Tactical pen

[shockwave]

Y'know, the whole "tactical pen" thing seems kinda hokey to me, unless you're going to train hard to learn the kubotan or yawara stick. These are basically aikido (or related) moves and techniques, and here's a typical video. I don't see much in that video that's likely to work except for the beginning showing some vital points and general jabbing-striking moves. Any metal pen would be fine for that. Every tool you have at your disposal helps, so I'm not saying the "tac-pen" is worthless for SD, but to be a really effective weapon the user is going to need to train for quite a while to master the various joint locks and shin na style grappling that the kubotan magnifies.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

Anyone remember the old BIC commercials on TV where they fired a bic pen from a rifle? It went through as pine board and then still would write.

Of course now the ball holding tip is plastic.

 

[Cosmoline]

Even my big benchmade doesn't seem to be much of a personal defense weapon. It would possibly break a bone or give a nasty bruise, but that's not sufficient in my book. And it requires getting to punching range where he's obviously going to be punching or stabbing you back.

But it does fill the role of glass smasher. For some reason I seem to encounter a lot of car accidents, and it's occurred to me that having something to bust through auto glass in a hurry might come in handy. Or to break out of windows in a fire, of course.

 

[hso]

These things aren't intended to be "one shot stop" devices (ironic use of term intended). No one in their right mind thinks they're a substitute for bigger/better self defense tools, but they are a tool that can be carried all the time to help get someone off of you so you can transition to another more effective tool.

 

[stinger 327]

Y'know, the whole "tactical pen" thing seems kinda hokey to me, unless you're going to train hard to learn the kubotan or yawara stick. These are basically aikido (or related) moves and techniques, and here's a typical video. I don't see much in that video that's likely to work except for the beginning showing some vital points and general jabbing-striking moves. Any metal pen would be fine for that. Every tool you have at your disposal helps, so I'm not saying the "tac-pen" is worthless for SD, but to be a really effective weapon the user is going to need to train for quite a while to master the various joint locks and shin na style grappling that the kubotan magnifies.

I saw at a gun show one of these pens with a DVD training video and it costs $40 for both.
But here on the web you can buy one of these pens for as little as $22.00 with no video.

 

[Sox]

Guys,

I will get around to a pic of the collection soon. One of the pens I saw an add for recently, actually stated it was on the TSA watchlist etc.

I think the dumbest marketing ploy is the argument of the "castle" style pen tops that the sellers state are "DNA samplers" They can sample his DNA at the hospital!

In a professional environment these are about the maximum tolerated. I think they are great tools. I recommend a DVD by the originator of the kubotan for study, his energy and enthusiasm will change ones mind about the viability of these little boogers.

Dave

 

[oasis618]

Martin Blank killed another assassin with a regular old ballpoint pen in Grosse Pointe Blank. I'll just still with my Bic.

 

[hso]

Grosse Pointe Blank was a movie so it's probably unlikely to provide any more useful guidance than any other work of fiction, but I have personally seen a yellow Bic thrown 4 inches into a piece of standard plywood.

 

[CWL]

Here's what I normally have in my backpack while going through airports. I travel a lot, both domestically and internationally. That one in the center is a Rick Hinderer titanium pen. Haven't been harassed yet, although I don't go walking through with a chip on my shoulder either.

 

[Dr_2_B]

I have been bitten by the bug. But in addition to the S&W tactical pens, I found some pretty good heavy metal pens on eBay. Most are drug-rep pens like this good one I bought.

That being said, though, I believe investing in a little empty-hand training & kubotan training is the way to go. I need to do that post-haste.

 

[stinger 327]

Here's what I normally have in my backpack while going through airports. I travel a lot, both domestically and internationally. That one in the center is a Rick Hinderer titanium pen. Haven't been harassed yet, although I don't go walking through with a chip on my shoulder either.

View attachment 472674

The two pens on the far right look normal not conspicious or suspect.

 

[shockwave]

I like the two things up at top. Those are good. Compare with judges pens. These kind of training exercises are how the pen can be used as a weapon. Notice how the practitioner gets the entire weight of the body behind the spike. The amateur will use the weapon like an ice pick, stabbing it with the muscles of the arm. The trained expert uses almost no muscle at all, driving the weight and momentum of the entire body behind the point, delivering a far more powerful blow.

 

[stinger 327]

I like the two things up at top. Those are good. Compare with judges pens. These kind of training exercises are how the pen can be used as a weapon. Notice how the practitioner gets the entire weight of the body behind the spike. The amateur will use the weapon like an ice pick, stabbing it with the muscles of the arm. The trained expert uses almost no muscle at all, driving the weight and momentum of the entire body behind the point, delivering a far more powerful blow.

Using power from his body. Internal power vs. external power.

 

[hso]

shockwave,

You should see me lumbering through the TaiChi fan, but the technique is the same. Drive from the ground, through the legs with the weight of the body flowing to the hand/fan/tool.

 

[shockwave]

Drive from the ground, through the legs with the weight of the body flowing to the hand/fan/tool.

Right. Here's the fan I train with, closed:



And open:



It's heavy-gauge fabric over stainless steel components and weighs a few pounds. The loud noise it makes when you open it is part of the weapon - louder than racking a shotgun. One of the more esoteric items in the arsenal and part of the fun of learning internal arts.

