thedrewcifur
Member
i sometimes carry my 21'' asp baton. i first learned how to use it when i was in the law enforcement class at career center. that's where i fell in love with it. although i rarely carry it i do always keep it in my car.
have you ever carried a baton?
- Thread starter thedrewcifur
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I do. I worked security for a number of years and carried a Monadnock Autolock-22. Stilled liked it even when I left that line of work because we don't have CHPs here and it is a less-lethal device. Now I have an Autolock-16 and an ASP Agent because of their small size. I carry a cane too in their place many times, but sometimes it's just more convenient to have a concealable baton. I firmly stand behind the common assertion that an expandable is extremely intimidating when you extend it in front of someone. The noise and the mechanical action of a weapon being manipulating into an attack position is part the force continuum and a threat display that humans recognize. Like working the action of a firearm.
Keep in mind, you may not get too many replies on this because carrying batons is not legal for civilians in most states, even ones with very relaxed handgun carry permit laws. Yeah, legal for a gun, but not a baton. Go figure.
Keep in mind, you may not get too many replies on this because carrying batons is not legal for civilians in most states, even ones with very relaxed handgun carry permit laws. Yeah, legal for a gun, but not a baton. Go figure.
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W.E.G.
Member
I hate all those impact weapons.
I had a blackjack.
One of those pancake-shaped lead weights that is attached to a piece of spring steel, and the whole contraption wrapped in thick leather and sewn around the circumference. Lead part was about the size of two or three silver dollars stacked-together. I saw several people stuck with similar weapons, and to little effect.
My turn was when a fleeing felony suspect turned on me while cornered in an alley. I hit him between the eyes with the blackjack so hard that the leather split, and the lead-weight/spring-steel came right out of the leather. I was left standing there with this busted blackjack that was sort of going "boinnnggggg." The suspect then laid a right cross on me that caused my lower teeth to split through my lower lip.
About then, another officer jumped in, swinging a billy-club (no such thing as an ASP back then). Billy-club was not especially effective on that fella either. The "calvalry" showed up while all this was going on, and soon we were all sent off to bleed somewhere else. I tucked the lead weight back inside the leather.
I still carried the stupid thing around for a good while after that. Figured I'd strike with the non-split side of it if need be. Fortunately, and unbeknownst to me at the time, it fell out of my pocket while I was riding in a snow-plow one dark night. Good riddance.
That stuff just doesn't work like they say it does.
You might end up with that ASP stuck up some part of your body that rhymes with ASP.
I had a blackjack.
One of those pancake-shaped lead weights that is attached to a piece of spring steel, and the whole contraption wrapped in thick leather and sewn around the circumference. Lead part was about the size of two or three silver dollars stacked-together. I saw several people stuck with similar weapons, and to little effect.
My turn was when a fleeing felony suspect turned on me while cornered in an alley. I hit him between the eyes with the blackjack so hard that the leather split, and the lead-weight/spring-steel came right out of the leather. I was left standing there with this busted blackjack that was sort of going "boinnnggggg." The suspect then laid a right cross on me that caused my lower teeth to split through my lower lip.
About then, another officer jumped in, swinging a billy-club (no such thing as an ASP back then). Billy-club was not especially effective on that fella either. The "calvalry" showed up while all this was going on, and soon we were all sent off to bleed somewhere else. I tucked the lead weight back inside the leather.
I still carried the stupid thing around for a good while after that. Figured I'd strike with the non-split side of it if need be. Fortunately, and unbeknownst to me at the time, it fell out of my pocket while I was riding in a snow-plow one dark night. Good riddance.
That stuff just doesn't work like they say it does.
You might end up with that ASP stuck up some part of your body that rhymes with ASP.
Owen Sparks
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Back when I worked as a bouncer I kept the butt half of a two piece pool cue close by at all times. When I first started working there I had to do a bare handed knife disarm and after that I decided that I needed something with a reach advantage if I ever had to deal with a knife again. I salvaged it from the dumpster after closing one night because the other half got broken. It was about as long as a typical Escrima stick (used in the Pilipino martial arts) and had a good heft to it. The main reason that I chose half of a pool cue rather than a factory made baton was in the event that I had to use it as a weapon I wanted it to look like something common to the environment of a pool room that I might have grabbed up spontaneously without premeditation or forethought. Luckily nothing ever happened that could get me sued.
Now days I keep a heavy walking cane in my vehicle in case I go somewhere like the bank where only the bank robbers have guns. If you know how you can choke up on the walking stick about 1/3 of the way and use it exactly like a baton in a confined area or use it full length in an open parking lot.
Now days I keep a heavy walking cane in my vehicle in case I go somewhere like the bank where only the bank robbers have guns. If you know how you can choke up on the walking stick about 1/3 of the way and use it exactly like a baton in a confined area or use it full length in an open parking lot.
