Hidden Street Weapons

Citation preview

Hid d e n W e a p o n s

D is c la im e r Th is m a t e ria l h a s b e e n m a d e a va ila b le fo r re s e a rch a n d re fe re n ce p u rp o s e s o n ly. Re a d e rs a re s t ro n g ly a d vis e d a g a in s t o b t a in in g o r m a n u fa ct u rin g a n y o f t h e we a p o n s re fe rre d t o h e re in , a s t h e m a jo rit y a re u n la wfu l t o p o s s e s s . It is n o t o u r in t e n t t h a t a n yo n e b re a k t h e la w o r wro n g fu lly h a rm o t h e rs . Be a wa re t h a t t h e m a jo rit y o f t h e we a p o n s re fe rre d t o a re cu rre n t ly a va ila b le fro m n u m e ro u s s o u rce s , a n d m a y ve ry we ll b e e n co u n t e re d in t h e h a n d s o f crim in a ls . We fe e l t h a t it is im p o rt a n t t o kn o w wh a t o n e m ig h t b e fa cin g wh e n co n fro n t e d b y crim in a ls o n t h e s t re e t . Co n t e n t s 1 . In t ro d u ct io n 2 . Bla d e s & S u ch 3 . Blu n t Tra u m a 4 . Ca n e We a p o n s 5 . Po lice S t yle We a p o n s 6 . Nin ja Cra p 7 . S t re e t Gu n s 8 . Pa ra m ilit a ry We a p o n s 9 . Aft e rwo rd I n t ro d u c t io n Hid d e n we a p o n s a re n o t t h e s a m e a s in vis ib le , o r im p ro vis e d , we a p o n s . Ra t h e r, t h e y a re s p e cifica lly in t e n d e d t o b e im p le m e n t e d a s we a p o n s , a n d a re d e s ig n e d s o a s t o p ro vid e fo r m a xim u m co n ce a lm e n t u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n . Be in g d e s ig n e d s p e cifica lly a s we a p o n s , t h e y t e n d t o b e fa r m o re d a m a g in g t h a n im p ro vis e d we a p o n s , wh ich we re o rig in a lly in t e n d e d fo r m u ch d iffe re n t p u rp o s e s . Be ca u s e o f t h e ir n a t u re ,

h id d e n we a p o n s a re o ft e n p ro h ib it e d b y la w. De p e n d in g o n o n e ’s ju ris d ict io n , a s we ll a s t h e t yp e o f we a p o n in q u e s t io n , p u n is h m e n t ca n ra n g e fro m co n fis ca t io n t o ye a rs o f im p ris o n m e n t . Be s u re t o re s e a rch t h e la ws re g a rd in g we a p o n p o s s e s s io n in yo u r a re a b e fo re co n s id e rin g p ro cu re m e n t o f a n y e xo t ic we a p o n ry. S o m e o f t h e s e we a p o n s a re fa vo re d b y g a n g m e m b e rs , e x- co n vict s , a n d p ro fe s s io n a l crim in a ls . Th e s e p e o p le a re t yp ica lly s u b s t a n ce a b u s in g re p e t it ive fe lo n s wh o will n o t b e d e t e rre d fro m o b t a in in g a we a p o n t h e y wa n t s im p ly b e ca u s e it h a s b e e n p ro h ib it e d . If yo u r o ccu p a t io n , e n viro n m e n t , o r life s t yle t e n d s t o b rin g yo u in t o co n t a ct wit h s u ch p e o p le , yo u ru n a h ig h ris k o f b e in g a t t a cke d wit h a we a p o n in t h e e ve n t o f a vio le n t co n fro n t a t io n . Th is s e ct io n will b rie fly d is cu s s h o w s u ch we a p o n s a re u s e d , wh e re o n t h e p e rs o n t h e y a re t yp ica lly co n ce a le d , a n d t a ke n o t ice o f a n y s ig n ifica n t we a kn e s s e s a we a p o n m ig h t h a ve . A fe w o f t h e we a p o n s lis t e d a re e xt re m e ly n a s t y a n d h ig h ly ille g a l. S u ch we a p o n s a re t yp ica lly t h e t o o ls o f a s s a s s in s ( wh e t h e r crim in a l, t e rro ris t o r o fficia lly s a n ct io n e d ) a n d wo u ld n e ve r b e u s e d b y a t ru e wa rrio r. Ho we ve r, m a n y fre a kis h d e via t e s fa n cy t h e m s e lve s "n in ja co m m a n d o s " a n d co u ld co n ce iva b ly p ro cu re o r m a n u fa ct u re s u ch d e vice s t o ca rry u p o n t h e ir p e rs o n s . If yo u b e co m e in vo lve d in a n a lt e rca t io n wit h s u ch a n in d ivid u a l, it is g o o d t o kn o w wh a t yo u m ig h t b e u p a g a in s t . Exo t ic we a p o n ry h a s lo n g b e e n a s u b je ct o f fa s cin a t io n fo r m a n y wh o wa lk t h e wa rrio r p a t h . In a d d it io n t o b e in g in fo rm a t ive , t h is s e ct io n is m e a n t t o b e e n t e rt a in in g a s we ll. A p a rt ia l lis t in g o f co m m o n h id d e n we a p o n s fo llo ws . Fo r p u rp o s e s o f b re vit y, t h is s e ct io n is fa r fro m co m p le t e , a s t h e va rio u s t yp e s o f h id d e n we a p o n n u m b e r in t h e h u n d re d s . Ma n y h id d e n we a p o n s h a d o n ly lim it e d p ro d u ct io n o r we re h a n d m a d e p ro t o t yp e s , t h u s a re d ifficu lt t o a cq u ire . Mo s t o f t h e we a p o n s lis t e d h e re a re cu rre n t ly a va ila b le . Mu n d a n e we a p o n s ( s u ch a s lo ckb la d e s , h u n t in g kn ive s , a n d h a n d g u n s ) h a ve b e e n e xclu d e d fro m t h is s e ct io n , a s t h e ir in clu s io n wo u ld ’ve t a ke n u p a lo t o f ro o m t e llin g yo u s t u ff t h a t yo u p ro b a b ly a lre a d y kn o w.

Bla d e s & S u c h Bla d e s a re t h e fa vo re d ca rry we a p o n o f s t re e t fig h t e rs , g a n g b a n g e rs , a n d p a ro le d fe lo n s , a n d yo u a re g u a ra n t e e d t o e n co u n t e r t h e m if yo u s p e n d a n y a m o u n t o f t im e o n t h e s t re e t s . Crim in a ls like b la d e s fo r m a n y d iffe re n t re a s o n s . Firs t , t h e y a re ch e a p a n d e a s ily a va ila b le , wh ich e n a b le s t h e m t o b e q u ickly t o s s e d if a s e a rch a p p e a rs p ro b a b le . S e co n d , t h e y a re s m a ll, lig h t we ig h t , a n d e a s ily co n ce a le d . Th ird , t h e y a re fa r m o re in t im id a t in g a n d d a m a g in g t h a n e m p t y h a n d s . Fo u rt h , m a n y crim in a ls m is t a ke n ly b e lie ve t h a t b la d e s a re "u n t ra ce a b le " we a p o n s wh ich ca n n o t b e co n n e ct e d t o t h e m o n ce t h e ir p rin t s h a ve b e e n wip e d o ff. Fift h , in m o s t in s t a n ce s , p o s s e s s io n o f a b la d e ( p a rt icu la rly a fo ld e r, b o xcu t t e r, o r s m a ll kit ch e n kn ife ) will ca rry a fa r le s s s e rio u s p e n a lt y t h a n p o s s e s s io n o f a h a n d g u n . An d fin a lly, b la d e s a re s ile n t ( wh ich g ive s t h e crim in a l g re a t e r o p p o rt u n it y t o a vo id a t t ra ct in g u n wa n t e d a t t e n t io n ) . If yo u a re a p o lice m a n , b o u n ce r, o r b ike r, yo u will p ro b a b ly b e a t t a cke d wit h a b la d e a t le a s t o n ce . S HI VS :

"S h iv" is co m m o n ly d e fin e d a s a s m a ll, t h in , kn ife ( u s u a lly d o u b le - e d g e d ) m a d e fro m a s in g le p ie ce o f m a t e ria l ( u s u a lly s t e e l) a n d d e s ig n e d fo r m a xim u m co n ce a lm e n t . Th e y a re lig h t we ig h t a n d h a ve lit t le p ro file . S h ivs , u s u a lly m e a n t t o fru s t ra t e co m m o n "p a t d o wn " we a p o n ch e cks , a re s e ld o m wo rn o n o n e ’s b e lt o r d ro p p e d in o n e ’s p o cke t . Be ca u s e o f t h e ir s m a ll s ize a n d lig h t we ig h t , p e o p le h a ve g o t t e n ve ry cre a t ive wit h m e t h o d s o f co n ce a le d ca rry. S h ivs a re co m m o n ly wo rn in wris t b a n d rig s o r s h e a t h s s t it ch e d t o t h e o u t s id e o f o n e ’s b o o t . Ot h e r p o p u la r m o d e s o f ca rry in clu d e s h e a t h s s e wn u n d e r o n e ’s la p e l o r in s id e o n e ’s ja cke t , s h e a t h s p in n e d u n d e r o n e ’s t ie , o r s h e a t h s wo rn a ro u n d o n e ’s n e ck o n a la n ya rd o r b re a ka wa y ch a in . S h e a t h s t e n d t o b e e it h e r fo rm fit t in g p la s t ic o r m a g n e t ize d t o p ro vid e m a xim u m re t e n t io n . Le s s e r s e e n m o d e s o f ca rry in clu d e t h ig h rig s ( in t e n d e d fo r la d ie s ) , g a rt e r rig s , a n d b e h in d - t h e - n e ck rig s ( u s u a lly re q u irin g a fig u re - 8 e la s t ic h a rn e s s wo rn u n d e r o n e ’s s h irt ) . Cla n d e s t in e m o d e s o f ca rry in clu d e b e in g co n ce a le d in t h e h e e l o f a s h o e o r s e wn in t h e lin in g o f a ja cke t . S h ivs t e n d t o b e p ro fe s s io n a lly g ro u n d wit h s ke le t o n ize d h a n d le s a n d t o p q u a lit y s h e a t h s , a n d ca n co s t we ll o ve r fift y d o lla rs , b u t m a n y ch e a p ly m a d e im it a t io n s ca n b e h a d fo r u n d e r t e n . S h ivs t e n d t o b e s t a in le s s s t e e l, a s t h e y a re in t e n d e d t o b e wo rn clo s e t o t h e b o d y a n d m u s t re s is t co rro s io n ca u s e d b y e xp o s u re t o p e rs p ira t io n . S h ivs a re a ls o a va ila b le co m p o s e d o f fib e rg la s s , t it a n iu m , o r ce ra m ics — lig h t we ig h t m a t e ria ls wh ich will p a s s t h ro u g h m e t a l d e t e ct o rs u n n o t ice d . S e ve ra l ve rs io n s o f fib e rg la s s o r p la s t ic kn ive s a re co n ce a le d wit h in t h e h a n d le s o f co m b s a n d h a irb ru s h e s . S h ivs h a ve s h o rt b la d e s , t yp ica lly b e t we e n o n e a n d t h re e in ch e s , t h u s a re u n like ly t o kill e xce p t in t h e e ve n t o f a s u cce s s fu l a t t a ck t o t h e t h ro a t . Via b le t a rg e t s in clu d e t h e s o la r p le xu s a n d kid n e ys , b u t t h e fa ce a n d h a n d s m a y b e s la s h e d a t t o d e t e r a n a t t a ck. Th e t yp ica l s h iv is a "t h ro wa wa y" we a p o n , d e s ig n e d t o b e s t u ck in s o m e o n e ’s h e a d o r n e ck a n d d is ca rd e d . Th e y a re fa vo re d b y in t e llig e n ce a g e n t s a s p a rt o f t h e ir co n ce a le d "e s ca p e & e va s io n " kit . S im ila r t o a s h iv, b u t b e t t e r, is t h e Min i- Cu llo d e n fro m Co ld S t e e l. It is wo rn a ro u n d t h e n e ck in a fo rm - fit t in g Kyd e x s h e a t h a t t a ch e d t o a la n ya rd , a n d h a s a n o n - s lip s h o ck- a b s o rb in g Kra t o n h a n d le . Th e 3 . 5 " b la d e is s in g le - e d g e d wit h a n e e d le - s h a rp p o in t a n d is a va ila b le wit h e it h e r a p la in o r s e rra t e d e d g e . It s d e s ig n is b a s e d o n t h a t o f t h e s ke a n - d h u ( s o m e t im e s s e e n s p e lle d a s : s g ia n - d u b h ) g a rt e r kn ife s t ill wo rn b y t ra d it io n a l S co t s m e n . Ho we ve r, t h is s m a ll b la d e o b vio u s ly h a s n o u t ilit a ria n u s e s wh a t s o e ve r — it h a s b e e n d e s ig n e d s o le ly a s a "we a p o n o f la s t re s o rt . " S HAN KS : S h a n ks a re co m m o n ly d e fin e d a s p o o r q u a lit y kn ife - like we a p o n s , o ft e n h o m e m a d e , ca rrie d fo r t h e e xp re s s p u rp o s e o f s t a b b in g s o m e o n e . Du e t o t h e ir lo w co s t o r m a ke s h ift n a t u re , t h e y a re u s u a lly d is ca rd e d im m e d ia t e ly a ft e r u s e . Th e y a re n o t in t e n d e d fo r u t ilit a ria n p u rp o s e s , a n d s e ld o m h a ve a s h a rp cu t t in g e d g e . On e o f t h e m o re fre q u e n t ly e n co u n t e re d s h a n ks is t h e Pa kis t a n i b o o t kn ife . Th is we a p o n t yp ica lly co s t s a b o u t $ 5 a n d h a s a d u ll d o u b le - e d g e d b la d e wit h a s t u b b y t a n g t h a t is e p o xie d t o

t h e h a n d le . Th e b la d e s a re t yp ica lly ch ro m e - p la t e d o r b la cke n e d t o co n ce a l t h e p o o r q u a lit y o f t h e m e t a l. If u s e d a s a u t ilit y b la d e , t h e Pa kis t a n i b o o t kn ife will q u ickly b re a k. Th e s e kn ive s a re t yp ica lly wo rn in a le a t h e r s h e a t h wit h a s n a p re le a s e a n d s p rin g clip . Th e s n a p re le a s e o ft e n ca t ch e s o n t h e kn ife wh e n d ra wn , s o it is s o m e t im e s cu t o ff. Th e "b e lt o r b o o t " s p rin g clip is u s u a lly ch ro m e - p la t e d , wh ich re fle ct s lig h t like a m irro r; a n d it will n o t s e cu re it s e lf t o m o s t b o o t s p ro p e rly, re s u lt in g in t h e s h e a t h re m a in in g o n t h e b la d e wh e n "d ra wn . " S im ila rly d e s ig n e d kn ive s o f m a rg in a lly b e t t e r q u a lit y a re a va ila b le fo r a b o u t $ 1 0 , b u t t h e y a re g a rb a g e a s we ll — a n d t h e y a re t h e b e s t o f t h e we a p o n s in t h is ca t e g o ry. An o t h e r t yp e o f s h a n k co m m o n ly fo u n d o n t h e s t re e t s a re t h e ch e a p im p o rt e d co p ie s o f "t a ct ica l fo ld e rs . " Th e s e fo ld in g jo ke s a re a lwa ys m a d e o f p o o r q u a lit y m a t e ria ls , fa il t o t a ke a p ro p e r e d g e , a n d o ft e n b re a k wit h in d a ys ( if n o t h o u rs ) o f p u rch a s e . Th e b la d e s o ft e n a re e it h e r t o o t ig h t t o o p e n o n e - h a n d e d , o r a re s o lo o s e t h a t t h e b la d e ra t t le s wh e n lo cke d in t o p la ce . Th e lo cks t yp ica lly a re o f s u ch p o o r q u a lit y t h a t t h e kn ife will clo s e s im p ly b y ra p p in g t h e s p in e o f t h e b la d e a g a in s t a t a b le t o p ( wh ich m e a n s it co u ld e a s ily fo ld u p o n o n e ’s fin g e rs d u rin g u s e ) . Th e s e kn ive s u s u a lly a re e q u ip p e d wit h t h u m b s t u d s a n d p o cke t - clip s , a n d o ft e n h a ve b la d e s e xce e d in g 4 " in le n g t h , b u t t h e y a re g a rb a g e n o n e t h e le s s — t h e y h a ve a ll t h e p e rfo rm a n ce o f a n a lu m in u m t e n t s t a ke ! Ho we ve r, d u e t o t h e ir s h a rp a p p e a ra n ce ( wicke d - lo o kin g b la d e s wit h co lo re d a lu m in u m h a n d le s t h a t h a ve ru b b e rize d in s e rt s ) , lo w p rice ( o ft e n u n d e r $ 5 ) , a n d e a s y a va ila b ilit y ( fle a m a rke t s , n o ve lt y s h o p s , a n d s t re e t ve n d o rs ) , t h e y h a ve fo u n d t h e ir wa y in t o t h e p o cke t s o f s t re e t p e o p le a n d ju ve n ile d e lin q u e n t s e ve rywh e re . S m a ll kit ch e n kn ive s , like p a rin g kn ive s a n d s t e a k kn ive s , a re a ls o re g u la rly e n co u n t e re d ( a s is t h e o cca s io n a l "le t t e r o p e n e r") . Ha vin g n o h ilt , o n e ’s h a n d ca n e a s ily s lid e u p o n t o t h e b la d e u p o n s t a b b in g in t o b o n e o r h e a vy m a t e ria l. S o m e t im e s t h e h a n d le is wra p p e d wit h la ye rs o f t a p e t o p ro vid e fo r a b e t t e r g rip . Th e s e kn ive s a re o ft e n s im p ly d ro p p e d in o n e ’s p o cke t , wh e re t h e y ca n s n a g o n t h e lin in g u p o n b e in g d ra wn o r in ju re t h e o wn e r in t h e e ve n t o f a fa ll, a lt h o u g h a ru d im e n t a ry s h e a t h ca n e a s ily b e fa b rica t e d fro m a p ie ce o f fo ld e d ca rd b o a rd wra p p e d in t a p e . S h e a t h e d like s o , t h e kn ife ca n b e t u cke d in o n e ’s wa is t b a n d o r b o o t . Ma ke s h ift s h a n ks ( s u ch a s t h o s e fo u n d in co rre ct io n a l fa cilit ie s ) a re u s u a lly co n s t ru ct e d fro m t h in p ie ce s o f s cra p m e t a l. Th e m e t a l is t e d io u s ly wo rke d ( o ft e n b y re p e a t e d ly s cra p in g it a cro s s t h e flo o r) u n t il it is p o in t e d e n o u g h t o s t a b wit h , b e fo re t h e h a n d le is wra p p e d fo r a b e t t e r g rip . S h a rp e n e d p la s t ic, b ro ke n g la s s , a n d wo o d e n s t a ke s ( a s wh e n a p o o l cu e o r b ro o m s t ick is s n a p p e d ) ca n a ls o s e rve a s fu n ct io n a l s h a n ks . Crim in a ls wh o ca rry s h a n ks u s u a lly fa vo r t h e s o la r p le xu s a s a t a rg e t fo r t h e ir a t t a ck, e it h e r s t a b b in g in t o t h is a re a h a rd b e fo re vio le n t ly p u m p in g t h e h a n d le ( co m m o n ly re fe rre d t o a s "ru n n in g t h e g e a rs ) , o r s t a b b in g m u lt ip le t im e s ve ry q u ickly ( u s u a lly in a n u n co n t ro lle d fre n zy) . A t h ick le a t h e r ja cke t will u s u a lly p ro t e ct t h is a re a q u it e we ll. Crim in a ls ra re ly a t t e m p t t o s la s h wit h a s h a n k. S P I KES : S p ike s co m e in a va rie t y o f d e s ig n s . S o m e a re s im ila r t o a la rg e h e a d le s s n a il. S o m e h a ve h a n d le s o r kn u rle d g rip s . S o m e h a ve a p o in t o n e it h e r e n d . Mo s t a re ro u n d wit h a s im p le p o in t a t t h e e n d , b u t a fe w a re t ria n g u la r o r s q u a re wit h s h a rp e n e d e d g e s a n d b lo o d g ro o ve s . Th e y a re s im p le , b u t n a s t y, we a p o n s .

Do u b le - p o in t e d s p ike s a re in t e n d e d fo r t h ro win g , a n d a re re fe rre d t o a s s h u rike n . It t a ke s m o n t h s t o g a in a re a s o n a b le d e g re e o f p ro ficie n cy a t s t ickin g t h e m in t a rg e t s , b u t in a ct u a l co m b a t s it u a t io n s e ve n a n e xp e rt h a s o n ly a b o u t a 5 0 % ch a n ce o f s t ickin g o n e in a m o vin g t a rg e t wit h a ccu ra cy. He a vy s p ike s ca n s in k d e e p in t o s o ft t is s u e , a n d e ve n s t ick in b o n e , e a s ily d e live rin g a d is a b lin g s t rike . Do u b le p o in t e d s p ike s ca n a ls o b e g ra s p e d in e it h e r h a n d a n d u s e d fo r rip p in g a n d g o u g in g . Th e y a re co m m o n ly ca rrie d in g ro u p s o f t h re e o r fo u r in fo re a rm rig s . S in g le - p o in t s p ike s , in clu d in g t h o s e wit h h a n d le s , ca n a ls o b e t h ro wn — b u t a h ig h le ve l o f m a s t e ry is re q u ire d t o g e t t h e m t o s t ick wit h re g u la rit y a n d p o we r. S in g le - p o in t s p ike s a re a lm o s t e xclu s ive ly u s e d t o s t a b wit h . In s o m e wa ys t h e s p ike is s u p e rio r t o t h e b la d e ; fo r in s t a n ce , it is m o re d u ra b le , p ro vid e s b e t t e r p e n e t ra t io n t h ro u g h h e a vy clo t h in g a n d b o n e , re q u ire s o n ly a m in u t e wit h a p ie ce o f s a n d p a p e r t o re s h a rp e n , a n d is fa r le s s e xp e n s ive . S o m e s p ike s a re co m p o s e d o f e it h e r fib e rg la s s o r t it a n iu m , wh ich wo u ld e n a b le t h e m t o b yp a s s m a g n e t o m e t e rs . S p ike s wit h h a n d le s in clu d e ice p icks , a wls , a n d s h a rp e n e d s cre wd rive rs . Th e y p ro vid e a m u ch m o re co m fo rt a b le a n d re lia b le g rip t h a n t h e kn u rle d a n d g ro o ve d g rip s o n t h e s o lid m e t a l ve rs io n s . Be t t e r g rip m e a n s b e t t e r p e n e t ra t io n a n d le s s like lih o o d o f d ro p p a g e . Affixe d t o a la n ya rd , t h e y b e co m e like a "ro p e ja ve lin " wh ich ca n b e s wu n g , t h ro wn , a n d re t rie ve d . Ma n y a wls a re fit t e d wit h a "T" h a n d le , a n d ca n b e u s e d a s a p u n ch kn ife . Rig g in g kn ive s h a ve a b lu n t - t ip p e d s h e e p s fo o t b la d e , a s we ll a s a cu rve d "m a rlin s p ike " ( d e s ig n e d t o lo o s e n kn o t s ) wh ich is t h ick e n o u g h t o b e re p e a t e d ly d rive n t h ro u g h a ca r d o o r wit h o u t s u s t a in in g a n y d is ce rn a b le d a m a g e . S im p ly p re s s in g o n a h in g e d "s h a ckle " re le a s e s t h e s p rin g t e n s io n o n t h e m a rlin s p ike , a llo win g it t o b e flip p e d o p e n wit h o n e h a n d , a ft e r wh ich it will lo ck firm ly in p la ce . Be in g b o t h le g a l a n d u n o b t ru s ive , a q u a lit y rig g in g kn ife is a fin e ch o ice o f we a p o n . S p ike s a re s o m e t im e s h id d e n wit h in co m m o n o b je ct s . S p rin g lo a d e d s p ike s wh ich lo ck in t o p o s it io n h a ve b e e n b u ilt in t o p e n s a n d co m b s . An u m b re lla is a va ila b le wit h a h a n d le t h a t d e t a ch e s t o re ve a l a s p rin g s t e e l s p ike o ve r a fo o t lo n g . S p ike s a re o ft e n fo u n d h id d e n wit h in p e n s , s o m e t im e s fa b rica t e d fro m a n e m p t y b a llp o in t wit h a t h ick n a il wra p p e d wit h m a s kin g t a p e s t u ffe d in s id e . Tria n g u la r s p ike s wit h b lo o d g ro o ve s a n d s h a rp e n e d e d g e s we re d e s ig n e d b y t h e Allie d cla n d e s t in e s e rvice s o f WWII a s a h id d e n we a p o n fo r t h e ir a g e n t s . No t o n ly wo u ld it b o t h s t a b a n d cu t , b u t t h e s u ct io n - b u s t in g b lo o d g ro o ve s a llo w fo r e a s y e xt ra ct io n , a n d t h e t ria n g u la r wo u n d ca vit y is s e lf- s u p p o rt in g ( it will n o t clo s e , b le e d in g fre e ly) . Re p ro d u ct io n s o f t h e "OS S s le e ve kn ife " ca n co s t o ve r a h u n d re d d o lla rs , b u t a re we ll m a d e a n d h a ve va lu e t o co lle ct o rs . Lo we r q u a lit y co p ie s , in b o t h t ria n g u la r a n d s q u a re ve rs io n s , a re a va ila b le fo r a ro u n d t we n t y b u cks . Un like m o s t ch e a p kn ive s , s p ike s ( p a rt icu la rly t h o s e wit h s u b s t a n t ia l h a n d le s ) a re ca p a b le o f p ie rcin g b o n e a s we ll a s a rm o r. S p ike s ca n b e d rive n t h ro u g h t h e cra n iu m t o a t t a ck t h e b ra in ( u s u a lly re s u lt in g in a "q u ick kill") , o r s la m m e d t h ro u g h t h e s t e rn u m t o a t t a ck t h e h e a rt . He a vy clo t h in g , le a t h e r ja cke t s , a n d e ve n s o ft b o d y a rm o r will d o lit t le t o p ro t e ct o n e a g a in s t a fo rce fu l t h ru s t fro m a s h a rp e n e d s p ike . Fu rt h e rm o re , t h e p u n ct u re wo u n d s fro m a s p ike a t t a ck u s u a lly

