the good old baseball bat

[iliketoshootguns]

anyone keep a baseball bat in a car, house, rv, etc. for self defense. This is also in regards to any baton like weapons, mini bat etc.

how effective do you think a man skilled with a bat would be against a thug with a knife if the bat was all he had?

 

[Fosbery]

Impact weapon > knife

In my opinion of course.

 

[Starter52]

A baseball bat beats a knife every time.

 

[Pax Jordana]

depends

the upside is that it has a BIG reach, as far as impact weapons go. Also, throw a glove and a ball in the trunk too and you're covered.

in the unlikely event that you're dealing with a real pro, they will step inside the arc of the bat and knife you. depends on how fast you can swing without telegraphing.


I'd pick it over empty hands versus a knife, though running shoes trump all..

I used to carry one in my trunk, a real old school one I trashpicked from an older neighbor. Got a good fly rod out of the deal too. It was later passed on to a friend who thought guns were 'way too much'.

Were I to do it again, I'd consider an axe handle. It might be cheaper.

 

[2TransAms]

I keep an old aluminum Easton in my work truck. Can't have no guns in the truck in Illinois! The only potential problem is that it's not very good at "extreme close-range",as stated someone could actually get too close for it to be of any use.I keep a Cold Steel Peacekeeper II in the truck too,along with a sledgehammer,shovels,pickaxe,concrete drags,monkey wrench,3-D Maglite...lots of potential defensive items if the situation calls for it.

how effective do you think a man skilled with a bat would be against a thug with a knife if the bat was all he had?

I think history itself answers your question.Most old-time battles were fought with clubs,swords,spears,and halberds.A little more longer range weapons than knives. Knives were more like utensils,at least in combat.Getting stuck with a knife may or may not take the fight out of you,but I think getting hammered with a bat would do a lot more internal damage.

 

[Rupestris]

Were I to do it again, I'd consider an axe handle. It might be cheaper.

"nothin' like a good piece of hick'ry" - Pale Rider (Clint Eastwood)

A jab just below the sternum between the ribs is quick and doesn't broadcast as much as an all out swing for the bleachers. It'll take the wind out of ya too.

 

[lawson]

i keep a louisville slugger in my trunk. there's also a glove and ball.

a bat wins over a knife, provided you do not let the attacker get in range to use his knife. you have a significant advantage in range, so use it to your advantage. keep your distance, swing if he attempts to close, and hop back if you need to.

 

[Smith357]

The baseball bat is a great bludgoning weapon. Think of it as a war club or mace only lighter and faster. Not only can you crush skulls and break bones with a good swing, but a spear or jab type blow to the body or face can pack enough power to drop an opponent on the spot. If our opponent is skilled with a blade you are at a disatvantged with almost any weapon in close quarters combat. But then most guys with that type of skill are not thugs.

 

[Griff]

We've also got some sledge handles around, which are faster and longer than most bats; consider them "bridge weapons" to extend our reach beyond empty hand and knife zone. They provide a lot of options in the whole force-continuum thingy, from intimidation to knocking their block off.

You may be interestd in this: http://www.coldsteel.com/92bs.html

eta: sjamboks are a lot of fun, too.

 

[p35]

Goodwill type stores usually have old bats for a couple bucks. I like tee ball bats myself.

 

[pete f]

Look at these

http://www.athleticsgalore.com/baseball/training_bats.htm

Although i prefer the framing hammer, these are pretty nice too. The thunderstick is a stickball bat made in the 21 st century. the torpedo has some really interesting points in its favor..


I know a few guys who have the same idea with a framing hammer, and no one has ever offered to "go" once they see the framer come out of the car

 

[BrockB]

I keep a mini bat in my truck. Its juat a little bat that I got when I went to a game when I was little. Its only about a foot and a half long, but you can swing it hard and fast one handed.

 

[bulltaco]

Anybody Got A Sjambok?

I got the 42" and 54" sizes made by Cold Steel. Very affordable. Does not have the bone-crushing quality of the baseball bat, but will flay the hide off of some BG and distract their original intention. Non-lethal, just hurts like hell!

 

[Scottso]

Cold Steel has a Baseball bat type thingy heard great revues and nearly indestructable.

