A stabilization and support strut for use in rescue operations in buildings, trenches, vehicle accidents, and the like has secure deployment features including first and second inter-fitting collar assemblies, the first collar
assembly including a first collar, circumferentially based spring-biased
piston-retaining pins mounted in the collar for fitting into orifices in a
piston body, and a locking pin for precluding rotation and axial movement of the first collar on the strut; and the second collar
assembly including a second collar rotatingly secured on the
barrel with a portion of the second collar underlying the first and having a circumferentially inclined
ratchet surface for snugly engaging the
piston-retaining pins upon rotation of the second collar, the second collar further including rotatable studs for engaging the
barrel and precluding rotation of the second collar about the
barrel when snug against the piston-retaining pins.