re s u lt s in m in im a l e xt e rn a l b le e d in g , g ivin g t h e a p p e a ra n ce o f a s u p e rficia l wo u n d wh ich m ig h t b e o ve rlo o ke d b y h a rrie d e m e rg e n cy p e rs o n n e l co n d u ct in g t ria g e . RAZORS : S t ra ig h t ra zo rs a re n a s t y we a p o n s . Th e y will p a rt h e a vy clo t h in g like p a p e r, will cu t fle s h a t t h e lig h t e s t t o u ch , a n d we ig h n e xt t o n o t h in g . Ho we ve r, t h e y s e ld o m cu t m o re t h a n a n in ch d e e p — e ve n wit h t h e m o s t fo rce fu l s la s h e s . Oft e n , cu t s fro m t h is t h in b la d e h e a l wit h o u t le a vin g a s ca r. Ra zo r a t t a cks a re t e rrifyin g a n d b lo o d y, b u t s e ld o m re s u lt in d e a t h . Ra zo rs a re co m m o n ly d ro p p e d in o n e ’s fro n t p a n t s p o cke t , b u t ca n a ls o b e s lip p e d in a b o o t o r t a p e d b e h in d t h e n e ck. Pro fe s s io n a l b a d a s s e s wh o fa vo r t h e ra zo r m a y s e w h id d e n p o cke t s in t o t h e ir clo t h in g o r e ve n fa b rica t e a "b e h in d - t h e - n e ck" rig t o ca rry t h e ir ra zo r( s ) . Th e y a re n e a rly we ig h t le s s a n d in cre d ib ly fa s t . Th e y ca n b e e xt e n d e d t o t h e ir fu ll le n g t h fo r e xt ra ra n g e , b u t t h e d e e p e s t cu t s a re in flict e d b y fo ld in g t h e ra zo r b a ck a cro s s o n e ’s kn u ckle s a n d d e live rin g g ra zin g p u n ch e s , d ra g g in g t h e b la d e h a rd a cro s s yo u r o p p o n e n t . Via b le t a rg e t s in clu d e t h e fo re h e a d , fa ce , a rm s , g ro in , a n d t h ro a t ( t h e o n ly le t h a l t a rg e t ) . A h a rd s t rike t o t h e a rm ca n cu t b lo o d ve s s e ls , m u s cle s , a n d n e rve s ; p o s s ib ly re s u lt in g in a "fla il a rm " wh ich will b e p a ra lyze d fo re ve r. A h a rd s t rike t o t h e g ro in ca n re s u lt in m a s s ive b lo o d lo s s . A p o we rfu l h o rizo n t a l s la s h t o t h e a b d o m e n h a s t h e p o t e n t ia l t o d is e m b o we l ( a lt h o u g h t h is is u n like ly) . Eve n t h o u g h a ra zo r is u n like ly t o kill, it ca n m a im q u it e e a s ily. Ve ry fe w a s s a ila n t s fa ce d wit h a ra zo r wo u ld a t t e m p t t o t a ke it a wa y fro m yo u . It is m u ch m o re o f a d e t e rre n t t h a n a p o cke t kn ife , b u t is ille g a l t o ca rry co n ce a le d n e a rly e ve rywh e re . A re la t e d we a p o n , t h e "b o xcu t t e r" u t ilit y kn ife ( s a n s g u a rd ) h a s a n in ch - lo n g , s in g le - e d g e d t ria n g u la r b la d e t h a t ca n b e u s e d t o p o ke , g o u g e , a n d rip fle s h . If it h a s a m e t a l h a n d le , t h e b u t t ca n b e u s e d t o h a m m e r wit h a s we ll. It is a ch e a p a n d n a s t y we a p o n , fa vo re d b y s t re e t p u n ks d u e t o it s a va ila b ilit y a n d lo w p rice , b u t is n o wh e re n e a r a s e ffe ct ive a s a d e ft ly wie ld e d s t ra ig h t ra zo r. Dis p o s a b le u t ilit y kn ive s , p a rt icu la rly t h o s e wit h b re a ka wa y b la d e s , t e n d t o b e fa r t o o flim s y t o b e e ffe ct ive fo r m o re t h a n a s in g le cu t , b u t t h e y a re o ft e n e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t . Ra zo r s cra p e rs a re n a s t y, a n d h ig h ly p o rt a b le , b u t a re a wkwa rd t o b rin g in t o a ct io n . Lo o s e s in g le - e d g e d ra zo r b la d e s a re s o m e t im e s ca rrie d co n ce a le d . Th e y a re re la t ive ly s a fe t o t ra n s p o rt p ro vid e d t h e ir p ro t e ct ive ca rd b o a rd co ve r re m a in s in p la ce . Typ ica lly, a s in g le ra zo r b la d e is h e ld b e t we e n t h e fin g e rs a n d u s e d t o s la p wit h , a lt h o u g h re t e n t io n is t e n u o u s , a n d o n e is like ly t o in a d ve rt e n t ly s lice d e e p in t o o n e ’s o n e fin g e r, p o s s ib ly re s u lt in g in p a ra lys is . On ra re o cca s io n s , ra zo r b la d e s h a ve b e e n cle n ch e d in t h e t e e t h , m e lt e d in t o a p la s t ic t o o t h b ru s h h a n d le ( co m m o n ly re fe rre d t o a s a "s is s y s h a n k") , o r fit t e d in t o a s lo t o n o n e ’s fo o t we a r ( u s u a lly ju s t p rio r t o a n a lt e rca t io n ) . Lo o s e ra zo r b la d e s t e n d t o ca u s e o n ly s u p e rficia l wo u n d s , a n d re ly p rim a rily u p o n p s ych o lo g ica l s h o ck t o b e e ffe ct ive . Th e ir ch ie f d a n g e r is t h e ir a b ilit y t o b e co n ce a le d virt u a lly a n ywh e re . Ra zo r b la d e s a re m o s t co m m o n ly d ro p p e d in o n e ’s p o cke t , b u t t h e y’ve a ls o b e e n d is co ve re d : in h a t b a n d s , in wa lle t s , u n d e r s we a t b a n d s , t a p e d t o t h e s kin , s e wn in t o s h irt s , a n d co n ce a le d wit h in fo o t we a r. BUTCHER KN I VES :

Fo r o u r p u rp o s e s , t h e t e rm "b u t ch e r kn ife " s h a ll in clu d e ch e f’s kn ive s , ca rvin g kn ive s , a n d m e a t cu t t in g kn ive s wit h b la d e s e xce e d in g 6 " in le n g t h . Bu t ch e r kn ive s a re t yp ica lly o f s t u rd y co n s t ru ct io n , a n d t e n d t o b e m u ch s h a rp e r t h a n a n y o t h e r b la d e yo u m ig h t e n co u n t e r o n t h e s t re e t ( wit h t h e e xce p t io n o f ra zo rs ) . Th is , co m b in e d wit h it s le n g t h a n d s h a rp p o in t , m a ke it o n e o f t h e m o s t fo rm id a b le we a p o n s yo u ca n e n co u n t e r o n t h e s t re e t . If yo u ’re e ve r fa ce d wit h a b u t ch e r kn ife , a n d d o n ’t h a ve a m a g n u m re vo lve r o n yo u r p e rs o n , m y a d vice t o yo u wo u ld b e : ru n ! S h e a t h s a re o ft e n im p ro vis e d b y fo ld in g a p ie ce o f ca rd b o a rd o ve r t h e b la d e , o r wra p p in g it in ra g s , t h e n co ve rin g it wit h a t h ick la ye r o f t a p e . Th e s h e a t h e d b la d e ca n t h e n b e s t u ck in o n e ’s wa is t b a n d o r b a ck p o cke t . D AGGERS : A d a g g e r is co m m o n ly d e fin e d a s a d o u b le - e d g e d fig h t in g kn ife . Fig h t in g kn ive s wit h o n ly a p a rt ia l t o p - e d g e a re u s u a lly ca t e g o rize d a s d irks . Da g g e rs a n d d irks wit h s h o rt b la d e s a re u s u a lly re fe rre d t o a s "b o o t kn ive s . " Da g g e rs a re n a s t y we a p o n s , d e s ig n e d t o b e s t a b b e d d e e p ly in t o a n e n e m y’s vit a l o rg a n s . Th e y u s u a lly h a ve b la d e s a t le a s t 6 " in le n g t h , s o a s t o e a s ily p ie rce t h e h e a rt b y wa y o f s t a b b in g u p u n d e r t h e s t e rn u m . Bo t h m ilit a ry a n d m e d ie va l ve rs io n s e xis t . Th e y a re fa vo re d b y s e rio u s kn ife fig h t e rs wh o ca rry t h e ir b la d e fo r t h e s o le p u rp o s e o f co m b a t . Da g g e rs h a ve n o u t ilit a ria n a p p lica t io n s a n d a re s p e cifica lly p ro h ib it e d a s d e a d ly we a p o n s in m a n y ju ris d ict io n s . Mo s t o f t h e d a g g e rs e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t s a re ch e a p im p o rt e d g a rb a g e t h a t a m o u n t s t o lit t le m o re t h a n a n e xt e n d e d s h a n k. Th e y t e n d t o h a ve d u ll b la d e s wit h b ro ke n t ip s , a n d t h e b la d e o ft e n wo b b le s in t h e h a n d le . Mo s t d a g g e rs b a s e d o n t h e "Fa irb a irn - S yke s " d e s ig n fa ll in t o t h is ca t e g o ry. Da g g e rs a re o ft e n wo rn a t t h e b e lt , a lt h o u g h a n u m b e r o f u n u s u a l s h e a t h s , h a rn e s s e s , a n d rig s a re a va ila b le . TAN TOS : Ba s e d o n a n a n cie n t Ja p a n e s e d e s ig n , t a n t o s a re s in g le - e d g e d co m b a t kn ive s wit h a ch is e l- like "a rm o r- p ie rcin g " p o in t . Th e y va ry g re a t ly in q u a lit y. A p ro p e rly m a d e t a n t o ca n re p e a t e d ly b e d rive n in t o a ca r d o o r o r s t e e l d ru m wit h o u t s ig n ifica n t d a m a g e t o t h e b la d e . A Ke vla r ve s t o ffe rs m in im a l p ro t e ct io n a g a in s t s u ch a we a p o n . Co ld S t e e l m a ke s a n u m b e r o f t o p q u a lit y ve rs io n s o f t h e t a n t o , wit h ru b b e rize d g rip s a n d "s ku llcru s h e r" p o m m e ls . Mo s t o f t h e ch e a p im p o rt e d kn o cko ffs o f t h is fin e p ro d u ct fe a t u re d u ll b rit t le b la d e s t h a t e a s ily s e p a ra t e fro m t h e h a n d le s t h e y’re e p o xie d t o wh e n s u b je ct e d t o s t re s s . Un like d a g g e rs , t h is co m b a t kn ife ca n e ffe ct ive ly b e u t ilize d a s a t o o l fo r h e a vy wo rk, a n d is a s le g a l a s a h u n t in g kn ife o f s im ila r le n g t h . Ta n t o s a re u s u a lly wo rn a t t h e b e lt . S AW BACK KN I VES :

S a wb a ck kn ive s ( co m m o n ly re fe rre d t o a s e it h e r "s u rviva l" o r "Ra m b o " kn ive s ) , a s d e s crib e d in t h is s e ct io n , a re la rg e ( o ve r 6 " b la d e ) fixe d - b la d e s h e a t h kn ive s wit h a ro w o f s a w- t e e t h a lo n g t h e s p in e . Mo s t s a wb a ck kn ive s a re d e s ig n e d wit h h o llo w h a n d le s fo r s t o rin g m a t ch e s , fis h h o o ks , a n d o t h e r "s u rviva l g e a r" ( a lt h o u g h , m u ch m o re fre q u e n t ly, t h e s e wa t e r- re s is t a n t co m p a rt m e n t s co n t a in m o n e y a n d d ru g s ) . S a wb a ck kn ive s a re s u rp ris in g ly co m m o n o n t h e s t re e t . Th is is d u e p rim a rily t o t h e ir m e n a cin g a p p e a ra n ce co m b in e d wit h t h e ir ( t yp ica lly) lo w co s t . Th e m o s t fre q u e n t ly e n co u n t e re d ve rs io n in co rp o ra t e s a b o t t le - o p e n e r b e h in d t h e s a w- t e e t h a n d is d is t in g u is h e d b y t h e la rg e b u lb o u s co m p a s s s e t in t o t h e t h re a d e d e n d - ca p . Th is t ra ve s t y’s ch e a p s t a in le s s - s t e e l b la d e is a ffixe d t o t h e a lu m in u m h a n d le wit h a d ro p o f e p o xy, a n d ca n d e t a ch if s u b je ct e d t o s t ro n g la t e ra l p re s s u re . Th is ve rs io n h a s b e e n s e e n o ffe re d fo r s a le a t fle a m a rke t s , o n s id e wa lks , a n d in m a g a zin e s fo r p rice s ra n g in g fro m five t o t we lve d o lla rs . Ch e a p s a wb a ck kn ive s a re va lu e d b y s t re e t p e o p le d u e t o t h e ir wicke d a p p e a ra n ce . Th e y a re d a n g e ro u s p rim a rily d u e t o t h e ir b la d e le n g t h ( t yp ica lly b e t we e n e ig h t a n d t we lve in ch e s ) , a lt h o u g h t h e e d g e is u s u a lly ra t h e r d u ll, a n d t h e clip p o in t is u n s u it a b le fo r d e e p p e n e t ra t io n . Wh ile it is p o s s ib le t o b e rip p e d b y t h e s a wb a ck, it is p rim a rily fo r s h o w ( a n d o ft e n p ro ve s t o b e u n fu n ct io n a l) . Ho we ve r, in t h e u n lu cky e ve n t t h a t yo u a re s t a b b e d in t h e b e lly, if yo u r a t t a cke r ch o o s e s t o p u ll t h e b la d e b a ck o u t t h e s a w- t e e t h will s n a g o n yo u r g u t s a n d d is e m b o we l yo u . S a wb a ck kn ive s a re ra t h e r la rg e , a n d a re g e n e ra lly co n ce a le d u n d e r a lo n g co a t . Alt h o u g h t h e y a re s o m e t im e s ca rrie d o n o n e ’s p e rs o n , t h e y a re fa r m o re fre q u e n t ly s t o we d in o n e ’s ve h icle o r h o m e , wit h in e a s y re a ch . Mo s t s a wb a ck kn ive s a re s h o d d y im p o rt e d g a rb a g e . To p q u a lit y s a wb a ck s u rviva l kn ive s t yp ica lly s t a rt a t we ll o ve r a h u n d re d d o lla rs , a n d t h u s a re u n like ly t o b e e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t ( e xce p t in t h e h a n d s o f a wo o d s m a n ) . P UN CH KN I VES : Als o kn o wn a s "p u s h d a g g e rs ( o r d irks ) , " "p a lm kn ive s , " a n d "T- h a n d le d kn ive s ; " p u n ch kn ive s p ro vid e a n im p re s s ive co m b in a t io n o f p e n e t ra t io n a n d re t e n t io n . Th e b la d e , co m m o n ly d o u b le e d g e d , p ro je ct s b e t we e n t h e kn u ckle s o f t h e fis t , s t a b b in g a n d wit h d ra win g wit h e a ch p u n ch . It ca n b e u s e d e ffe ct ive ly b y a n y u n s kille d p e rs o n . Pu n ch kn ive s co m e in a va rie t y o f s ize s , fro m m in ia t u re ke ych a in ve rs io n s t o t h e h u g e m e d ie va l ka t a r d e s ig n e d t o p ie rce a rm o r wh ile p ro vid in g p ro t e ct io n fo r t h e wris t a g a in s t s wo rd s t rike s . Typ ica lly, b la d e s va ry fro m t wo t o five in ch e s in le n g t h . Ke ych a in kn ive s , wit h t h e ir in ch - lo n g b la d e s a n d p u n y g rip s , will d o fa r m o re d a m a g e t h a n a ja g g e d "p u n ch rin g , " b u t will n o t kill a n d d o n o t p ro vid e a s u re g rip ; fu rt h e rm o re , t h e y a re d ifficu lt t o u n s h e a t h q u ickly. "Be lt b u ckle kn ive s " a re p o o rly d e s ig n e d , d ifficu lt t o d ra w q u ickly, p ro h ib it e d in m a n y ju ris d ict io n s , a n d a re t o b e a vo id e d . S o m e s m a ll b o o t kn ive s lo ck in t o "T- h a n d le " co n fig u ra t io n a t t h e p u s h o f a lo ckb la d e - t yp e re le a s e b u t t o n . Th e co m m o n p u n ch kn ife h a s a s u b s t a n t ia l g rip t h a t a b s o rb s t h e fo rce o f im p a ct in t o t h e p a lm , p ro vid e s fo r e a s y wit h d ra wa l, a n d will n o t b e d ro p p e d u n d e r circu m s t a n ce s t h a t co u ld re s u lt in t h e lo s s o f a s t ra ig h t h a n d le d b la d e ( s lip p e ry h a n d le , wre n ch e d b la d e , fo rce fu l im p a ct , o r in ju ry

t o we a p o n h a n d ) . Oft e n , t h e y a re d e s ig n e d wit h a s h o ck a b s o rb in g ru b b e rize d g rip fo r a d d e d co m fo rt . Th e S a fe ke e p e r fro m Co ld S t e e l is o n e o f t h e b e s t p u n ch kn ive s a va ila b le . An y p u n ch will re s u lt in a s t a b wo u n d . Wit h p ra ct ice , s la s h e s a n d a t t a cks fro m va rio u s a n g le s ca n a ls o b e d e live re d e ffe ct ive ly. S in ce t h e p u n ch kn ife is co m m o n ly u s e d b y u n s kille d p e rs o n s t o d e live r o n ly s t ra ig h t - lin e s t a b s t o t h e u p p e r b o d y, it is s n e e re d a t b y m a n y kn ife fig h t e rs . It is n o t n e a rly a s fle xib le a s a s t ra ig h t h a n d le d kn ife in t h e h a n d s o f a n o vice , b u t ca n d e live r a va rie t y o f a t t a cks o n ce o n e g a in s fa m ilia rit y wit h it . Th e p u n ch kn ife re q u ire s le a rn in g a n e n t ire ly n e w m e t h o d o f kn ife fig h t in g t o g a in ve rs a t ilit y. It is ille g a l t o ca rry a co n ce a le d p u n ch kn ife in m o s t ju ris d ict io n s , a s it is d e s ig n e d p rim a rily a s a we a p o n . An ywh e re o n t h e t ru n k ca n b e a t t a cke d , a s co n t a ct wit h b o n e will n o t ca u s e yo u t o in a d ve rt e n t ly d ro p t h is we a p o n . Du e t o t h e s e cu re g rip a n d a m o u n t o f fo rce a n a t t a cke r ca n d ire ct in t o a t h ru s t , m o s t d o u b le - e d g e d ve rs io n s ca n e a s ily p e n e t ra t e a le a t h e r ja cke t , a s we ll a s s o ft b o d y a rm o r. Th e s e a re in cre d ib ly d a n g e ro u s kn ive s . KN UCKLE KN I VES : "Kn u ckle kn ive s " a re a n u n u s u a l cla s s o f e xo t ic we a p o n , n o t t o b e co n fu s e d wit h "t re n ch kn ive s " ( wh ich a re d is cu s s e d la t e r) . Th e re a re m a n y va rie t ie s , t yp ica lly co n s is t in g o f a n u n co n ve n t io n a lly d e s ig n e d s e t o f m e t a l kn u ckle s wit h a s m a ll b la d e ( o r s e rie s o f b la d e s ) a t t a ch e d . Th is u s e d t o b e a n e xt re m e ly ra re we a p o n , wh ich wa s in va ria b ly h o m e m a d e , b u t re ce n t ly a n u m b e r o f "fa n t a s y d e s ig n s " h a ve b e e n m a rke t e d t o "co lle ct o rs " a t in e xp e n s ive p rice s t h ro u g h fle a m a rke t s , g u n s h o ws , a n d m a il- o rd e r ca t a lo g s . As a re s u lt , t h e y h a ve b e co m e ra t h e r p o p u la r a m o n g s t t h e crim in a l e le m e n t . Ne a rly a ll co m m e rcia lly a va ila b le kn u ckle kn ive s a re p o o rly co n s t ru ct e d im p o rt s wh ich fa il t o t a ke a g o o d e d g e . Th e ir a t t ra ct ive n e s s lie s in t h e ir m e n a cin g a p p e a ra n ce , a s we ll a s t h e ir p e rce ive d a b ilit y t o p u n ct u re wit h e a ch cru s h in g b lo w. Du e t o t h e ir o d d s h a p e s , t h e y t e n d t o b e fit t e d wit h u n u s u a lly la rg e b e lt s h e a t h s wh ich wo u ld p re clu d e a q u ick d ra w, a n d wo u ld a ls o b e d ifficu lt t o co n ce a l — e ve n u n d e r a lig h t ja cke t . Th e ir p rim a ry s t re n g t h is t h a t , d u e t o t h e ir d e s ig n , t h e y a re n e a rly im p o s s ib le t o d ro p , wh ich m a ke s it d ifficu lt t o d is a rm a n a t t a cke r s o a rm e d . Th e "o rig in a l" kn u ckle kn ife is p ro b a b ly t h e ke ra m b it , a we a p o n in d ig e n o u s t o Ma la ys ia . It co n s is t s o f a cru d e ly d e s ig n e d s e t o f b ra s s kn u ckle s ( la ckin g p a lm b ra ce ) wit h a s m a ll cu rve d b la d e p ro t ru d in g fro m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e wie ld e r’s fis t . It is in t e n d e d fo r e xt re m e ly clo s e co m b a t ( g ra p p lin g ) , a n d t h e "s p u r" is m e a n t t o t e a r o u t a n o p p o n e n t ’s t h ro a t . Co n t e m p o ra ry kn u ckle kn ive s t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a rt is t ica lly d e s ig n e d ca s t a lu m in u m g rip s ( wh ich co ve r o n e ’s kn u ckle s ) , wh ich h a ve a s m a ll "p u n ch kn ife " t yp e b la d e o n t o p , a n d p o s s ib ly s m a lle r b la d e s ( o r s p ike s ) s e t in t o e it h e r s id e . Th e y a re o ft e n q u it e im p re s s ive lo o kin g , b u t h a ve p ro ve d t o b e a p o o r ch o ice o f we a p o n . If s id e b la d e s ( o r s p ike s ) a re in clu d e d , t h e y ca n e a s ily in t e rfe re wit h d e e p p e n e t ra t io n . An o t h e r ve rs io n is s im p ly a fla t kn u ckle b o w wh ich h a s b e e n s h a rp e n e d s o t h a t a n e d g e lie s a cro s s o n e ’s kn u ckle s — m u ch like s h a rp e n e d m e t a l kn u ckle s ( a lt h o u g h t h e y o ft e n la ck

