Batons

[Sphinx]

I was watching a tv show just the other night, and on it a police officer took a retractable baton off his belt and with just a flick of his wrist the baton oppened. ok.... Do batons actually work, i mean if they r retractable, then they would have to have an incredibly strong steel in order for it not to dint or bend. Do they bend/break

[Grenadier]

I was watching a tv show just the other night, and on it a police officer took a retractable baton off his belt and with just a flick of his wrist the baton oppened. ok.... Do batons actually work, i mean if they r retractable,

Extendable / collapsible batons generally have several concentric steel tubes of decreasing diameter, that fit in a cylindrical handle. Most of them open manually, where the user flicks his wrist, or some are spring-loaded. Either way, the steel tubes are held in place by friction, and pretty solidly.

The batons are collapsed by "stabbing" the tip straight downward onto a hard, inflexible surface, such as concrete (don't try this with a wooden floor), and are ready for the next time.

then they would have to have an incredibly strong steel in order for it not to dint or bend. Do they bend/break

They are made out of a strong steel, yes, but are not meant for hitting solid hard objects. Instead, they're more designed for hitting softer targets, such as an unruly drug-crazed suspect, or the side window of a car (not the front windshield; too tough).

If you tried to hit a hard, solid object, such as a metal box, then yes, the baton can bend, rendering it stuck in its extended position. Trying to straighten them out is a very difficult task, and often times, simply not worth it.

Not all extendable / collapsible batons are created equally. There are good ones (such as ASP), and there are bad ones (generic brands made of inferior steel alloys). The good ones can take a beating better than the bad ones. The bad ones will bend too easily, even bending when you strike a softer target.

Furthermore, carrying around such a baton is generally prohibited, unless you have a concealed weapons permit that specifically states that you can carry around such a baton. In some states (such as Connecticut), this is an entirely separate entity from a concealed firearms permit.

[Sphinx]

yeh, kool...thanx for that. im actually from ausssie but i would say the same or similar laws would apply. one thing i don't understand is where you can get such licences and permits. And can you just stroll up and ask to apply for one or do u need some sort of reason?

[Grenadier]

yeh, kool...thanx for that. im actually from ausssie but i would say the same or similar laws would apply. one thing i don't understand is where you can get such licences and permits. And can you just stroll up and ask to apply for one or do u need some sort of reason?

You would need to ask your locality's law enforcement folks, but it doesn't look too good, unless you are security personnel.

http://www.safecity.com.au/batonfaq.htm

I did a bit of digging, and this is the best I could find:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/act/consol%5freg/pwr1997294/s10.html?query=%5e+baton

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/act/consol%5freg/pwr1997294/s11.html?query=%5e+baton

You may want to do a bit of searching on that site. Lots of info there.