Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If the grid goes down, the ability to defend oneself will be invaluable. In fact, the importance of self-defense will be right up there with food and water.
Of course, a firearm is the most effective way to defend yourself from an attacker, but that might not always be possible. For example, if you find yourself in a place where firearms aren’t allowed.
The purpose of this article is to teach you about the many other types of weapons you can use to defend yourself. You can carry most of these anywhere without drawing any unwanted attention, yet they’re effective enough to take down almost anyone.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It on Pinterest!
Here are 9 weapons that could save your life:
1. Knife
We’ll start with the most obvious weapon: the knife. Knives are everywhere, and almost everyone has at least a couple of them, whether they’re Swiss Army knives or big fixed bladed K-bars. Granted, while a K-bar or similar type knife is likely to draw attention to you, a simple folding tactical knife can be kept nicely concealed in your pocket and can be equally as effective.
A knife can be even more deadly than a gun in close quarters. For self defense, opt for a durable folding knife that can be opened quickly and has a serrated blade with an ergonomic grip.
2. Pepper Spray
Since this stuff is strong enough to be used as a defense against bears, you can bet it will be effective against any human. The inflammatory effect of pepper spray causes eyes to swell and close, making it impossible for the attacker to see anything.
It’s also very cost efficient at only $10 to $15 per canister. That’s a small price to pay for a device that causes extreme irritation to the assailant’s eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Nonetheless, pepper spray does have some serious cons. When you spray a blast onto the face of an attacker, it’s possible that some of it could get on you as well. This is bad for people with respiratory problems. Furthermore, the chemicals in pepper spray typically can’t stand extreme hot or cold temperatures, weakening its effectiveness.
It also doesn’t work as well in the wind or rain, and could backfire if there’s a strong gust of wind in your face. While you should have pepper spray in your self defense arsenal, you’d be wise to carry an additional defensive item as well.
3. Stun Gun
Many stun guns don’t look like traditional guns so they shouldn’t draw too much attention. Still, you’d be wise to keep your stun gun adequately concealed. A stun gun is not only a non-lethal self defense weapon, it’s a great alternative to pepper spray since it will even work in the wind or rain.
The mere jolting sound that stun guns produce may be enough to scare away attackers. But even if it isn’t, the thousands of volts of electricity certainly will.
4. Cane
A cane is one of the most efficient defensive items on this list. It gives you plenty of reach, hits hard, and it’s far less intimidating (at first) than a baseball bat. Select a cane that won’t break easily and has a heavy handle; hardwood canes with rubber-type handles are usually your best bet.
Just remember that if you plan on using a cane for self-defense, you better look like you have a limp since you’ll look very suspicious if you don’t.
5. Umbrella
An umbrella is a great alternative to the cane and can be just as deadly, but only if you use an umbrella that isn’t fragile. Many umbrellas can break easily if used in a fight, so stick to umbrellas that were build for self-defense purposes like the one in the link. It’s lightweight and made out of fiberglass that hits as hard as a steel pipe.
Of course, you can only use an umbrella when it’s raining or wet outside since you’d look pretty suspicious carrying one around on a sunny day.
6. Belt
A belt is another ubiquitous item that can be converted into a powerful self-defense weapon. For this, you’ll want a wide leather belt with a heavy metal buckle. A belt will give you plenty of reach and the buckle can inflict a lot of damage if you swing hard enough. A belt could also be used to strangle an assailant or tie them up after you’ve apprehended them, tripling its practicality.
7. Tactical Pen
A tactical pen is an item that’s equally at home in your EDC as it is in your survival kit. Any pen can be used as a weapon (look no further than the Bourne films), but a tactical pen is even better. There should be at least an inch of the pen sticking out from your fist in order for it to be effective as you punch holes in your assailant.
8. Scarf
Wait a minute, a scarf? Yes, that’s right. While the scarf is one of the most unlikely self-defense weapons, it can also be one of the most fatal if you know what you’re doing. You can use a scarf as a makeshift garrote or a strangling weapon.
If you’re still skeptical, keep in mind that the French Foreign Legion carry scarves as part of their equipment and have been known to use them as garrotes on tactical missions. The only downside to a scar is that they’re meant for cold weather, so you might look silly wearing one in warm weather.