fin g e rh o le s ) . Th is e d g e ca n b e co n ve x ( like a n u lu ch o p p e r) o r co n ca ve ( like a cre s ce n t kn ife ) , a n d o ft e n m a y b e s ca llo p e d ( fo rm in g a s e rie s o f s m a ll p o in t s ) o r h a ve p ro je ct io n s . S o m e t im e s s m a ll b la d e s will ju t o u t o f e it h e r e n d o f t h e g rip , t u rn in g it in t o a "d o u b le - kn ife . " Th is we a p o n is ille g a l t o ca rry o n o n e ’s p e rs o n in a ll 5 0 s t a t e s . In s o m e ju ris d ict io n s , yo u co u ld b e p ro s e cu t e d s im p ly fo r h a vin g o n e s e cu re d in a d is p la y ca s e h u n g o n yo u r wa ll! If a co p fin d s o n e o f t h e s e o n yo u r p e rs o n , yo u a re d e fin it e ly g o in g t o ja il fo r a ve ry lo n g t im e . It wo u ld b e s t u p id t o ch o o s e s u ch a we a p o n wh e n s o m a n y o t h e r o p t io n s e xis t . D OUBLE- KN I VES : A "d o u b le - kn ife " is a kn ife wh ich h a s t wo b la d e s — o n e o n e it h e r e n d o f t h e h a n d le . Th e y a re u s u a lly fo ld e rs , b u t fixe d - b la d e ve rs io n s h a ve b e e n e n co u n t e re d a s we ll. Du a l- b la d e d p o cke t kn ive s wit h o u t lo ck m e ch a n is m s a re n o t co n s id e re d t o b e we a p o n s , a n d wo u ld n o t fa ll in t o t h is ca t e g o ry. Th e re a re a fe w d o u b le - lo ckb la d e s co m m e rcia lly a va ila b le — m o s t o f wh ich h a ve e it h e r t h u m b s t u d s o r b la d e cu t o u t s — wh ich wo u ld b e co n s id e re d t o b e "d o u b le - kn ive s . " I h a ve s e e n a fe w a u t o m a t ic ve rs io n s a s we ll ( a lt h o u g h t h e s e a re e xt re m e ly ra re , a n d u s u a lly o n ly o n e b la d e is s p rin g - lo a d e d ) . Typ ica lly, t h e b la d e s a re u n d e r 4 " in le n g t h ( a n d o ft e n a re u n d e r 3 ") . Wh e n b o t h b la d e s h a ve b e e n lo cke d in t o p la ce , a b la d e will p ro t ru d e fro m e it h e r e n d o f o n e ’s fis t . Fixe d - b la d e ve rs io n s t yp ica lly fa ll in t o t h e "fa n t a s y kn ife " ca t e g o ry, a n d a re m o re s u it e d fo r d is p la y p u rp o s e s t h a n a ct u a l u s e . Ho m e m a d e ve rs io n s h a ve a ls o b e e n e n co u n t e re d , e it h e r m a d e fro m a p a ir o f b la d e s fixe d in a s in g le h a n d le , o r g ro u n d fro m a file ( o r t h in m e t a l b a r) a n d wra p p e d wit h t a p e in t h e ce n t e r. Occa s io n a lly, a ya wa ra fis t lo a d will b e fit t e d wit h a s m a ll b la d e ( o r s p ike ) o n e it h e r e n d , wh ich wo u ld a ls o fit t h e p a ra m e t e rs o f t h is ca t e g o ry. De s p it e t h e ir m e n a cin g a p p e a ra n ce , d o u b le - kn ive s a re p o o r we a p o n s . Th e y u s u a lly a re e q u ip p e d wit h n e it h e r h ilt , n o r fin g e r- g ro o ve s , a llo win g o n e ’s h a n d t o s lid e o ve r t h e b la d e u p o n im p a ct wit h b o n e . Fu rt h e rm o re , t h e wie ld e r wo u ld co n s t a n t ly b e in d a n g e r o f a ccid e n t a lly s t a b b in g o r cu t t in g h im s e lf, a s o n e o f h is b la d e s wo u ld o ft e n b e p o in t e d b a ck in h is d ire ct io n d u rin g t h e h e a t o f co m b a t . EXP AN D ABLE BLAD ES : An "e xp a n d a b le b la d e " kn ife t yp ica lly a p p e a rs t o b e a we ird - lo o kin g , s h o rt - b la d e d , s in g le - e d g e d s h e a t h kn ife , b u t u p o n d e p re s s in g a lo ck b u t t o n , t h e b la d e ca n b e fo ld e d o u t o f t h e h a n d le t o re ve a l t h a t it is a ct u a lly n e a rly e ig h t in ch e s lo n g ! Ne e d le s s t o s a y, if yo u a re u n fa m ilia r wit h s u ch a we a p o n , fa cin g o n e ca n b e s o m e wh a t d is co n ce rt in g . Th e t ru t h is , t h e s e m o n s t e r kn ive s a re cra p . Th e y b e ca m e p o p u la r fo r a fe w ye a rs d u rin g t h e 8 0 's , wh e n fle a - m a rke t s we re flo o d e d wit h t h e m . Th e y we re t yp ica lly m a rke t e d u n d e r t h e n a m e s "Co b ra " o r "Ot h e llo , " a n d s o ld fo r u n d e r $ 1 5 . Th e b la d e s a re u s u a lly a s d u ll a s a b u t t e r kn ife , t h e fo ld in g cro s s g u a rd o ft e n co m e s d e t a ch e d , t h e h a n d le s a re u s u a lly m a d e o f h o llo w p la s t ic fo rm e d t o lo o k like s t a g h o rn , a n d t h e y co m e in a cra p p y vin yl s h e a t h . Th e y a re g a rb a g e .

Wh e n t h e b la d e is fo ld e d in t o it s co m p a ct m o d e , it is a ct u a lly fa irly s t u rd y, a s it b e co m e s like a fu ll t a n g h u n t in g kn ife ( a lb e it a p o o r q u a lit y o n e ) . Wh e n e xp a n d e d , h o we ve r, t h e kn ife m a y a p p e a r fa r m o re m e n a cin g , a n d t h e re a ch will b e g re a t ly e xt e n d e d , b u t t h e lo ck a n d p in a re s o ch e a p ly co n s t ru ct e d t h a t t h e kn ife co u ld e a s ily fa ll a p a rt if s u b je ct e d t o la t e ra l p re s s u re o r im p a ct wit h a s o lid o b je ct . Do n o t le t t h is "we a p o n " in t im id a t e yo u . . . it is ju s t a ch e a p n o ve lt y it e m . S W I TCHBLAD ES : S wit ch b la d e s ( a s co m m o n ly d e fin e d b y la w) a re kn ive s wh ich o p e n a u t o m a t ica lly via s p rin g p ro p u ls io n u p o n m a n ip u la t io n o f a b u t t o n , le ve r, o r s wit ch . Th e y t yp ica lly fa ll in t o o n e o f t wo ca t e g o rie s , s id e - o p e n e rs a n d fro n t - o p e n e rs . S id e - o p e n e rs a re wh a t m o s t p e o p le t h in k o f wh e n t h e t e rm "s wit ch b la d e " is u s e d , a n d e n co m p a s s p ro b a b ly 8 5 % o f a ll a u t o m a t ic kn ive s in circu la t io n . Up o n a ct iva t io n , a s p rin g flip s o p e n t h is fo ld in g kn ife a n d it is lo cke d in t o p la ce . Old e r kn ive s ( like t h e o n e s p o p u la r wit h yo u t h g a n g s o f t h e 1 9 5 0 s ) t yp ica lly u t ilize d a b e n t p ie ce o f ill- t e m p e re d s p rin g s t e e l ( wh ich o ft e n s n a p p e d o r lo s t re s ilie n ce o ve r t im e ) , wh e re a s n e we r b la d e s m a rke t e d t o wa rd s m ilit a ry p e rs o n n e l u t ilize a t yp e o f co il s p rin g . Kn ive s o f t h is s o rt m a n u fa ct u re d in Me xico a n d t h e Fa r Ea s t t e n d t o b e s h o d d y ru b b is h . Fro n t - o p e n e rs u s u a lly h a ve a we a k d u a l- s p rin g m e ch a n is m t h a t a llo ws t h e lig h t we ig h t b la d e t o b e b o t h s n a p p e d o u t a s we ll a s re t ra ct e d a t t h e t o u ch o f a s wit ch . Th e b la d e is h e ld in p la ce b y m e a n s o f s m a ll b ra s s t a b s wh ich a re e a s ily b ro ke n . If yo u p la ce yo u r fin g e r o ve r t h e b la d e s lo t a n d a ct iva t e t h e kn ife , t h e b la d e will n o t b re a k t h e s kin a n d will s lid e b a ck a n d fo rt h lo o s e ly u n t il p u lle d o u t t o t h e lo cke d p o s it io n . Th is n o ve lt y it e m is a p o o r we a p o n , a n d t h e ch e a p b la d e p ro vid e d d o e s n ’t e ve n m a ke a d e ce n t le t t e r o p e n e r. A ra re ly e n co u n t e re d va ria n t o f t h e fro n t - o p e n e r u s e s a p o we rfu l co il s p rin g t o s n a p t h e t yp ica lly d o u b le - e d g e d b la d e in t o p la ce . Th is we a p o n is d e s ig n e d t o b e p re s s e d a g a in s t a vict im ’s b o d y b e fo re b e in g a ct iva t e d , t h u s m a kin g it is id e a l fo r d is cre e t ly b a cks t a b b in g s o m e o n e in a cro wd . In o rd e r t o re t ra ct t h e b la d e , it m u s t b e u n lo cke d b e fo re p re s s in g t h e t ip firm ly in t o t h e flo o r — o ft e n , t wo h a n d s a re re q u ire d t o d o t h is . Kn ive s o f t h is s o rt a re s o m e t im e s o ffe re d fo r s a le in Tiju a n a a n d o t h e r Me xica n b o rd e r t o wn s . S wit ch b la d e s a re fa vo re d b y s t re e t p u n ks , b a rro o m b ra wle rs , a n d o t h e r e m o t io n a lly im m a t u re crim in a ls . Th e y we re b e co m in g s ca rce fo r a t im e , b u t t h e re wa s a re s u rg e n ce in t h e ir p o p u la rit y d u e t o a le g a l lo o p h o le wh ich a llo we d t h e m t o b e s o ld t h ro u g h t h e m a il in "u n co m p le t e d kit fo rm . " Th e y a re m o re o f a n o ve lt y t h a n a n yt h in g , g e n e ra lly b e in g t o o flim s y a n d d u ll t o b e re lie d u p o n fo r fig h t in g o r wo rk, a lt h o u g h t h e y a re s p e cifica lly p ro h ib it e d a s "d e a d ly we a p o n s " in m o s t s t a t e s . S wit ch b la d e s a re ille g a l t o p o s s e s s in m o s t ju ris d ict io n s ( wit h lim it e d e xce p t io n s m a d e fo r h u n t e rs , t ra p p e rs , fis h e rm e n , co lle ct o rs , a n d ce rt a in d is a b le d p e rs o n s ) , t e n d t o b e p o o rly co n s t ru ct e d , a n d b re a k fa irly e a s ily. Lin t , g u n k, a n d co rro s io n will m a ke t h e m ja m u p a n d fa il t o fu n ct io n . Qu a lit y lo ckb la d e s wit h t h u m b s t u d s o r cu t o u t s ca n b e o p e n e d n e a rly a s fa s t , a re fa r m o re re lia b le , a n d a re le g a l t o ca rry o n o n e ’s p e rs o n . Ca rryin g a n ille g a l s wit ch b la d e is s t u p id wh e n s u ch a n a lt e rn a t ive is a va ila b le .

BALI S ON GS : Ba lis o n g s a re o ft e n ca lle d "b u t t e rfly kn ive s , " "Ma n ila fo ld e rs , " o r ( in co rre ct ly) "g ra vit y kn ive s . " In ve n t e d in t h e Ph illip in e s a b o u t a ce n t u ry a g o , t h e y co n s is t o f a p a ir o f fre e - s win g in g h a n d le s co n n e ct e d t o a b la d e b y a p a ir o f p in s . Wh e n clo s e d , t h e t wo h a n d le s e n s h e a t h t h e b la d e . To o p e n t h e kn ife , o n e o f t h e h a n d le s is g ra s p e d wh ile t h e o t h e r is flip p e d a wa y b y m e a n s o f in e rt ia , e xp o s in g t h e b la d e . Wit h b o t h h a n d le s firm ly g ra s p e d , t h e b la d e is lo cke d s e cu re ly in t o p o s it io n . Th e b a lis o n g is fa r s t u rd ie r t h a n m o s t lo ckb la d e s , ca n b e o p e n e d n e a rly a s fa s t a s a s wit ch b la d e , a n d ca n n o t u n lo ck a n d fo ld o n o n e ’s fin g e rs s o lo n g a s t h e h a n d le s a re g ra s p e d . Th e b a lis o n g ca n b e flip p e d o p e n a b o u t a d o ze n d iffe re n t wa ys , a n d m a rt ia l a rt is t s wh o fa vo r t h is we a p o n ca n d o s o ve ry q u ickly in a n im p re s s ive d is p la y o f m a n u a l d e xt e rit y. Eve n in re la t ive ly u n s kille d h a n d s , wit h a lit t le b it o f p ra ct ice t h is kn ife ca n b e s p u n a n d wh irle d wit h a m e n a cin g clickin g n o is e , m a kin g it p o p u la r a m o n g g a n g m e m b e rs a n d s t re e t p u n ks wh o e n jo y in t im id a t in g civilia n s . Mo s t co m m e rcia lly a va ila b le b a lis o n g s h a ve a la t ch o n o n e o f t h e h a n d le s t h a t fit s in t o a s lo t o n t h e o t h e r, e ffe ct ive ly lo ckin g t h e h a n d le s t o g e t h e r wh e n t h e kn ife is o p e n e d o r clo s e d . Th is la t ch o ft e n g e t s in t h e wa y ( s o m e t im e s in a d ve rt e n t ly lo ckin g u n e xp e ct e d ly o r e ve n ch ip p in g t h e b la d e ’s e d g e ) wh ile flip p in g t h e kn ife o p e n a n d clo s e d in p ra ct ice , s o m a n y p ra ct it io n e rs e it h e r re m o ve it o r cu s t o m o rd e r la t ch le s s ve rs io n s . Wra p p in g t h e la t ch wit h a s m a ll s t rip o f cu t e le ct rica l t a p e ca n h e lp p re ve n t t h is . Ba lis o n g s va ry g re a t ly in q u a lit y. Mo s t o f t h e o n e s o n t h e s t re e t a re im p o rt e d g a rb a g e wit h d u ll b la d e s t h a t e it h e r fa il t o o p e n d u e t o e xce s s ive t ig h t n e s s , o r fa ll a p a rt d u e t o lo o s e p in s . Ha n d m a d e b a lis o n g s fro m t h e Ph illip in e s t e n d t o b e ve ry h ig h ca rb o n s t e e l wh ich ca n t a ke a fin e e d g e , b u t re q u ire s co n s t a n t m a in t e n a n ce t o p re ve n t co rro s io n . Old b a lis o n g s fro m Ta ylo r a n d Fro s t cu t le ry we re o f p a s s a b le q u a lit y, b u t a re s e ld o m s e e n a n ym o re . Be n ch m a d e o ffe re d g o o d q u a lit y m a s s - p ro d u ce d b a lis o n g s , a s we ll a s cu s t o m va ria n t s ( wh ich o ft e n e xce e d e d $ 3 0 0 ) , a n d h a s re ce n t ly re in t ro d u ce d t h e b a lis o n g in a m o d e rn ize d ve rs io n ( t it a n iu m h a n d le s a n d h e x- n u t s fo r p in s ) wh ich co s t s a ro u n d $ 2 0 0 . Be a r cu t le ry o ffe re d a b a lis o n g re ce n t ly, b u t a lo t o f p e o p le we re d is a p p o in t e d wit h it . Bla d e s m a d e b y Ja g u a r a n d Ma n ila Fo ld e r a re p o p u la r, b u t ra t h e r s h o d d y. Th e m o s t co m m o n ly e n co u n t e re d b a lis o n g o n t h e s t re e t is t h e ch e a p n o n a m e b ra n d t h a t e it h e r s t icks s h u t o r h a s lo o s e p in s — it ’s like fig h t in g wit h a n a lu m in u m t e n t s t a ke . Ba lis o n g s a re a s le g a l a s lo ckb la d e s in m o s t ju ris d ict io n s , b u t s o m e m u n icip a lit ie s h a ve s p e cifica lly p ro h ib it e d t h e m . Eve n wh e n t h e y a re n o t p ro h ib it e d u n d e r s t a t e la w, t h e y a re s o m e t im e s p ro h ib it e d u n d e r lo ca l o rd in a n ce s . If a lo ca l o rd in a n ce is vio la t e d , t h e kn ife in q u e s t io n ca n b e co n fis ca t e d a n d it s o wn e r s u b je ct t o a fin e . GRAVI TY KN I VES : A t ru e g ra vit y kn ife ( s o m e t im e s ca lle d a "fa ll- o u t kn ife ") will o p e n a u t o m a t ica lly a t t h e t o u ch o f a b u t t o n ( o r re le a s e le ve r) wh e n t h e kn ife is p o in t e d a t t h e g ro u n d , wit h t h e b la d e s lid in g s t ra ig h t o u t o f t h e h a n d le a n d lo ckin g in t o p la ce . Ba lis o n g s , a s we ll a s co m m o n lo ckb la d e s wit h lo o s e m e ch a n is m s , a re o ft e n in co rre ct ly ca t e g o rize d a s "g ra vit y kn ive s " b y t h e m is in fo rm e d ( wh o o ft e n co u n t p o lice o ffice rs a m o n g s t t h e ir n u m b e rs ) . Ma n y p e o p le h a ve wro n g fu lly b e e n

a rre s t e d ( o r e ve n in ca rce ra t e d ) fo r p o s s e s s in g a co n t ra b a n d "g ra vit y kn ife " b e ca u s e t h e le g a l d e fin it io n o f t h e we a p o n is o ft e n va g u e , a n d t h e p o lice a n d co u rt s h a ve ch o s e n t o d e fin e it a s t h e y s a w fit . Tru e g ra vit y kn ive s a re s e ld o m e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t . Th e y in clu d e t h e b u lky "Lu ft wa ffe p a ra t ro o p e r kn ife " a s we ll a s t h e flim s y ch ro m e - p la t e d p ie ce o f g a rb a g e m a rke t e d a s t h e "OS S p a ra t ro o p e r kn ife . " It is u n like ly yo u will e ve r s e e o n e o f t h e s e kn ive s o u t s id e o f s o m e o n e ’s co lle ct io n ( in cid e n t a lly, n e it h e r kn ife is o f s ig n ifica n t va lu e t o co lle ct o rs ) . THROW I N G KN I VES : Co n ce a la b le t h ro win g kn ive s co m e in a va rie t y o f s h a p e s , s ize s , a n d we ig h t s , a n d a re o ffe re d b y n u m e ro u s co m p a n ie s . S o m e o f t h e m a re ve ry we ll m a d e , wh ile o t h e rs a re lit t le m o re t h a n fla t t e n t s t a ke s . Th e t yp ica l t h ro win g kn ife is m a d e o f a s in g le p ie ce o f s t e e l wit h a le a f- s h a p e d d o u b le - e d g e d b la d e s h a rp e n e d o n ly a t t h e t ip . Th e y s o m e t im e s co m e wit h a b e lt s h e a t h , b u t a re m o re o ft e n s e e n in a fo re a rm rig . Occa s io n a lly, a kn ife t h ro we r m a y ca rry a b la d e b e h in d h is n e ck — e it h e r in a s p e cia l rig o r a s h e a t h s e wn in s id e h is ja cke t co lla r. Th is m a y co m e a s a s h o ck t o fa n s o f co m m a n d o a n d n in ja m o vie s , b u t 9 0 % o f wh a t m o s t p e o p le t h in k t h e y kn o w a b o u t kn ife t h ro win g is u t t e r b u lls h it . To b e g in wit h , kn ife t h ro win g is n o t e a s y; in fa ct , t h ro win g a kn ife is p ro b a b ly t h e m o s t d ifficu lt a s p e ct o f we a p o n cra ft t o m a s t e r. Ma n y p e o p le a t t e m p t it a t o n e p o in t in t h e ir live s , b u t ve ry fe w g a in e ve n b a s ic p ro ficie n cy. . . a ft e r re a lizin g t h e t ru e n a t u re o f kn ife t h ro win g ( wh ich is b a s ica lly s h o wm a n s h ip — a fa ls e t h in g wit h wh ich t o im p re s s o t h e rs ) , m o s t p e o p le g ive u p p ra ct icin g wit h in a m o n t h . Wh ile t h e re h a ve b e e n a h a n d fu l o f le g e n d a ry m a s t e rs wh o co u ld e ffe ct ive ly t h ro w a kn ife in co m b a t , I b e lie ve t h a t le s s t h a n o n e p e rs o n in a m illio n h a s t h e ca p a b ilit y t o d e ve lo p s u ch a s kill, re g a rd le s s o f h o w m a n y ye a rs a re d e vo t e d t o p ra ct ice . Wh ile s o m e p e o p le ( o ft e n u n p ra ct ice d in d ivid u a ls im p u ls ive ly t h ro win g a kn ife , fo r wh a t e ve r re a s o n ) h a ve in ju re d o r kille d a n o t h e r p e rs o n b y s t ickin g a kn ife in t h e m fro m a d is t a n ce , s u ch in s t a n ce s a re ra re a n d d u e p rim a rily t o lu ck ( o r la ck t h e re o f) . If yo u p ick u p a kn ife ( kit ch e n , h u n t in g , fo ld in g , e ct . ) a n d t h ro w it a t a ra n d o m ly s e le ct e d t a rg e t , yo u h a ve a p p ro xim a t e ly a 2 0 % ch a n ce o f s co rin g a d ire ct h it . Co u n t le s s Ho llywo o d "a ct io n - a d ve n t u re " flicks h a ve lie d t o u s . Th e re a re s e ve ra l wa ys t o t h ro w a kn ife , a n d m o s t p ra ct it io n e rs t e n d t o s t ick t o o n ly a s in g le m e t h o d . If p ra ct ice is n o t a d h e re d t o o n a d a ily b a s is , o n e ’s a b ilit y q u ickly d e t e rio ra t e s . Pe o p le wh o ca n t h ro w a kn ife wit h p re cis io n t yp ica lly ca n d o s o o n ly fro m a s e t d is t a n ce wit h fo cu s e d co n ce n t ra t io n . If t h e d is t a n ce o f t h e t a rg e t o r fo rce o f t h e t h ro w is a lt e re d , t h e b la d e will fa il t o fit p o in t firs t a n d will re b o u n d . S im ila rly, if a kn ife o f d iffe rin g le n g t h , we ig h t , o r b a la n ce is u s e d , t h e s p in o f t h e b la d e will b e a lt e re d . Un d e r co m b a t co n d it io n s , it is n e a rly im p o s s ib le t o s t ick a kn ife in a m o vin g t a rg e t m o re t h a n t e n fe e t a wa y. . . it is fa r m o re like ly t o b o u n ce o ff o n e ’s e n e m y, in flict in g o n ly a b ru is e o r s u p e rficia l cu t . Typ ica lly, t h e ru le o n kn ife t h ro win g is t o a vo id it wh e n e ve r p o s s ib le . Yo u lo s e yo u r we a p o n , a rm yo u r e n e m y, a n d g e n e ra lly lo o k like a n id io t . If, fo r wh a t e ve r re a s o n , yo u m u s t t h ro w a kn ife ( t h is a p p lie s t o a n y kn ife ) it is b e s t t o ju s t g ra b it b y t h e t ip a n d h u ck it a t t h e t a rg e t ’s ce n t e r o f m a s s a s h a rd a s p o s s ib le , t h e n t u rn a n d ru n b e ca u s e it ’ll p ro b a b ly d o le s s d a m a g e t h a n a ro ck if it h it s , b u t it will d e fin it e ly m a ke h im h e s it a t e . If yo u h a ve a la rg e kn ife , it is b e s t t o g ra s p it b y t h e h a n d le a n d t o s s it u n d e rh a n d in t o yo u r a t t a cke r’s s o la r p le xu s fro m le s s t h a n 5 fe e t a wa y. Fro m t h is d is t a n ce , t h ro wn in t h is m a n n e r, it is like ly t o s t ick ( a lt h o u g h t h is p ro ve n m e t h o d a p p a re n t ly is n ’t d ra m a t ic e n o u g h fo r Ho llywo o d ) . Pra ct ice s h o rt ra n g e kn ife t h ro win g

u s in g la rg e ca rd b o a rd a p p lia n ce ca rt o n s a s t a rg e t s — wo o d e n t a rg e t s a re m o re d a m a g in g t o t h e b la d e a n d in cre a s e t h e p o t e n t ia l o f a d a n g e ro u s re b o u n d .

