OT - Don Needs Advice - Non-Lethal, Concealable Weapon

Originally posted by Ben Arown-Awile
Life would be a lot easier if we spent as much energy learning how to avoid unpleasant situations as we do learning how to react to them.
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That is true. And I do. And I have.

And in spite of that, I have found myself in a situation not of my own making.

I'm hoping you are not making a value judgement without knowing me, or my circumstances. It would be unfair, to say the least.

Don
 
Originally posted by SilverLighT
Why not just carry a couple of rolls of quarters? No need to carry a whole sack of change.

Holding them in your fists while you strike will give you that extra power from the weight, and you can just drop them when needed.

I say just go hand to hand, Don. it's what you were trained for.
I do also however agree with the ninja approach.

If so happens you're in an area with a nice kitchen knife, or towel bar... chair...you might want to use it.

Your intent will likely be labelled as self-defence... especially if you're in your own home., or a place where you're supposed to be - minding your own business.

That's really the issue, right?

It doesn't need to be the 'perfect' weapon. There is no perfect weapon. Especially when you're up against multiple opponents, and don't want to kill them.

No need to carry said "weapon" with you. Just take stock of what's available where you might likely be confronted. Hopefully you've heard this before: Be flexible. Ready to modify your defense/offence at any moment as situations WILL change.

Best not to have too much of a plan., and keep the weapons simple.
also., any weapon you bring into a fight can be used against you. Though of course they can bring their own too.

That's my thoughts on this thread anyhow. Keep us posted.
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Yeah, kinda looks like that is the case. Any possible "ugliness" won't occur in my home, and if it did, the bad guys would have to get past my intruder alarm and hound dog first, and then they would have to get past the doors to my back bedroom. If they managed to get through the bedroom door before the police arrived, then I would shoot them.

My concern is in a couple places not at home, one of them on a Federal facility where having a prohibited weapon would cost me my job at a minimum and possibly net me prison time as well.

My allowed "weapons" will be a mini-MagLite which I need for my work, and maybe some pepper foam, but the usual brisk winds make that a bit problematic.

Don
 
Don, sorry ill winds blow in your area. You mention your maglight, any interest in upgrading to a surefire? The light output is literally blinding, and if you attach one of the surefire TIDs, Tactical Impact Device, basically a lightly weighted, semi serrated sleeve for the head of the light, you have a nice kubotan/blinder/ripper. A little pricey, maybe a hundred buck total, but innocuous and utilitarian. Check Spoon River Cutlery, Walter's got good prices and even better customer service. Might close in on CA's sap laws if you find an overzealous DA, but if you get jumped in a parking lot by a pack of thugs, particularly if you have any kind of history that favors you, I'd think all would be well *insert standard I'm-not-a-lawyer caveat here*. Oh, there's nothing wrong with steel toed boots/shoes either, as long as you don't kick above the waist (unless they're down :rolleyes: )
 
Originally posted by Ben Arown-Awile
Life would be a lot easier if we spent as much energy learning how to avoid unpleasant situations as we do learning how to react to them.
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I hear ya.

Originally posted by Don Nelson
I'm hoping you are not making a value judgement without knowing me, or my circumstances. It would be unfair, to say the least.
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I hear you too, Don.
I think Ben was making a general observation with which I agree.
Maybe a note to that effect in his post would have been appropriate
to avoid the potential sound of criticism.

Not knowing your situation I have been thinking about one concern.
So, OK, you successfully defend yourself.

Is there likely to be a return engagement,
with more preparedness on their part?


fwiw, which I'm sure you already know,
but it's the quickest most efficient defense I know;
kick into the bottom of a kneecap, or straight on & harder,
Pain first, a little more pressure & the person won't walk
on their own for a while.
 
Originally posted by ddean
I hear ya.


I hear you too, Don.
I think Ben was making a general observation with which I agree.
Maybe a note to that effect in his post would have been appropriate
to avoid the potential sound of criticism.

Not knowing your situation I have been thinking about one concern.
So, OK, you successfully defend yourself.

Is there likely to be a return engagement,
with more preparedness on their part?


fwiw, which I'm sure you already know,
but it's the quickest most efficient defense I know;
kick into the bottom of a kneecap, or straight on & harder,
Pain first, a little more pressure & the person won't walk
on their own for a while.
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Hi, Dean;

I didn't think Ben was making a judgement statement, but I will say that my being in a state of "elevated awareness" the last week or so has made me a bit edgy. I don't see imaginary bogey men behind every bush or corner, but I am in a higher than usual state of awareness.

I routinely live my life in a steady state of Condition Yellow, but lately it's been more of a Condition Orange-Yellow.

So perhaps I read more into Ben's comments than he meant, and for that I apologize.

In another life I used to teach personal defense. I provided the following prioritized list of what folks needed to give them a good chance of surviving a deadly force encounter:

1. Mind Set.
2. Situational Awareness.
3. Threat Identification.
4. Tactics.
5. Reliable Weapons.
6. Weapons Skill Competency.

