[bad LT]

I have found the greatest, most potent, most "tactical" weapon to carry when you can't carry your favorite gun....

A large coffee

Lets, see the attributes that make it best:

1: Milidly acidic - makes eyes sting a little

2: Carried in a "quick-draw holster" - hard to beet the speed with which it can go from your hand into an attackers face

3: "Long range area weapon" - can be thrown over long distance with a nice splash effect

4: Boiling hot - makes eyes/face hurt a lot (mace may or may not work on your attacker, boiling hot liquid will work :evil: )


Anybody else think of a better "campus defense weapon"

[RyanM]

The only problem with coffee is it goes cold rather quickly if there's no lid (and lids just are very untactical, like thumb breaks), and there's some risk involved if you're clumsy (like me :uhoh: ).

Still, for a temporary weapon for a ten minute or so walk, coffee would be pretty good.

[GW]

From what I've seen of coffee prices I'd say bullets are cheaper ;)

[El Tejon]

"When you run out [of weaponry], run in to White Hen." :D

[hso]

Hot coffee with hot sauce and coco powder!

[JShirley]

Full 16 or 20-oz water bottle.

J

[Ol' Badger]

GF got PO'ed at me and hit me in the skull with a 2 litter Coke bottle and knocked me silly! I'll never do that again.

[bad LT]

just don't tell the antis about it,

otherwise they will form "Coffee Control Inc"

[orangeninja]

I'd say a mini mag light. Do a hammer strike with the end protruding just a smidge, and you'll knock someone into next week.

You can use it as a flashlight too. ;)

[Kurt]

A very effective and moderately Sheeple friendly alternate plan would be to attach a modest set of keys to a substantial lanyard (shortened dog leash). This can be swung around with devastating results.

You can modify the leash, and buy various connectors (themselves made of metal) and wind up with a "biker’s wallet" looking arrangement. Including chain, yours can be alternately made of 1/4 - 5/8" leather or braided nylon.

I would retain a hand loop and not go below 20 - 22", but you really need to test for your personal best length.

When finished, never give away your true motives, just claim an unwanted pattern of loosing your keys.

Result - almost everybody's happy . . . and you're a LOT safer!

[shotgunner]

I bought a trailer hitch, sawed it down so it's shape was like
_____
/ \
| |
\ ____ /

Then I had a buddy tig-weld a chain onto it, the attatched link was half a link at the beginning of 1 1/2 feet of chain links.
I'll be adding a wooden handle soon :).

[shotgunner]

That trailer hitch drawing got messed up....
oh well

[GW]

Ain't that a sort of morningstar?

[Kevlarman]

Haha that's what I was thinking!
Give a new meaning to "going medieval on someone's ass."

Didn't have many sheeple friendly tools when I was on campus, but I did have a level II Kevlar panel in my backpack. My imagination went something like this:

I see guy with gun
I run
He sees me and shoots me in the back
I feign death
When he turns around to look for next victim, I run like heck
:p

[Burt Blade]

Louisville Slugger

An acquaintance from my college days had one we called "Excali-bat". (There is an obscure comic book reference in there. It was that sort of crowd.) If you are going to walk around with it, carry a fielders glove, so you have half a chance to talk your way past curious cops.


Of course, a 12" section of steel pipe in a rolled up newspaper will keep that paper looking nice and neat on your morning walks.


The cleverest "improvised" weapon I ever saw is carried by a young lady in my neighborhood. She has taken a majorette's baton from her high school days, filled it with sand, and replaced the rubber end caps with ones turned from brass.

She goes power-walking down the street, giving the baton the occasional twirl. The one time I saw her drop it, it bounced much more like a small barbell than a childs toy. I feel sorry for anyone who accosts her. Some of those "majorette twirls" look suspiciously like stick-fighting kata.

Ouch.

[Dirty Bob]

The new, smaller cans of soda make a heckuva throwing weapon. Remember the scene in "Crocodile Dundee?" You can carry one or two of them just about anywhere.

They would also work like a rock if held in the fist for striking. They'd last for at least one good SMACK!

