Today we will talk about the use of the extendable baton, also known as a telescopic baton. We will cover the advantages and disadvantages of this weapon. The extendable baton was invented as a weapon for military, police, and security personnel as a non-lethal self-defense weapon. It is a great self-defense tool that can be used to activate pressure points, gain leverage while applying joint locks, and break free from chokes. In appearance, the extendable baton looks better on a police officer or security guard than the regular night baton.
The expandable baton is made of aluminum and ranges in length from 16 to 21 inches when fully expanded. Retracted, the cane is approximately 7 inches long with a rubber handle. It is about 50% lighter than the traditional standard police baton, but only loses about 2% of the effectiveness of a standard police baton.
When it moves down, all three tubes fully expand. When attacked, the staff can be used to strike many areas of the body, such as the common peroneal nerve, causing the attacker’s legs to collapse. The stick can be used collapsed or fully expanded. It’s great for launching into the lower abdomen to create distance between you and an assailant. The extendable baton is a valuable self-defense tool, but should only be carried when permitted by applicable law. Although the extendable baton was created for non-lethal self-defense, it can cause permanent bodily injury or even death. It is recommended that you check with your local law enforcement agency before purchasing and carrying any personal defense weapon. After you have determined that you are allowed to carry any type of weapon, training by a professional instructor is recommended and, in some cases, may be required by law.
I used the extendable baton on one occasion where it was a disadvantage compared to a traditional police baton. In this situation I was lost in the depths of the water, once I was able to get the staff out of my holster it would not expand and render it useless. This was a highly unusual circumstance, however, had he attempted to extend the baton in a training session, he would have responded differently to the assailant. Although it was ineffective after being submerged in my situation, using it after being exposed to rain or snow will not decrease its chance of expanding properly.