Blu n t Tra u m a Cu d g e ls , t ru n ch e o n s , fis t lo a d s , a n d o t h e r im p a ct we a p o n s a re co m m o n ly fo u n d wit h in re a ch o f d a n g e ro u s p e rs o n s . Wh ile t h e m a jo rit y o f b lu d g e o n s a n d clu b s t e n d t o b e e it h e r o f a n im p ro vis e d n a t u re , o r fa r t o o la rg e t o co n ce a l u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n , t h e re a re a fe w wh ich fa ll in t o t h e ca t e g o ry o f "h id d e n we a p o n s . " Be a wa re t h a t , u n like b la d e s , p e rs o n s wh o ch o o s e t o p a ck co n ce a la b le im p a ct we a p o n s t e n d t o b e s kille d in t h e ir u s e . Th is m a y b e d u e t o t h e fa ct t h a t , b e ca u s e t h e wo u n d s o ft e n d o n o t re s u lt in m a s s ive b lo o d lo s s , crim in a ls will b e le s s h e s it a n t t o u s e im p a ct we a p o n s a n d will b e ve ry e xp e rie n ce d a t d o in g s o . BI LLY CLUBS : Billy clu b s , s o m e t im e s re fe rre d t o a s "b illie s , " "n ig h t s t icks , " o r "t ru n ch e o n s , " t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a le n g t h o f s t o u t wo o d b e t we e n 1 a n d 2 fe e t in le n g t h . Oft e n , a kn u rle d g rip a n d la n ya rd a re e vid e n t . Billy clu b s a re p ro h ib it e d we a p o n s in m a n y ju ris d ict io n s , b u t t h e d e fin it io n o f wh a t a b illy clu b is ca n va ry g re a t ly. Wa lkin g s t icks a n d a lu m in u m fla s h lig h t s , h o we ve r, a re b o t h fa r m o re e ffe ct ive t h a n a b illy clu b a s we ll a s p e rfe ct ly le g a l. We a p o n s s im ila r t o t h e b illy clu b in clu d e : t h e e s crim a s t ick ( u s u a lly u s e d in p a irs ) , t h e s id e h a n d le d b a t o n ( t h e p o lice ve rs io n o f t h e t o n fa ) , a lu m in u m "t ire ch e cke rs " ( ro u g h ly h a lf t h e s ize o f a t e e - b a ll b a t ) , t h e we ig h t e d wa rclu b ( o f wh ich d o ze n s o f ve rs io n s e xis t ) , a n d t h e p ro ve rb ia l le a d p ip e ( n o wa d a ys g a lva n ize d s t e e l p lu m b in g p ip e o r a cu t - d o wn le n g t h o f re b a r) . KN UCKLES : Bra s s kn u ckle s a re a va ila b le via m a il o rd e r a s "p a p e rwe ig h t s , " b u t t h e y a re ille g a l t o ca rry a lm o s t e ve rywh e re . Mo s t s e t s o f "kn u cks " h a ve a p ro je ct io n t h a t re s t s a g a in s t t h e p a lm t o a b s o rb im p a ct . Ma n y h a ve b u m p s o r p o in t s o n t h e kn u ckle s u rfa ce t o in flict a d d it io n a l d a m a g e . Th e q u a lit y o f b ra s s kn u ckle s a va ila b le va rie s g re a t ly. I h a ve s e e n p ro fe s s io n a lly d e s ig n e d kn u cks wit h a t h in p ro file a n d s m o o t h ly p o lis h e d s u rfa ce , a n d I h a ve s e e n cru d e ly m a n u fa ct u re d kn u cks m a d e b y p o u rin g m o lt e n b ra s s in t o a s a n d m o u ld . S o m e p o o rly d e s ig n e d kn u cks h a ve u n d e rs ize d o r u n e ve n ly s p a ce d fin g e rh o le s . Ho m e m a d e ve rs io n s o ft e n h a ve n o fin g e rh o le s a t a ll, a n d re s e m b le a fla t t e n e d m e t a l o va l. I h a ve a ls o s e e n kn u cks m a d e fro m a lu m in u m ( fo r re d u ce d we ig h t ) a n d p la s t ic ( wh ich p ro vid e s

a le g a l lo o p h o le in a re a s wh e re "m e t a l kn u ckle s " a re p ro h ib it e d ) . On ce I e ve n s a w a s e t fa s h io n e d fro m p o lis h e d h a rd wo o d ! Co n ce iva b ly, t h e y ca n b e fa s h io n e d fro m a n y m a t e ria l wh ich will p ro t e ct o n e ’s kn u ckle s wit h o u t b e n d in g o r b re a kin g S o m e kn ive s , like re p ro d u ct io n s o f WWI t re n ch kn ive s , h a ve a s e t o f kn u ckle s b u ilt in t o t h e g rip . Th e s e a re n a s t y t o co m e u p a g a in s t , b u t t h e kn u ckle s lim it o n e ’s d e xt e rit y a n d m a ke t h e kn ife ille g a l t o ca rry. Fo ld in g kn ive s wh ich in co rp o ra t e kn u ckle s in t o t h e h a n d le a re t yp ica lly p o o rly m a d e im p o rt e d cra p . Kn u ckle s a re d e s ig n e d t o m u lt ip ly t h e im p a ct o f yo u r p u n ch e s , a n d a re e ffe ct ive e ve n in u n s kille d h a n d s . Th e y a re b e s t u s e d a g a in s t b o n e . Via b le t a rg e t s in clu d e t h e ja w a n d t h e rib s , b u t a n ywh e re yo u h it is g o in g t o s u s t a in a p a in fu l cru s h in g b lo w. S im ila r t o kn u cks a re t h e g o ld - p la t e d "4 - fin g e r rin g s " o n ce fa vo re d b y ra p p e rs , p im p s , a n d d ru g d e a le rs . Be ca u s e t h e y we re s o fre q u e n t ly e m p lo ye d a s we a p o n s , m a n y ju ris d ict io n s s o o n cla s s ifie d t h e m a s p ro h ib it e d "m e t a l kn u ckle s , " a n d a ft e r a fe w a t t e m p t s t o b yp a s s t h e s e la ws b y o ffe rin g 3 - fin g e r ( t h e n 2 - fin g e r) ve rs io n s , t h e y q u ickly lo s t t h e ir p o p u la rit y. Th e y a re s e ld o m e n co u n t e re d a n ym o re , a s t h e y we re in t e n d e d t o b e wo rn o p e n ly in a n a t t e m p t t o fla u n t o n e ’s we a lt h ( a s we ll a s crim in a l p ro clivit ie s ) , b u t s o o n p ro ve d t o wo rk a s "co p m a g n e t s , " wh ich q u ickly b e ca m e t ire s o m e . Me t a l kn u ckle s a re u n la wfu l t o p o s s e s s n e a rly e ve rywh e re , b u t a re o cca s io n a lly s e e n s o ld via m a il o rd e r a s "n o ve lt y p a p e rwe ig h t s . " Th in lig h t we ig h t re p lica s a re s o m e t im e s fa s h io n e d in t o b e lt b u ckle s . Th e y a re d e ce n t we a p o n s , b u t a ya wa ra is ju s t a s g o o d ( a n d le g a l a s we ll) . S AP S : S a p s co m e in t wo b a s ic ve rs io n s : s la p p e rs a n d b la ckja cks . S la p p e rs a re fla t p a d d le - s h a p e d im p a ct we a p o n s , u s u a lly m a d e o f p o wd e re d le a d a n d a s t rip o f s p rin g s t e e l s e wn b e t we e n t wo fla t p ie ce s o f le a t h e r. Ha vin g a la rg e s u rfa ce a re a , t h e fo rce o f im p a ct is d is p e rs e d , ra t h e r t h a n co n ce n t ra t e d , s o b o n e s a re u n like ly t o b e b ro ke n . S la p p e rs we re d e s ig n e d t o b e u s e d b y p o lice m e n , p ris o n g u a rd s , a n d m e n t a l wa rd o rd e rlie s t o s u b d u e vio le n t in d ivid u a ls wit h o u t in flict in g s e rio u s in ju rie s . Re p e a t e d b lo ws t o t h e h e a d , h o we ve r, ca n re s u lt in d e a t h . Th o s e fa n cy we ig h t e d p la ce ke e p e rs s o ld a t s o m e b o o ks t o re s a re a le g a l ve rs io n o f t h e s la p p e r. . . p ro vid e d yo u ’re ca rryin g a s u it a b le b o o k a s we ll. Bla ckja cks a re ro u n d le a d we ig h t s a ffixe d t o t h e e n d o f a co il s p rin g a n d wra p p e d in le a t h e r. Th e fo rce o f t h e b lo w is h ig h ly co n ce n t ra t e d , a n d will e a s ily s h a t t e r b o n e . A lig h t t a p b e h in d t h e e a r is s u fficie n t t o kn o ck m o s t p e o p le u n co n s cio u s . . . a fo rce fu l b lo w t o t h e h e a d will kill. A b la ckja ck ca n b e im p ro vis e d b y d ro p p in g a D- ce ll b a t t e ry in a t h in s o ck o r n ylo n s t o ckin g a n d t yin g t wo kn o t s — o n e b e h in d t h e we ig h t a n d o n e a t t h e e n d o f t h e h a n d le . Th e s e t wo co m m o n ly a va ila b le le g a l it e m s ca n q u ickly b e co m b in e d t o fo rm a n ille g a l d e a d ly we a p o n . If yo u a re co n ce rn e d a b o u t b e in g fris ke d , yo u ca n ca rry t h e s o ck a n d b a t t e ry in t wo s e p a ra t e p o cke t s . A s e lf- d e fe n s e d e vice s im ila r t o t h e b la ckja ck is b e in g s o ld t h a t co n s is t s o f a s m a ll ro d wit h a

cu p a t o n e e n d in wh ich s it s a s m a ll m e t a l we ig h t a t t a ch e d t o a s h o rt re t ra ct a b le ca b le . Wh e n t h e d e vice is s wu n g , t h e we ig h t is e xt e n d e d a b o u t a n in ch , a n d h a s fle xib ilit y b u t la cks s p rin g t e n s io n . Gro o ve s in t h e we ig h t a re d e s ig n e d t o "t ra p DNA m a t e ria l fo r id e n t ifica t io n o f t h e a s s a ila n t ". . . in o t h e r wo rd s , t o m a ke h im b le e d . A h u rt fu l d e vice t h a t la cks t h e le t h a lit y o f t h e b la ckja ck. YAW ARAS : Ya wa ra s a re e xt e n d e d fis t lo a d s t h a t t h e e n d s ca n b e u s e d t o s t rike wit h . Th e y a re co m m o n ly m a d e fro m wo o d , b u t ca n a ls o b e m a d e fro m m e t a l o r p la s t ic. Th e y a re s o m e t im e s o ffe re d wit h t a p e re d e n d s , fo r g rin d in g in t o n e rve ca vit ie s d u rin g s u b m is s io n h o ld s ; o r wit h p o in t e d e n d s , fo r a ct u a l p e n e t ra t io n o f b o n e a n d t is s u e . Th e y u s u a lly h a ve e it h e r ro u n d e d o r fla t e n d s . S o m e p e o p le t h in k t h a t a we ig h t e d fis t lo a d a d d s m o re im p a ct t o o n e ’s p u n ch , b u t t h e re is a s u b s t a n t ia l ris k o f fra ct u rin g o n e ’s u n p ro t e ct e d fin g e rs . Ya wa ra s a re s o m e t im e s a t t a ch e d t o ke yrin g s , wh ich ca n m a ke t h e m lig h t fla ils ( t h e m o s t co m m o n ve rs io n is m a rke t e d a s t h e "Ku b o t a n ") . On e s t e e l ya wa ra - like ke ych a in ( u s u a lly m a rke t e d a s t h e "Nin ja Ke ych a in ") h a s a p a ir o f n a rro w p e rp e n d icu la r ro d s a t t a ch e d , s o a s t o e xt e n d fro m b e t we e n t h e kn u ckle s wh e n g ra s p e d , wh ich will co n ce n t ra t e t h e t o t a l e n e rg y o f a p u n ch in t o t wo t in y a re a s , re s u lt in g in d e e p p e n e t ra t io n a n d m a s s ive in ju ry p o t e n t ia l — in t ra in e d h a n d s , t h is o b je ct is d e a d lie r t h a n b ra s s kn u ckle s . A we ig h t e d a t t a ch m e n t fo r t h e AA Min i Ma g - Lit e ( m a rke t e d a s t h e "Mo - Ge m ") re p la ce s t h e e n d ca p a n d im p ro ve s it s a p p lica t io n a s a ya wa ra a s we ll a s t u rn in g it in t o a s m a ll co s h . A s h o rt le n g t h o f s t e e l p ip e m a ke s a n e xce lle n t im p ro vis e d ya wa ra . Clo s e d p o cke t kn ive s a n d m e t a l p e n s m a ke p a s s a b le im p ro vis e d ya wa ra s , a s will m o s t s o lid o b je ct s o f s im ila r p ro p o rt io n s . Ya wa ra s ca n b e g ro u n d in t o s e le ct e d p re s s u re p o in t s a n d n e rve ca vit ie s , wh ich t a ke s t im e t o m a s t e r, b u t ca n co n ce iva b ly s t o p a n a t t a cke r wit h o u t u n n e ce s s a ry vio le n ce o r ris k o f d o in g s e rio u s h a rm . Ya wa ra s ca n a ls o b e u s e d t o cra ck s ku lls a n d s t e rn u m s . In t h e h a n d s o f a p ro ficie n t m a rt ia l a rt is t , t h e ya wa ra is a le t h a l we a p o n . Be ca u s e o f it s s m a ll s ize a n d in n o cu o u s a p p e a ra n ce , t h e ya wa ra is le g a l t o ca rry n e a rly e ve rywh e re . Ya wa ra s wit h co n ce a le d b la d e s a n d s p ike s a re a va ila b le , b u t t h e ir p o s s e s s io n is p ro h ib it e d in m a n y ju ris d ict io n s . S TEEL BALLS : S o lid m e d it a t io n b a lls a n d la rg e b a ll b e a rin g s ca n e it h e r b e t h ro wn o r u s e d a s fis t lo a d s . A s la p wit h a s t e e l b a ll ca n cra ck b o n e o r p u lve rize cin d e rb lo ck. S t e e l b a lls ca n b e t h ro wn wit h g re a t a ccu ra cy fo r u p t o t h irt y fe e t , b u t a re e ffe ct ive t o a b o u t fift y. Th e y will le a ve we lt s a n d ca n ca u s e s e rio u s in ju ry. Th ro wn wit h g re a t fo rce fro m clo s e ra n g e , a s t e e l b a ll ca n e a s ily kill if t h e h e a d is s t ru ck. S t e e l b a lls ca n b e ca rrie d in e it h e r a p o cke t o r a p o u ch . If d ro p p e d in a s o ck o r wra p p e d in a b a n d a n n a , a s t e e l b a ll b e co m e s a le t h a l fla il. Co m m o n ly u s e d fo r "m e d it a t io n a n d re la xa t io n , " t h e y wo u ld b e o ve rlo o ke d in m o s t s e a rch e s ( p ro vid e d n o m o re t h a n 2 p a ir we re fo u n d ) . "Ma g n e t ize d m a s s a g e b a lls " a re s im ila r t o s o lid m e d it a t io n b a lls , b u t a re co ve re d wit h kn o b b y s p ike s . Ro cks , b a t t e rie s , a n d b illia rd b a lls a ll m a ke p a s s a b le s u b s t it u t e s .

Ca n e W e a p o n s Do ze n s o f we a p o n s h a ve b e e n in co rp o ra t e d in t o t h e h u m b le wa lkin g s t ick. Ma n y o f t h e s e we a p o n s we re d e s ig n e d d u rin g t h e m id 1 7 t h ce n t u ry, wh e n it wa s fa s h io n a b le fo r g e n t le m e n t o ca rry a wa lkin g s t ick wh e t h e r it wa s n e ce s s a ry fo r s u p p o rt o r n o t . Wa lkin g s t ick we a p o n s t e n d t o fa ll in t o s e ve ra l p rim a ry ca t e g o rie s ( a lt h o u g h o t h e rs e xis t ) : b la s t e rs , b la d e s , a n d b lu d g e o n s . BLAS TERS : Bla s t e rs a re s e ld o m s e e n o u t s id e o f m u s e u m s a n ym o re , d u e t o a fe d e ra l re s t rict io n o n "ca n e g u n s a n d o t h e r d is g u is e d fire a rm s " t h a t p u t s t h e m in t h e s a m e ca t e g o ry a s a s u p p re s s e d m a ch in e p is t o l ( re q u irin g a cla s s III FFL a n d $ 2 0 0 t a x s t a m p ) . Alm o s t a ll ca n e g u n s in e xis t e n ce a re s in g le - s h o t we a p o n s , u s u a lly o f t h e b la ck p o wd e r "ca p a n d b a ll" va rie t y. Co b ra y o n ce s o ld a co n ve rs io n kit t h a t e n a b le d a ce rt a in b ra n d o f a n t iq u e ca n e g u n t o fire . 3 8 s p e cia l a m m u n it io n , a n d ille g a l h o m e m a d e ve rs io n s h a ve b e e n fo u n d in s e ve ra l ca lib e rs ( wit h . 2 2 LR, . 4 5 ACP, a n d . 4 1 0 s h o t s h e ll b e in g m o s t co m m o n , d u e t o lo w p re s s u re a n d a va ila b ilit y o f ch e a p b a rre ls ) . Ca n e g u n s h a ve in co rp o ra t e d a wid e va rie t y o f firin g m e ch a n is m s , m o s t o f wh ich a re s lo w in t o a ct io n a n d u n s a fe t o ca rry a t fu ll co ck. S o m e h o m e m a d e ca n e g u n s u s e a n e le ct ric fila m e n t t o ig n it e a b la ck p o wd e r ch a rg e — s u ch a d e vice ca n e a s ily b e fa b rica t e d wit h o u t m a ch in e t o o ls . A le s s e r s e e n va ria n t is t h e co m p re s s e d a ir ( o r g a s ) fire d ca n e g u n . Th e s e a re a ls o s in g le - s h o t we a p o n s , a n d a re ca p a b le o f firin g a le a d o r s t e e l b a ll a t le t h a l ve lo cit ie s . Po is o n e d p e lle t s a n d d a rt s h a ve b e e n fire d fro m s im ila r we a p o n s b y co m m u n is t in t e llig e n ce a g e n t s ( fo r e xa m p le , t h e Bu lg a ria n "u m b re lla g u n " u s e d in s e ve ra l p ro m in e n t a s s a s s in a t io n s ) . A re la t e d we a p o n is t h e t u b u la r "g a s g u n " wh ich u s e s a n e le ct rica lly fire d ch a rg e t o e xp e l a s m a ll clo u d o f p ru s s ic a cid d ire ct ly in t o a t a rg e t ’s fa ce , re s u lt in g in d e a t h fro m cya n id e p o is o n in g . Blo wg u n s h a ve a ls o b e e n in co rp o ra t e d in t o ca n e s . BLAD ES : Bla d e s u s u a lly re fe r t o "s wo rd ca n e s , " wh ich co m e in s e ve ra l va rie t ie s . Th e t yp ica l s wo rd ca n e is a s in g le - e d g e d b la d e , u s u a lly b e t we e n 1 8 " a n d 2 2 " lo n g , a ffixe d t o t h e ca n e ’s g rip a n d s h e a t h e d in t h e s h a ft . Th e u n it ca n b e h e ld t o g e t h e r b y a va rie t y o f lo ckin g m e ch a n is m s , o r s im p le frict io n . Mo s t o f t h e a n t iq u e s wo rd ca n e s a re o f h ig h q u a ilit y a n d co m m a n d co m m e n s u ra t e p rice s . Mo s t o f t h e m o d e rn re p ro d u ct io n s I’ve s e e n a re g a rb a g e wit h flim s y b la d e s t h a t wo n ’t t a ke a n e d g e a n d b e n d o u t o f s h a p e u p o n im p a ct . A we ll- d e s ig n e d s wo rd ca n e ’s s h a ft is s t u rd y e n o u g h t o s e rve a s a b a t o n , g ivin g yo u a we a p o n fo r e it h e r h a n d . Ot h e r "s wo rd ca n e s " I’ve s e e n e it h e r h a ve a m u ch s h o rt e r d a g g e r b la d e o r a s p ike in s t e a d o f a t ru e s wo rd , b u t t h e s e t e n d t o b e m o re fu n ct io n a l t h a n t h e ch e a p im p o rt e d re p ro d u ct io n s . Do ze n s o f va ria n t s o n t h e b a s ic s wo rd ca n e d e s ig n e xis t , a n d m a n y a re h ig h ly p rize d b y co lle ct o rs . S im ila r t o t h e s wo rd ca n e is wh a t I’ll ca ll a "s p e a r ca n e , " fo r wa n t o f a b e t t e r wo rd . A s p e a r ca n e is e q u ip p e d wit h a b la d e o r s p ike , u s u a lly u n d e r 1 2 " in le n g t h , wh ich p ro je ct s fro m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e ca n e wh e n re ve a le d . Mo s t o ft e n , t h e lo we r s e ct io n o f s h a ft is d e t a ch e d ( in s t e a d o f s lid in g t h e b la d e fro m t h e s h a ft b y p u llin g o n t h e h a n d le ) , b u t is s o m e ve rs io n s t h e b la d e ( o r s p ike ) is re le a s e d b y p re s s in g a b u t t o n , a llo win g t h e b la d e t o s n a p in t o p la ce ( b y m e a n s o f a

co il s p rin g o r in e rt ia ) a n d lo ck. A t yp e o f m e t a llic wa lkin g s t ick is a va ila b le t h a t s cre ws a p a rt t o re ve a l a b la d e in s id e , t h e n ca n b e s cre we d b a ck t o g e t h e r in s u ch a wa y a s t o fo rm a n e ffe ct ive s h o rt s p e a r ( I h a ve s e e n s e ve ra l ve rs io n s , o f va ryin g q u a lit y) . S o m e wa lkin g s t icks u t ilize a s p ike d fe rru le ( fo r "h ikin g . ") wh ich ca n b e u t ilize d in a s im ila r m a n n e r. BLUD GEON S : Blu d g e o n s a re ca n e s t h a t a re e s p e cia lly g o o d fo r b e a t in g s o m e o n e t o d e a t h , a n d in s o m e ca s e s , t h a t is wh a t t h e y we re s p e cifica lly d e s ig n e d t o d o . An y s t o u t wa lkin g s t ick co m p o s e d o f h icko ry, b la ck wa ln u t , o r va rio u s e xo t ic h a rd wo o d s , will b e d e n s e , h e a vy, a n d d ifficu lt t o b re a k. S u ch a s t ick is fa r s u p e rio r t o a ca n e m a d e o f lig h t wo o d o r a lu m in u m t u b in g wh e n it co m e s t o d e fe n s e . To p p e d wit h a h a n d le o f s o lid b ra s s , s ilve r, o r s t e e l, it b e co m e s a le t h a l m a ce . Als o wo rt h y o f m e n t io n is t h e Iris h b la ckt h o rn e wa lkin g s t ick, wh ich is s t u d d e d wit h n a t u ra l p ro t ru s io n s t h a t will d ra w b lo o d wit h e ve ry b lo w. De co ra t e d ca n e s wit h o rn a t e e xt e n d e d fe rru le s a s we ll a s m e t a l b a n d s o r in la ys a lo n g t h e ir le n g t h a re t yp ica lly fa r t o o va lu a b le t o b e a t o n s o m e o n e wit h , b u t t h e y wo rk e xt re m e ly we ll in t h is ca p a cit y. Ha m m e rh e a d wa lkin g s t icks we re o n ce p o p u la r, a n d ca n b e fa b rica t e d in o n e ’s wo rks h o p a n d p ro p e rly d e co ra t e d . A m o u n t a in e e r’s wa lkin g s t ick, wit h a s p ike d fe rru le a n d t o p p e d wit h a m a t t o ck, wo u ld p ro ve a fe a rs o m e we a p o n in s kille d h a n d s a n d wo u ld n o t d ra w u n d u e n o t ice . Th e t ra d it io n a l Po lis h ciu p a g a wa lkin g s t icks fe a t u re a n a xe like h a n d le in a d d it io n t o a s h a rp p o in t e d t ip . Th e a fo re m e n t io n e d b lu d g e o n - t yp e ca n e s a re t yp ica lly le g a l t o ca rry o n t h e s t re e t ( t h o u g h if yo u a re yo u n g a n d fit , t h e lo ca l co n s t a b u la ry m ig h t b e in clin e d t o co n fis ca t e yo u r "fa s h io n s t a t e m e n t " a n d ch a rg e yo u wit h p o s s e s s io n o f a we a p o n ) , wh e re a s t h e fo llo win g a re not. "Le a d e d ca n e s " t yp ica lly re fe r t o ca n e s fille d wit h le a d ( m o lt e n , p o wd e re d , o r s h o t ) t o a d d we ig h t fo r t h e s p e cific p u rp o s e o f b re a kin g b o n e s . Th e le a d ca n fill t h e e n t ire s h a ft , b u t is u s u a lly co n ce n t ra t e d a t t h e t ip . Th e s e a re s e ld o m s e e n , b u t ca n e s fa s h io n e d fro m le n g t h s o f s t e e l p ip e a re . Th e s e a re u s u a lly p a in t e d t o lo o k like a co m m o n wo o d e n ca n e o r wa lkin g s t ick, a n d t yp ica lly a re fit t e d wit h a ru b b e r fe rru le t ip t o e lim in a t e t h e t e ll- t a le clu n kin g , a n d t h e y a re h ig h ly ille g a l. S o m e ca n e s wit h m e t a l b a ll- s t yle g rip s a re d e s ig n e d t o a llo w t h e b a ll t o b e d e t a ch e d fro m t h e s h a ft , re ve a lin g a s h o rt ca b le t h a t a llo ws it t o b e s wu n g like a m e d ie va l fla il. S o m e wa lkin g s t icks a re d e s ig n e d t o s cre w a p a rt in t o a p a ir o f o ve rs ize d n u n ch a ku . Occa s io n a lly s e e n a m o n g p ra ct it io n e rs o f n in ju t s u a re ca n e s wh ich co n ce a l lo n g le n g t h s o f ch a in t e rm in a t e d b y a we ig h t o r h o o k. On e co m p a n y s p e cia lizin g in s wo rd ca n e s a ls o o ffe re d a ve rs io n ( m a rke t e d a s t h e "m a fia s t ick") wh ich h a d a lo n g s p rin g b illy ( s im ila r t o t h e "Kiyo g a s t e e l wh ip , " b u t fixe d ra t h e r t h a n co lla p s ib le ) in lie u o f a b la d e .

P o lic e S t y le W e a p o n s No n - le t h a l we a p o n s fa vo re d b y la w e n fo rce m e n t p e rs o n n e l a re co m m o n ly re lie d u p o n b y h o n e s t cit ize n s t o d e fe n d t h e m s e lve s a g a in s t p re d a t o ry crim in a ls . Ho we ve r, d u e t o t h e ir a va ila b ilit y, m a n y crim in a ls h a ve o b t a in e d t h e m fo r m o re n e fa rio u s p u rp o s e s .