Regards,
Dirty Bob

[Kevlarman]

Screw that, a pillowcase full of soda is the ultimate weapon! Remember Bad Boys? :evil:

[black bear]

Two rolls of quarters and a sock

black bear

[LeonCarr]

Raid Yard Guard, also known as "Bee-Bopper". The newer versions spray out about 20 feet.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[JShirley]

Visual aid (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/Jinete_delViento/bottle.jpg)

John

[DSRUPTV]

I had a firearms instructor that was proficient with a cane. The curved end had a point that could be used as a hook primarily in the groin /hamstring /quadricept, and he was also good at using joint manipulations and strikes. I don't know if you want to go around campus with a cane all the time though. I kept a pool cue sawed down to about 26 inches with the weight still in the end and a hockey style tape job for a grip on the other end in my dorm room.

[bad LT]

I certainly respect the a$$ kicking abilities of a cane; lets just say I learned about it via an old asian man, a martial arts class, and pain!!! It would just look out of place with a young man on a collage campus (poor me, I'm young :neener: )

[JShirley]

I hurt my knee this last week, so I'm using a Livesay Grey Ghost cane for the moment. So far, I like it pretty well.

John

[doc jake]

well gentalmen as an English Gentalman I would of course exchange the coffee for a nice cup of Tee, and a chocee biscute as an improvised throwing weapon ? Seriously when wearing a suit i have found an umbrealer passess inspection even by british police.

[DDGator]

Not sure if this is a serious thread or not... :)

Someone I know carries a large metal locking D-ring. On the side opposite the lock, the "handle" is padded with para-cord wrapped around. It makes a great brass knuckle type device and the locking ring on the impact end adds a little more emphasis. You can always unwind the paracord if you need it...

If asked, it is a D-ring for mountain climbing, etc. (Works better if you are not in Florida, but who cares?)

[JShirley]

Add a short lanyard made of braided 500 cord (type 3), with your keys at the other end. This will look natural, and give you a weapon with another 6" of reach- also will increase leverage for the hit.
J

[Texian Pistolero]

Get to high ground and drop a boulder on them.

[bad LT]

Very good idea Texian Pistolero ... turn assailant into Wile E. Coyote :)

On a more serious note DDGator has a very good idea for an improvised weapon - the "psudo-brass knuckles" could work very well.

[Texian Pistolero]

As to the boulder concept,

Men have been afraid of nuclear annihilation ONLY since 1945.

But fear of the skull crushing rock projectile

Has been real since the dawn of time.

Fear of the skull crushing rock projectile is hard wired into our RNA/DNA genetic code.

Precisely because it is so awesomely effective.

In the 1800’s,

British regiments invaded the Afghanistan mountain passes,

under orders to subjugate the mountain villages.

But the young rock rollers were up there.

On the heights.

Skilled in the centuries old art of their fathers.

It's not that hard,

just let gravity do the work.

[MrMurphy]

Hot Coffee: Natural Self Defense mechanism of Navy Chief Petty Officers for over a century.......... now you know why they suffer from Chief's Disease. They're practicing self defense technique as they walk. :)

[Battlespace]

While I was in high school (mid 1960's) a girl working as a car hop at the local Tastee Freeze took an order from a guy for a cup of coffee. When she brought it to him he had exposed himself and made a comment to her. She simply dumped the hot coffee in his lap. After he got out of the hospital he went to jail. His name was Albert and after that we called the Tastee Freeze "Albert's Hang Out" it seemed the least we could do.

[Texian Pistolero]

Years ago in my home town,

at a supermarket checkout,

pervo flopped his dangler right on the Formica,

Checkout girl was so shocked,

she dropped the No 10 can of Pinapple juice.

right on target.

Crime and punishment should always be so smooth

[AF_INT1N0]

Never overlook a nice set of Steel Toe Boots.---I work in a warehouse after school.

2 or more Cans o' Corn in the backpack.-- for the save the ______ food drive.

#2 pencil..The most common stabbing device ever.

D-Ring- Instant brass knuckles.

Hot coffee in one of those Big insulated mugs...64 oz Assault Coffee!! Steam the coffee an extra minute or so and it will still be plenty hot when you get to school.

Spray Deoderant.. Leave them smelling fresh..and Blind!!