You might notice that the weapons stuff is last (grin). And the Tactics part of the equation includes not just the tactical stuff like taking cover, but includes the "before" stuff too, like not being where the trouble is in the first place.

Like you said earlier, I'm one of the good guys (grin).

Yes, there is a likelihood of a Return Engagement if there is a First Engagement. So I'm keeping myself and my family in low profile mode for the duration.

I also agree with the notion of an immediate, aggressive and fully committed attack if the situation goes south. Until then, I try to stay rested, focused and relaxed.

Don
 
Originally posted by Don Nelson
I'm hoping you are not making a value judgement without knowing me, or my circumstances.
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Nope. Not passing judgement, just indulging in a little front porch philosophizing.

To offer an opinion on a specific matter of which I have no knowledge would just be blowing hot air, and although I do admit to being quilty of that many times throughout my life, I think I have pretty well outgrown it.

Maybe not, I think I'm doing it right now!
 
Originally posted by Don Nelson
My allowed "weapons" will be a mini-MagLite which I need for my work, and maybe some pepper foam, but the usual brisk winds make that a bit problematic.
Don
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Can't upgrade to a full sized maglite?
Those are fairly hefty and would make for a good bonk on the head.
 
Originally posted by SilverLighT
Can't upgrade to a full sized maglite?
Those are fairly hefty and would make for a good bonk on the head.
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Nah, not really. I'd look pretty odd to be carrying around even the 2-D-cell size of MagLite.

Might put it in my car though.

Don
 
An aluminum tee ball bat in the car isn't a bad idea either. Be best if you have a couple of gloves and a ball as well, along with a son or a nephew that you would be likely to play ball with in mind on the off chance anyone should ask.
 
I too had been thinking along the lines of damage resistant.

Primarily the belly.

Thinking of something like the old posture girdles
for men too
that are reinforced with metal stays.
Even better would be something that protected 360degrees,
Given that they have the cut resistant gloves.
seems like someone should make kevlar/spectra/etc long johns.
Surely the police or military have seen a use for such.
No, I haven't searched......in arush at the moment.

Waxed leather belly shield......:D

wiyth serious intent.
 
there's the old recopmmendation
to carry your keys stiocking out where they can
hurt an attacker.
I keep m,ine on a couple of pull-apart
keyring sets joined together in a non-suspicious way,
that lets me spread the keys out among my fingers.
That's all I have in empty parking lots I can't avoid.
Not a kubaton, more like claws.
Sometimes I slip a finger into one of the
actual ringhs to prevent losing the keys,
sometimes I think attaching them to me is asking for injury.
Pull apart (no manipulation) keyring could be divided
into two hands in an instant.
 
I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier.

A good heavy thick leather belt! Might even want to make your own and treat it with some chemical that will make it harder and heavier.
Make sure your pants wont drop, but not only does it have reach and grip, but you will humiliate them by giving them a real whipping.
----
FWIW
When I was in 4th grade, this kid with one of those old plastic afro picks knocked several holes in my head and caused a lot of scalp bleeding. When I was 12 and fighting with my brother he threw pencils at me and I got out of the way.
Its amazing how creative creative kids can get.
 
Originally posted by Apa6
I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier.

A good heavy thick leather belt! Might even want to make your own and treat it with some chemical that will make it harder and heavier.
Make sure your pants wont drop, but not only does it have reach and grip, but you will humiliate them by giving them a real whipping.
----
FWIW
When I was in 4th grade, this kid with one of those old plastic afro picks knocked several holes in my head and caused a lot of scalp bleeding. When I was 12 and fighting with my brother he threw pencils at me and I got out of the way.
Its amazing how creative creative kids can get.
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What a great suggestion! Excellent for traps, or that extended reach... especially if it's got a hefty buckle on the end that will rake their face real well.

Here's a chemical(heh... not quite) that will make it harder/heavier: soak in melted beeswax. That's what i'd do. Tis one of the methods they used to make leather armour, as I understand it. The thicker the leather, the more that will absorb.. i'd suggest 1/8" or maybe even as much as 1/4".
 
Hmm, beeswax. Darn good idea! We are a creative bunch aren't we? Will melted canning seal wax(parafin?)do the same? Are there any special properties for Beeswax than other waxes?

Will need to use pure undyed leather to prevent staining.

I don't like large belt buckles, so I'd rather just rely on the leather alone. What was advice for one person has made me a new self defense backup.

There is a horse gear/western clothing store near here called Horse Town which will probably have everything I need and will be better prices and quality than the mall stores.
 
Ah a leather belt!

How could I have forgotten? A looong time ago I had a problem with some bullies. Wasn't much fun in my younger days. Anyway, read about a good leather belt with a sizeable buckle (a la a Sam Browne belt) in Leon Uris's "Battle Cry".

So went to the local surplus store and bought a military surplus belt with a nice brass or bronze buckle.

Got to use it exactly one time, and that was all it took.

I wonder though, wouldn't a softer leather belt be a better choice at snaring or trapping a limb than a stiffer one?

Don
 
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