Crim in a ls h a ve o ft e n b e e n o n t h e re ce ivin g e n d o f t h e s e we a p o n s , a n d kn o w fro m e xp e rie n ce t h e e xt e n t o f t h e ir ca p a b ilit ie s . Pe p p e rs p ra y, e s p e cia lly, h a s b e e n fo u n d in t h e p o s s e s s io n o f crim in a ls , wh o u s e it t o "t e a ch a le s s o n " t o p e rs o n s wh o a re ru d e t o t h e m , o r t o in ca p a cit a t e s o m e o n e p rio r t o a "b e a t d o wn . " "Ba d g e fre a ks " a n d o t h e r p s e u d o - co p s ( p o lice im p e rs o n a t o rs ) u s u a lly a cq u ire p o lice p a ra p h e rn a lia a s p a rt o f t h e ir "id e n t it y. " Ra p is t s a n d s e ria l kille rs ( wh o o ft e n p re t e n d t o b e p la in clo t h e d o ffice rs ) h a ve s o m e t im e s u s e d p e p p e rs p ra y o r a s t u n g u n t o in ca p a cit a t e t h e ir vict im s p rio r t o s n a t ch in g t h e m . P EP P ERS P RAY: Pe p p e rs p ra y is a va ila b le in s e ve ra l co n ce n t ra t io n s a n d ca n b e fire d fro m a wid e va rie t y o f a e ro s o l ca n is t e rs . Th e s e va ry g re a t ly in q u a lit y a n d re lia b ilit y, a n d ca re m u s t b e t a ke n in s e le ct in g o n e t h a t will wo rk wh e n n e e d e d wit h a m in im u m o f fu m b lin g . Po o rly d e s ig n e d ca n is t e rs h a ve b u t t o n s t h a t ja m . Typ ica lly, t h e h ig h e r t h e co n ce n t ra t io n t h e m o re e ffe ct ive t h e a g e n t , b u t I h a ve h e a rd a rg u m e n t s d is p u t in g t h is . Mo s t s p ra ys a re 1 0 % o le o re s in ca p s icu m ( ca ye n n e p e p p e r) . Fo rm u la s co n t a in in g CN o r CS "t e a r g a s " a re s e ld o m s e e n o u t s id e o f t h e m ilit a ry, wid e ly b e in g co n s id e re d o b s o le t e a n d in a p p ro p ria t e fo r e it h e r p o lice o r civilia n u s e . In t h e ra re in s t a n ce s t h a t CN is e n co u n t e re d , it is u s u a lly e n ca p s u la t e d wit h in a b u rs t in g p ro je ct ile , s u ch a s 4 0 m m g re n a d e la u n ch e r ro u n d s ( wh ich ca n g e n e ra t e e n o u g h h e a t t o in a d ve rt e n t ly s t a rt a fire ) . Mo s t e xp e rt s fe e l OC p e p p e rs p ra y is fa r m o re e ffe ct ive t h a n e it h e r CN o r CS . S p ra y ca n is t e rs u s u a lly fire e it h e r a t h in s t re a m o f liq u id ( s o m e t im e s ca lle d a "s h o t g u n s t re a m ") o r a fin e m is t in g , a t a va rie t y o f ra n g e s . Th e a ve ra g e ra n g e is a b o u t 7 fe e t . "Fo g g e rs " fire a t h ick clo u d o ve r 1 5 fe e t a wa y, a n d o ft e n a p p e a r like m in ia t u re fire e xt in g u is h e rs . S p ra y ca n is t e rs ca n b e fire d in a s e rie s o f s h o rt o r lo n g b u rs t s , o r ca n b e e m p t ie d b y ke e p in g t h e a ct iva t o r b u t t o n d e p re s s e d ( p ro b a b ly n o t a g o o d id e a ) . Aft e r s e ve ra l b u rs t s , b o t h vo lu m e a n d p re s s u re will b e s ig n ifica n t ly re d u ce d , a n d yo u a re s t ro n g ly u rg e d t o re p la ce t h e u n it a t yo u r e a rlie s t co n ve n ie n ce ra t h e r t h a n co n t in u e t o re ly u p o n it . Un it s s h o u ld a ls o b e re p la ce d a ft e r t h e ir s t a m p e d e xp ira t io n d a t e . Pe p p e rs p ra y ca n b e s q u irt e d o u t o f p e n s , fla s h lig h t s , a n d wris t m o u n t e d d e vice s , a s we ll a s fire d fro m s t a rt e r p is t o ls o r d e rrin g e r- like fla re p ro je ct o rs . I h a ve s e e n o n e d e vice wh ich re s e m b le d a la rg e p la s t ic p is t o l wit h a wid e cylin d rica l b o d y, wh ich wa s ca p a b le o f firin g a h ig h p re s s u re s t re a m a t e xt e n d e d ra n g e s ( t h o u g h , d u e t o it s co n s id e ra b le p ro file , it wo u ld b e d ifficu lt t o co n ce a l u n d e r o n e ’s ja cke t ) . Pe p p e rs p ra y ca n a ls o b e fire d fro m co n ce a le d ve h icle m o u n t e d n o zzle s ( u s u a lly m o u n t e d a b o ve t h e d rive r’s s id e win d o w) . AS P m a ke s a ya wa ra - s t yle ke yrin g wh ich fire s a h ig h - p re s s u re , co n e - s h a p e d b la s t fro m t h e b a s e . Th e AS P "ke y d e fe n d e r" co m e s wit h o n e HEAT ca rt rid g e a n d o n e in e rt TES T ca rt rid g e fo r t ra in in g , a n d e xt ra d u a l ca rt rid g e p a cks a re a va ila b le . As t h e e n t ire ca n n is t e r is e m p t ie d a t o n ce , n o s e co n d s h o t is a va ila b le . A wid e va rie t y o f h id d e n s p ra y p ro je ct o rs e xis t , a s we ll a s g re n a d e s , b o o b yt ra p s , a n d g e n e ra t o rs ( la rg e d e vice s wh ich p ro d u ce m a s s ive vo lu m e s fo r cro wd co n t ro l) , b u t t h e s e a re n o t wid e ly a va ila b le . Be t t e r, in m a n y wa ys , t h a n p e p p e rs p ra y is Ma ce Pe p p e rfo a m , wh ich s q u irt s o u t in a t h ick s t re a m , s t icks t o it s o b je ct ive , a n d will n o t p ro d u ce re s id u a l m is t in g . Th e fo a m re s e m b le s

s h a vin g cre a m , is e a s ily a im e d , a n d yo u will a ct u a lly s e e t h e a g e n t co n t a ct in g yo u r t a rg e t . No t o n ly d o e s t h e OC im p re g n a t e d fo a m o b s cu re vis io n , b u t it a ffe ct s o n ly t h e t a rg e t , p re ve n t in g t h e ro o m fro m b e co m in g t e m p o ra rily u n in h a b it a b le . Pe p p e rfo a m ca n a ct u a lly b e s p ra ye d in t o t h e b a cks e a t o f a n a u t o m o b ile b y t h e d rive r wit h o u t a ffe ct in g a n y o f t h e o t h e r p a s s e n g e rs . Fu rt h e rm o re , t h is p ro d u ct u t ilize s a t o p q u a lit y ca n n is t e r wh ich fe a t u re s a "flip - t o p " s a fe t y ca p a n d t h u m b a ct u a t o r b u t t o n . Ma ce Pe p p e rfo a m s h o u ld b e yo u r s p ra y we a p o n o f ch o ice , u n le s s yo u r n e e d s in clu d e fillin g a co rrid o r wit h g a s o r d is p e rs in g la rg e g ro u p s , in wh ich ca s e a fo g g e r s h o u ld b e u t ilize d . Pe p p e rs p ra y is fire d in t o t h e a t t a cke r’s fa ce , a im in g fo r t h e m o u t h , n o s e , a n d e ye s . If yo u e xt e n d yo u r a rm , t h e ca n n is t e r ca n b e g ra b b e d o r kn o cke d a s id e , s o b e s u re t o ke e p it clo s e t o yo u r b o d y. Ke e p t h e s t re a m firin g s t e a d ily in t o t h e a t t a cke r’s fa ce ( u n le s s t h e re a re m u lt ip le a t t a cke rs , in wh ich ca s e yo u ’d a t t e m p t t o h o s e t h e m a ll d o wn b e fo re fle e in g ) , fo llo win g h im a ro u n d a s h e t u rn s h is h e a d . An in a ccu ra t e o r p a rt ia l a p p lica t io n will n o t b e a s e ffe ct ive . Re s id u a l m is t in g will e ffe ct a n e n t ire ro o m fo r a n e xt e n d e d p e rio d o f t im e , d e p e n d in g o n q u a lit y o f ve n t ila t io n ( if yo u n e e d t o cro s s a co n t a m in a t e d a re a , ke e p o n e e ye s h u t a n d d o n o t b re a t h e ) . It s h o u ld n o t b e s p ra ye d in t o t h e win d ( d u h ) . Effe ct s o f p e p p e rs p ra y in clu d e im p a ire d vis io n , ch o kin g , n a u s e a , a n d g e n e ra l in ca p a cit a t io n . It is a s a fe a n d e ffe ct ive n o n - le t h a l we a p o n , p ro vid e d o n e h a s p ra ct ice d e n o u g h t o g a in fa m ilia rit y wit h it . Be wa rn e d t h a t wh ile OC p e p p e rs p ra y h a s t h e p o we r t o in ca p a cit a t e m o s t a s s a ila n t s if u s e d co rre ct ly, it is n o t g u a ra n t e e d t o s t o p t h e m . A d e t e rm in e d a s s a ila n t , o r o n e u n d e r t h e in flu e n ce o f d ru g s , m a y co n t in u e t o a t t a ck e ve n a ft e r b e in g s p ra ye d in t h e fa ce re p e a t e d ly. It wo rks b e s t a g a in s t vicio u s d o g s ( wh o h a ve a p le t h o ra o f n e rve e n d in g s o n t h e m u co u s m e m b ra n e s o f t h e ir we t n o s e s ) a n d co wa rd ly p u n ks . CAUTION: Pe p p e rs p ra y is co n t a in e d wit h in a p re s s u rize d ca n is t e r, s o it m u s t n o t b e e xp o s e d t o t h e h e a t o f d ire ct s u n lig h t ( le ft in o n e ’s ca r) n o r p a cke d in o n e ’s ch e cke d lu g g a g e wh e n flyin g ( ca rg o h o ld s a re n o t p re s s u rize d ) . Exp o s u re t o h e a t o r flu ct u a t io n s in b a ro m e t ric p re s s u re ca n ca u s e yo u r s p ra y ca n is t e r t o b u rs t o r le a k. TELES COP I C BATON S : Te le s co p ic b a t o n s a re e xt e n d e d b y t h e in e rt ia o f a s win g , o r b y a co m p re s s e d co il s p rin g , a n d lo ck in p la ce . Th e y va ry g re a t ly in q u a lit y, d u ra b ilit y, a n d le n g t h . Th e b e s t q u a lit y b a t o n s lo ck s o s e cu re ly in p la ce t h e y m a y b e u s e d t o ja b wit h . Th e y a re p o we rfu l we a p o n s t h a t ca n e a s ily b re a k b o n e s . To o h e a vy t o b e s im p ly d ro p p e d in a p o cke t , t h e y re q u ire e it h e r a b e lt h o ls t e r o r "o ve r- t h e - s h o u ld e r" rig . AS P m a ke s t h e wo rld ’s fin e s t t e le s co p ic b a t o n s in a va rie t y o f le n g t h s , we ig h t s , a n d fin is h e s . It is t h e im p a ct we a p o n o f ch o ice fo r la w e n fo rce m e n t p e rs o n n e l, co lla p s in g in t o a n o n t h re a t e n in g , "p o lit ica lly- co rre ct " u n it . Un fo rt u n a t e ly, p o s s e s s io n b y civilia n s o f t h is fin e we a p o n is p ro h ib it e d in m a n y ju ris d ict io n s . A s im ila r we a p o n is t h e s p rin g b illy, s o m e t im e s ca lle d a "s t e e l wh ip , " "s n a p p e r co s h , "o r "Kiyo g a , " ( wh ich wa s t h e b ra n d n a m e a p o p u la r ve rs io n wa s m a rke t e d u n d e r) Th e s e a re a ls o t e le s co p ic, a n d a re m a d e o f t h ick, t ig h t ly wra p p e d co ils o f s p rin g s t e e l ra t h e r t h a n rig id t u b in g . Th e y a re t yp ica lly ra t h e r s h o rt — a b o u t 1 6 " fu lly e xt e n d e d . Th e y will le a ve p a in fu l we lt s , b u t

will n o t b re a k b o n e s o r kill ( u n like t h e in fa m o u s s p rin g co s h e s u s e d in t h e t re n ch wa rfa re o f WWI) . CLUBBED FLAS HLI GHTS : Alu m in u m m u lt i- ce ll fla s h lig h t s ( s u ch a s t h o s e o ffe re d b y Ma g - Lit e , Ke l- Lit e , a n d S t re a m lig h t ) a re o ft e n u s e d in lie u o f n ig h t s t icks b y p o lice m e n . Un like e ve n t h e b e s t q u a lit y wo o d e n b a t o n s , a clu b b e d fla s h lig h t ca n s m a s h cin d e rb lo cks in t o p o wd e r wit h o u t in cu rrin g s ig n ifica n t d a m a g e ( if u s e d co rre ct ly) . No t o n ly a re clu b b e d fla s h lig h t s b o t h m o re e ffe ct ive a n d m o re u s e fu l t h a n a b illy clu b , b u t t h e y a re le g a l a s we ll. Mu lt i- ce ll fla s h lig h t s a re a va ila b le in e it h e r "C" o r "D" wid t h , wit h a ca p a cit y o f b e t we e n 2 a n d 8 b a t t e rie s . Th e "C" wid t h fit s m o s t h a n d s b e s t , a n d a ca p a cit y o f 5 o r 6 b a t t e rie s is wh a t m o s t p o lice m e n t e n d t o fa vo r. If yo u wis h fo r yo u r fla s h lig h t t o a p p e a r le s s m e n a cin g , yo u ca n g e t o n e wit h a lo we r ca p a cit y ( 2 o r 3 ce lls ) , p o s s ib ly in a co lo r o t h e r t h a n b la ck. A fla s h lig h t ca n b e s t u ffe d in a b a ck p o cke t u n d e r o n e ’s ja cke t , h u n g fro m a b e lt rin g , o r ca rrie d in o n e ’s h a n d . Th e co lla rb o n e s , e lb o ws , wris t s , a n d kn e e s m a ke t h e b e s t t a rg e t s fo r t h is we a p o n . A b lo w t o t h e b a ck ca n s h a t t e r ve rt e b ra e , a n d a b lo w t o t h e h e a d ca n e a s ily kill. Th e u s e o f "m a xim u m s t re n g t h " b a t t e rie s will s ig n ifica n t ly in cre a s e t h e fla s h lig h t ’s m a s s . Us in g ju s t 1 o r 2 m a xim u m s t re n g t h ce lls a t t h e e n d will a d d p o we r t o o n e ’s s win g s . S TUN GUN S : S t u n g u n s co m e in va rio u s s ize s a n d t yp e s , in clu d in g b a t o n s , g lo ve s , a n d d a rt - firin g "Ta s e rs , " b u t t h e m o s t co m m o n ly ca rrie d ve rs io n lo o ks like a n a rro w p la s t ic b o x wit h a p a ir o f p ro n g s o n o n e e n d wh ich s p a rk wh e n a b u t t o n is d e p re s s e d . Th e y a re co m m o n ly s o ld fo r s e lf d e fe n s e . We a re t o ld t h a t t h e s t u n g u n will d ro p a m a n t o t h e flo o r u n co n s cio u s . Th is is s e ld o m t h e ca s e . In o rd e r fo r it t o b e t ru ly e ffe ct ive , it m u s t b e p re s s e d a g a in s t t h e a s s a ila n t ’s b o d y a n d h e ld in p la ce fo r s e ve ra l s e co n d s . . . t h is is n o t a s e a s y a s it s o u n d s , a s it in vo lve s wre s t lin g a n d g ra p p lin g wit h t h e a s s a ila n t . Qu ick s h o cks , o f a s e co n d o r le s s , will a cco m p lis h n o t h in g . Th e y will s t in g a lit t le , a n d d o n o t t ru ly h u rt u n le s s t h e s h o ck is a d m in is t e re d t o t h e fa ce , t h ro a t , a rm p it , o r g ro in . S t u n g u n s will n o t d e t e r a d e t e rm in e d o p p o n e n t , n o r o n e in vu ln e ra b le t o p a in d u e t o in t o xica n t s o r fre n zy, re g a rd le s s o f h o w we ll yo u u s e it . Th e y a re m o s t fre q u e n t ly u s e d b y u n s cru p u lo u s in t e rro g a t o rs t o e licit co n fe s s io n s fro m m a n a cle d s u s p e ct s , a s t h e y a re o n ly e ffe ct ive wh e n h e ld in p la ce fo r s e ve ra l s e co n d s a n d le a ve o n ly a p a ir o f s m a ll re d b u rn s ( wh ich is wh y a b o u t a d o ze n s t a t e s p ro h ib it p o s s e s s io n o f s t u n g u n s b y la w e n fo rce m e n t p e rs o n n e l) . Th e y a re t h e t o o ls o f t o rt u re rs a n d ra p is t s , e ffe ct ive o n ly a g a in s t we a k vict im s , wh ich is wh y t h e y a re wid e ly p ro h ib it e d . S t u n g u n s d o lit t le m o re t h a n p ro vid e a fa ls e s e n s e o f s e cu rit y, wh ich is d a n g e ro u s . Do n o t wa s t e yo u r m o n e y o n o n e o f t h e s e s illy t o ys .

N in ja Cra p Nin ju t s u ca n t e a ch wa rrio rs a g re a t d e a l a b o u t s t e a lt h , im p ro vis e d we a p o n ry, a n d s e lfh yp n o s is . Ma s t e rs o f t h e a rt h a ve b e e n re t a in e d b y o u r g o ve rn m e n t a s in s t ru ct o rs fo r t h e S p e cia l Op e ra t io n s Co m m a n d , wh o s e De lt a Fo rce a n d S EAL Te a m s h a ve , in t u rn , in s t ru ct e d e lit e la w e n fo rce m e n t u n it s ( s u ch a s t h e FBI Ho s t a g e Re s cu e Te a m s , t h e DEA’s Cla n d e s t in e La b o ra t o ry En fo rce m e n t Te a m s , a n d t h e S WAT t e a m s o f m a n y m e t ro p o lit a n p o lice d e p a rt m e n t s ) . Ho we ve r, t h e va s t m a jo rit y o f p e rs o n s cla im in g t o b e n in ja ca n u n ifo rm ly b e cla s s ifie d a s "n in ja fre a ks . " Th e t yp ica l n in ja fre a k is s e rio u s ly m e n t a lly ill, h a s lim it e d co n t a ct wit h re a lit y, a n d is in va ria b ly a s o cia l o u t ca s t . He h a s le a rn e d h is "s kills " t h ro u g h m a rt ia l a rt s m a g a zin e s a n d a ct io n - a d ve n t u re m o vie s . He m a y h a ve p u rch a s e d b o o ks ( u s u a lly o f d u b io u s cre d ib ilit y) p u rp o rt in g t o d is clo s e "S e cre t s o f In vis ib ilit y, " o r "De a t h To u ch " t e ch n iq u e s . Th e n in ja - fre a k will a lwa ys h a ve a co s t u m e ( u s u a lly e it h e r a p o lye s t e r n in ja o u t fit b o u g h t via m a il o rd e r, o r a b la ck ju m p s u it wit h m a s k a n d g lo ve s ) h a n g in g in h is clo s e t , a n d will o ft e n wa lk t h e s t re e t s d re s s e d e n t ire ly in b la ck. Wh ile a fe w s e rio u s m a rt ia l a rt is t s m a y ch o o s e o n e o f t h e s e it e m s a s a p o t e n t ia l "b a cku p " we a p o n , t h e n in ja - fre a k will re ly a lm o s t e xclu s ive ly u p o n t h e m ( in a d d it io n t o a t a n t o o r d a g g e r) , u s u a lly ca rryin g s e ve ra l co n ce a le d u p o n h is p e rs o n a t a n y g ive n t im e . Be a d vis e d , e ve n t h o u g h t h e t yp ica l n in ja - fre a k is a p s ych o t ic lo s e r, h e h a s p ro b a b ly p ra ct ice d e xt e n s ive ly wit h h is we a p o n s a n d will a lwa ys a t t a ck wit h in t e n t t o kill ( a lt h o u g h h e m a y b e o ve r- co n fid e n t in h is a b ilit y t o d o s o ) . THROW I N G S TARS : Th ro win g s t a rs , a ls o kn o wn a s s h a ke n , co m e in n u m e ro u s s h a p e s a n d s ize s . Th e y a re u s u a lly b e t we e n 3 " a n d 4 " in d ia m e t e r, wit h b e t we e n 3 a n d 8 p o in t s , a n d a re t yp ica lly wa fe r t h in a n d co n s t ru ct e d o f p o o r q u a lit y m e t a l t h a t d o e s n o t t a ke a n e d g e . Be t t e r q u a lit y s t a rs e xis t , m a d e o f h e a vy s t e e l a n d t a kin g a fin e e d g e , b u t t h e y a re q u it e e xp e n s ive , u s u a lly o ve r t we n t y d o lla rs a p ie ce . We a p o n s s im ila r t o t h e t h ro win g s t a r in clu d e : rin g like ch a kru m , re ct a n g u la r s t e e l "t h ro win g ca rd s , " Ch in e s e t a s s le d d a rt s , co m m o n fin n e d d a rt s , a n d va rio u s n o ve lt y we a p o n s ( s u ch a s t h e s illy "Ba t m a n " s t a r) . Th ro win g s t a rs , a n d o t h e r s m a ll co n ce a la b le m is s le we a p o n s , a re t yp ica lly ca rrie d in clu s t e rs o f t h re e o r m o re , wh ich a re s lip p e d in t o s p e cia l p o u ch e s wh ich a re a ffixe d t o o n e ’s b e lt , d ro p p e d in a p o cke t , o r s e wn in s id e clo t h in g . If a p o u ch is n o t u s e d , t h e y will s n a g a n d t e a r p o cke t lin in g s . S o m e t im e s a d e t a ch a b le s t a r is s e e n a t t a ch e d t o a b e lt b u ckle . S m a ll d u ll s t a rs a re s o m e t im e s wo rn a s p e n d a n t s o r a t t a ch e d t o ke yrin g s , b u t t h e y a re u s e le s s a s m is s le we a p o n s . S t a rs ca n b e t h ro wn n u m e ro u s wa ys wit h g re a t a ccu ra cy u p t o a b o u t t h irt y fe e t , a lt h o u g h p ro ficie n cy re q u ire s we e ks o f p ra ct ice . If d e s ire d , a n e n t ire h a n d fu l ca n b e p u t in t o flig h t s im u lt a n e o u s ly ( wit h d ra s t ica lly re d u ce d a ccu ra cy) . S t a rs t e n d t o h a ve p o o r p e n e t ra t io n a n d a re u n like ly t o ca u s e s e rio u s in ju ry. Th e ir p rim a ry p u rp o s e is t o d e t e r p u rs u it o r h a ra s s fro m a