Crown royal bag filled with quarters.. Could be your lunch money

That's about all I can think of right now.

[medmo]

I hope that no one is taking any of these gadget ideas as serious counter measures in a life or death defensive situation. Most of these gadgets sound great in an offensive situation where some one has the time to prepare for a strike. If someone attacks with highly motivated and premeditated malice than I don't think any of us could actually reach any of these gadgets never mind implement them. Methods of close quarters, hand to hand strategies work well when properly learned. Your hands are probably the last thing you will rely on in a really bad situation so it makes sense to learn how to use them.

[Kevlarman]

I dunno, steel-toe boots are pretty easy to put into use at a moment's notice. :D

How about a pair of sap gloves? Too obvious in the summer, but they look pretty nice in the winter. Too bad they're illegal pretty much everywhere.

My friend was the victim of an attempted mugging a year or so ago. Perp came up behind him and stuck him in the back with a cheap knife, to which my friend responded by turning around and deploying his Spyderco Endura across the perp's forearms. My friend did take a thrust into the sternum; luckily the wound was minor and closed with a few stitches. They never caught the perp, nor did my friend get his knife back. :cuss:

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I hope that no one is taking any of these gadget ideas as serious counter measures in a life or death defensive situation. Most of these gadgets sound great in an offensive situation where some one has the time to prepare for a strike. If someone attacks with highly motivated and premeditated malice than I don't think any of us could actually reach any of these gadgets never mind implement them. Methods of close quarters, hand to hand strategies work well when properly learned. Your hands are probably the last thing you will rely on in a really bad situation so it makes sense to learn how to use them.Don't underestimate good improvised weapons. All else being equal, the guy with the bat/cane/chain/brass knuckles will always have the advantage. Even that boiling hot cup of coffee can give you a momentary advantage. Empty-handed fighting is a worthwhile skill, but I'd only rely on it as a last resort when no other weapon is available.

I once saw a strapping young punk beaten senseless by a middle aged lady who wielded her purse as an impromptu morning star. I dunno what kind of mischief the punk was planning, but I'm pretty sure it didn't succeed. Improvised weapons work.

My personal favorite is the redneck katana: a three foot length of rebar with one end ground into a point. Add some tape or cord wrapping to the other end so that it fills your hand with a nice grip. Sorta like a baseball bat, but heavier, faster, and much sharper. The thin cross-section of rebar concentrates the force of each blow into a much smaller area, giving you that extra bit of skin splitting, muscle tearing, bone crushing power. Of course, you can't add pointy nails to the end of rebar like you can with a bat. Life is full of compromises...

[pete f]

go to your local golf shop and ask to buy a corded golf grip, should cost you about 5 bucks. stop at the hard ware store on the way home and buy a small tube of silicon sealant. get home mix a ounce or so of shotgun pellets with the silicon, now drop mixture down hole in golf grip and tamp lightly to settle in the closed end of the golf grip. let dry over night,
By the next day you now have one very very effective, cheap and disposable sap. the Corded texture of the grip means no slip and no fingerprints if you have to toss it after use. It will lay someone out cold with just a moderate tap, a hard swing will perhaps turn the lights out for a long (permanent?) time. This was the standard tool of my bouncing days. the grip is made out of high quality rubber and willflex easily with the lead in the end, the silicon sticks to the inside of the grip and keeps the pellets where you want them. And it absolutely does not look like a weapon. I stopped a drunk and 'roided-up ex pro football player cold with one tap behind the ear.

[CAS700850]

medmo has a valid point, that these types of weapons should not be relied upon. Except for those of us who have lived the campus life. Walking a dark campus at night is probably more dangerous now than ever. We've seen some students at a local univerity robbed after dark o ftheir backpacks. BG's looking for MP3 players, PDA's, laptops, etc. Quick cash.

Unfortunatley, most students are limited in what they may have as a defensive weapon. This thread will hopefully prove useful to young women headed to college, who need to be able to protect themselves at night on campus, and who may be prohibited from having a handgun/fighting knife/OC spray/etc.