 

[hso]

Yep, Sifu has the same fan. I keep saying I'm going to build one, but that wouldn't be cost effective.

 

[stinger 327]

There is always that pen that looks like a pen but when you pull off the cap it's like an ice pick.

 

[Dimis]

i cant honestly justify paying alot for a pen i may lose through normal daily activities (not that some of those arent worth the money just not for me)

so i went the simple route and you can too
go to your local walmart into the stationary/writeing supply isle look for a green and white package with an all steel knurled grip pen from zebra
i believe the model is 705 but i cant remember for sure
and if thats not enough of a kubiton style for you look a few sections over for the refillable sharpie
i carry both not as weapons but because i use pens and markers alot but if a reason presented itself and i couldnt get to my gun or knife (or couldnt take either of those with me) i wouldnt hesitate on useing either of those in my defense
they are both well made sturdy and inexpencive
i would personaly love to get some of the more tacticool pens to have in a collection
i really do like the embassy pen and i think the benchmade is just awesome but ive already lost and replaced my zebra 3 times and $5 is way better than $30-$100 if its lost

since the constant losses ive made a pocket holster for my pen/marker/SAK/solitare maglite that has solved the dropping from pocket issue kind of a pocket protector but more tactical lol (ok at least i think its tacticool so i dont feel so nerdy with a pocket protector)

i still wouldnt want to lose a pen that cost that much tho

 

[stinger 327]

i cant honestly justify paying alot for a pen i may lose through normal daily activities (not that some of those arent worth the money just not for me)

so i went the simple route and you can too
go to your local walmart into the stationary/writeing supply isle look for a green and white package with an all steel knurled grip pen from zebra
i believe the model is 705 but i cant remember for sure
and if thats not enough of a kubiton style for you look a few sections over for the refillable sharpie
i carry both not as weapons but because i use pens and markers alot but if a reason presented itself and i couldnt get to my gun or knife (or couldnt take either of those with me) i wouldnt hesitate on useing either of those in my defense
they are both well made sturdy and inexpencive
i would personaly love to get some of the more tacticool pens to have in a collection
i really do like the embassy pen and i think the benchmade is just awesome but ive already lost and replaced my zebra 3 times and $5 is way better than $30-$100 if its lost

since the constant losses ive made a pocket holster for my pen/marker/SAK/solitare maglite that has solved the dropping from pocket issue kind of a pocket protector but more tactical lol (ok at least i think its tacticool so i dont feel so nerdy with a pocket protector)

i still wouldnt want to lose a pen that cost that much tho

Sounds good to me. Some of those pens are outrageously priced though well made. But it is still a pen like the best 33 vinyl record vs. a compact Disc.

 

[TimboKhan]

But it is still a pen like the best 33 vinyl record vs. a compact Disc.

Uhh... What?

Anyway, the model of Zebra pen that Dimis is referring to is the F-701. I have one, it's a pretty good pen and will certainly work in a pinch, but it is no way as rugged as my S&W tactical pen.

In a different post on this similar topic, I made the point that even a plain old Bic pen can be used as a weapon. It's pretty far down the list of stuff I would want to use, but a .45 pen sticking out of an eye sucks just as bad as a $100.00 pen sticking out of an eye. I bought my pen just because the S&W versions are relatively cheap, they write well and because they are sort of cool. The tacticality of it was pretty far down the list.

 

[stinger 327]

Uhh... What?

Anyway, the model of Zebra pen that Dimis is referring to is the F-701. I have one, it's a pretty good pen and will certainly work in a pinch, but it is no way as rugged as my S&W tactical pen.

In a different post on this similar topic, I made the point that even a plain old Bic pen can be used as a weapon. It's pretty far down the list of stuff I would want to use, but a .45 pen sticking out of an eye sucks just as bad as a $100.00 pen sticking out of an eye. I bought my pen just because the S&W versions are relatively cheap, they write well and because they are sort of cool. The tacticality of it was pretty far down the list.

S&W pens are beautiful but I wish they didn't advertise their name on the clip for all to see. No discretion there and attracts attention.

 

[BruiseLee]

Shockwave, where did you get that fan from, and how much did it set you back? I'm assuming you didn't make it.

 

[hso]

http://superiormartialarts.com/cgi-....html&ORDER_ID=183906742&affiliate=!affiliate!

 

[shockwave]

Shockwave, where did you get that fan from, and how much did it set you back?

HSO gives the a link above. Mine is the "53164-Phoenix Iron Fighting Fan" shown. At $45 it isn't cheap, but the quality is there and it has the strength and weight needed. It's nice to see such a large selection at Superior - when I got mine several years back they were a lot harder to find and often out of stock. In general, I'm noticing that a lot of the rare items are now being produced in larger quantities with better quality and good prices. Makiwara, meteor hammers, hook swords - all kinds of stuff you can seriously injure yourself with.

 

[stinger 327]

HSO gives the a link above. Mine is the "53164-Phoenix Iron Fighting Fan" shown. At $45 it isn't cheap, but the quality is there and it has the strength and weight needed. It's nice to see such a large selection at Superior - when I got mine several years back they were a lot harder to find and often out of stock. In general, I'm noticing that a lot of the rare items are now being produced in larger quantities with better quality and good prices. Makiwara, meteor hammers, hook swords - all kinds of stuff you can seriously injure yourself with.

What's so special about these fans?