Sap Gloves

[kingpin008]

Hey fellas - got a question for ya'll.

Here in Maryland, it's damn near impossible to get a CCW permit. I've accepted this for the time being (mainly because we can't move out-of-state right now) and have begun looking for other options. Currently, I carry a Kershaw Scallion for both utility and self-defense, if needed.

But what about sap gloves? How do they fit into the "concealed weapon" criteria? For those who don't know, sap gloves are gloves (usually leather) that have pockets of either lead shot or powder sewn into the finger and knuckle areas, to add a little extra "oomph" to one's punch. I've seen a few LEO's who wear them, but never thought to ask about their civilian legality.

I'd love to have a pair, both because I need a decent pair of gloves, and for their more...utilitarian qualities given the ridiculous restrictions put on residents of my state self-defense-wise.

So long story short, can anyone fill me in on these things? Maryland residents obviously are encouraged to reply, but anyone who may be able to point me in the right direction is also greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[hso]

You should look up the MD laws concerning saps and billys to see if you would be committing a crime by even owning them.

Consider that any defensive tool you don't have on hand and can't deploy almost instantly is nearly useless. Unless you intend to walk around wearing a set of sap gloves all the time, and this will garner some strange looks, they're going to be slow to deploy.

 

[8830]

Make sure they are legal before you get them. I used a pair of Hatch Defender's when I was police and they worked very well. I also carried them in my back pocket so I could grab them and use them for strikes if I didn't have time to put them on. They worked pretty good since no one expected a pound of lead wrapped in leather to be pounding them in the face.

 

[RyanM]

Pretty much all the sap gloves I've seen have been really obvious and ugly, and also use ridiculous steel shot instead of powdered lead.

I'd say carry an actual blackjack if you can, legally. I really prefer blackjacks over knives, for more immediate "stopping power." Cut or stab something vital with a knife, and they've still got 5-10 seconds worth of oxygen in the brain. Whack them on the head with a blackjack, and it's permanent lights out. Cut someone's arm with a knife, and you have to nail the tendons to really do much. Hit an arm hard enough with a blackjack, and they can't use it because it's broken.

 

[saltydog452]

If 'sap gloves' are illegal, you might want to look into handball gloves.

Its been a BUNCH of years, but I seem to remember the area in the palm of the hand was padded with steel shot. No powdered lead to be absorbed into the skin of the wearer I guess.

salty.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Develop a slight limp and carry an ordinary solid wood cane.

 

[Harley Quinn]

When a LEO back in the 60's in So. CA it was legal to have them. The dept said no more of them in the 70's so I gave them up to a horsebreaker.
Mine were lead on the knuckle side and handy in a fight. It was 13 ounces of powdered lead in each glove. In CA they are a felony to have on. If you had them in your vehicle, it would not be a misd. like a firearm, it is a felony to have them, similar to a billy club (baton).

 

[Macmac]

What you want is to ring the necks of yer reps and senate..

If a driver's lic is more or less legal in all 50, then our CCW should be legal in all 50.

I consider mine is... However if you come to the same decsion I did, well it could make life hard.

My CCW is good in about 18 states, but none of these border me in NH. I just don't get stopped and when I do I say NO.. I write my reps and sentate, and I do not hide that I carry 100% of the time.

I rode a motor bike to Cal and back to NH and I did not go unarmed. I hit 40 states and never shot any gun during that whole time either, muchless comitted any crimes. Had I been stopped the answer to a quick search would be NO.

 

[alwilliam]

In the 1990s we had to take a course to get cert to carry sap gloves..I took the 8 hour course put on by damasus and taught by j.j. peters of asp fame.

Open hand strikes and weapon retention skills were the top skills taught,with other tips and tricks..closed fist punching was NOT taught in any way.I still have the class info and a even talked an instructor out of one of the traing posters they had hung up.

IMO...if its not damasus deer skin gloves with the lead clay inserts ..its a waste of time.I hate the steel shot versions the most.

 

[jhansman]

Or, you could go this route:
http://budk.com/product.asp?pn=03+SHSC&bhcd2=1199671409
I wonder how disabling getting smacked with one of these is.

 

[alwilliam]

THE small amount OF BISMUTH SHOT IN THE SHOMER TEC,BUSSE,AND OTHER CAPS is IMO to small of an amount to cause anything more than a startle responce.

I did build a few with a 5 oz square of lead encased in plasti dip they work well but fit weird ..I gave up on the design.