-wee bat with a Sig 226. Still have the cute little bat in the closet at the house.
 
I'd pass:

1- It takes too long to change directions; you have to commit fully to a long swing and follow through.

2- Requires too much room to use effectively.
 
I'd pass:

1- It takes too long to change directions; you have to commit fully to a long swing and follow through.

2- Requires too much room to use effectively.
Click to expand...

If you're swinging for the bleachers, sure. But like any melee weapon, there's more than one way to use it effectively.

A lot of improvised weapons are wildly underrated. Long before I bought my first HD shotgun, I used to keep a pipe-bender handy. That'll wreck someones day in short order. In one of the more frightening, and oddly hilarious moments from my youth, I watched my roommate at the time beat a thief senseless with a 6' fiberglass stepladder, of all things.

A little practice and training with a blunt weapon gives you access to almost *all* improvised blunt weapons, I consider it a highly useful skill to develop.
 
I keep a bat in my work truck, an axe handle in the front coat closet and an asp baton travels with me in whatever i'm driving that day. I've never had anyone ask me about the bat and it sits in the back between the window and rear headrest.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

I
  • Locked
the good old baseball bat
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
Biker
Biker
P
  • Locked
Manual of Arms for Baseball Bat
2
Replies
46
Views
2K
hso
hso
D
  • Locked
Let's talk aluminum baseball bats
2 3 4 5
Replies
115
Views
9K
bikerdoc
bikerdoc
O
  • Locked
Better than a baseball bat. My new stick.
Replies
22
Views
1K
glistam
G
D
  • Locked
(NC) Father kills man after alleged attacks with bat
Replies
9
Views
941
Drizzt
D
Back
Top