Best defensive weapon outside the home...

[medcommander]

A weapon is only as good as its user. IMO people put too much emphasis on having a "good self-defense weapon" when the most important aspect in self-defense is physical fitness and physical capabilities.

+1^ Although I do think the choice of weapon is important. I like to think of weapons like an animals claws. They must be used so often to become a part of your body.

Most cities are populated with many individuals who possess serious martial arts skills, capable of not only disarming someone with a hand-held weapon and using it against them, but also of inflicting serious open-hand offensive injury if they have a mind to. Physical size is no protection against such skill, just as a smaller physical size is of little consequence for either a male or female practitioner who has attained considerable martial arts capability. Maintaining as much as possible an "amber alert" awareness and street-wise smarts will serve well. Check out your local Dojo.

Not really... There are a lot of martial artists but many with any real skill. For pretty much everyone disarms are a very unlikely possibility, and are more likely to get you hurt than not. Guys I hate to tell you this but SIZE MATTERS! There's a reason fighters are usually broken up by weight class, for unless you have enough training to turn your size into an advantage the other guy will simply pummel you!

Advised Weapons: I can understand the hesitancy when considering the knife, and I commend you for recognizing the weaknesses that the knife faces. My personal recommendations would be a taser, pepper spray, and a walking stick. Both the taser and pepper spray are non lethal and carrying both would allow you to do a new york reload of sorts. If able I think the walking stick is good for your situation because it is quickly deployable (its already in your hand!), effective at a variety of ranges, effective against knife wielders, and can create space to facilitate escape.

-MC

[will_1400]

16 oz ball peen hammer.

Goodbye "clandestine self defense tool" and hello "probable cause".

Attorney: "Why were you carrying a ball peen hammer in a kydex sheath? Clearly you weren't going to use it as tool since it wasn't in a tool belt." It'll snowball from there. Canes, knives, guns, and walking sticks are better options since it's easy to explain that "I carry a gun/knife for self defense" or "I used my cane/walking stick because I had it with me and was using it to help me walk".

Hammers are commonly used for B&E in my neck of the woods and even if they weren't, it's not as easy to articulate some contrived reason to a jury as to why you're carrying a hammer (outside of being a carpenter and even then, why are you concealing it instead of carrying it on your tool belt?) with other tools/weapons are available.

[Black Knife]

Goodbye "clandestine self defense tool" and hello "probable cause".

Attorney: "Why were you carrying a ball peen hammer in a kydex sheath? Clearly you weren't going to use it as tool since it wasn't in a tool belt." It'll snowball from there. Canes, knives, guns, and walking sticks are better options since it's easy to explain that "I carry a gun/knife for self defense" or "I used my cane/walking stick because I had it with me and was using it to help me walk".

Hammers are commonly used for B&E in my neck of the woods and even if they weren't, it's not as easy to articulate some contrived reason to a jury as to why you're carrying a hammer (outside of being a carpenter and even then, why are you concealing it instead of carrying it on your tool belt?) with other tools/weapons are available.

That has to be one of the worst choices for a self defense tool.

[will_1400]

That has to be one of the worst choices for a self defense tool.

Agreed. Not only is it a legal cluster**** but it's also a poor weapon in a technical sense. I've broken the handles on hammers just using them for carpentry. I'd hate to see how they'd fare if I'm swinging full-force on someone.

[Charlie Mike]

All I can say is a few hundred Hells Angels can't be wrong.

[will_1400]

All I can say is a few hundred Hells Angels can't be wrong.

Oh, that's even better. Pointing out how one of the most violent biker gangs in the world uses that method and weapon. This is even more like a prosecutor's wet dream...

[Tim20637]

Did you make the kydex for that hammer cm?

[Charlie Mike]

Sent out to a custom dude.

[MVF]

Running shoes + cane + pepper spray + knife- although the knife is definitely problematic. (I'm taking training for granted since you already mentioned it) Although I always carry a knife, I have only once gone for it in an SD situation and that's because I guessed (rightly) that letting them see it - I didn't "flash" it, I pretended to be hiding it while I made sure they could actually see me opening it- would end the situation. If I thought I was going to have to fight, I would have left the knife in my pocket, as I feel 2 good hands are usually more effective.

The cane and pepper spray are both easy to use, give you lots of options, and are easy to defend in court. Keeping in good enough shape to run is best though IMO. No courts, no hospitals, no friends trying to even the score...

[jwblack911]

i woulc grab an apc baton of your liking, doesn't get much better than that and its the size or a small 2 AA cell mag lite

[Uath]

I always plug house of canes. They make an excellent cane out of Dymondwood, wich is as strong as it gets. They're REAL quality:



If you're unsure, get a cane 1/2 your body height, exa, if you're 6', get a cane that's 36" long. They're all custom made, come in several colors. They even make a walking stick out of Dymondwood with a solid brass ball. Several of us here have bought form them. Here's the website:

http://houseofcanes.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=275

Here's MY favorite hammer. You're not gonna break the handle on this baby (I LOVE this thing):



As far as mace goes, here's your best bet:



Seriously, the walking stick is better.

[Uath]

For "Business" attire, this might be better:

[will_1400]

For "Business" attire, this might be better:

A morgenstern? Not sure if troll or serious...

And the hamme's main issue is still an attorney asking you "why were you carrying it concealed when you clearly weren't using for its intended purpose, etc"

[Uath]

I was just joking about the mace. The Dymondwood cane is by far the best. A knife is as questionable as anything and pepper spray might not be accessable enough. A walking stick is absolutely above reproach.

[din]

'78 Nova.

[Uath]

For "Business" attire, this might be better:

I just mentioned this because it might be useful in all kinds of work-place situations.

[Charlie Mike]

07 Dodge Charger. That's what my wife drives.

[Edwood7]

[Dave28210]

I think the key is having several options, due to the fact that you cannot pick the nature, location, or time of the encounter. I carry a gun when lawful, a knife, pepper spray, flashlights and pens (that could be used as impact weapons. Plus the feet (for running away...or kicking) and all the other fists, elbows, etc so on so forth. I am no mall ninja, but I would not bank my safety on any one "wonder tool."

Question: What is the best option?
Answer: The best option is having multiple options.

[broe]

Hmmmmm....after reading all of these posts all I can add is the most important thing/weapon would be your brain.

Your brain controls your hands and feet and body and if you train correctly, anything can become a weapon when added to your skill.

I repeat...ANYTHING can become a weapon you set your mind to use if you are using your head.

I have seen the reports where a pencil wielding nutjob took out 3 prison guards armed with a pencil and a sock with a bar of soap in it. Serious injuries resulted.

Opportunity+Knowledge+willingness to use item at hand= serious weapon

A sharpie would not be considered to be a weapon in a courthouse but in the hands of a determined wielder and the knowledge of how to use it, a person could be hit and crippled or suffer serious injury and perhaps death.

I have seen a paperback book used to not only defend from but disarm a man with a large hunting knife.

I was in a tavern in my youth when a man defended himself against base ball bats, broken beer bottles, and pool cues with a cue ball and a bar towel.

Mindset and knowledge.