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(Continued from Part 3.)

Tasers and stun guns are another type of disruptive weapon, but regulations regarding possessing them tend to vary widely. Tasers are generally gun-like devices that shoot barbs on wires to deliver a high voltage to the target’s body, while stun guns require direct physical contact to deliver the voltage. I’m not crazy about any weapon that requires you to get close enough to an attacker to touch them, but it might be useful in some scenarios or as a last ditch option. A useful type of stun gun is the Stun Pen ($17), which doesn’t look like a traditional stun gun so it might mislead an attacker for several seconds. One potentially useful feature of stun guns is that if you push the button to activate them they make a very loud snapping/popping sound, which might deter a less-determined attacker. However, once you’ve done that you’ve given away the fact you’re carrying a stun gun, so a more determined attacker might just take action to disarm you.

Sound can also be used to disrupt an attack, but it’s generally only effective in limited circumstances, and it’s just as likely to impact you as it is an attacker unless you’re wearing hearing protection. Those small pull-pin personal alarms from companies like BASU, Resqume and others can put out 120db+ of sound, which is more than enough to temporarily disorient an attacker in a confined area and cause them to cover their ears. However, it won’t work as well in more open spaces, and even if you’re expecting it the sound can still cause you some discomfort.Continue reading“Alternative and Improvised Weapons – Part 4, by J.M.”

(Continued from Part 2.)

I’ve also got a smaller kit with just some very basic tools that fits in a wallet-size pouch (except for the Shomer-Tec saw) and weighs just 2.2oz, not including the .7oz trauma shears since I’m already carrying those in my FAK. It consists of:

• Wazoo tube wire saw w/1 extra titanium split ring (for handles)
• Shomer-Tec diamond bow saw
• Lever Gear Toolcard Pro (wrenches, cord cutter, additional screwdrivers, pry bar)
• Big Design Titanium Pocket Bits (I replaced the OEM split ring with a titanium one)
• Small 2” file from old multitool (on same split ring as driver bit)
• CRKT Micro Tool & Keychain Sharpener
• 4” trauma shears (in my medical kit)

Continue reading“Alternative and Improvised Weapons – Part 3, by J.M.”

(Continued from Part 1.)

Some Theory

While most people instinctively understand the concept of ‘pick up something heavy and hit them with it’, it’s useful to understand some of the theory behind weapons in order to make more informed decisions about what to carry and how effective it can be. The goal of most weapons is to apply energy to the target, whether through simple impact force, penetration, explosion, chemical reaction or other methods. For impact weapons, Newton’s Law of motion say ‘Force = Mass x Acceleration’, which roughly translates to the heavier something is and the faster it’s moving, the more force (energy) will be applied to the target. However, physics also tells us that the heavier something is the more energy will be required to transport it and get it moving. Hitting someone in the head with an anvil will stop most threats, but carrying an anvil around and throwing it at someone is probably beyond the ability of most people, so we need to optimize the amount of weight we can effectively carry around and use. Force is typically measured in units such as foot-pounds (ft-lb), which is what I’ll be using for this article. (Note: I realize that the science of measuring force and energy is a lot more complicated than I discuss here, but I’m just creating a basic framework for later discussions).

Another useful concept is that of the surface area over which the force is applied. For example, if you take a 4’ x 4’ sheet of ¼” plywood and whack someone over the head with it, you’ll probably only annoy or mildly disorient them. If you take that same mass (weight) and concentrate it down into a metal ball and hit them in the head with it at the same speed, you may crack their skull or knock them unconscious. Penetration weapons like spears, darts, knives, etc. take this concept to it’s ultimate end, applying a large amount of force into a very small area (the tip), allowing it to penetrate skin, tissue and organs. The force applied over a given area is usually measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or Pascals (Pa), and I’ll be mentioning psi in this article.Continue reading“Alternative and Improvised Weapons – Part 2, by J.M.”