 

[telomerase]

The difficulty is in arranging for the intruder to forget his gun:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2581439#post2581439

 

[leadcounsel]

I'm a fan of clubs, sticks, etc. myself. I have several strategically placed in various rooms just in case I'm surprised w/out a gun. You can do a lot of damage.

That said, I would never choose a stick over a gun for defense. Both are considered deadly weapons, so if you are willing to use them the situation is grave.

I'd go for the gun first.

I think it's good to have as a spare weapon that you might lend to an acquaintance if need be, someone you don't trust enough to give a gun (relationship isn't strong enough, person isn't skilled enough, etc.) but anyone can swing a bat or use a club.

Scenario: You and an acquaintance are driving in a rural area and have car trouble and one person needs to go for help and the other stays with the automobile. It makes sense for you to keep your gun and lend a bat to the other person for defense (or you could both go for help, I suppose).

 

[telomerase]

I think it's good to have as a spare weapon that you might lend to an acquaintance if need be, someone you don't trust enough to give a gun (relationship isn't strong enough, person isn't skilled enough, etc.) but anyone can swing a bat or use a club.

That's a good point. And most guns can't be set on "stun", so I guess that's another reason to keep a stick around. Maybe a pointy stick.

 

[lesjones]

I saved some legs off a broken end table for the express purpose of leaving one at each door and one beside the bed. I've got pistols in a quick access safe, but it's good to have defensive weapons around the house. What I like about club-type weapons is that they're completely safe to have lying around (I have two kids).

 

[leadcounsel]

I saved some legs off a broken end table

I also have a few really solid and well designed (almost like they were ergonomically made for a club) table legs, about 30" long. These make excellent clubs.

And yes, you can feel comfortable leaving them laying about....

 

[cbsbyte]

I can see it now, " Say hello to my friend Louie...Ville Slugger.... Whack!!

 

[usmccpl]

Got two tee ball bats one rides behind the front seat of my truck the other is between the seats of my car. Like them cuz i can swing them one handed.

 

[bowfin]

Okay, here is a VERY recent example of a baseball bat effectively used for self defense against a knife:

http://www.ketv.com/news/9554485/detail.html

...Konfrst said he also saw the knife, so he pulled a baseball bat out of the back seat...

..."When I was coming around the car, the guy had grabbed Casey by the hair and took and threw her back at the car," Konfrst said. "He threw me against my car door, told me to get the hell in my car."

Konfrst said the woman came at him. He said she jabbed at him, then stuck the knife in the back left tire.

"That showed me she had plenty of intention of stabbing something," Konfrst said.

So he hit her with the bat, and the male accomplice tried to rip off the car antenna and came at him, the victimized couple said.

"I hit him the first time, and he was coming at me still, acting like he was going to attack me. So I stepped back and hit him again, and he fell," Konfrst said.

The suspects drove off in their car. (The suspects were later arrested when they showed up at the emergency ward to get treatment for the man).

 

[Zero_DgZ]

I think with even minimal practice you could do pretty well. I tend to wield a bat like a sword, especially if it's light enough. That means your follow through is focused on a follow up strike if you need it (well, mine is - I don't know what art you practice) so if somebody is fast enough (unlikely) to be cute and sidestep the bat they have about .2 seconds before another one is coming thier way.

A bat has much more reach than a simple knife, and for the most part a bat needs no demonstration or threat to be effective. Everybody knows what bats do, everybody knows that any idiot can use a bat, and nobody wants to get hit with one. The continuum of force tends to go fist, brass knuckle, knife, pepper spray, stungun, bat, firearm, sword, scythe and flamethrower, usually in that order.

(Incidentlly, never go up against anybody who brings a scythe to a fight for any reason. Because he's probably got a reason. Do you?)

 

[indiancowboy]

axe handles are my preference. They seem to swing a bit easier and if you get a short enough one swings well one handed as well. maybe it's from boxing training, but i don't like it when i don't have a hand to guard with.

 

[XavierBreath]

Many people advocate having a less than lethal weapon at hand. That is why I carry a ball bat and a framing hammer in the back of my vehicle.

Truth be told, it is easier to control the lethality of a firearm than a blugeon. Never the less, it gives me a weapon that is percieved, at least by most people, as a step down weapon.