d is t a n ce . Ce rt a in n a s t y in d ivid u a ls h a ve b e e n kn o wn t o file g ro o ve s a lo n g t h e p o in t s t o b e t t e r re t a in t o xic p a s t e , b u t t h a t wo u ld m a ke t ra n s p o rt e xt re m e ly h a za rd o u s . At g ra p p lin g ra n g e , e ve n a p o o r q u a lit y s t a r ca n b e g ra s p e d in t h e h a n d a n d ra ke d a cro s s e xp o s e d fle s h o r d rive n in t o b o n e , a lt h o u g h it wo u ld b e d ifficu lt t o s a fe ly g e t a s e cu re g rip o n s t a rs wit h m o re t h a n 4 p o in t s . Typ ica lly, t h ro win g s t a rs a re p o o r we a p o n s a n d a re ille g a l t o ca rry n e a rly e ve rywh e re . Ho llywo o d h a s va s t ly o ve r- ra t e d t h e ir e ffe ct ive n e s s . Th e y a re n o t re co m m e n d e d . GARROTTES : Ga rro t t e s a re t yp ica lly a le n g t h o f wire , ca b le , o r kn o t t e d co rd wit h a s m a ll g rip a t e it h e r e n d ( t yp ica lly a rin g , lo o p , o r p e g , t h o u g h fu ll- s ize d h a n d le s a re o cca s io n a lly s e e n ) . Th e y a re p rim a rily u s e d t o a s s a s s in a t e s o m e o n e fro m b e h in d via s t ra n g u la t io n ( a lt h o u g h a t h in p ie ce o f p ia n o o r t ra p p e r’s wire ca n cu t in t o t h e t h ro a t like a ch e e s e s lice r) . Th e y a re n o t co m m o n ly t h o u g h t o f a s a d e fe n s ive we a p o n , h o we ve r, t h e y ca n a ls o b e u s e d t o b lo ck, t ra p , a n d lo ck. In e a rlie r d a ys , t h e y we re fa vo re d b y s p ie s a n d p a rt is a n s t o s ile n t ly e lim in a t e s e n t rie s . . . t h e y a re u s u a lly cle a n e r t h a n a kn ife a n d a re m u ch m o re a cce s s ib le t h a n a cro s s b o w o r s ile n ce d fire a rm . Ga rro t t e s a re u s u a lly s im p ly d ro p p e d in o n e ’s p o cke t , b u t t h e y ca n b e co n ce a le d in wa is t b a n d s , p a n t le g s , s le e ve s , o r h o llo we d wa t ch e s . Wire s a ws , g u it a r s t rin g s , b o o t la ce s , t ie s , a n d t h in b e lt s ca n a ll b e u s e d like a g a rro t t e . Th e t h u g g e e s ca rf ( a t ra d it io n a l we a p o n o f o n e o f In d ia ’s la rg e s t s e ct s o f m u rd e ro u s h ig h wa ym e n ) wa s we ig h t e d s o it co u ld b e wh ip p e d a ro u n d t h e vict im ’s n e ck wit h o n e h a n d fo r t h e in it ia l s u rp ris e a t t a ck. Ga rro t t e s m a ke p o o r we a p o n s , u n le s s yo u a re t h e a g g re s s o r a t t a ckin g fro m a m b u s h . Th e re a re a b o u t a h a lf- d o ze n wa ys t o a t t a ck wit h t h e g a rro t t e , b u t t h e m o s t e fficie n t in vo lve s firs t s lip p in g t h e wire o ve r t h e t a rg e t ’s n e ck, t h e n in s t a n t ly t u rn in g a ro u n d ( lo o p in g a n d t ig h t e n in g t h e wire in t h e p ro ce s s ) s o yo u a re b a ck- t o b a ck wit h t h e t a rg e t , t h e n b e n d in g fo rwa rd s h a rp ly ( wh ich ya n ks h im o ff h is fe e t wit h m in im a l e ffo rt ) . . . if t h is is d o n e co rre ct ly, t h e re is n o d e fe n s e a g a in s t it . S t ra n g lin g s o m e o n e t o d e a t h is o n e o f t h e m o s t b ru t a l wa ys t o kill, a s it ca n t a ke we ll o ve r a m in u t e t o in d u ce u n co n s cio u s n e s s a n d t h e t e rrifie d vict im will b e s t ru g g lin g a s h a rd a s h e ca n . It is a d is g u s t in g we a p o n wh ich ro b s b o t h a ct o rs o f t h e ir d ig n it y. A g a rro t t e is t h e im p ro vis e d we a p o n o f la s t re s o rt . N UN CHAKU: Th e n u n ch a ku ( o ft e n re fe rre d t o a s "n u m ch u cks " o r "ch u kka s t icks ") t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a p a ir o f s h o rt ro d s co n n e ct e d b y a le n g t h o f co rd , ch a in , o r ca b le . Th e ro d s a re u s u a lly e it h e r 1 2 " o r 1 4 " in le n g t h a n d co n s t ru ct e d o f wo o d ( a lt h o u g h m e t a l, a crylic, a n d ru b b e rize d ro d s a re s o m e t im e s u s e d ) Th e y u s u a lly h a ve ro u n d s h a ft s , b u t ca n b e o ct a g o n a l o r s q u a re , wh ich is fa r m o re like ly t o ca u s e la ce ra t io n s d u e t o t h e co rn e rs . S o m e t im e s t h e s h a ft s a re s t u d d e d , wh ich a ls o in cre a s e s t h e ir in ju ry ca u s in g p o t e n t ia l. Nu n ch a ku a re a t ra d it io n a l m a rt ia l a rt s we a p o n a n d a re a va ila b le co m m e rcia lly fro m a va rie t y o f s o u rce s — t h e y a re a ls o in cre d ib ly e a s y t o m a ke in o n e ’s g a ra g e wo rks h o p . On e m o d e rn ve rs io n o f n u n ch a ku co n s is t s o f a lo n g b a t o n ( u s u a lly co n s t ru ct e d o f a lu m in u m )

wh ich ca n b e t wis t e d a ce rt a in wa y t o p u ll a p a rt in t o a s e t o f n u n ch a ku co n n e ct e d b y a s h o rt le n g t h o f ca b le . Th is we a p o n is m a rke t e d a s t h e "Hid e - a - Ch u ck, " b u t it is n e a rly im p o s s ib le t o co n ce a l u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n a n d is t o o u n wie ld y fo r q u ick flu id m o ve m e n t s . An o t h e r m o d e rn ize d ve rs io n co n s is t s o f a p a ir o f co lla p s ib le a lu m in u m ro d s ( s im ila r t o t h e t e le s co p ic b a t o n , b u t o f in fe rio r cra ft s m a n s h ip ) co n n e ct e d b y a ch a in . Th e we a p o n e xt e n d s wh e n s wu n g , b u t g e n e ra lly is n o t e q u ip p e d t o lo ck in t o p o s it io n . A b e lt s h e a t h is p ro vid e d fo r e a s e o f t ra n s p o rt . Bo t h o f t h e s e t ra ve s t ie s fa ll in t o t h e "n o ve lt y we a p o n " ca t e g o ry, a lt h o u g h s o m e ig n o ra n t p u n ks m a y ca rry t h e m a ro u n d in h o p e s o f im p re s s in g t h e ir frie n d s a n d in t im id a t in g t h e ir e n e m ie s . Als o wo rt h y o f m e n t io n is s o m e t h in g kn o wn a s a "m in i- ch u ck. " Th e s e a re b a s ica lly a va ria t io n o f t h e t ra d it io n a l n u n ch a ku ( a lt h o u g h t h e re is a ls o a "Hid e - a - Ch u ck" ve rs io n ) wit h s h o rt e r ro d s ( t yp ica lly 8 ") a n d a lo n g e r ch a in . Th e s e n a s t y we a p o n s a re d e s ig n e d p rim a rily fo r co n ce a lm e n t u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n . Th e y ca n n o t b e flip p e d a n d ro lle d like t ra d it io n a l n u n ch a ku , m a kin g t h e m u s e le s s fo r m a rt ia l a rt s fo rm s , b u t t h e y a re g o o d fo r b e a t in g s o m e o n e wit h . Th e ir s h o rt ra n g e m a ke s t h e m b e s t s u it e d fo r s a p p in g s o m e o n e fro m b e h in d . Th e y co u ld co n ce iva b ly b e u s e d fo r s e lf- d e fe n s e , b u t fa r b e t t e r o p t io n s e xis t . Th e n u n ch a ku wa s m a d e fa m o u s b y t h e Bru ce Le e m o vie s o f t h e 7 0 s , a n d im m e d ia t e ly b e ca m e p o p u la r wit h m a rt ia l a rt s s t u d e n t s a n d wa n n a b e s . Th e y ca n b e t wirle d in a n im p re s s ive d is p la y, a n d ca n e a s ily b e s wu n g a t s p e e d s e xce e d in g 1 0 0 m p h . Th e y a re d ifficu lt we a p o n s t o m a s t e r, h o we ve r, a n d m a n y n o vice s h a ve in ju re d t h e m s e lve s . Th e n u n ch a ku is b e s t u s e d s im p ly t o b e a t s o m e o n e wit h . Th e fle xib le ce n t e r m a ke s it fa r d e a d lie r t h a n a rig id s t ick, a n d e ve n a n a m a t e u r ca n b re a k b o n e s wit h o n e ( wit h m in im a l e ffo rt ) . Alt h o u g h s h e a t h s a re a va ila b le , t h e y a re t yp ica lly s t u ck in a b a ck p o cke t o r t u cke d in a b e lt . Th e y a re a fa vo rit e we a p o n o f g a n g m e m b e rs a n d s t re e t p u n ks , a n d a re o ft e n e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t . Alt h o u g h it m a y b e le g a l fo r yo u t o p o s s e s s a s e t o f n u n ch a ku ( a lt h o u g h s o m e s t a t e s re s t rict o wn e rs h ip t o ce rt ifie d m a rt ia l a rt s s t u d e n t s o r b a n t h e m a lt o g e t h e r) , ca rryin g t h e m co n ce a le d u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n is a crim e n e a rly e ve rywh e re . FI GHTI N G CHAI N S : Tru e fig h t in g ch a in s in clu d e t h e m a n rikiku s a ri ( s o m e t im e s s p e lle d m a n rikig u s a ri o r re fe rre d t o a s a "m a n riki") a n d t h e ku s a ri- fu n d o , a lt h o u g h m o re o b s cu re va ria t io n s e xis t . Typ ica lly, t h e y co n s is t o f a le n g t h o f ch a in ( u s u a lly a b o u t 2 fe e t in le n g t h ) wit h a m e t a l we ig h t a t e it h e r e n d . Th e we ig h t s o n t h e m a n rikiku s a ri a p p e a r t o b e cylin d rica l h a n d le s , wh ile t h o s e o n t h e ku s a rifu n d o a re m o re like m u lt i- fa ce t e d b a lls . Bo t h a re wid e ly a va ila b le fro m m a rt ia l a rt s s u p p lie rs , a n d a re u s u a lly e it h e r ch ro m e p la t e d o r b la cke n e d . In t h e h a n d s o f a s kille d p ra ct it io n e r, t h e fig h t in g ch a in ca n b e s wu n g s e ve ra l d iffe re n t wa ys a n d u s e d t o b lu d g e o n , s t ra n g le , b lo ck, o r b in d . In t h e h a n d s o f a s t re e t p u n k, it will b e u s e d p rim a rily t o b e a t s o m e o n e wit h . Th e m e t a l we ig h t s , s wu n g a t s p e e d , ca n e a s ily b re a k b o n e . All fle xib le we a p o n s re q u ire p ra ct ice t o b e u s e d e ffe ct ive ly, a n d it is e a s y t o in a d ve rt e n t ly in ju re o n e s e lf. On e s h o u ld n e ve r a t t e m p t t o e m u la t e t h e ch a ra ct e rs in a ct io n film s wh o wra p a le n g t h o f ch a in a ro u n d t h e ir h a n d t o s e rve a s a fo rm o f im p ro vis e d m e t a l kn u ckle s — s u ch fo o lis h n e s s is virt u a lly g u a ra n t e e d t o p u lve rize o n e ’s fin g e rb o n e s u p o n im p a ct ( u n like s o lid m e t a l kn u ckle s , ch a in lin ks a re m o va b le ) . S im ila r t o t h e fig h t in g ch a in is t h e s t e e l wh ip u s e d b y wu s h u p ra ct it io n e rs . It is a s e rie s o f m e t a l

ro d s co n n e ct e d b y lin ks wh ich ca n b e co n ce a le d u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n , b u t t h e we ig h t o f t h is we a p o n a n d t h e s kill re q u ire d t o u t ilize it e ffe ct ive ly m a ke it u n like ly t o b e e n co u n t e re d . A le n g t h o f t h in ch a in a ffixe d t o a s m a ll h a n d le ( a s s e e n in t h e m o vie Dra g o n ) is a n u n n a m e d ku n g - fu we a p o n p rim a rily u s e d t o wh ip wit h . It is n o t a va ila b le co m m e rcia lly, b u t co u ld b e e a s ily fa b rica t e d . S t re e t fig h t e rs s o m e t im e s ke e p a le n g t h o f h e a vy ch a in in a p o cke t , we a r it a s a d e co ra t ive b e lt , o r h a n g it fro m a ja cke t e p a u le t . Th is we a p o n is e s p e cia lly p o p u la r a m o n g s t p u n k ro cke rs a n d m e t a lh e a d s , a s it is e a s ily in co rp o ra t e d in t o t h e ir "co s t u m e s . " Fig h t in g ch a in s a re s e ld o m s p e cifica lly p ro h ib it e d b y la w, b u t wo u ld d e fin it e ly b e co n s id e re d "d a n g e ro u s in s t ru m e n t s " d u e t o t h e fa ct t h a t t h e y a re s p e cifica lly d e s ig n e d a s we a p o n s a n d h a ve n o le g it im a t e u t ilit a ria n u s e . Ho we ve r, a b icycle s e cu rit y ch a in wit h a t t a ch e d p a d lo ck is le g a l t o p o s s e s s ( p ro vid e d , o f co u rs e , yo u h a p p e n t o b e rid in g yo u r b icycle a t t h e t im e ) . CLAW S : S e ve ra l t yp e s o f cla w- t yp e we a p o n s a re kn o wn t o e xis t , t h o u g h t h e y a re s e ld o m s e e n o u t s id e o f b o o ks d e vo t e d t o e xo t ic we a p o n ry. Th e t wo m o s t wid e ly kn o wn cla ws a re t h e t e ka g i a n d t h e b a g h n a kh . Th e t e ka g i is b e t t e r kn o wn a s t h e "n in ja clim b in g cla w. " S e ve ra l d e s ig n s o f clim b in g cla w e xis t , b u t t h e o n ly o n e s o ld co m m e rcia lly h a s fo u r s h o rt cu rve d p o in t s t h a t p ro je ct fro m a s t e e l b a r cro s s in g t h e p a lm h o rizo n t a lly a n d h e ld in p la ce wit h a n a rra y o f n ylo n s t ra p s . Th e s e a re s o ld in p a irs , b u t t yp ica lly o n ly a s in g le cla w is s t o we d in o n e ’s p o cke t u n t il n e e d e d . Th e co m m e rcia l ve rs io n ca n m a im s o m e o n e , b u t t h e y a re ra t h e r ch in t zy a n d a re n ’t ve ry g o o d fo r clim b in g . Th e y a re m o re o f a d e t e rre n t t h a n a n a ct u a l o ffe n s ive we a p o n , a s t h e y ca n in flict p a in fu l la ce ra t io n s t h a t will re s u lt in ja g g e d s ca rs , b u t ca n n o t kill u n le s s t h e t h ro a t is t o rn o p e n . S o m e m is g u id e d p e o p le h a ve a lt e re d t h e m t o fit o ve r t h e ir kn u ckle s , b u t t h is o n ly re s u lt s is m a kin g t h e we a p o n le s s e ffe ct ive a n d p ro vid e s a m p le o p p o rt u n it y t o b re a k a fin g e r. Tra d it io n a l t e ka g i a re fa r m o re s u b s t a n t ia l a n d in co rp o ra t e a ve rt ica l b a r t h a t ca n b e u s e d t o b lo ck a s wo rd s t rike ( o n t h e co m m e rcia l ve rs io n , t h is b a r b e co m e s a n ylo n s t ra p ) . Th e b a g h n a kh wa s a fa vo rit e o f o n e o f t h e m a n y s e ct s o f b a n d it s in 1 9 t h ce n t u ry In d ia . Th e y co n s is t o f a n iro n b a r wit h a lo o p a t e it h e r e n d a n d cu rve d cla w- like p ro je ct io n s a lo n g t h e le n g t h . Th e b a r is g ra s p e d in t h e h a n d s o t h e cla ws e xt e n d b e t we e n t h e fin g e rs o f o n e ’s clo s e d fis t . Th e y a re d e s ig n e d t o rip o u t t h ro a t s a n d d is e m b o we l, m a kin g t h e b a n d it ’s t a rg e t a p p e a r t o h a ve b e e n a t t a cke d b y o n e o f t h e m a n y t ig e rs t h a t fre e ly ro a m e d t h e wild s o f In d ia in t h e p a s t . Ba g h n a kh a re n o t a va ila b le t h ro u g h co m m e rcia l ch a n n e ls , t h o u g h a n yo n e wit h b a s ic m e t a lwo rkin g s kills co u ld e a s ily fa s h io n a s e t . S im ila r we a p o n s h a ve b e e n fa b rica t e d b y d rivin g s e ve ra l n a ils t h ro u g h a wo o d e n fis t lo a d . A g u y n a m e d Axl o u t o f NYC p u t s o u t a lin e o f s u rre a l je we lry in cla wlike d e s ig n s . His "Pro t e ct o r" s e rie s o f s ilve r rin g s h a ve a cla wlike p ro je ct io n ru n n in g a lo n g t h e le n g t h o f o n e ’s fin g e r t h a t is e xp o s e d wh e n t h e h a n d is cle n ch e d in t o a fis t . Th e ir d o wn s id e is t h a t t h e y t e n d t o in co rp o ra t e p ro s t h e t ic e ye b a lls ( m a kin g t h e m ra t h e r g a u d y) a n d a re in t h e $ 5 0 0 p rice ra n g e — t h e y a re s a id t o b e p o p u la r a m o n g s t t h e b ike rs a n d m u s icia n s wh o ca n a ffo rd t h e m . A s im ila r s e rie s o f rin g s h a s a n e a g le s ku ll d e s ig n a n d is s m a lle r a n d m u ch m o re a ffo rd a b le ( b e in g m a s s

p ro d u ce d ra t h e r t h a n h a n d cra ft e d ) . He a ls o m a ke s s e t s o f cla wlike fin g e rt ip a t t a ch m e n t s . Va rio u s u n s cru p u lo u s in d ivid u a ls h a ve m a s s p ro d u ce d p o o r q u a lit y p e wt e r ca s t in g s s im ila r t o Mr Axl’s d e s ig n s , s o m e t im e s m a rke t e d a s "fin g e r a rm o r. " Un like s ilve r, p e wt e r ca n n o t b e s h a rp e n e d in t o a p ro p e r fle s h rip p in g im p le m e n t . BLI N D I N G P OW D ERS : Blin d in g co m p o u n d s t o s s e d , b lo wn , o r s p ra ye d in t o t h e fa ce o f a n e n e m y is a fa vo rit e t a ct ic o f p ra ct it io n e rs o f n in ju t s u a n d ka li. Th e s e ca n ra n g e fro m a n n o yin g d is t ra ct io n s , t o ca u s t ic s u b s t a n ce s ca p a b le o f in d u cin g p e rm a n e n t b lin d n e s s , t o t o xic s u b s t a n ce s ca p a b le o f in d u cin g a va rie t y o f p o s s ib le re a ct io n s ( p a ra lys is , s t u p o r, u n co n s cio u s n e s s , h a llu cin a t io n s , n a u s e a , b lis t e rin g , e ct . ) in clu d in g d e a t h . Me t h o d s o f d e live ry ca n in clu d e : e m p t yin g a h o llo w t u b e o f p o wd e r wit h a s we e p o f t h e a rm , e m p t yin g a n o p e n p o u ch wit h a s we e p o f t h e a rm , t o s s in g a p o wd e r- fille d e g g s h e ll a t t h e t a rg e t , b lo win g p o wd e r in t o t h e fa ce fro m a h o llo w t u b e , t o s s in g p o wd e r fro m a g lo ve d h a n d , d u m p in g p o wd e r fro m a b o ve , s p ra yin g p o wd e r fro m a n a e ro s o l ca n n is t e r, o r firin g a b la s t o f p o wd e r fro m s o m e fo rm o f in fe rn a l d e vice . In m o s t ca s e s , h o we ve r, ( e s p e cia lly wit h n o n - t o xic s u b s t a n ce s , like p e p p e r) t h e p o wd e r is s im p ly t o s s e d fro m a b a re h a n d . Co m m o n b lin d in g p o wd e rs ca n in clu d e a n y o f t h e fo llo win g , o r a co m b in a t io n t h e re o f: ca ye n n e p e p p e r, wa s a b i p o wd e r, b la ck p e p p e r, s a lt , a lu m , g lit t e r, iro n filin g s , s a wd u s t , g ra p h it e , a s h e s , s co u rin g p o wd e r, s a n d , g ra ve l, BBs , g ro u n d g la s s , o r d ra in cle a n e r; h o we ve r, e ve n n a s t ie r co m p o u n d s ( like LS D- 2 5 , p o wd e re d s u lfu ric a cid , d io xin , p lu t o n iu m d u s t , o r a n t h ra x s p o re s ) a re kn o wn t o h a ve b e e n u s e d in t h e p a s t ( a lt h o u g h s u ch h ig h ly t o xic s u b s t a n ce s wo u ld re q u ire s p e cia lize d co n t a in e rs a s we ll a s p ro t e ct ive clo t h in g t o b e u t ilize d s a fe ly) . Blin d in g p o wd e rs s h o u ld b e ke p t a s s im p le a n d a s frie n d ly a s p o s s ib le . A h a n d fu l o f a q u a riu m g ra ve l o r b a g g ie o f ca ye n n e p e p p e r ke p t in o n e ’s p o cke t is e ffe ct ive a s we ll a s le g a l. Te m p o ra ry b lin d n e s s wo rks ju s t a s we ll a s p e rm a n e n t b lin d n e s s if e s ca p e is yo u r p rim a ry g o a l, a n d t h e ris k o f ve n g e a n ce o r le g a l re p e rcu s s io n s is d ra s t ica lly re d u ce d . Be s id e s , it is p o s s ib le t h a t yo u m ig h t in a d ve rt e n t ly co n t a m in a t e yo u rs e lf a s we ll. S HOE W EAP ON S : S h o e we a p o n s a re we a p o n s h id d e n in , o r a t t a ch e d t o , o n e ’s s h o e o r b o o t . Mo s t co m m o n ly e n co u n t e re d is t h e s h iv s e cu re d in a s h e a t h s e wn t o t h e s h a ft ( in s id e o r o u t ) o f a t a ll b o o t . Ne xt wo u ld b e t h e fle xib le b la d e h id d e n u n d e r t h e in s o le o r t h e m in ia t u re kn ife ( lo ckb la d e o r "t h u m b d a g g e r") co n ce a le d in a h o llo we d o u t h e e l. S e ld o m s e e n is t h e s m a ll b la d e rive t e d t o t h e t o e a n d u s e d t o kick wit h . S h o rt s p ike s a re s o m e t im e s a ffixe d t o t h e t o e s o f s t e e l- t o e d b o o t s . S h a rp e n e d s p u rs ca n cu t wit h ce rt a in t yp e s o f kick, b u t g e n e ra lly a re n ’t ve ry e ffe ct ive . Me t a l cle a t s ca n in flict m u lt ip le p u n ct u re s t o t h o s e s t o m p e d u p o n . Ra re ly s e e n is t h e "h e e l g u n , " wh ich fire s a . 2 2 LR ca rt rid g e fro m a m u zzle in t h e fro n t o f t h e h e e l wh e n t h e b a ck o f t h e h e e l is s t ru ck a g a in s t a h a rd s u rfa ce , like a wa ll, flo o r, o r s id e wa lk. Th e m a jo rit y o f t h e s e we a p o n s a re lit t le m o re t h a n in e ffe ct ive n o ve lt y it e m s .

