edgetrip said:
What do you see as the disadvantages to an ASP? I I agree that a stick would probably do as well but the fact you can use an ASP closed or open depending on scenario, the metal construction and the general good quality of these tools makes me think they are a very good option.
Welcome to Bladeforums, btw...
You ask a fair question and the ASP is a useful, practical weapon for many people. I'd take an ASP over a knife for defence any day, but in the home, a stick is more practical and just as effective, perhaps more so. For the sake of argument, when I say stick I'm thinking of a baton from about 24-26", although the range could be from about 18-30"
An ASP's main weaknesses stem from one fact that you have to open them, this means that:
1. You have to perform an additional step before being fully armed.
2. You need space to deploy it properly, not always a problem, but more likely with a sword sized one (31")
3. Its noisy, you may want to arm fully without giving away your position
4. There's a possibility that it won't lock out properly, this could be due to poor technique or something interfering with your motion, possibly your attacker or even your own hesitation. This doesn't entirely take away its effectiveness, but until you get it opened properly its now unpredictable and unreliable, particularly from a defensive standpoint. Sometimes they seem to lock out but loosen after a few swings. Sometimes they lock out so well you have to strike the side of the tip to align the sections before you can close it (a couple of block or misses that hit something else could have the same effect.)
5. There's a possibility that it could unlock due to a thrust - most likely if 4. has happened
6. It doesn't offer a great deal of versatility in grip, you pretty much have the options of one or two handed grip at one end, or a 'bar' grip (hands at either end). With a stick there's no disadvantage in swapping ends for quick redirects (like having a double ended weapon) or holding it in the middle, like having two shorter weapons in one hand.
The only advantages over a stick I can think of are:
1. retention is better than with a normal stick in a conventional grip - decent retention techniques for a normal stick will balance this out, though.
2. ease of carry and concealment. very important benefit of an ASP, justifies a price 10x that of a simple stick and is the only reason to select one over a decent stick, however not an advantage in a home defence situation.
3. the higher density of steel give a thinner weapon with similar weight to a hardwood stick = concentration of force. for me this isn't an advantage anyway, due to the way that I put power into the strike, however an octagonal or oval stick (like a sledge or tomahawk handle) gives the stick user back this feature.
-I don't consider the materials to be an advantage over a decent piece of wood. QC can be an issue for wooden weapons but a decent hickory sledgehammer handle cut to length will cost about $10 and could easily last longer than an ASP
-IMHO the fact that you can use it closed is not an advantage but a way of offsetting the fact that you might not be able to open it in time. This is a salesman's way of removing an objection ("what if I don't have time to open it?"). Ask anyone whether they'd rather have a pocket stick or a baton in their hand when the SHTF and I'd be surprised if anyone said pocket stick (I know someone out there's thinking "don't bring a stick to a gunfight"
). What's more, a fight is more likely to go from long range to short range (then sometimes back to long) so the fact that you cant close the ASP mid fight takes away the only manner in which this could be an advantage. If the fight starts at close range, then you've been ambushed, stupid or both. In this situation a pocket stick is more manoeuvrable, but not more effective. A two handed grip on a stick or extended ASP will allow you to deliver much more power than a collapsed ASP at ECQ, and these techniques are easier to deliver with a stick due to the grip characteristics of the tip section of an ASP. Anyone who has worked with sticks for a decent amount of time will have discovered that they can still be used at close quarters in a conventional grip and if you choke up to a middle grip you effectively have two short weapons in one hand. Pick up two sticks and you're ready to party.
None of these disadvantages make the ASP an ineffective weapon and they certainly don't outweigh the advantages in terms of carry, but why would you accept any small percentage of a disadvantage, when you can have the whole package at 1/10th the price?
