History Main / RetractableWeapon

* Goku's Power Pole from ''Manga/DragonBall''.

* Before the titular ''WesternAnimation/{{Spark}}'' gets his ancestral weapon he uses a [[TelescopicStaff collapsible staff]] made from scrap.

* ''Film/TheNewLegendOfShaolin'': Hung Hei-kwun, the protagonist played by Jet Li, uses a retractable spear that can be folded to the size of a calligraphy brush. In the opening fight he triggers an extending mechanism that allows this spear to skewer 3 ninjas at the same time.

* The Film/{{Predator}} has retractable wrist-blades. The sequel ''Film/{{Predator 2}}'' adds a retractable staff/spear to the species' arsenal.

* In the original ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' movie, werewolf leader Lucian carries a very long, very spiffy retractable [[BladeBelowTheShoulder arm blade]] hidden in the right sleeve of his BadassLongcoat. The mechanism to move and store the blade is never shown, which is probably for the better since the blade alone is longer than his forearm, making the whole design pretty much useless for everyday use if not for the RuleOfCool.

* ''Film/TheMummyReturns'' has a retractable spear/sceptre.

* One of the weapons in ''Literature/CretanChronicles'' is a twig that can extend itself into a [[BladeOnAStick spear, which while increases combat ability. Is only able to be used once.

* Spoofed in ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}} in Corsica''. The WeaponOfChoice of every Corsican is a wristblade, which they're not shy to show for intimidation purposes. For the big battle at the end, they happen to have also retractable swords and even retractable spears -- doing the exact same sound as the wristblades.

** ComicBook/{{Gambit}} often carries a retractable bo staff as his [[IconicItem iconic]] WeaponOfChoice.

* ''VideoGame/BattleTech'': The Hatchetman, added in the Urban Warfare expansion, has an [[AnAxeToGrind axe]] in its right arm. When it uses a melee attack, the axe extends out to strike, then folds back up and retracts back into the arm.

* Optimus' [[AnAxeToGrind axe]] in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' has an extendable shaft.

* VideoGame/Hitman2016 and its sequels feature a foldable combat knife and a foldable baton. Both cannot be detected in searches.

* Just like in the source material, Cheetara from ''Fanfic/HeroesOfThundera'' carries a [[TelescopingStaff telescopic]] MartialArtsStaff as her weapon of choice.

* Just like in the source material, Cheetara from ''Fanfic/HeroesOfThundera'' carries a [[TelescopingStaff telescopic]] SimpleStaff as her weapon of choice.

* {{VideoGame/Hitman2016}} and its sequels feature a foldable combat knife and a foldable baton. Both cannot be detected in searches.

* In ''TabletopGame/NewVindicators'', the wizard/super-genius Jason Lamperouge crafts a magic sword that can cut through steel and when not in sword form, resembles a small cross (as in two perfectly intersecting lines, not a Christian cross) that he wears on a neckchain. It is called the Pentacle of the Blade and it extends when he speaks the word 'tonedo' which roughly means 'to shear.'

** [=AndrAIa=] has a extendable/collapsible [[ProngsOfPoseidon trident]] weapon.

SubTrope of ImpossiblyCompactFolding. Typically, any type of BladeBelowTheShoulder, LaserBlade, ButterflyKnife, SinisterSwitchblade, TelescopingStaff, or PileBunker is this trope. Compare ShapeshifterWeapon, where a character that can shapeshift can create many weapons from their body, MorphWeapon which is a weapon that can take different forms and PersonOfHolding. See also IdiosyncraticMechaStorage, IKEAWeaponry, FuumaShuriken, BifurcatedWeapon SleepModeSize, and WolverineClaws. Contrast with CollapsibleHelmet.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': The Spy's ButterflyKnife.

* TruthInTelevision: [[CarryABigStick Expanding]] [[LawmanBaton batons]], [[SinisterSwitchblade switchblades]], [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knives]], swiss army knives, and firearms with folding/clasping stocks.

* ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}''. Vaughan's personal weapon is a spring-loaded ice-pick with a spike made from carbon-compound--basically a modern and unobtrusive WoodenStake.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In the 2005 reboot onwards, the Doctor's sonic screwdrivers usually have an extending/retracting feature. Eccleston/Tennant's is a sliding mechanism while Smith's has a spring-loaded claw.

* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'': Diana's magic staff can retract to the size of a baton for ease of carrying. She also often uses its telescopic properties to boost her pole jump. It's also self-repairing, so snapping it in two is only a short problem.

In the 21st century, this trope has had decent overlap with the CarryABigStick and LawmanBaton tropes, thanks to the invention of the expandable baton [[IHaveManyNames (also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical and spring cosh baton)]]. Although it's not exactly exclusive to them, as these can also be seen in the hands of civilians for self-defense, or even criminals!

SubTrope of ImpossiblyCompactFolding. Typically, any type of BladeBelowTheShoulder, LaserBlade, ButterflyKnife, SinisterSwitchblade, TelescopingStaff, or PileBunker is this. Compare ShapeshifterWeapon, where a character that can shapeshift can create many weapons from their body, MorphWeapon which is a weapon that can take different forms and PersonOfHolding. See also IdiosyncraticMechaStorage, IKEAWeaponry, FuumaShuriken, BifurcatedWeapon SleepModeSize, and WolverineClaws. Contrast with CollapsibleHelmet.

** Every incarnation of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} for his [[WolverineClaws adamantium claws]].
** ComicBook/{{Gambit}} often carries a retractable bo staff.
* Franchise/{{Batman}}'s [[BattleBoomerang Batarangs]] in some media like in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum''.
* [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Batgirl III]], Stephanie Brown, carries around a retractable/extendable staff, which she picked up from her long time romantic partner [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin III]]/[[ComicBook/RedRobin Red Robin III]], Tim Drake, who was the first fellow vigilante to accept and train with her.

* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': The hidden blade(s).

In the 21st century, this trope has had decent overlap with the CarryABigStick and LawmanBaton tropes, thanks to the invention of the expandable baton [[IHaveManyNames (also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical and spring cosh baton)]].
Although it's not exactly exclusive to them, as these can also be seen in the hands of civilians for self-defense, or even criminals!

* In the flashbacks showing Brock's TrainingFromHell under Hunter, one of his first acts of taking him by surprise is... smacking him on the knee with an extendable baton, that also has a large metal mace head mounted onto it.

In the 21st century, this trope has had decent overlap with the LawmanBaton trope, thanks to the invention of the expandable baton [[IHaveManyNames (also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical and spring cosh baton)]].

* In one of the Treehouse of Horror episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Homer discovers a plot by Kang and Kodos to TakeOverTheWorld by impersonating presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. When he threatens to tell everyone, the two "deal with" Homer by revealing a giant device that telescopes ominously towards him...before a tiny nozzle comes out and hoses him down with rum [[CassandraTruth so that nobody will believe him.]]

* TruthInTelevision: Expanding batons, switchblades, butterfly knives, swiss army knives, and firearms with folding/clasping stocks.

In the 21st century, this trope has had decent overlap with the LawmanBaton trope. Thanks to the invention of the expandable baton [[IHaveManyNames (also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical and spring cosh baton)]].

SubTrope of ImpossiblyCompactFolding. Typically, any type of BladeBelowTheShoulder, LaserBlade, ButterflyKnife, SinisterSwitchblade, TelescopingStaff, or PileBunker is this. Compare ShapeshifterWeapon, where a character that can shapeshift can create many weapons from their body, MorphWeapon which is a weapon that can take different forms and PersonOfHolding. See also IdiosyncraticMechaStorage, IKEAWeaponry, SleepModeSize, and WolverineClaws. Contrast with CollapsibleHelmet.