S t re e t Gu n s

Crim in a ls ca n o b t a in q u a lit y h a n d g u n s t h ro u g h b u rg la rizin g re s id e n ce s , b re a kin g in t o ve h icle s , o r p u rch a s in g t h e m a t e xo rb it a n t p rice s fro m b la ck m a rke t d e a le rs , b u t t h e y a re u s u a lly h ig h ly p rize d t re a s u re s ke p t h id d e n in a s e cu re lo ca t io n ra t h e r t h a n ca rrie d o n a d a ily b a s is ( a lt h o u g h e xce p t io n s e xis t a m o n g g a n g le a d e rs , e n fo rce rs , a n d d u m b a s s e s wh o d o n ’t kn o w a n y b e t t e r) . As a g e n e ra l ru le , g u n s ca rrie d re g u la rly b y s t re e t crim in a ls t e n d t o b e in e xp e n s ive a n d e a s ily d it ch e d . In m a n y ca s e s ( e s p e cia lly a m o n g s t kn o wle d g e a b le d ru g d e a le rs a n d g a n g b a n g e rs ) t h e g u n will n o t b e co n ce a le d u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n , b u t ra t h e r h id d e n in clo s e p ro xim it y t o wh e re t h e y lo it e r, g ivin g t h e m s o m e d e g re e o f "d e n ia b ilit y" in t h e e ve n t t h e y a re co n fro n t e d b y p o lice a n d s u b je ct e d t o a s e a rch . . HI D EOUT GUN S : Co m m o n ly d is m is s e d a s "wo rt h le s s " o r "m o u s e g u n s " b y s e lf- p ro cla im e d we a p o n s e xp e rt s , d e rrin g e rs , m icro - re vo lve rs , a n d t in y a u t o m a t ic p is t o ls a ll a re g o o d fo r s e lf d e fe n s e if le g a lly ca rrie d . Th e s e t in y fire a rm s ca n b e d ro p p e d in p o cke t s , s lip p e d in b o o t s , o r wo rn o n a la n ya rd a ro u n d t h e n e ck. Do u b le - a ct io n . 2 2 d e rrin g e rs ca n b e co n ce a le d wit h in , a n d fire d fro m , s p e cia lly d e s ig n e d b illfo ld s . De rrin g e rs a n d m icro - re vo lve rs ca n b e clip p e d in t o s p e cia l b e lt b u ckle s . Min ia t u re h a n d g u n s ca n b e h id d e n in s id e fa ke p a g e rs clip p e d t o o n e ’s b e lt o r wo rn in co n ce a lm e n t h o ls t e rs s e wn t o o n e ’s h a t lin in g o r jo cks t ra p . Th e y a re s o m e t im e s s lip p e d u n d e r a g a rt e r. Dro p p e d in a ja cke t p o cke t o r p u rs e co m p a rt m e n t b y it s e lf, it ca n re m a in "fo rg o t t e n " u n t il re q u ire d . Wit h t h e a id o f a co m p e t e n t ly d e s ig n e d co n ce a lm e n t rig ( a n kle , p o cke t , b e lly b a n d , o r "p o p - u p ") , t h e y b e co m e virt u a lly in vis ib le . Th e y a re d e s ig n e d fo r e ve ryd a y ca rry a n d e m e rg e n cy u s e . Th e y a re a n e ffe ct ive d e t e rre n t , e s p e cia lly wh e n fire d , a s t h e y a re ce rt a in t o ca u s e in ju ry — a n d p o s s ib ly d e a t h . Kn o win g t h a t e ve n a s m a ll g u n ca n in ju re o r kill a t a d is t a n ce , re g a rd le s s o f it s o wn e r’s s kill o r d e xt e rit y, crim in a ls t e n d t o b e fa r m o re re s p e ct fu l o f s u ch we a p o n s t h a n t h e y’d b e o f a s t ick o r b la d e . A t wit ch o f a fin g e r ca n s e n d a h o t m e t a l p ro je ct ile zip p in g t h ro u g h t h e a ir q u icke r t h a n a n y m a n ca n d o d g e , t e a rin g t h ro u g h fle s h a n d s p illin g b lo o d wit h o u t a n y e xe rt io n o f e ffo rt . A s t ick o r b la d e , h o we ve r, re q u ire s s kill, s p e e d , a n d s t re n g t h t o b e e ffe ct ive , a n d ca n b e b lo cke d , d o d g e d , o r t a ke n a wa y. Min ia t u re h a n d g u n s a re d e s ig n e d t o b e a cce s s ib le a n d d is cre e t . . . t h e y a re o ft e n in a ccu ra t e , lo w p o we re d , a n d u n co m fo rt a b le t o fire . Th e y ca n n o t b e co u n t e d o n t o im m e d ia t e ly s t o p a d e t e rm in e d a t t a cke r, b u t t h e y will in flict a wo u n d a n d ca u s e p a in if o n e ’s t a rg e t is h it . Th e y a re e xce lle n t fo r s t o p p in g p u rs u it . A "cu b " a u t o m a t ic firin g a n e m ic . 2 2 s h o rt s o r . 2 5 ACPs ca n b e fire d ra p id ly in t o a n a t t a cke r’s fa ce , o r a fu ll clip ca n b e e m p t ie d t o d e t e r p u rs u it — t h e m a lig n e d . 2 5 ACP is fa r s u p e rio r in t h is ca p a cit y t o a h a n d fu l o f t h ro win g s t a rs ! Fo r a g re a t e r a s s u ra n ce o f s t o p p in g p o we r, d e rrin g e rs ca n b e h a d in h ig h e r ca lib e rs . Ch e a p , s in g le - a ct io n , s t rike r- fire d "h a m m e rle s s " a u t o m a t ics ( like t h e Ra ve n . 2 5 ACP a n d Je n n in g s "J- 2 2 ") MUS T b e ca rrie d wit h a n e m p t y ch a m b e r fo r s a fe t y re a s o n s , wh ich ca n s ig n ifica n t ly re d u ce t h e ir im m e d ia t e u s e fu ln e s s . To ca rry s u ch a we a p o n wit h a ch a m b e re d

ro u n d — e ve n wit h t h e s a fe t y o n — is t h e e p it o m e o f s t u p id it y. Ma n y g a n g m e m b e rs h a ve a ccid e n t a lly wo u n d e d t h e m s e lve s wh ile d ra win g ch e a p a u t o m a t ics fro m a p o cke t . Wa lt h e r, S e e ca m p , Be re t t a , a n d Ive r- Jo h n s o n a ll o ffe r m in u s cu le d o u b le - a ct io n p is t o ls t h a t ca n s a fe ly b e ca rrie d wit h a ch a m b e re d ro u n d fo r im m e d ia t e u s e . Pro vid e d yo u a re le g a lly p e rm it t e d t o h a ve a co n ce a le d h a n d g u n o n yo u r p e rs o n ( a lt h o u g h t h e 2 n d Am e n d m e n t g u a ra n t e e s t h is rig h t , m a n y ju ris d ict io n s h a ve m a d e it a crim e fo r la w- a b id in g cit ize n s t o d o s o ) , t h is s h o u ld b e yo u r h id d e n we a p o n o f ch o ice . S AW ED - OFF RI FLES & S HOTGUN S : S a we d - o ff lo n g a rm s h a ve a lwa ys b e e n p o p u la r wit h crim in a ls — e s p e cia lly ju ve n ile d e lin q u e n t s . Lo n g a rm s a re fa r m o re e a s ily a cq u ire d t h a n h a n d g u n s , a n d a h a lf- h o u r wit h a h a cks a w ca n t u rn o n e in t o a co n ce a la b le we a p o n . Mo s t s a we d - o ff rifle s a n d s h o t g u n s , h o we ve r, a re s o h e a vy a n d b u lky t h a t t h e y ca n n o t b e co n ce a le d u n d e r a n yt h in g le s s t h a n a h e a vily in s u la t e d a rct ic p a rka . Th e s e we a p o n s a re m o s t o ft e n ca rrie d in g ym b a g s a n d b a ckp a cks o r s im p ly t o s s e d in o n e ’s ca r. Am o n g s t s t re e t crim in a ls , t h e t wo m o s t co m m o n ly e n co u n t e re d s a we d - o ff lo n g a rm s a re t h e b re a k- a ct io n s in g le - b a rre l s h o t g u n ( u s u a lly in e it h e r 1 2 o r 2 0 g a u g e ) a n d t h e b o lt - a ct io n . 2 2 rifle . Th e b re a k- a ct io n s in g le - b a rre l s h o t g u n is s e ld o m cu t d o wn t o le s s t h a n a fo o t in o ve ra ll le n g t h , m a kin g it n e a rly im p o s s ib le t o co n ce a l u p o n o n e ’s p e rs o n . In t h is co n fig u ra t io n , it is o ft e n re fe rre d t o a s a "s a we d - o ff" o r "b o o - ya h . " "Hillb illy d u e lin g p is t o ls " kick like a m u le ! Eve n t h e re la t ive ly lo w- p o we re d 2 0 g a u g e ca rt rid g e will re co il a b o u t t wice a s h a rd a s a . 4 4 m a g n u m wh e n fire d fro m s u ch a we a p o n . Th e s a we d - o ff s h o t g u n m u s t b e fire d wit h b o t h h a n d s — id e a lly, wit h t h e b ra cin g h a n d o n t o p o f t h e b a rre l t o fu rt h e r a b s o rb t h e re co il. If a p e rs o n we re t o fire s u ch a we a p o n o n e - h a n d e d , a n d wa s u n p re p a re d fo r t h e vio le n t re co il, t h e y co u ld e a s ily fra ct u re t h e ir t rig g e r fin g e r o r h it t h e m s e lve s o ve r t h e h e a d wit h t h e b a rre l. Wh ile it is p o s s ib le t o fire s u ch a we a p o n o n e - h a n d e d , it m o s t ce rt a in ly is n o t re co m m e n d e d . Th e s t ro n g re co il m a ke s it d ifficu lt t o re lo a d t h is we a p o n q u ickly, s o a g u n m a n ca n e a s ily b e ru s h e d a n d d is a rm e d a ft e r firin g h is firs t s h o t . If t h e s h o t g u n h a s a n e xp o s e d h a m m e r ( a s m o s t o f t h e m d o ) it ca n b e p re ve n t e d fro m firin g b y fo rcin g o n e ’s h a n d b e t we e n t h e h a m m e r a n d firin g p in ( o f co u rs e , t h is s h o u ld n e ve r b e a t t e m p t e d u n le s s yo u fe e l yo u a re a b o u t t o b e e xe cu t e d a n d h a ve n o t h in g t o lo s e ) . Th e s a we d - o ff s h o t g u n , e ve n wh e n lo a d e d wit h b ird s h o t ( a s t h e m a jo rit y o f t h e m a re ) ca n in flict h o rre n d o u s wo u n d s a t p o in t b la n k ra n g e , n e a rly t u rn in g a m a n in s id e - o u t . At 5 fe e t a wa y, it ca n p e p p e r a t a rg e t wit h a n in cre d ib ly wid e s h o t s p re a d . At 1 0 fe e t a wa y, h o we ve r, yo u ’d b e lu cky t o p la ce a h a lf- d o ze n p e lle t s o n t a rg e t , a n d a t 1 5 fe e t a wa y, yo u r t a rg e t will m o s t like ly b e u n s ca t h e d . Th is is a lo u s y we a p o n b e s t s u it e d fo r s h o o t in g s o m e o n e in t h e b a ck. Lo a d e d wit h b u cks h o t , t h is we a p o n ca n lit e ra lly fill a h a llwa y wit h a clo u d o f le a d ( a lt h o u g h it is u n like ly t h a t yo u ’ll h it a vit a l a re a ) , s o b o d y a rm o r a n d b a llis t ic s h ie ld s wo u ld d e fin it e ly b e in o rd e r. Be a wa re t h a t s a we d - o ff s h o t g u n s ( a s we ll a s im p ro vis e d ra t - t ra p - fire d s h o t g u n s ) a re

o ft e n e m p lo ye d a s "s e t g u n t ra p s , " wh ich will fire a t a n yo n e u n fo rt u n a t e t o o p e n a d o o r s o rig g e d ( u s e a m irro r t o ch e ck fo r t rip wire s ) . Th e b o lt - a ct io n . 2 2 rifle will a ls o b e a s in g le - s h o t we a p o n u n le s s it is e q u ip p e d wit h a n o p e ra t io n a l m a g a zin e ( a n u n d e rb a rre l t u b u la r m a g a zin e will n o lo n g e r b e fu n ct io n a l) . If it h a s a n o p e ra t io n a l m a g a zin e , t h e we a p o n ca n q u ickly b e re lo a d e d s im p ly b y wo rkin g t h e b o lt . Th e cu t - d o wn . 2 2 h a s lig h t re co il a n d is m a rg in a lly m o re a ccu ra t e t h a n t h e s a we d - o ff s h o t g u n , b u t it h a s m in im a l s t o p p in g p o we r. Min im a l s t o p p in g p o we r co m b in e d wit h s in g le - s h o t ca p a cit y m a ke t h is p is s - p o o r we a p o n a m o u n t t o lit t le m o re t h a n a re lo a d a b le zip g u n . S o m e t im e s e n co u n t e re d a m o n g g a n g m e m b e rs is t h e cu t - d o wn Ru g e r 1 0 / 2 2 wit h d e t a ch a b le b a n a n a clip . Alt h o u g h lo w- p o we re d a n d in a ccu ra t e ( d u e t o t h e a lt e re d b a rre l) , t h e m a g a zin e ca p a cit y o f 2 5 , 3 0 , o r e ve n 5 0 ro u n d s m a ke s it a fo rce t o b e re cko n e d wit h — e s p e cia lly if t h e s h o o t e r h a s e xt ra m a g a zin e s . Th is e xt re m e ly n a s t y we a p o n is s im ila r in m a n y wa ys t o t h e fa r m o re p o we rfu l TEC- 9 a n d MAC- 1 0 — in a ccu ra t e "b u lle t h o s e s " fa vo re d b y m o re a fflu e n t crim in a ls . Cu t t in g d o wn a n y rifle o r s h o t g u n b e lo w le g a l le n g t h is a m a jo r fe lo n y u n d e r b o t h s t a t e a n d fe d e ra l la w. If yo u a re fo u n d in p o s s e s s io n o f ( o r e ve n in clo s e p ro xim it y t o ) s u ch a we a p o n , yo u ca n re a s o n a b ly e xp e ct t o g o t o p ris o n . P EN GUN S , ZI P GUN S , & S I MI LAR D EVI CES : Pe n g u n s a re ju s t wh a t t h e y s o u n d like : g u n s d e s ig n e d t o lo o k like a p e n . S o m e a ct u a lly d o re s e m b le a p e n a t firs t g la n ce , b u t m o s t lo o k m o re like a m a rke r- s ize d m e t a l t u b e wit h a p o cke t clip a t t a ch e d . Th e ir p rim a ry s t re n g t h is co n ce a la b ilit y. Th e re a re o ve r a d o ze n t yp e s o f p e n g u n . Th e m a jo rit y fire a s in g le . 2 2 LR ca rt rid g e . Mo s t a re e it h e r u n s a fe o r re q u ire s e ve ra l s t e p s t o a rm . I h a ve s e e n o n e t h a t fo ld s a n d clicks in t o a p is t o l- like co n fig u ra t io n p rio r t o u s e Th e y a re m o re s u it e d fo r a s s a s s in a t io n a n d cla n d e s t in e s e rvice t h a n s e lf d e fe n s e . A s im ila r we a p o n , t h e "S t in g e r, " is s im ila rly fla we d . It co m e s in s e ve ra l ve rs io n s , b u t is t yp ica lly a s h o rt cylin d rica l d e vice wit h a h o le in o n e e n d t o s e rve a s a m u zzle . It u s u a lly fire s a . 2 2 LR ca rt rid g e , a n d o ft e n h a s a ro u n d e d e n d fo r ( a h e m ) m a xim u m co n ce a lm e n t p o s s ib ilit ie s . An o ve rs ize d ve rs io n , lo o kin g m u ch like a t u b e s t ickin g o u t o f a b icycle h a n d g rip , fire s a . 4 1 0 s h o t s h e ll. Pe n g u n s a n d S t in g e rs a re s e ld o m s e e n a n ym o re d u e t o s t rict fe d e ra l la ws co n ce rn in g "d is g u is e d fire a rm s . " At o n e t im e "Pe n g u in , " a n d o t h e r co m p a n ie s , o ffe re d a m e t a l p e n g u n d e vice t h a t fire d t e a rg a s ca rt rid g e s t h a t s cre we d in t o o n e e n d . A b o re d - o u t b o lt wit h id e n t ica l t h re a d s co u ld b e u s e d t o fire a . 2 5 ACP ro u n d , b u t I d o n ’t kn o w wh y a n yo n e wo u ld wa n t t o b o t h e r a s t h e re s u lt in g we a p o n wo u ld b e p a t h e t ica lly we a k, h ig h ly ille g a l, a n d o n ly a ccu ra t e e n o u g h fo r a co n t a ct s h o t . S t ill a va ila b le a re "p e n - fla re " d e vice s , u s u a lly m a d e o f p la s t ic, wh ich fire a t in y lu m in o u s s ig n a l fla re . A p e n - fla re will d e fin it e ly s t a rt le s o m e o n e a n d ca n b u rn d e e p in t o s o ft t is s u e , b u t is in a ccu ra t e a n d g e n e ra lly in e ffe ct ive fo r in flict in g s e rio u s in ju ry. Ille g a l h o m e m a d e "zip - g u n s " a re o ft e n d e s ig n e d in a s im ila r fa s h io n . Th e y t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a s h o rt t u b e ( cu t - d o wn rifle b a rre l, s t e e l p ip e , o r e ve n t h e a lu m in u m t u b in g fro m a ra d io a n t e n n a e ) wit h a firin g m e ch a n is m a t o n e e n d . Th e s e cru d e m e ch a n is m s t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a p lu n g e r t h a t is e it h e r s la p p e d wit h t h e p a lm o f t h e h a n d o r p u lle d b a ck a n d re le a s e d ( s n a p p in g b a ck b y m e a n s o f a co il s p rin g o r e la s t ic b a n d ) . S o m e t im e s t h e y a re s e cu re ly t a p e d t o a p ie ce

o f wo o d ca rve d in t o a p is t o l g rip s h a p e . Zip g u n s co n s t ru ct e d b y p ris o n e rs t yp ica lly co n s is t o f a m e t a l t u b e , a . 2 2 LR ca rt rid g e , a n d a ro ck. Ne e d le s s t o s a y, cru d e ly co n s t ru ct e d fire a rm s m a d e fro m in fe rio r m a t e ria ls a re o ft e n m o re d a n g e ro u s t o t h e u s e r t h a n t h e t a rg e t , d u e t o t h e ir t e n d e n cy t o e xp lo d e . Th e "b la s t ro d " ( fo r wa n t o f a b e t t e r n a m e ) is s im ila r t o t h e "t ro m b o n e - s t yle " s h o t g u n s fa b rica t e d b y g u e rrilla fig h t e rs . Th is cru d e d e vice is m a d e o f t wo p ip e s t h a t s lid e t o g e t h e r, o n e fo rm in g t h e b a rre l a n d t h e o t h e r h a vin g a fixe d firin g - p in a t t h e b a s e — t h e we a p o n is fire d b y s la m m in g t h e t wo p ie ce s t o g e t h e r. Th e b la s t ro d is b a s ica lly a d ra s t ica lly s h o rt e n e d ( ya wa ra t o b a t o n - s ize d ) t ro m b o n e s h o t g u n t h a t is t yp ica lly h e ld in o n e h a n d a n d ja b b e d fo rce fu lly in t o t h e t a rg e t , firin g u p o n im p a ct . Th e t wo p ie ce s ca n b e h e ld t o g e t h e r wit h a ru d im e n t a ry g a s ke t . "Kn u ckle g u n s " h a ve b e e n fa b rica t e d fro m s m a ll p ip e fit t in g s a n d wo rk o n a s im ila r p rin cip a l. Th e m u zzle e xt e n d s b e t we e n t h e fin g e rs o f o n e ’s clo s e d fis t , a n d t h e we a p o n fire s ( t yp ica lly a . 2 2 LR o r . 3 2 ACP ca rt rid g e ) u p o n im p a ct . S im ila r t o b o t h t h e S t in g e r a n d t h e zip - g u n a re t h e fla t m u lt i- b a rre le d fire a rm s s o m e t im e s o ffe re d fo r s a le in Me xica n b o rd e r t o wn s . Th e s e d e vice s ca n fire s e ve ra l . 2 2 m a g n u m ro u n d s in d ivid u a lly o r n e a rly s im u lt a n e o u s ly ( b y rip p lin g t h e a ct u a t o r b u t t o n s ) b y m e a n s o f m u lt ip le co il- s p rin g firin g m e ch a n is m s . Th e d e vice a p p e a rs t o b e a fla t m e t a l b o x wit h a ro w o f h o le s d rille d in o n e e n d co rre s p o n d in g t o t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f g u id e - s lo t s a n d a ct u a t o r b u t t o n s a lo n g o n e s id e . It is t yp ica lly ca rrie d d e co cke d , a s t h e re is n o s a fe t y m e ch a n is m a n d t h e d e vice co u ld e a s ily b e fire d in a d ve rt e n t ly wh ile in o n e ’s p o cke t . Th e d e vice t yp ica lly s win g s o p e n o n a h in g e t o re lo a d . An o t h e r ve rs io n o f t h is d e vice u t ilize s a p a ir ( o r t rio ) o f s t u b b y b a rre ls wh ich m u s t b e u n s cre we d fro m t h e re ce ive r t o re lo a d . Th e s e d e vice s h a ve b e e n m a n u fa ct u re d o ve rs e a s a s we ll a s d o m e s t ica lly, b u t a re e xclu s ive ly a b la ck m a rke t it e m . Th e s e d e s ig n s h a ve a ls o b e e n in co rp o ra t e d in t o b e lt b u ckle s , wh ich ca n fire ro u n d s s id e wa ys fro m t h e we a re r ( a lt h o u g h t h is va ria t io n is ra re ) . Dis t a n t ly re la t e d t o t h e p e n g u n is t h e "b lo wp e n " m a rke t e d b y AS P. Th is d e vice , s o ld p rim a rily a s a n o ve lt y it e m , a p p e a rs t o b e a t h ick fo u n t a in p e n wit h a t u b e ru n n in g t h ro u g h it s le n g t h , fro m wh ich ca n b e fire d m in ia t u re b lo wg u n d a rt s . Accu ra cy a n d ve lo cit y a re lim it e d , wh ich re s t rict s o n e t o p o in t b la n k ra n g e . Th e t in y d a rt s a re in ca p a b le o f ca u s in g in ju ry u n le s s fire d d ire ct ly in t o t h e e ye ; h o we ve r, if t h e d a rt s we re t o b e t re a t e d wit h a p o t e n t n e u ro t o xin , t h e b lo wp e n t o y co u ld b e t ra n s fo rm e d in t o a p a s s a b le ( t h o u g h im p ro b a b le ) a s s a s s in a t io n d e vice . A s im ila r d e vice co u ld b e fa b rica t e d fro m a n y s h o rt le n g t h o f n a rro w t u b in g , in clu d in g a d rin kin g s t ra w. On e o b s cu re we a p o n is t h e "p o is o n e d d a rt g u n p e n , " wh ich wa s m a d e in s e ve ra l ve rs io n s ( t yp ica lly u s in g a co m p re s s e d g a s ca rt rid g e fo r p ro p u ls io n ) a n d is s u e d t o S o vie t in t e llig e n ce o ffice rs . Ve ry fe w a re in t h e h a n d s o f co lle ct o rs , a n d n o a t t e m p t h a s b e e n m a d e t o m a rke t re p ro d u ct io n s co m m e rcia lly. Pe n g u n - like firin g m e ch a n is m s h a ve b e e n d is g u is e d wit h in : lip s t ick t u b e s , p a g e rs , Zip p o lig h t e rs , b e lt b u ckle s , t ire p re s s u re g a u g e s , p e n lig h t s , m o t o rcycle h a n d g rip s , la rg e b o lt s , t o b a cco p ip e s , ca m e ra s , a n d ca n e s . "Tro m b o n e - s t yle " firin g d e vice s h a ve b e e n co n ce a le d wit h in o r d is g u is e d a s : lu g wre n ch e s , s o cke t wre n ch e s , m o t o rcycle s h o ck a b s o rb e rs , a n d h ig h wa y fla re s . Th e s e we a p o n s a re t yp ica lly in d ivid u a l p ro t o t yp e s cru d e ly fa s h io n e d a t a g a ra g e wo rkb e n ch , a lt h o u g h t h e ra re e xce p t io n m a y e xis t . Alt h o u g h m o s t o f t h e s e we a p o n s h a ve t h e s t a t e d p u rp o s e o f "s e lf- d e fe n s e , " t h e y a re u t t e rly wo rt h le s s in t h is ca p a cit y. Th e ir p rim a ry fu n ct io n is t o fru s t ra t e cu rs o ry s e a rch e s fo r we a p o n s a n d co n t ra b a n d a t o fficia l ch e ckp o in t s . Th e y a re b e s t s u it e d fo r in t e llig e n ce o ffice rs , t e rro ris t s , a n d a s s a s s in s ( a lt h o u g h t h e y a re

p o p u la r wit h g a n g m e m b e rs a n d p ro fe s s io n a l crim in a ls a s we ll) . Th e y a re p ro h ib it e d n e a rly e ve rywh e re . BAN G S TI CK: Th e b a n g s t ick ( s o m e t im e s re fe rre d t o a s a "s h a rk s t ick") is a d e vice m a rke t e d t o s cu b a d ive rs t o d e fe n d a g a in s t s h a rk a t t a ck. Th e re a re s e ve ra l d e s ig n s m a rke t e d u n d e r d iffe re n t n a m e s . S o m e u s e a CO2 ca rt rid g e t o p ro p e l a p is t o n - like s p e a rh e a d o u t t h e t ip , b u t t h e o n e s we ’ll d is cu s s h e re co n s is t o f a cylin d e r a t t h e e n d o f a ro d wh ich fire s a ca rt rid g e ( 5 . 5 6 m m o r 1 2 g a u g e s h o t s h e ll) in t o a s h a rk’s b o d y u p o n im p a ct . Th e ro d s co m e in va ryin g le n g t h s , fro m s p e a r- s ize d t o ju s t o ve r a fo o t in le n g t h . Th e s h o rt e r o n e s co u ld b e co n ce a le d u n d e r a h e a vy co a t q u it e e a s ily, a n d t h e y h a ve a s a fe t y m e ch a n is m a s we ll. Th e s e we ll- d e s ig n e d t o o ls a re re lia b le a n d s a fe t o u s e , u n like t h e t ro m b o n e - s t yle s h o t g u n s re fe rre d t o a b o ve . Th e y a re le g a l t o p u rch a s e a n d o wn , p ro vid e d t h e y a re u s e d fo r t h e ir in t e n d e d p u rp o s e ( it wo u ld b e h ig h ly ille g a l t o h a ve a lo a d e d b a n g s t ick co n ce a le d o n o n e ’s p e rs o n wh ile wa lkin g d o wn t o wn , h o we ve r) . Aft e r firin g it s s in g le ro u n d , t h e b a n g s t ick is s u b s t a n t ia l e n o u g h t o u s e a s a b lu d g e o n . Ho m e m a d e ve rs io n s o f t h is we a p o n h a ve o cca s io n a lly b e e n e n co u n t e re d .