9. Car Keys
Last but certainly not least, you can also use your car keys as a self-defense weapon. Assuming your keys are non-folding (and most are), then you can use them as a push dagger. While they’re not as sharp as an actual dagger, they can still inflict some serious damage if you use them hard enough, especially if you’re pumped up with adrenaline.
Better yet, you can get a keychain self-defense tool like the one in the link. these are sharp enough to really hurt someone, even through their clothes.
Like this post? Don’t forget to Pin It on Pinterest!
*scarf
it says scar
I have a few weighted nets I made from cast nets and gill nets. They do not need very much weight, it just needs to be around the edge, so when the net is tossed in a spinning motion it will flare open and then wrap around the person.
Nets are extremely difficult to extricate oneself from, and even though they can be, it will almost always give a person time to either finish the job on the person or get away. The nets are not so expensive that you would not want to leave one behind. Who cares. As with most weapons, but especially improvised or alternative weapons, you want more than one and you want more than one of more than one type.
Nets are compact enough to have two, or three, or four. They also work very well for dangerous small animals like dogs, feral cats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, etc. They will all get out of a net, but it usually takes them some time. And in trying to get out they sometimes really get themselves tied up where it takes cutting the net to get them out. This is especially true of cats.
There are ranged weapons that do not look like weapons if you do not know what they are already. Law enforcement probably would recognize them as such, and a few gang member types, but most people not. Made like a commercially made rubber tube mounted in a ring that shoots marbles or arrows, by using the top of a largemouth plastic bottle, cutting the center out of the lid and trimming the bottle right up to the threads on the neck, and put a heavy-duty balloon on the lip of the bottle and screw the lid back on to clamp it into place. They will not last too long, but should get a few rounds off. As boys used to do back in the old slingshot days, keep an eye out for suitable rocks to use with it and stash them around. If it looks like the law is taking an interest, just take the thing apart and all you have is some plastic junk and a balloon.
Anything that is lineal in form, such as the walking stick, hook type canes, shepherd’s hooks, umbrellas, etc. can be modified slightly so one end or the other can be quickly detached and an effective attachment added to make the item far more effective. Look at cane making websites for the pieces and parts required to make a break-down walking stick. They can be screw joints and various forms of QD joints. The lineal item can be carried openly, used for its intended purpose, and the more effective tip carried out of sight but handy to attach. Once we go to WROL then you can have it left attached if it does not make it too dangerous to yourself for cayy, or the tip can be carried openly for slightly quicker access.
Not for use from a vehicle, but if you are travelling in one, even simply living in one, you can have very effective ranged weapons for very little cost. And it does not take all that much skill to turn some ordinary objects into effective threat stoppers, up to and including using them for deadly force.
Half inch EMT conduit, half inch CPVC pipe, aluminum tubing, aluminum rod, tent poles, awning poles, and the like are already essentially spears, just without a spear head. For expediency, one can just cut the end of a piece of half inch CPVC pipe on a long slant to put a potentially deadly point on it. A five or six foot length, though somewhat flexible, of course, will still be very effective. Especially if you make it in three pieces, using coupling to join it back together. Add some sand to the middle piece so the javelin that results will have a bit more weight for better penetration when it hits something. With it being hollow, if it hits any type of vein or artery, it will bleed out the target quickly. The other items can be used similarly to make throwing javelins. Three-quarter inch EMT conduit can be made into a thrusting spear much the same way.
Read up on atlatls. I have a friend that is going to 3D print the back hook piece, a finger support, and some dart end nocks for me. Those I will use to quickly make an atlatl and darts without needing to do any extensive carving and shaping, after searching for just the right limbs to be able to do it the old way.
Just a few of my opinions.
An make sure ya got some ammo, otherwise just get ya stick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDIu2_0RSmE
Theys lots a other things you can use. .. a rock works purty good too. Here’s my list
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiVFljQWaYw&t=1s
Unfortunately or fortunately there is one instance where any adult regardless of criminal record is allowed to buy a firearm in America as Cap and Ball and or muzzle loaders require no paperwork to purchase however some shops will walk you to the cash register with it.
A cap and ball pistol such as the Remington Army Model 1758 fires a 44caliber ball that is loaded with 34 grains of powder into the front of the cylinder and can be stored loaded for years as long as no dampness is allowed near it the gun cannot be fired until a cap is pot on the cylinder nipple then you have a very accurate lethal weapon out to 100 yards.
Major point to note each loaded cylinder must be covered with Bore Butter or some type of fat this prevents all the cylinders being set off at the first drop of the hammer when sparks are all over the place it also helps with lubrication.