[AF_INT1N0]

I hope that no one is taking any of these gadget ideas as serious counter measures in a life or death defensive situation. Most of these gadgets sound great in an offensive situation where some one has the time to prepare for a strike. If someone attacks with highly motivated and premeditated malice than I don't think any of us could actually reach any of these gadgets never mind implement them. Methods of close quarters, hand to hand strategies work well when properly learned. Your hands are probably the last thing you will rely on in a really bad situation so it makes sense to learn how to use them.

Of course not. This is an improvised (I can have nothing else to defend myself) type weapon. And anything is better than nothing.

I also think that a bag full o' canned corn(or beets if you prefer) is gonna provide one heck of a better defense than a fist, especially if your on the small side.

Also anyone who doubts the defensive power of a purse has never been walloped with one.

[RyanM]

Of course, you can't add pointy nails to the end of rebar like you can with a bat. Life is full of compromises...

Oxyacetelyne torch. ;)


http://www.jamesakeating.com/catalg3.html
A Combat Tech Stinger might be a good choice for on-campus self defense. Doesn't look very weapon-like at all. But you really do not want to get hit by one of those, ouchies.

[bad LT]

medmo: Learning to effectivly use an improvised weapon is an important skill - just as empty hand styles train in case there are no weapons available to them, people should also be capable of using their surroundings to defend themselves in case they do not have access to more effective weapons. Let me put it this way; I would rather face a mugger with a cup of coffee than completly unarmed (but I rather have a shotgun than that cup of coffee :evil: )

[JShirley]

I would rather face a would-be mugger with an Enhanced Radiation Warhead tactical nuclear device...but what can you do.

"Gadgets"? A water bottle ain't exactly a gadget. I've carried water in some sort of container for the majority of the last 14 years. If I'm forced to strike someone, I'm automatically going to try to use whatever I'm holding first.

John

[Citadel99]

I really like the D ring idea. Might do that when I'm not totin'.

Mark

[bosshoff]

You have to remember, you don't want to seem like you were looking for a confrontation. Carrying a sap might seem a bit "offensive", but I love the idea of the golf-grip sap, thanks.
In Milwaukee where I went to school, (in a bad neighborhood) the "local gals" ;) would carry a box cutter or a utillity knife (Stanley knife).
One of the less lethal things I heard of is a Visene bottle filled with amonia. You can conceal this extremely easy, and squirt it right in an assailants face/eyes. This is a "poor-man's" mace.

[chaim]

Timely thread as I recently encountered a neo-Nazi near work. I noticed the Nazi tatoos on his forearms (along with forearms the size of tree trunks) and he noticed my yarmulke on my head. I was thankful that all he hurled at me was the word "k*ke" about a dozen times (prefaced with a profanity meaning the act of procreation, and the phrase meaning procreation with one's mother) and Nazi salutes. Unfortunately, he got a good look at my car (he was craning his neck to see where I went when I left) and saw my work badge so he knows where I work and what I drive. It is possible this guy may be back and I'm in a near total victims disarmament zone living in MD (MD doesn't allow CCW so no guns) and since I was at lunch coming from work, and where I may encounter the guy again will be around work, my work policies do the rest of the job (no weapons of any kind- including pepper spray and pocket knives).

This situation brought to mind how vulnerable we are coming out of work (and I do suspect this guy will be back). Unfortunately, most non-weapons that can be used as weapons effectively will be pretty suspicious for someone to be carrying around at an office job (screw drivers, various chemical sprays, baseball bats, etc.). About the only thing on this thread you could actually carry around without drawing suspicion is a cane (I may consider it). The other things, one would find a knife and pepper spray (or a gun for that matter) easier to conceal, and if you just carried it around they'd draw a lot of unwanted attention.


Raid Yard Guard, also known as "Bee-Bopper". The newer versions spray out about 20 feet.

Hey, if you have a little time to prepare, I'd prefer something like that and a cigarette lighter. Nice improvised flame-thrower.


Another good improvised weapon for times/places where one can plan a bit (not possible to carry though) would be one of those 8-10" long backpack axes. Perfect for storing under your car seat to deter carjackings and other encounters at your car (or near enough the car that you can get to it in time).

[Hardware]

For those who doubt the effectiveness of a purse...

My ex-girlfriend used to line the bottom seam of her purse with depleted D cell batteries. I never, ever wanted to be on the receiving end of THAT purse.

