Fast Strike self-defense concealed whip

[Erich]

I just ran across these a couple weeks ago and picked one up. Liked it enough that I just bought one (in pink) for my college student niece (she has a late-night class and recently asked to borrow a knife).

Here's the site: Fast Strike Defense: Polson, MT | Self Defense Weapons

Basically, you can use it to whip an attacker (which would flat out hurt like heck and raise welts - and could probably be just awful across an eye) or (if in close) as a kubotan on pressure points (think between the nose and the lip, on the sternum, behind the ear, back of the hand, side of jaw, forearm) to get the person to let go and reconsider his pestering of you. I imagine it could run afoul of some arcane ("flail"?) laws, but it's sure a lot more NPE friendly than a big knife. And they sell it in Europe now, but I have to say it's creepier looking than my kubotan keychain.

This strikes me as possibly a good intermediate step thing for defensive situations that don't call for deadly force . . . I usually carry a kubotan of some sort, but this would give me reach that the other doesn't have and the clip's ability to go IWB seems pretty handy for me. Be great to have on a jog where loose dogs might be an issue.

The thing has a metal-tipped steel cable enclosed in plastic coating. It's flexible and mounted to a plastic thing shaped like a knife handle. It has a steel clip that's reversible and multi-positionable for mounting it in your pocket or waistband. The thing can be carried curled up with the tip inside the handle (it requires a brush-through with your off hand in order to deploy the whip in this case).

You don't have to carry it that way, though: the whip cable easily just slides down the leg of your pants if carried IWB or around your waist through your pants' belt loops. Oh, and you can take the handle apart and re-tension the cable as needed.

Anyhow, it's an example of American innovation made right here in the USA, and I thought some of you might find it interesting.

Here is a photo of the instruction sheet:


And here's a couple of their promotional videos (they have a lot on YouTube):
YouTube

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9I6DV_4_qc[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZyodVsv2ew[/ame]

 

[Kanewpadle]

I can tell you firsthand that it hurts. Saw them at my LGS a couple months ago.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

It's certainly an interesting concept, and I bet it hurts like hell to have this sucker lashed across ones face or anywhere else for that matter.

To me however, it lacks the ability to incapacitate the same way a gun, knife, or even pepper spray, or a tazer can.

In my time working law enforcement, specifically training with pepper spray, I've noticed that it is especially effective on most targets.

When I was an MP in the military I remember a peer I had named Redcloud (that's his actual name). He was a giant of a man. 6'5" tall, 290 pounds, and VERY physically fit. When we hit him with the tazer he grunted, but he was otherwise unphased. When he had to get sprayed in the face with CS spray, he screamed like a wailing widow for the next ten minutes, and refused to open his eyes. Just my personal experience with less than lethal.

 

[6518John]

I think I would rather be shot than whooped with that thing!

 

[Rustyt1953]

In high school I, and two friends of mine, were set upon in a parking lot in a less than welcoming part of town. At some point a guy snapped the top segment of an antenna with a ball on top of it off an older car and laid into me. The cops showed up shortly and ended it but I will never, repeat, never, forget the searing pain I felt that night nor the welts I carried.

I can almost guarantee that thing you have will persuade someone to be somewhere else.

 

[Wise_A]

No thanks.

For one, all I have to do is not care about how much it hurts, and it's pretty much useless. For another, it has the same weakness as the much-vaunted-but-actually-pretty-terrible baseball bat: if you get close enough to interrupt the swing, it's useless.

A knife works even if the attacker gets close. A proper impact weapon works--in the hands of an expert--even if the attacker gets close. A properly-applied key would practically be a better weapon than this thing. It's like a blackjack or a sap, but less handy.

And frankly, I think it's just as verboten for your niece as a knife.

I would give her a good rechargeable flashlight--Streamlight makes a number of good options with 15/500-lumen low-high outputs. Overall, I think that, depending on the particular circumstances of her locale and evening "commute", she would be better off walking home with friends, or requesting a ride from campus security. They do do that sort of thing. If resistance is encountered, she should speak to an advisor, or again, team up with the other young ladies and demand it.

 

[Stevens]

How about incorporating a pepper or mace spraying device into the handle
maybe stun gun too! Should be fairly easy to do. Give the attacker plenty to remember.
Steve W

 

[murphydog]

Looks as though you used it on the top of the vase .