They take forever to load and set up their own smoke screen when operated but that ball or mini-ball when fired packs a hell of a punch and are fun loud devastating.
one more important mote DO NOT USE SMOKELESS POWDER only black powder learn be safe have fun.
Shoot attackers then evade another attack.
The single biggest obstacle in self-defense, regardless of what you are going to use, is your mind set. If you are not mentally prepared to defend yourself, your loved ones, etc. and do what it takes to survive, you are in for a bad and possibly fatal experience. You are going to have to go all out and fight…like the ‘third’ monkey trying to get on Noah’s Ark. If you train for self-defense…train your mind, too and not just the body. Visualize exactly what you are doing and why.
The Article is talking about a grid down, (SHTF scenario). So forget about what is legal or not legal.
Survival is the thing that matters.
Now in talking about knives the author says “…while a K-bar or similar type knife is likely to draw attention to you,…”, which is exactly what you want.
A big knife like that, says; ” I am a big, bad, SOB, so don’t mess with me or I’ll kill ya.”
Criminals like soft, unarmed targets, so your “concealed pocket knife”, will make them think you are unarmed, and an easy target.
This applies to the cane also. You look injured and unarmed, thus an easy target.
I would prefer not to be attacked, rather than to be attacked and have to fight them off.
Sure some people will give you a wide berth or fearful looks, but who cares in a SHTF scenario.
You are not there to win a popularity contest.
Perception and psychological warfare will go a long way in keeping you safe. That is number 1 on the list!
Being Confident and carrying a mean looking,(ie dangerous looking) weapon, will go a long way in keeping you safe.
Because not many people are going to want to test you, to find out how dangerous you really are.
But if you look unarmed or scared, you will be dead meat.
A “conceal weapon” is a good backup to your primary weapon, but the primary one should be both visible and look mean,(all guns look mean or dangerous ).
Better to scare them off than to fight them off and risk injury or death, as there will be limited medical help available.
That’s if they don’t grab the weapon off you and use it on you like what frequently happens in South Africa.
Right police and people who carry guns could save their own lives by only having rubber bullets in their guns. They can still kill someone and stop someone from killing others. And I don’t want to take any living beings life. Some mass shooters could actually be brainwashed and victims of the deep state themselves.
H r so right,tho u still need to carry some of the other items…the ones u have r good at.like if have more than one attacker at once
Great suggestions. Remember Macgyver. Remember his response to Lisa when she asked how do you do this stuff. His response was the stuff is already there. I just find a different way to use it. Adapt and adopt different ways to use common items in your ability to defend yourself. The true ingredients of creativity in survival.
Actually, an umbrella is great for shade on a sunny day.
Hammer, tools, broom stick, sling shoot, bean shooter, saw blades, wife purse, having multiple people at your place during the shtf, just use your imagination you’ll think of something
Exactly!!
The best defense is a gun my choice is a .45 wheel gun. But in line with this article at home I have a fixed blade innocuously hidden within three steps anywhere in the house. A policeman’s maglite is next to every door-way, as is a fire-extinguisher (sprayed in someones face is a great diversion, as well as putting out fires.) In every car on the floorboard is either a long metal shank framers hammer or another policeman’s maglite, or in one – two very large rocks. (You can always explain the hammer as a tool used for this or that and left in the car and the rock, well, you were collecting it) Of course, my daily walk around back-pack has a folding Sparco, a fixed 4-inch knife, a Leatherman and a roll of quarters. SO basically, either at home or on the road, I will either cut you up or beat the hell out of you if I don’t put a hole in you.
I would not want to mess with you when SHTF ! big daddyo.
guns are for cowards
yes and so many countries have armies and police forces full of cowards and when someone is stood in front of you robbing you with a gun please don’t make that point we need people like you to take the pressure off of the rest of the world lol
I usually have rocks on me and in my vehicles. I collect them and meteorites which are really heavy.
Survival is not for the faint hearted.
Be prepared to use whatever weapons you have at your disposal to protect yourself against an attacker.
Fight dirty because your attacker is definitely going to.
Broken beer bottles make excellent improvised weapons.
So do bricks, pipes and chains.
Following the law is not going to save save you from an attack.
