Retractable Baton

The retractable baton (steel or spring baton) is a telescopic club or whip that retracts to maybe 8 inches to fit your pocket or purse, and can be flicked open to three times that lendth to you can crack someone across the head or body with it. Some have a button and spring open by themselves. Others must be jerked open with a very quick snapping motion.

In Australia, where I live, spring batons are commonly used by police officers and licensed security guards (most of whom are not permitted to carry guns out here). However, they are nasty weapons because they are prone to inflict brain damage.

How do I know about the brain damage? Because more than 30 years ago I read the definitive book on close quarters combat, which lists the strengths and weaknesses of spring batons, saps, blackjacks and coshes - amongst other weapons. 

Written in 1943 by Colonel Rex Applegate, the man who defined the unarmed combat training used by US forces in WWII. He taught spies and counter-spies how to kill, and taught President Roosevelt's bodyguards. Applegate's definitive reference book was called Kill or Be Killed. 

He said a spring baton will do permanent brain damage deep inside the target's skull long before the man feels stunned and actually realizes he's been hurt. A sap (called cosh in England) or a blackjack was much safer.

It seems a lot of today's police officers ought to have read Applegate's book! Colonel Applegate died in 1998.

 Next, we take a look at some stun devices.