Sam Cade
Member
If you hit someone in the peanut with 26" ASP like that they most likely will go down and won't get up.
Ever.
CTPhil
Member
I used to carry one when I walked a lot, mostly to have something to fend off an animal. Rabid animals aren't that uncommon here. Of course it also occurred to me that it could be used on two leggers as well.
W.E.G.
Member
We never got to discuss that.
Maybe next time I'm in that sort of situation, I'll bring it up.
LensWork
Member
When I was a peace officer, I never carried a baton; I used my 5-D cell Streamlight as a baton, flashlight, attitude adjustment tool, emergency glass breaking device, etc.
wheelgunslinger
Member
I'm in agreement with W.E.G.
I played rugby at the collegiate level and grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood. I've seen a lot of people who weren't on anything more than adrenaline soak up a lot of punishment in the moment. Didn't mean they didn't fall like sack of potatoes later. But right then they seemed nigh on indestructible.
lemaymiami
Member
I've got to go with W.E.G. and wheelgunner on how unpredictable the results of an impact weapon can be. In a 22 year career in law enforcement I have actually seen an occasional individual that you couldn't hardly slow down with any kind of strike. The worst part is in that situation it's actually possible to finally deliver a killing blow while just trying to subdue them.... I've carried and occasionally used wooden and monadnock batons, blackjacks, the ASP baton, etc. I learned the hard way that other tactics (preferably the kind that keep you out of hand to hand stuff) are probably a better option. I still have a broken blackjack as well (and no it didn't slow the guy down - the next day he looked like a train had hit him, but that wasn't much comfort at the time..).
No war stories about this topic. As far as I'm concerned that sort of stuff just isn't funny at all... The best advice I ever had for younger officers about it was to "keep them talking until you've got lots of help"....
No war stories about this topic. As far as I'm concerned that sort of stuff just isn't funny at all... The best advice I ever had for younger officers about it was to "keep them talking until you've got lots of help"....
I carry an ASP (16" I think?) on me every day, along with my other items (Leatherman, a SAK, a Mora, a gun and some mags, etc.), but I don't carry it for defense against people (which is so uncommon in my neck of the woods as to be laughable), but rather for scaring off dogs and catamounts and similar. Works fairly much every time. 
(As an aside, those of us in MT are legally able to carry batons, clubs, brass knuckles, etc. on our CCW permits)
(As an aside, those of us in MT are legally able to carry batons, clubs, brass knuckles, etc. on our CCW permits)
JVoutilainen
Member
Have you ever carried a baton?
Yes.
Yes.
KodiakBeer
member
I don't feel intimidated...
MashieNiblick
Member
have you ever carried a baton?
drewcifur,
yes, 16" collapsable. about eight" when collapsed. but only for doggies when i am not carrying my derbie cane, and let me add a bit of assistance for you, neighbor. i add a little cheek cosmetic to the grips when when i do- purely for added depth and weight control. . .
effects are difficult to describe, but are in the explosive regions as well. . .
p.s. works great and very effective. not too much- pop in the back left
pocket. And go. . .
- MN
drewcifur,
yes, 16" collapsable. about eight" when collapsed. but only for doggies when i am not carrying my derbie cane, and let me add a bit of assistance for you, neighbor. i add a little cheek cosmetic to the grips when when i do- purely for added depth and weight control. . .
effects are difficult to describe, but are in the explosive regions as well. . .
p.s. works great and very effective. not too much- pop in the back left
pocket. And go. . .
- MN
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mortablunt
Member
I never have. IMO, a baton can klil someone fairly easily if misused, and since it is a non-firearm weapon, I am more likely to panic in a situation and smack someone with it and unintentionally cause severe harm. Not a good idea at all! Besides, most people are bigger and stronger than I am, so I'd rather not let them get any definite advantage over me.
I am so very confused by what you mean here. You don't think it's a good idea to have a baton, but most people are bigger and stronger than you, and you don't want them to have any advantage- why is why you should carry a baton? Help me out.
mortablunt
Member
^My point is that I do not have the same respect for a baton as I do a gun. Therefore, in a bad situation, I am more likely to accidentally overuse force and get myself in trouble. Also, because of my small weak guy status, I would much prefer to shoot an aggressor rather than take him in hand to hand combat.
Dr_B
member
I used to carry half a pick handle, with a leather strap attached to one end, when I went jogging. I had to use it on a large dog on more than one occasion. Kept it tucked under my arm with the strap around my wrist.
Owen Sparks
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Whenever possible, limit your strikes to your opponants arms and legs. No one can fight when their hands or knees don't work. Any blow to the head can be potentialy fatal.
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