BudK Impact Baton - Best $13 I Ever Spent
It's safe to say I'm fairly big into self-defense. I have decent knives stashed all over my home, car and offices. I carry a good quality quick-draw folding knife on my person all the time. As well, I have a number of blunt tools which I can wield quite well.
Of them, though, the BudK Impact Baton I got last year is my favorite. For only $12.99 I got a nice collapsing steel-spring baton - 17" open, and 7" closed. It snaps right open with a flick of the wrist, has a nice heft to it, the handle texture is enough to get a good grip but doesn't hinder movement, and it packs a wallop!
I keep mine easily accessible in my car, and can quickly place it in one of my cargo or tool pockets, if I think I may need it. I treat the black-finish steel spring with some silicone to resist rust, and to make it easier to snap open.
I've had a lot of practice using batons (though recently I've taken a liking to landscaping spikes, with tape handles), and it really handles well. With the way the spring snaps, I can use it as a deterrent, for defense, or even debilitation depending on the kind of strike. Since only the handle is completely firm, it also makes the baton harder to take away from me, if I have a good grip on it. It's a little shorter than other batons, but I still like less-expensive spring-style baton over the more expensive solid-segment telescoping batons 16" ~ 21" batons. Longer or non-collapsible batons certainly have their advantages, but easy portability isn't one of them. And, if the SHTF enough that I'd consider a longer baton, I'd rather have a good ol' crowbar. If it's good enough for Gordon Freeman, it's good enough for me.
Cross-posted to my Testimonial & Product Reviews Blog - Bud K Impact Baton