I’m 14 and I can win a fight with a feather. I’m not worried about fighting dirty
Some good ideas, and yes anything could potentially become a lethal weapon. The scarf as a garotte is a good idea. My edc, besides my pocket knife is a large cotton bandana. I wrap $5 in quarters in one corner and keep if slightly hanging from my pocket with the quarters in my pocket. The quarters can be used as a cudgel to smack an attacker as well as keeping it from falling out of your pocket. It is a multiple purpose tool as it can be used as an emergency bandage or tourniquete or just to mop the sweat from your brow.
Have and carry a Jo staff if you can’t have a gun.
Well I also welcome this discussion because law and order has broken down as we have left the old moorings that we had in society and we have to have something other than alarm systems in our yards and homes. The home invaders do not pay any attention to them whatever at 2 or 3am! We all have a right to defend ourselves and government agencies, police and neighbours will probably not be able to get to you in time to save you. So I say, all the best to those who have practical advice as to how we can appropriately defend our loved ones and ourselves in the event of a violent attack.
Okay, some of us live in place like most countries of europe where having a gun is not a option. Walking with a knife in your purse is reason for arrest. How do you make you house save . How to barricade? How to have something that really doesn’t look like a weapon but still can be off help?
For barricading your home, there’s kits for entry doors that make it virtually impossible to kick it in, of course unless it’s a hollow core. Motion lights sometimes are enough to scare someone away at night, just make sure they’re really bright. A flashlight with a strobe feature can briefly disorient an attacker or home invader, especially if it’s the green laser base. Idk if pepper spray is legal or not where you live, but one with a strong enough compound will stop an attacker for a great deal of time. I recommend learning even basic hand to hand self defense, especially if you’re a female. There’s plenty of options or ideas, but if you never train or plan, all of them are useless anyways. If you need any more ideas or have questions, feel free to ask away.
Cane swords, if they are allowed in Europe. Or take a martial arts class.
Bear spray, it will stop a grizzlie ! And legal to carry in Bear country.
Cane sword are lovely. I dont know if Europe allows those. I know some states in the US are somewhat strict on weapons too. If all else fails, buy a DVD on martial arts and learn it.
Martial Arts…… A fantastic suggestion. I have been studying for over 10 years. I’m a 2nd Dan Black belt. Not to say I know everything because clearly that’s not the case. I will forever be a student of the arts. Getting my Black belt was just the beginning. So many people talk of defending themselves and go immediately to the hand gun. I always say that eventually you are going to run out of bullets and then where will you be? Wherever I go I seem to run into other martial artists. Maybe it’s just my luck or advocating for the arts. Many times you can study with them for little or no cost. Why not train? Someone spoke of a cane as self defense. Excellent idea, it’s the only legal weapon that you can fly with, especially if you have an old football injury that flames up around travel time. Martial arts can introduce you to knife, stick, staff, sword, cane, tomahawk and a bunch of weapons and most importantly how to use them. I will still advise to get firearms training but know what to do if it doesn’t go bang.
If they want in they’re going to get in. A car can go through the single story houses. Even if your door is blocked. Pepper spray. Or make your own in a small spray bottle. (crushed chili peppers jalapeno anything you’ll find like ghost peppers and everything imaginable crush them up put them in some hot water let them sit for a while in a glass mason jar and then straighten it and then put into the small spray bottle). Hard wood cane. Make it where you can put keys, coins or something in the handle or even a small chain to wrap around the handle. Coin rolls in a sock double sock it. If you know how to fight make yourself some gloves with metal knockles like coins or so on top paint them the color of the gloves.
Also, a big dog that won’t bark at nothing is a great deterrent. I had one, and boy, was he good. When he barked, the neighbors paid attention. He wasn’t a gossip like the others in the neighborhood.
When countries no longer allow having a gun or knife to protect yourself, it is time to leave that country.
Antifa uses lasers to blind people. Might look into that.
The author had me until he said “if you find yourself in a place where firearms aren’t allowed.” Really?
After a grid-down situation, when life becomes cheap and people will kill you for a can of food, you’re going to be concerned about gun-free zones?
And to all you geniuses who plan on carrying only a knife, baseball bat or some kind of spray, good luck with that. Two-legged apex predators are going to be armed with short, medium and long-range firearms. They’re going to pick you off before you know what hit you. I plan to be equally armed to protect my family, community, and myself.
There are states and places where guns are considered illegal. Nevermind that making firearms illegal is against the bill of rights (or the constitution dont hate, its been a long time since i looked at both, but i know its one of the two) Also, other countries have banned guns, some banned all guns and some only certain types.