P a ra m ilit a ry W e a p o n s Milit a ry- s t yle we a p o n s a re p o p u la r a m o n g s t m e m b e rs o f e xt re m is t m ilit a n t g ro u p s ( u s u a lly wit h a we ll- d e fin e d , t h o u g h u n re a lis t ic, p o lit ica l, re lig io u s , o r ra cia l a g e n d a ) . S u ch g ro u p s a re o ft e n m o n it o re d b y t h e FBI fo r s u s p icio n o f a d vo ca t in g t e rro ris t a ct s . Th e s e we a p o n s a re a ls o h ig h ly p rize d b y "a rm ch a ir co m m a n d o s " wh o fa ls e ly cla im p rio r a t t a ch m e n t t o e lit e m ilit a ry u n it s a n d re q u ire p h ys ica l "p ro o f" ( o ft e n in t h e fo rm o f m a il o rd e r in s ig n ia , m e d a ls , a n d b e re t s ) t o a d d cre d ib ilit y t o t h e ir lie s . Th e s e we a p o n s a re s e ld o m ca rrie d o n t h e s t re e t , u n le s s t h e crim in a l in t e n d s t o p u t t h e m t o u s e in t h e im m e d ia t e fu t u re , h o we ve r, t h e y a re o ft e n e n co u n t e re d in re s id e n ce s a n d clu b h o u s e s . Ba t t le , a s s a u lt , s n ip e r, a n d a n t i- m a t e ria l rifle s h a ve n o t b e e n in clu d e d , n o r h a ve t h e va rio u s "h e a vy we a p o n s . " TREN CH KN I VES : Tre n ch kn ive s we re p o p u la r d u rin g WWI, a n d re p ro d u ct io n s ( o f va ryin g q u a lit y a n d s t yle ) a re a va ila b le a t g u n s h o ws a s we ll a s t h ro u g h n u m e ro u s m a il- o rd e r s o u rce s . Typ ica lly, t h e y co m b in e a kn u ckle b o w o r s e t o f b ra s s kn u ckle s wit h a la rg e fixe d b la d e ( u s u a lly e it h e r d a g g e r o r b o wie s t yle ) . Oft e n , t h e kn u ckle p ro t e ct io n is e q u ip p e d wit h lu g s o r s p ike s t o m a xim ize t h e p o t e n t ia l d a m a g e fro m a p u n ch . Th e p o m m e l is u s u a lly s e t wit h s o m e s o rt o f p ro je ct io n t o a u g m e n t cru s h in g s t rike s t o t h e s ku ll. Th e kn u ckle p ro t e ct io n in h ib it s o n e ’s a b ilit y t o s h ift o n e ’s g rip u p o n t h e kn ife , wh ich ca n b e a

lia b ilit y in co m b a t . Th e y a re b e s t s u it e d fo r u n s kille d fig h t e rs wh o wa n t t o b e a b le t o in flict in ju rie s s im p ly b y fla ilin g a wa y b lin d ly. Du e t o t h e fa ct t h a t m e t a l kn u ckle s a re in co rp o ra t e d in t o t h e d e s ig n , t h e y a re ille g a l t o p o s s e s s n e a rly e ve rywh e re ( a lt h o u g h t h e y a re o ft e n fo u n d s t u ck in a t a b le o r h a n g in g o n a wa ll) . BAYON ETS : Ba yo n e t s we re o rig in a lly in t e n d e d t o b e a ffixe d t o t h e e n d o f a rifle b a rre l, b u t a re o ft e n u s e d fo r h a n d - t o - h a n d co m b a t a s we ll a s fo r u t ilit a ria n p u rp o s e s . Th e y co m e in a wid e va rie t y o f s ize s a n d s h a p e s , wit h ve rs io n s fro m WWI re s e m b lin g s h o rt s wo rd s , a n d m o d e rn o n e s b e in g m o re s im ila r t o t h e US MC Ka - Ba r co m b a t kn ife . "S p ike " b a yo n e t s ( wh ich a re a t t a ch e d t o a h in g e u n d e r t h e b a rre l o r in s e rt e d d ire ct ly in t o t h e m u zzle ) will n o t b e d is cu s s e d h e re . Ba yo n e t s u s u a lly h a ve a s in g le e d g e ( wh ich is o ft e n d ifficu lt t o s h a rp e n ) a n d t e n d t o b e e xt re m e ly d u ra b le . Ma n y h a ve u n d e rs ize d g rip s o r m o u n t in g h a rd wa re wh ich m a ke s t h e m u n co m fo rt a b le t o h o ld in o n e ’s h a n d . Be in g h e a vy, a wkwa rd , a n d ( u s u a lly) d u ll, t h e y t e n d t o m a ke lo u s y we a p o n s . On e wo u ld p ro b a b ly b e b e t t e r s e rve d b y a q u a lit y b u t ch e r kn ife . P I LUM BALLI S TI C KN I FE: Th e p ilu m b a llis t ic kn ife ( a ls o kn o wn a s a "s p rin g b la d e , " "Flo rid a kn ife , " o r "flyin g Du t ch m a n ") wa s o rig in a lly d e s ig n e d a s a s p rin g p ro p e lle d b a yo n e t in t e n d e d fo r lim it e d is s u e t o S PETs NAZ ( S o vie t s p e cia l fo rce s ) p e rs o n n e l. Aft e r a fe w e xa m p le s we re b ro u g h t h o m e a s wa r t ro p h ie s , t h e "Flo rid a Kn ife Co m p a n y" m a n u fa ct u re d t h o u s a n d s o f re p ro d u ct io n s , wh ich we re p rim a rily s o ld m a il- o rd e r t h ro u g h p u b lica t io n s like S o ld e r o f Fo rt u n e . S h o rt ly t h e re a ft e r, co n g re s s b a n n e d it , b u t a "b a llis t ic m a ce " a n d "b a llis t ic g ra p p lin g h o o k" a re s t ill a va ila b le . Th e "b a llis t ic kn ife " ca n s t ill b e le g a lly p u rch a s e d , p ro vid e d t h e co il s p rin g is n o t in clu d e d . Th is we a p o n lo o ks like a s h o rt m e t a l b a t o n , wh ich is p u lle d a p a rt t o re ve a l a s m a ll d irk b la d e . It ca n b e u s e d n o rm a lly, o r a s m a ll le ve r o n t h e h ilt ca n b e p re s s e d , firin g t h e b la d e in t o a t a rg e t u p t o t we n t y fe e t a wa y wit h p a s s a b le a ccu ra cy. Th e b la d e is fire d via a p o we rfu l co m p re s s e d co il s p rin g , p ro p e llin g it m u ch h a rd e r t h a n a m a n ca n t h ro w a kn ife . A s t a b ilize r t u b e m a ke s it fly s t ra ig h t a n d t ru e . It will s in k u p t o t h e h ilt in m e a t , a n d will s t ick in b o n e . It h a s n o s a fe t y, wh ich is n o t g o o d , a s t h e s p rin g is ve ry s t ro n g . Th e b a t o n - like s h e a t h is t h e o n ly s a fe t y m e ch a n is m , p re ve n t in g it fro m p ie rcin g o n e ’s le g in t h e e ve n t o f a n a ccid e n t a l d is ch a rg e . Th e p ilu m is ille g a l in a ll 5 0 s t a t e s . GREN AD ES : Ha n d g re n a d e s ( a s o p p o s e d t o rifle g re n a d e s o r g re n a d e ca rt rid g e s ) a re s m a ll b o m b s m e a n t t o b e t o s s e d a t o n e ’s e n e m y. Th e re a re m a n y fo rm s o f g re n a d e , b u t t h e o n e s we ’ll d is cu s s h e re a re : fra g m e n t a t io n , g a s , s t u n , a n d s m o ke . Milit a ry fra g m e n t a t io n g re n a d e s t e n d t o b e h e a vy, b u lky, a n d d ifficu lt t o co n ce a l, b u t t h e y a re a fa vo rit e we a p o n o f t e rro ris t s . A m o d e rn fra g m e n t a t io n g re n a d e is p o we rfu l e n o u g h t o flip a s m a ll ca r o ve r, wh e re a s o ld e r ve rs io n s we re s ig n ifica n t ly we a ke r. Gre n a d e s a re m o s t e ffe ct ive ve rs u s s t a n d in g t a rg e t s wit h in a n e n clo s e d a re a . Ag a in s t p ro n e t a rg e t s o u t d o o rs , t h e y a re

m o s t ly in e ffe ct ive . Mo d e rn g re n a d e s ca n re a s o n a b ly b e e xp e ct e d t o kill e ve ryt h in g wit h in a 1 0 fo o t ra d iu s a n d in ju re a n yo n e wit h in 3 0 fe e t . Th e o ld "p in e a p p le " g re n a d e s , a s we ll a s m o s t h o m e m a d e p ip e b o m b s , a re fa r le s s e ffe ct ive , u s u a lly b lo win g in t o a b o u t a d o ze n la rg e fra g m e n t s t ra ve lin g a t a b o u t 8 0 0 fe e t p e r s e co n d a s o p p o s e d t o h u n d re d s o f s t e e l s live rs t ra ve lin g a t we ll o ve r 1 0 , 0 0 0 fe e t p e r s e co n d . Th e Du t ch "V- 4 0 " wa s a g o lfb a ll s ize d "m in i- g re n a d e " is s u e d in b u lk t o S OG u n it s d u rin g t h e Vie t n a m wa r, b u t t h e y a re s e ld o m s e e n a n ym o re . Wh ile t h e y co u ld p o t e n t ia lly kill o n e ’s e n e m y, t h e y we re m o re t yp ica lly u s e d t o d e t e r p u rs u it . Th e y co u ld n o t in flict t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f ca s u a lt ie s a s a la rg e r g re n a d e , b u t yo u co u ld t h ro w t h e m m u ch fu rt h e r a n d co u ld s t o re h a lf a d o ze n in a s in g le p o cke t . A p ip e b o m b s im ila r t o t h e m in i- g re n a d e co u ld b e m a d e fro m a 1 " X 1 " p ie ce o f g a lva n ize d s t e e l p ip e wit h t wo e n d ca p s , fille d wit h s m o ke le s s p o wd e r a n d fit t e d wit h a s h o rt le n g t h o f t im e fu s e ( b u t t h a t wo u ld b e a fe lo n y a t b o t h t h e s t a t e a n d fe d e ra l le ve l) . An in fe rio r ve rs io n o f t h is d e vice is co n s t ru ct e d o f a s p e n t CO2 ca rt rid g e fille d wit h m a t ch h e a d s h a vin g s ( a n d p lu g g e d wit h a p ie ce o f fire cra cke r fu s e t a p e d in t o p la ce ) , a n d is o ft e n fo u n d in t h e h a n d s o f t e e n a g e d h o o lig a n s . Ga s g re n a d e s a re u s u a lly e it h e r in ca n n is t e r o r b a ll fo rm . Th e y ca n b e e it h e r b u rs t in g o r a e ro s o l fo g g e r t yp e . Typ ica lly, t h e y a re t e a r g a s ( CN, CS , o r OC) , b u t o t h e r g a s e s e xis t a s we ll. Na u s e a g a s a n d m ild n e rve g a s e s ( re s u lt in g in t e m p o ra ry d is o rie n t a t io n , h a llu cin a t io n s , o r p a ra lys is ) h a ve b e e n lo a d e d in t o ca n n is t e r g re n a d e s fo r rio t co n t ro l p u rp o s e s , b u t h a ve n e ve r b e e n u s e d d o m e s t ica lly ( o fficia lly) . Th e S o vie t s h a ve b e e n kn o wn t o m a ke o cca s io n a l u s e o f p o is o n g a s g re n a d e s . Cya n id e g a s g re n a d e s ca n e a s ily b e im p ro vis e d in t h e h o m e o f a t e rro ris t , p ro vid e d h e h a s t h e ch e m ica ls a n d in s t ru ct io n s . In s e ct icid e fo g g e rs h a ve a s im ila r e ffe ct t o d ilu t e wa r g a s e s ( b lis t e rin g , co n vu ls io n s , in t e rn a l h e m o rrh a g in g , e ct . ) , a n d o ft e n s h a re co m m o n in g re d ie n t s . Th e s m a ll fu s e - lit g a s g re n a d e s u s e d fo r killin g wo o d ch u cks g e n e ra t e t o o s m a ll a vo lu m e o f g a s t o b e e ffe ct ive a g a in s t h u m a n s u n le s s ig n it e d e n m a s s e wit h in a n e n clo s e d a re a . S t u n g re n a d e s fa ll in t o t wo ca t e g o rie s : s t u n b a ll a n d fla s h - b a n g . S t u n b a ll g re n a d e s a re u s e d fo r cro wd co n t ro l a s we ll a s q u e llin g p ris o n rio t s . Th e y a re b a s ica lly a n o n - le t h a l fra g m e n t a t io n g re n a d e u s in g p la s t ic o r ru b b e r b a lls fo r s h ra p n e l. Th e y le a ve s t in g in g we lt s a n d a re u n p le a s a n t t o b e a ro u n d . Fla s h - b a n g g re n a d e s a re u s e d t o d is o rie n t b a rrica d e d crim in a ls im m e d ia t e ly p rio r t o wh a t is kn o wn a s "e xp lo s ive e n t ry. " Th e y e xp lo d e in a b lin d in g fla s h ( o r s e rie s o f e xp lo s io n s a n d fla s h e s ) a n d a re fa vo re d b y p o lice S WAT t e a m s a n d m ilit a ry co u n t e r- t e rro ris t u n it s . Wh ile in t e n d e d e xclu s ive ly fo r la w- e n fo rce m e n t u s e , e it h e r t yp e co u ld e n d u p o n t h e b la ck m a rke t . S m o ke g re n a d e s a re u s e d fo r s cre e n in g , s ig n a lin g , a n d fire s im u la t io n s . Th e y a re a va ila b le a s e it h e r m ilit a ry ca n n is t e r g re n a d e s o r "n o ve lt y" fu ze - lit g re n a d e s . Th e y va ry g re a t ly in t h e a m o u n t o f s m o ke g e n e ra t e d . S m o ke ca n b e co lo re d , wh it e , g re y, o r b la ck; it ca n a ls o b e wis p y o r t h ick. S o m e s m o ke g re n a d e s ca n g e n e ra t e we ll o ve r 1 0 0 , 0 0 cu b ic fe e t o f t h ick g re y s m o ke t h a t will n o t d is p e rs e fo r h o u rs in t h e a b s e n ce o f win d . Ma n y s m o ke g re n a d e s g e n e ra t e e n o u g h h e a t t o ig n it e co m b u s t ib le m a t e ria ls . A s m a ll p la s t ic co n t a in e r ( like a film ca n n is t e r) fille d wit h fla s h p o wd e r a n d lit wit h a fu ze will e xp lo d e wit h a h u g e clo u d o f s m o ke . "Nin ja s m o ke b a lls " a re ch e m ica l p e lle t s ( u s u a lly h o m e m a d e ) t h a t e xp lo d e in t o a s m a ll clo u d o f s m o ke u p o n im p a ct wit h a h a rd s u rfa ce . S m o ke g re n a d e s ca n b e u s e d fo r e va d in g p u rs u it o r ca m o u fla g in g m o ve m e n t . S UBMACHI N EGUN S :

S u b m a ch in e g u n s ( S MGs ) a re d e fin e d a s fu lly- a u t o m a t ic we a p o n s wh ich fire p is t o l a m m u n it io n ( u s u a lly 9 m m ) . Co n t ra ry t o wh a t Ho llywo o d wo u ld h a ve u s b e lie ve , S MGs a re s e ld o m e n co u n t e re d o n t h e s t re e t , h o we ve r, m a n y m ilit a n t g ro u p s h a ve t a ke n t o s t o ckp ilin g t h e m . It is p o s s ib le t h a t a s u rviva lis t o f t h e "cra ze d lo n e r" va rie t y m a y ke e p a lo a d e d a u t o m a t ic we a p o n u n d e r t h e b e d , b u t s u ch a n o ccu rre n ce wo u ld b e h ig h ly u n like ly ( a s will s o o n b e m a d e cle a r) . Pa ra n o id s , ra cis t s , a n d m a s s m u rd e re rs a ll d re a m o f o wn in g a u t o m a t ic we a p o n ry, b u t fu lly a u t o m a t ic fire a rm s a re in cre d ib ly d ifficu lt t o o b t a in . Mo s t fre a ks a n d crim in a ls e ve n t u a lly h a ve t o s e t t le fo r e a s ily o b t a in a b le s e m i- a u t o m a t ics ( wh ich t h e s e n s a t io n a lis t ic p re s s o ft e n id e n t ify a s "h ig h - ca p a cit y m ilit a ry we a p o n s , " e rro n e o u s ly im p lyin g s e le ct - fire ca p a b ilit y) . Mo s t p e o p le a re u n a wa re t h a t , in m a n y s t a t e s , it is a ct u a lly p o s s ib le fo r a la w- a b id in g cit ize n t o le g a lly a cq u ire a n a u t o m a t ic we a p o n o f h is ve ry o wn . Th is e n t a ils a p p lyin g fo r a "Cla s s III Fe d e ra l Fire a rm s Lice n s e , " wh ich is a t e d io u s p ro ce s s in vo lvin g fin g e rp rin t s , p h o t o g ra p h s , a n d a n e xt e n s ive b a ckg ro u n d in ve s t ig a t io n . Aft e r t h e a p p lica t io n h a s b e e n a p p ro ve d , if yo u in t e n d t o o b t a in a s u b m a ch in e g u n , a n a g e n t fro m t h e BATF will co m e t o yo u r h o m e t o e n s u re t h a t yo u h a ve a t h e ft - re s is t a n t s a fe a s we ll a s a t o p - q u a lit y s e cu rit y s ys t e m wit h a u t o - d ia le r. Aft e r t h e a g e n t h a s b e e n s a t is fie d t h a t t h e s u b m a ch in e g u n ca n n o t e a s ily b e s t o le n , yo u will b e p e rm it t e d t o p u rch a s e o n e fro m a n a u t h o rize d Cla s s III d e a le r. In a d d it io n t o t h e e xo rb it a n t co s t o f t h e we a p o n it s e lf, yo u will b e re q u ire d t o p a y a n a d d it io n a l fe d e ra l t a x o f $ 2 0 0 , a n d t h e ATF will b e a u t h o rize d t o m a ke u n a n n o u n ce d vis it s fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f "in s p e ct in g " yo u r co lle ct io n . Acco rd in g t o s t a t is t ics , n o le g a lly a cq u ire d a u t o m a t ic we a p o n h a s e ve r b e e n u s e d in a crim e . On ra re o cca s io n s , S MGs h a ve b e e n im p o rt e d fro m o ve rs e a s ( u s u a lly wit h s h ip m e n t s o f co ca in e o r h e ro in ) , b u t m o s t S MGs in circu la t io n a m o n g s t crim in a ls h a ve e it h e r b e e n t h e re s u lt o f a s e m i- a u t o m a t ic we a p o n b e in g a lt e re d t o a cce p t fu ll- a u t o re p la ce m e n t p a rt s , h a ve b e e n a s s e m b le d fro m a p a rt ia lly in co m p le t e m a il- o rd e r "kit , " o r h a ve b e e n m a n u fa ct u re d fro m s cra t ch in a g a ra g e m a ch in e s h o p u s in g wid e ly a va ila b le t e m p la t e s . It is d ifficu lt , e xp e n s ive , a n d ris ky t o a t t e m p t t o co n ve rt a s e m i- a u t o m a t ic fire a rm t o "fu ll- a u t o " o r "s e le ct - fire " ca p a b ilit y, a n d m a n y fire a rm s h a ve b e e n irre p a ra b ly d a m a g e d in t h e p ro ce s s . Typ ica lly, t h is is t h e m e t h o d u s e d b y a n o t h e rwis e la w- a b id in g co lle ct o r wh o s e o n ly crim in a l in t e n t is t o ke e p t h e co n t ra b a n d we a p o n lo cke d in h is s a fe . S t e n g u n kit s h a ve b e e n wid e ly a va ila b le fo r s o m e t im e , a n d o n ly re ce n t ly h a ve a d ve rt is e m e n t s fo r t h e m d is a p p e a re d . Typ ica lly, t h e we a p o n is co m p le t e e xce p t fo r t h e p ro h ib it e d re ce ive r, fo r wh ich a s e ct io n o f s t e e l t u b in g h a s b e e n p ro vid e d a lo n g wit h t e m p la t e s a n d d e t a ile d in s t ru ct io n s fo r cu t t in g a n d d rillin g . Aft e r t h e re ce ive r h a s b e e n fa b rica t e d , t h e a rd u o u s p ro ce s s o f fit t in g t o g e t h e r a h a n d fu l o f t in y s p rin g - lo a d e d p a rt s b e g in s . . . m o s t cre t in s la ck b o t h t h e p a t ie n ce a n d s kill fo r s u ch p re cis e wo rk, a n d t h e ir a t t e m p t s wo u ld b e d o o m e d t o fa ilu re . In d ivid u a l s e ct io n s o f t h e s h e e t m e t a l fra m e a n d re ce ive r fo r t h e MAC s t yle S MGs a ls o h a ve b e e n a va ila b le fro m m a il- o rd e r s o u rce s , a lo n g wit h d o ze n s o f "re p la ce m e n t p a rt s " t o fa cilit a t e a s s e m b ly. Va rio u s "d e co m m is s io n e d " m ilit a ry we a p o n s , in clu d in g S MGs , a re s t ill a va ila b le a s "d is p la y p ie ce s "— g e n e ra lly, t h e y a re o ve r 9 0 % in t a ct , wit h e it h e r a s e ct io n o f t h e re ce ive r cu t a wa y o r a n a lu m in u m "d u m m y" in s t a lle d in it s p la ce , t o p re ve n t it fro m b e in g fire d . If t h e a lt e re d ( o r b o g u s ) re ce ive r we re t o b e re p la ce d wit h o n e fa s h io n e d in o n e ’s h o m e wo rks h o p , t h e we a p o n co u ld p o s s ib ly b e co m e o p e ra t io n a l o n ce a g a in . S e rio u s m ilit a n t s , h o we ve r, h a ve b a s e m e n t fa ct o rie s ca p a b le o f p ro d u cin g h u n d re d s o f S MGs fro m s cra t ch , p ro vid e d t h e re a re e n o u g h m a t e ria ls . Te m p la t e s a n d in s t ru ct io n m a n u a ls fo r

b u ild in g va rio u s S t e n - t yp e we a p o n s fro m s e ct io n s o f s t e e l t u b in g a re wid e ly a va ila b le , a n d t o d o s o wo u ld b e a s im p le t a s k fo r a s kille d m a ch in is t wit h t h e p ro p e r t o o ls . MAC a n d Uzi- s t yle we a p o n s a re m o re d ifficu lt t o co n s t ru ct , b u t wo u ld n o t b e b e yo n d t h e ca p a b ilit ie s o f a m a s t e r m a ch in is t in clin e d t o b re a k t h e la w. S u b m a ch in e g u n s a re t yp ica lly s t o ckp ile d ( a lo n g wit h p a lle t s o f a m m u n it io n ) b y t h e we a lt h ie r m ilit a n t o rg a n iza t io n s — p a rt icu la rly t h o s e wit h a n a p o ca lyp t ic vis io n o f t h e fu t u re . No rm a lly, ille g a l a u t o m a t ic we a p o n s a re p a cke d wit h g re a s e ( o r d e s s ica n t ) a n d b u rie d in a re m o t e lo ca t io n fo r fu t u re u s e , a s t h e ir p o s s e s s io n is a ve ry s e rio u s o ffe n s e . Ho we ve r, o n ra re o cca s io n s ce rt a in crim in a l g ro u p s ( t yp ica lly e it h e r fo re ig n e rs o r im m a t u re g a n g b a n g e rs ) m a y u s e t h e ir a u t o m a t ic we a p o n s t o p e rp e t ra t e ro b b e rie s , o r t o wa g e wa r a g a in s t e n e m y g a n g s . Yo u h a ve lit t le ris k o f e n co u n t e rin g a s u b m a ch in e g u n o n t h e s t re e t u n le s s yo u ’ve b e e n t a rg e t e d fo r a s s a s s in a t io n b y a g a n g wh ich s e e s yo u r a ct ivit ie s a s a s e rio u s t h re a t t o t h e ir co n t in u e d e xis t e n ce .

Aft e rw o rd Ju s t a b o u t e ve ry p o s s ib le e xo t ic we a p o n yo u m ig h t d is co ve r in t h e h a n d s o f p ro fe s s io n a l crim in a ls ( o r t h e crim in a lly d e m e n t e d ) h a s b e e n a d d re s s e d . Lit e ra lly h u n d re d s o f b iza rre we a p o n s e xis t , h o we ve r, wh ich a re e it h e r t o o ra re o r im p ra ct ica l t o d is cu s s h e re . A fe w e xa m p le s in clu d e : fla m e we a p o n s , g yro je t p is t o ls , kn ife p is t o ls , s le e ve g u n s , h a t g u n s , b rie fca s e g u n s , e le ct ro n ica lly fire d g u n s , re m o t e ly fire d g u n s , g u n s co n ce a le d wit h in p ro s t h e t ic lim b s , cig a re t t e g u n s , t u b u la r d a g g e rs , p o is o n - fille d s q u irt g u n s , a n d t h e e ve r- m a le vo le n t h yp o d e rm ic s yrin g e . S ile n ce d we a p o n s ( p a rt icu la rly t h e Ru g e r Mk II a n d t h e Ma ka ro v) a re s u rp ris in g ly e a s y t o co m e b y, d u e t o t h e a b u n d a n ce o f "re p a ck & re p a ir kit s " wh ich we re o n t h e m a rke t n o t t o o lo n g a g o , b u t d u e t o t h e fa ct t h a t it is e xt re m e ly u n like ly t h a t yo u ’d b e fa ce d wit h o n e in a ra n d o m s t re e t e n co u n t e r, t h e y h a ve b e e n e xclu d e d . Ho llywo o d in ve n t io n s ( s u ch a s t h e "g u n o n t h e ro lle r- t ra ck rig s t ra p p e d t o t h e fo re a rm " a n d t h e "wris t b a n d m o u n t e d s wit ch b la d e ") , a s we ll a s p o is o n s ( a ll s o rt s , in clu d in g b io we a p o n s ) a n d t e ch n o lo g ica lly a d va n ce d d e vice s ( s u ch a s u lt ra s o n ic d is ru p t o rs a n d ra d io lo g ica l we a p o n s ) h a ve a ls o b e e n e xclu d e d . Ho we ve r, ce rt a in b o o ks a n d In t e rn e t we b s it e s p ro vid e d e t a ile d in s t ru ct io n s fo r co n s t ru ct in g s u ch g a d g e t ry, s o t h e re is a lwa ys t h e p o s s ib ilit y t h a t t h e s e t h in g s will o n e d a y b e e n co u n t e re d in t h e h a n d s o f crim in a ls . Kn o wle d g e is p o we r. If yo u a re a wa re o f t h e e xis t e n ce o f ce rt a in h id d e n we a p o n s — a s we ll a s t h e ir s t re n g t h s a n d we a kn e s s e s — yo u a re le s s like ly t o b e t a ke n b y s u rp ris e , a n d will b e b e t t e r a b le t o p ro t e ct yo u rs e lf. Go o d lu ck t o yo u a ll.