I am going to deploy in a few months and I was going to go buy an ASP baton to take with me. I was doing some research and wanted some input as to what finnish, grip, and length to go for. Anyone who has been there have any expierences with theirs to give me some input?

There are a couple basic models. One locks open by friction lock. To expand it, simply hold it in your hand, give a firm downward striking motion and it expands. To collapse it, you need to hit the tip on a solid surface such as pavement to force the tip in.

The other is an auto-lock. It opens the same way, but to collapse it, you push a button on the cap and push with your hands.

I carry the auto-lock. I just don't like having to beat a friction lock on the pavement to close it.

As far as brand, ASP and Monadnock are the main brands I am familiar with.

You can also customize your baton with logo endcaps, custom grips, etc.

I carry a Monadnock 21" auto-lock. The grips it came with work fine. The only custom product I have considered is an oversized endcap. It supposedly helps by keping the baton from slipping out of your hand. Haven't bought it yet, just thinking about it.

The 21" baton is short, but the longer the baton is when it is expanded, the longer it is when it is collapsed. The longer batons get bothersome on my duty belt. On the other hand, a few extra inches in a fight is a definite help.

It also depends on where you will be carrying it. As a civilian police officer my needs may be different than yours and my duty rig is probably different. If you don't mind carrying a longer item on your belt, get the longer baton.

I purchase a lot of my equipment through Galls. They are a supplier of police and military equipment and I have had good experiences with them. There are a lot of places to buy, but Galls has what they call "gall's University". It provides more info.

Go to www.galls.com and browse the batons and accessories.

Also try http://www.galls.com/university.html and go through the tutorial on batons.

Just be sure you don't violate any rules as far as barracks/dorm life by having something you aren't supposed to.

Good luck and stay safe.

ASP batons come in 16-, 21-, and 26-inch lengths, in both black and chrome finishes.

You'll find them with foam grips and hard grips. I would think the hard grips would last longer in the sandbox.

I've had a foam handled one for over 7 years. Its the friction lock type 26 inch. Excellent item with no problems.

You'll never use it. Save your money and buy good gloves instead.

Same what SnB said, also you can just look for a IP that has one and get it for cheap.

If you hit somebody good and hard you may as well forget about the expandable function. I have seen these bend with moderate force applied