If you/she practices with it, I'd guess it might be effective. But consider in many states a blow to the head or something that causes a permanent injury (like a damaged eye or orbit) is considered deadly force. If the situation justifies it all will be well.

 

[delcrossv]

Interesting alternative to a collapsible baton. Maybe carry weak side in combination with a knife.

 

[Robspeire]

I think Sabre pepper spray is a better idea.

 

[LPD256]

My Dad always told me to carry an equalizer. I’ve bought granddaughters a key chain called a Stabby Kitty. My experience with pepper spray is the sprayer gets it too, and sometimes a person on drugs just gets more angry and violent. I can’t imagine my wife pulling a whip out of her purse for protection. Pretty good chance anyone that was strong enough to attack her would soon be the holder of the whip, or knife,or whatever. She is very situationally aware. That’s probably her best defense. The First Strike whip is an interesting tool. Can’t say I’ll buy one, but I guess it might be of interest to some folks.

 

[Goldstar225]

Having used and observed the use of an expandable baton on a number of people, I don't see this whippy thing as being a being a worthwhile defensive tool. No doubt that it may leave welts and hurt but I don't see it being effective against an angry attacker. Once he gets within your wingspan it's not going to be usable as a whip.

 

[s&wchad]

Batons, bludgeons, blackjacks and “any other dangerous weapon or instrument” are all illegal to carry in Michigan. The law is vague by design and has been upheld by our courts.

I don’t know how this type of weapon would be classified here, but I know I don’t want to be a test case.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

Nice roses!

Hey , I get it..
that thing would hurt like a son of a gun...
hundreds - thousands of self defense devices are out there.

I still believe that the grey matter between the ears is the most effective.
Situation awareness doesn't prepare us for everything , but its pretty darn reliable.

a few post above , it was suggested that campus security provide an escort...yup , they have to demand this...

my eldest goes off to school next year
she is pretty darn proficient w my 92FS , however she will NOT be taking a firearm on campus.

I wish that I had the answers to protecting our loved ones while they are away at school , I really do.

travel in numbers
pepper spray
request security whenever uncomfortable
stay the "frick" away from campus parties that are loaded w alcohol and drugs.

mine going off to school actually scares me , and I'm fearless...

 

[Muss Muggins]

Intriguing, but looks like a good way to hit myself in the eye. How much?

 

[Rocket3]

Interesting but I think the rule applies. “Don’t carry anything you don’t want used on yourself”


I’ll pass.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Like a pistol?

Interesting but I think the rule applies. “Don’t carry anything you don’t want used on yourself”


I’ll pass.

 

[Old TexMex]

Not sure about this....maybe it works on “normal” people, but you know, in hand to hand, actually breaking something works better than just inflicting pain. (Note: I’m not in the business of arresting people.)

 

[Wise_A]

I still believe that the grey matter between the ears is the most effective.
Situation awareness doesn't prepare us for everything , but its pretty darn reliable.

a few post above , it was suggested that campus security provide an escort...yup , they have to demand this...

my eldest goes off to school next year
she is pretty darn proficient w my 92FS , however she will NOT be taking a firearm on campus.

I wish that I had the answers to protecting our loved ones while they are away at school , I really do.

After living among these people for four years, I can tell you that 99% of it is simply understanding that you're not safe. If she can say to herself, "I shouldn't cut through that dark parking lot" or "That area is isolated and hidden from view", she'll be fine. That takes care of foreign threats.

If she has important lady skills like "not putting up with BS", and refrains from bad behavior, she'll have no problems with the intra-school threats, i.e., dirtbags. Which, to be frank, many young women fall victim to because they have no idea what treatment they're entitled to, because they've never seen a real man or how one acts.

 

[Rastoff]

...it has the same weakness as the much-vaunted-but-actually-pretty-terrible baseball bat: if you get close enough to interrupt the swing, it's useless.

A proper impact weapon works--in the hands of an expert--even if the attacker gets close.

So, a baseball bat is terrible, but an impact weapon, with practice, is OK? Hmmm...


I've seen this device and I guess it has some value if properly applied. However, it falls in the category of a solution looking for a problem. A simple knife or flashlight is just so much more effective at these close ranges.