Always remember, the attackers won’t be worried about following the law. It seems that there are deliberate events involving gun shooting that sure seems that they were constructed and delivered to turn people against the right to bear arms and protect themselves, or others. All countries need to wake up and each citizen needs to realize what these bans actually mean for all involved.
After banning guns, tyranny soon follows.
when tyranny becomes law rebellion becomes a duty.
Exactly correct. Now if you live where they don’t allow you to have guns or knives legally, Moving away to a gun friendly area is a great idea, if you can do so,
If not, then you must decide what is more important, your life or their laws?
If it is illegal, then the weapon would not be for EDC use or carry, You would store it away and it would only be unpacked after things got where there was no Rule of Law in operation.
This is where the author mixes up his concepts. After SHTF, anything goes, but for EDC carry in normal times, you should try to conform to the law, at least when out in public.
I sometimes wonder if people who are so against guns have had their gun rights revoked for a criminal charge or deemed unstable. It would seem the first thought a person in that situation would have is “If I can’t have a gun, I don’t want anyone to have a gun.” And, I would add, that is fairly logical thinking, since you are now at an immediate and severe disadvantage.
rick burkeen; your comment is illogical. Ppl who are banned from having guns are more likely to access them illegally (deviant or criminal mindsets and not logical thinkers). They aren’t likely thinking about others having guns. Anyway the ppl who are against guns are not a threat- if they won’t possess guns they won’t be using them against you.
Also,a knife can be used with the right training to not be lethal and help a soft target hold off an attacker as she is retreating and screaming for help. But be prepared to use a lethal cavity thrust[s] [stab] as the attacker rushes and grabs on to her as a final defense. I myself would prefer a knife over any of these other options as you can still fight with the knife even held on the ground under your attacker.
Why would you train to not be lethal with a bladed weapon? We’re talking about a SHTF situation . They will show no mercy. No one pulls out a weapon and doesn’t intend to use it If you intend on scaring someone, that will get you killed.
Check your local laws, having #1, 2 or 3 on your person or even owning one can be illegal in some states.
I found it odd that I could conceal carry a gun in MA, but stun guns and pepper spray were illegal.
Also, the “personal protection” pepper spray that you buy is not the same as the “bear-stop” pepper spray. Different concentrations/potency. Bear pepper spray will likely stop a human assailant, but human pepper spray likely will not stop a bear (just giving yourself some seasoning for the bear).
Almost all of these weapons require you to be danger-close to what is attacking you, so you better also learn some sort of self defense/martial arts where you are the weapon.
Also, don’t believe the TV shows/movies when it comes to stun guns, there are a fair # of people that have little to no reaction to getting stunned (especially if they are on drugs), they don’t necessarily fall down every time and almost never go unconscious.
The “stun effect” only happens while both electrodes are touching the person and you are pulling the trigger sending electricity into them. As soon as you break that connection or stop pulling the trigger, the effect immediately ends and you have a pissed off person that has immediate control of their body again.
It can be googled. There are canes that do double duty as they are also stun guns.
Try wasp spray as a substitute for pepper spray.
A can of wasp spray is so big. Have you ever seen a small can of spray?
Wasp spray is not to be used on humans. It can be fatal to a human, and YOU will end up in jail. Pepper spray will not work on some people, and definitely will not work on an assailant wearing glasses.
I ask myself, what do the police carry? Their lives are on the line everyday, and their primary defense weapon is a gun. They also do carry other less lethal weapons for various reasons, such as animal attacks, etc. but the average citizen, having no radio, and no back up, needs to be able to reliably stop an attacker before they can kill or maim said citizen. None of the items listed will do that. By all means, have several items handy with which to defend yourself, but, in the end, the best fight is the one you avoid in the first place.
Are you really worried about what happens to someone attacking you or would you rather get out of the situation alive yourself? I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Absolutely correct! I’ll take my chances with normal people any day!
Gee, anything could be used as an weapon. Better start banning them forks and spoons!
Not bad, but Wasp Spray is recommended more then pepper spray since it has a longer range
Wasp spray last time i read the label or even smelled it while being spraying has a hi contents of ether witch is very flammable.
So, don’t use it when you use your stun gun or you will set fire to your assailant. new York City cops found out the hard way that pepper spray + stun gun = Perp Flambe’