| Pick your weapon. Which one would you choose | | | | hard impacts resulted in the joints becoming loose. |
| between the two? I bet that the majority of the public | | | | Once this happens, the batons are permanently |
| who mostly see the latter in action in the movies would | | | | damaged. I just wonder if my duty baton would |
| pick the expandable baton since it is flashier. | | | | behave in a similar fashion; although, I do not want to |
| Witnessing the baton being whipped out so it can | | | | find out. You will not encounter this problem with a solid |
| expand to its full length with a distinct locking sound | | | | piece of Escrima stick. |
| seem sensational. Compare that with seeing a plain | | | | One of the effectiveness of an impact weapon is its |
| Escrima stick at the ready without dramatic and sound | | | | hitting power. Sticks and batons are obviously designed |
| effects would seem dull. However, the essence of | | | | differently. The former has a density, whether of |
| these impact weapons does not lie in their initial | | | | wood or synthetics, that is evenly distributed due to its |
| execution but with their purpose. They are meant to | | | | cylindrical design. Therefore, the center of gravity will |
| stun, hit, break, stab, jab, crush, restrain, and/or control | | | | be at its length's midpoint. Simply put, the stick feels |
| your adversary. | | | | balanced; hence, you can maximize its hitting potential |
| In order for the stick and baton to perform their tasks, | | | | with proper technique. |
| they have to be functional first of all. And in order for | | | | On the contrary, the latter has the bulkiest and |
| them to function, they have to be reliable all the time. | | | | heaviest part of its mass toward the handle end, |
| This is how the Escrima stick is superior to the | | | | making it bottom heavy. Thus, even when fully |
| expandable baton. The former is a solid piece of | | | | extended, the baton's striking trip does not reach full |
| cylindrically shaped material while the latter is of similar | | | | potential since the center of gravity is located near the |
| design with moving parts. The more mechanically | | | | handle. This is even more evident for longer lengths. |
| complex a device, the more likely it will malfunction. | | | | My 26" duty ASP does not impact as hard as hard as |
| The baton has to have sufficient angular momentum | | | | my 21" Escrima stick when fully swung. Furthermore, I |
| for the tip to extend fully and lock in place. | | | | can feel more strain on my wrist when I practice with |
| A co-worker of mine recently practiced whipping his | | | | my ASP. |
| department issued ASP brand expandable baton in | | | | Having made these arguments, the Escrima stick is the |
| front of me to no avail. His 26 inch impact weapon did | | | | clear winner. Its simplicity lends to its practicality. There |
| not expand at all, possibly due to lack of angular | | | | are useful tips to consider when owning such impact |
| momentum or the tip was stuck inside the handle or | | | | weapons. Practitioners of Cabales Serrada Escrima |
| both. After 2 or 3 attempts, however, it finally | | | | usually utilize sticks with lengths from 16" to 24" with |
| expanded. Perhaps it needed dry lubrication on a | | | | 21" being the norm. With shorter ones, you gain speed |
| periodic basis; but, what is the percentage of law | | | | for power; with longer ones, you gain power for speed. |
| enforcement personnel in general who actually take | | | | From experience, one of the best sticks is made from |
| the time and effort to maintain them properly? Quite | | | | laminated hardwood; it has the proper weight, durability, |
| low indeed in my opinion. An expandable baton has to | | | | and ruggedness. Dried rattan, more brittle synthetics, |
| crucially work every single time in law enforcement | | | | and even expensive hardwoods such as Lignum Vitae |
| work and in self-defense to deter or to project force. | | | | tend to break under hard use. One piece exotic |
| Another flaw that the baton displays is its mechanical | | | | hardwoods such as the Lignum tend to warp while |
| integrity. I had the experience of striking new | | | | another one such as Cocobolo tend to get dented |
| Taiwanese made 16" and 21" expandable steel batons | | | | more. As for synthetics, more durable and flexible |
| on hard surfaces such as concrete and metal only to | | | | polycarbonates tend to bounce more upon impact; it is |
| have them retract back to their closing position. These | | | | even worse for longer lengths. |