But on the subject of batteries the best improvised self defense device is the mag light. The D cell models are great clubs and the C cell models are about the size of batons. The micro maglight, a single AAA cell model comes with a six inch lanyar so you can attach it to your keyring. It turns a modest size bunch of keys into a short ranged bundle of hurt when whipped across someone's face. Plus, no jurisdiction I know of has outlawed flashlights... yet.

By the way, brass knuckles are illegal almost everywhere. But Ebay has dozens of auctions for polymer knuckles.

[JShirley]

When evaluating improvised weapons, a few things should be considered:

How natural is this implement? How likely will I be to have this or keep it with me? How will this item look to Law Enforcement personnel, or god forbid, a jury?

[iiibdsiil]

My girlfriend swung her purse at me, and I blocked it with my arm (she was just messing around, and of course I flinched) and it hurt pretty bad. I would have been able to keep going after her without missing a beat, but she more let gravity do it's job when she swung it, instead of putting muscle behind it. If she really wanted to, she could definitely lay someone out with it.

[jdberger]

For a non-gun weapon, I always liked the mini-mag flashlight and the Key Defender (http://elitetacticalsources.com/ASP_Defender.htm)

Not much of an edge, but a little counts a lot and both make a great fist load (http://www.donrearic.com/fistload.html)

This situation brought to mind how vulnerable we are coming out of work (and I do suspect this guy will be back). Most people I know at work and on campus drag around some kind of bag. The newer thing is to have one of the messenger bags like the timbuk2 (http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/productlisting.t2?skuSetIdStr=85&categoryId=6) There are some neato pen pockets in the front panel to hold my stuff. I'm able to carry both in the bag, slung over one shoulder I have quick access if I need it and I never need to show anyone else in the office that I have a light and a stick of OC in my bag.

A tightly rolled newspaper or magazine works well, too. Stick it in the BG's face, twist and you are now on the offensive. The spine of a book makes a pretty nasty impact weapon. "and then he pulled a knife and said, 'Give me your wallet.' so I whacked him over the head with 'Crime and Punishment.'" :evil:

[1911JMB]

How about a coke bottle full of gasoline and a reliable lighter?

[JShirley]

How about 5 to 10? Years in jail, that is?

[Cosmoline]

I prefer a hickory axe handle. It's light weight, completely legal and amazingly fast hitting. For more serious engagements with the zombie hordes, I'd use my Gransfors Bruks felling axe.

[JJpdxpinkpistols]

I love the darned things. They serve two purposes:

1. Dogs absolutely positively and completely hate the noise made when they swish through the air.

2. From about 4 feet, it busts all but the thickest bones. If it doesn't break the bone, it definitely will leave a mark. In testing my s. african hippo hide sjambok, i almost broke skin on my shin. Lights went off in my head. owchie.

I often carry mine when I am out running around my neighborhood. There are a lot of dogs in my neighborhood.

If a LEO asks...dogs. Truth is easier than lying :-)

[Ad Astra]

A professional climbers carabiner works as a great brass knuck, and can be openly carried on your belt. It's for keys, of course.

$8-10 or so at police supply catalogs.



Ad Astra

[craftsman]

How about a "Carreau" from a 730 gram Petanque boule? (LOL!)

(for those unfamiliar - http://www.jbpetanque.com/general/offrules.htm )

[middy]

I hurt my knee this last week, so I'm using a Livesay Grey Ghost cane for the moment.
Wow! A $12 cattle sorting pole for only $25!

What a bargain. :rolleyes:

[Seven High]

Chaim: I would contact the local police department and file a complaint.Your incident sounds like a hate crime to me. At the least there should be an investigation of it. Your antagonist will probably return.

[Sir Aardvark]

How about a rolled up magazine used as a baton - very useful to "jab" with. IIRC Jason Bourne in "The Bourne Supremacy" used this tactic in a fight scene.

A martial arts buddy of mine would have a tree saw blade - about 12"-14" long- in the back of his car for use in desperate situations. He would cut a tree with it so it first so it would be "sappy" and look like a tool, not a weapon. The wounds it would make would classify it as a "Terror Weapon".