Objects with self-defense capability for weapons-restricted areas?

[TimboKhan]

In your situation, I think having a pen is a pretty good idea. Long ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the Secret Service (I did NOT train with them, was just sharing a hanger is all) and in the down periods of time we got to talking and they showed us some stuff. One of the things they showed us was how effective a pen could be as a weapon. I was a 20 year old kid at the time and thought this was the most secret agent thing ever! Anyway, this was long before the advent of "tactical" pens, and the agent that was showing us the stuff was using a plain old clicker pen, probably a cross.

Personally, I can't justify spending the prices that the more premium tactical pen makers charge for their wares, but I can justify the twenty or so bucks the S&W/Schrade branded pens go for. My buddy bought a couple as christmas gifts for some mutual friends, and I didn't see anything wrong with them. Plus, they wrote pretty good. Here is the Schrade, and here is the Smith and Wesson. They are made by the same manufacturer and are slightly different as you can see.

For even cheaper, one good choice is the Zebra F701. I think they run in the neighborhood of five bucks or so, and I bought mine at Walmart. You can see what they look like here.

 

[conw]

I no longer recommend the F701 for self-defense. I ran one through the wash by accident and found out that the steel is much thinner than it looks, and it is not very sturdy after all. Not to mention it would be awfully hard to hold on to, and has about 3 different sections of metal that could fall apart after the first jab.

 

[amd6547]

When I was in high school and getting bothered by a bully, my Father taught me that a stiff magazine can be rolled tightly, and the end can be used as a striking weapon. Works pretty good.

 

[p35]

If you can find a Rotring 600 it's about the ultimate tough ballpoint. I personally often carry a kubaton-type object which I carved myself from vine maple, oak, or hawthorn wood; they don't set off detectors and would be very handy in a fight.

The other thing I do is cultivate a good relationship with the security staff and let them know well in advance if I have a case where there may be unstable people involved. They would rather be there in advance and prevent a problem than come running to break one up.

 

[Labyrinth666]

They used to make rings and pens to hold and shoot .22 short rounds, you would have to put them right up against the skin, maybe you could find an old one or buy a cheap pistol and remove the firing mechanism... A quick idea for one, you could make it so clicking the pen an it will fire.

 

[p35]

Making your own gun that doesn't look like a gun is likely to get you into major trouble with the BATF. Plus, us lawyers are held to a higher standard by the Bar and judges and shouldn't try to bend the rules. If I was caught with a hidden gun in a courtroom I expect the judge would be extremely angry and that would be the last time I could appear in court in that county, and quite possibly could get jailed for contempt of court. I would also expect to get called on the carpet by the Bar Association and get some serious unpaid time off. Real bad idea all round.

 

[hso]

pens to hold and shoot .22 short rounds

Not only illegal, but not in our scope in NFW.

 

[Labyrinth666]

Are you looking for ordinary items to use or ordinary items to conceal things with?

 

[Boberama]

You could get a Surefire with a combat bezel.

That one's going to look suspicious though. In fact, any flashlight will look suspicious.

That one doesn't look as vicious as the one above. Any flashlight will look suspicious in a brightly lit courtroom. This pen may be a better choice. It's the Lightfoot Combat Pen from Timberline.

From Tactical Life:

Timberline Lightfoot Combat Pen

Written by Jerry VanCook. Author Archive »

It writes, it can fight; it stays hidden in plain sight! We check out the new Lightfoot Combat Pen from Timberline.

“Certs . . . is it a breath mint? Or is it a candy mint?” Some of you are old enough to remember that advertising slogan the Certs people used in the Sixties and Seventies. Well, in the same vein as the Certs commercials, now comes Timberline’s new Tactical LCP (Lightfoot Combat Pen). But the question with this item is a little different. “Is it a writing instrument? Or is it a self-defense tool?”

The Certs Company claimed their product was both—candy and breath mint. And I’d say something similar about the Tactical LPC. It’s a great writing pen. I just used it to outline a scene in my latest action-adventure novel. Then I put the cap back on and started hitting things with it. It’s really sort of an “undercover” tactical defense implement. (UTDI—there, I just invented my very first acronym—as if we don’t already have too many. I promise never to use it again.)

Google "combat pen".

 

[hso]

Unfortunately, defensive pens have become recognized by security personnel. My last trip to Kuwait the Kuwaiti security supervisor had no problem identifying it's potential as a weapon as we went through the final screening to get on the United flight back for the US.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Heavy belt with heavy belt buckle makes a decent swinging weapon.

I suppose you could carrying it an a satchel of some sort (for quick access) on the way to the courthouse, then outside the courthouse doors, put the belt on your pants, go in, then take the belt off again to get through the metal detectors. Then, take back OFF in the bathroom let's say and back into the satchel, if you think there ALSO may be a threat inside the building.

I'm here to tell ya that they ain't letting anyone in with that pen or combat bezeled light. Now if the pen ALSO had a squared off cap for the OTHER end as well, then you may have something.

 

[hso]

I'm here to tell ya that they ain't letting anyone in with that pen or combat bezeled light.

You might just be surprised where that pen goes. I was shocked when the Kuwaitis took it since it had ridden comfortably in my pocket or clipped to the placket of a polo shirt through many layers of security both in and outside of airports. On the other hand, more aggressive looking pens like the Benchmade scream "weapon" to my eye while the Timberline just looks big and high tech and masculine. To each his own.

 

[icanthitabarn]

How about a metal water bottle with the screw on top? That would go anywhere, but maybe not, with a loop of cord on the top.

 

[Stophel]

I'm in for the walking stick. Just a plain piece of wood. Can be made as fancy as you want. If you think anyone might think it's odd, just start walking with a limp.

Though I have had zero practice with them, I have always been at least intellectually intrigued with the stick as a weapon. Large and small. I believe I'd rather have a 6 or 7 foot stick of Ash than a sword!

I like the briefcase too! With a walking stick and briefcase, you have a staff and buckler!

 

[Labyrinth666]

I can kind of understand the briefcase, but why do you need a weapon? Courts are crawling with LEOs and they have guns, and what criminal that would want to hurt you would even let you get close enough to hit them with a blunt object? The BG would most likely have a gun and the briefcase would be smart in that situation, but you are a bit overly paranoid in this case IMO.

 

[JShirley]

How about a metal water bottle with the screw on top? That would go anywhere, but maybe not, with a loop of cord on the top.

I have covered this many times. A normal, full water bottle in the 12-20oz size makes a fine impact tool, and will NOT rupture when delivering a smash to the head powerful enough to knock a grown man down or out.

John

 

[7X57chilmau]

A misguided youth spent in a bike mechanic shop taught me that a typical Coke or Pepsi bottle (600ml, 2L, your choice) will hole in excess of 250psi without bursting. They make fine clubs if you can keep your grip.

The waterbottles with the ribbed sides are less well suited, as they feel "soft" due to all the give they have in their ribbed sections....

J

 

[hso]

Considering that Sigg water bottles (and clones) are all the thing with the grade school kids I find myself carrying a 1L Sigg bottle of water frequently.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Briefcase, Key chain, and even a ballpoint pen can all be used as weapons. When it comes to hand to hand fighting the weapons at your disposal are only a fraction of what it takes to win. A roll of pennies in your fist can really give your punches an extra wallop. You might want to consider taking a self defense course. You will be surprised at the amount of confidence it will give you. Once you finish taking it you will probably enjoy it so much that you will want to take some further martial arts training. A little money and time is worth the life time of confidence you will have. It will also help you to become more aware of your surroundings and you will start to naturally know how to avoid conflict zones and just conflicts in general.

If you are to busy to go take the self defense class somewhere you might want to try out something like these videos. I would recommend going through them with a friend so that the two of you could practice trying the moves on each other. Trust me these techniques do actually work.
http://www.closecombattraining.com/cctraining/startg.php?gclid=CKPapdzZ0Z8CFQ-lagodmGdLrw

 

[shockwave]

Thanks to the Xmas fairy, I now have one of these (by all means, watch the video):

Lucky you. I was thinking the same thing - the defensive umbrella used by security services. That thing is incredibly strong. It's also perfectly ordinary looking. I have a sword umbrella but screeners might spot it and I wouldn't try to bring it into a secure area. That fighting umbrella is clearly the winner. The cost has been greatly reduced I see. When they first went on sale they cost about twice the going rate now. I'd call that very affordable.

Next, how to use it? Traditional fencing practice, escrima, and basic staff fighting would all give insights on how to use it to its full potential. Also, your belt can be a weapon held from either end.

 

[jojo200517]

I'm not sure how it would work for you being an attorney you are expected to dress professional, but for the common folk wearing steel toed work boots can get ya thru a detector with other stuff. Sure it sets it off and you tell the security gaurd there steel toed, he looks down and can tell there work shoes and waves ya own thru. I never even thought twice about the knife clipped on my pocket and apparently he didn't notice. My small town might be pretty slack on security in the court house tho, who knows. If you could find steel toed casual shoes tho, even if it put you thru a hassle going in at first, they sure would make good shin kickers.

Something no one else has mentioned, laptop. Do you carry one into court or is this an unheard of thing? You might break a common one but your life is worth more than your laptop. The apples appear to be anodized aluminum on some of them, who knows if you tell people it saved your life apple would probably replace it for ya. Of course if your a windows person there is the Panasonic tough book laptops and tablets. If the laptops could go thru security i'm sure the charger could too and the power brick on the cord would be an EXCELLENT weapon.

If you carry your keys on your belt, get rid of that cheap aluminum carabinar (i broke far too many of them in normal use) and go to lowes or home depot and pick up a nice stainless steel one for less than 10 bucks. They are shiny, much stronger and have more heft to them. Never had it slow me down at security even in a federal social security office building in SC.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I had to go to court early this morning to give testimony at a hearing, and they chicken eyed everything pretty good. Some of what has been posted here won't make it through screening if this morning is any example. This is Montgomery county district court, Rockville Maryland.

They x-rayed my blackthorn stick to make sure it was all wood, and even then questioned me some. Wanted to know if I needed a cane, why was I carrying a Shillelagh. The supervisor overrode him and I got through. They questioned the AA minimag that Karen had in her purse, turned it on to make sure it worked. Same with my cell phone. Looked at my Cross pen, but didn't say anything.

No way was one of those tactical pens or tactical flashlights with the wicked bezels making it through. I think getting caught with one will mean an arrest.

Judging by this morning, they know what to look for.

On the other hand, there were so many county police officers, county sheriffs deputies, and plain clothes guys around the place, getting attacked was not in the realm of my worries.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Carl Levitian, your response is exactly why I said he should get some self defense training. Weapons can not always be counted on which is why it is important to know how to use ones own body as a weapon.

 

[glistam]

At the Cumberland District Court you don't even get searched. But that doesn't make taking prohibited items in any less illegal, which of course will be quite obvious if you are forced to use any of them.

 

[Kubenzi86]

Take some judo classes. They can cost some but you take it everywhere. This way if push comes to shove you will know how to hit the ground without getting injured, and subdue people who are much larger than you, use their weight against them.