Pens as Weapons.

elder999

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Right from the top, I'm going to say that this isn't an advertisement-don't ask me to make you anything, because I have a job-maybe after I'm retired, but these are prototypes, and I'm just looking for feedback.

I've posted about it before-how, some 31 years ago, now, I was mugged on the Brooklyn subway late at night, and had to respond to a knife threat with deadly force, and how I stabbed a kid with my Mont Blanc ballpoint. Those are the bare bones, but, just for background, there was an earlier incident, where I wasn't involved-I was a witness. I was 11 years old, middle school had just started, and I saw my sometime/once upon a time babysitter, my friend Michael's sister, Marie (with whom I'm still friends) take out a Bic pen, one of these:
Which they actually shot through blocks of wood and wrote with afterward, back in 60's commercials, and which I don't think they make anymore.

Anyway, Marie took one of those out of her pocket, and stabbed a boy with it-a coupla times. I was impressed-I'd expected it to break, and it did, but not before she'd caused a fair amount of pain. I filed it away, and always looked to using a pen as a weapon over the years, as I continued my martial arts training-begun that very year on my birthday.

Thus it was that I was prepared on the subway that night-where I couldn't carry a knife or gun legally-and had stashed my pen inside my sleeve, ready to deploy, as soon as I saw those boys come onto the platform. I let them have my fake-out wallet with $20 in it, and my not at all fake watch, but one of them was there for my blood, which I wasn't going to let them have.

Things I learned that night, besides not being on the Brooklyn IRT alone at 1 A.M., looking half-drunk in a suit with a fancy watch?

Blood is slippery at first-made that pen a hard thing to hold onto. One of the things that sticks in my from then-even now-is making a conscious effort to hold onto the thing when both it and my hand had a fair amount of blood on them.

Oh, and that a Mont Blanc pen is one helluva expensive thing to wind up using as a weapon, and parting with. I didn't pay $1,000 for mine, but it may as well have been, and it was hard to part with-I liked that pen.

Of course, now, things have caught up with me, and we have the "tactical pen," a variety of products that can double as a weapon-either a yawara stick, stabbing, or, in some cases, as a fist-load-and as a utility tool, like a window breaker-as well as a writing instrument, yet pass muster in a world where we're increasingly searched for weapons and disarmed in environments where some of us would rather be armed, like on an airplane.

In fact, I posted here about taking my UZI tactical pen to Las Vegas, (which is the only one I'd really recommend buying-it's adequate for what its intent is, uses Parker pen refills, and doesn't cost much, so you won't mind losing it) and not getting a second glance from the TSA-which is kind of a surprise, since everywhere I go, people see the tip of it sticking out of my shirt pocket and get all, Ooooh, what's that? Can I see? I know what that is,ooooh!

I mean, the damn thing just looks so......tactical. It's a wonder it hasn't gotten me thrown in jail. :lol:

With that in mind, I set off to the shop to try and make some pens that could be used as weapons, but would approach the beauty, practicality and innocuous nature of the Mont Blanc. Using various materials, I've machined a few pens into shapes that I hoped would allow a good grip for a force multiplier, even when a bit of blood flowed, and be a bit more camouflaged for every day carrying. I've tested the grip of them, by dipping my hand and/or the pen in oil, and their shapes seem to work-the next step will be machining some in metal, like titanium or aluminium, as most of them don't really approach the right heft for a fist-load. They do work well for stabbing and as yawara sticks, though.

This one is my favorite, in terms of weapon readiness, and I'll probably be turning titanium into something like it:
View attachment $Picture 015.jpg
it, and it's mechanical pencil mate, are turned from maple.The furniture is store bought, and, in this case, titanium.....

Here it is with some others. The dark brown slender set is teak, and the fountain pen, on the end, is made of a special plastic that's actually impregnated with titanium to give it that coloring:

View attachment $Picture 016.jpg

I like the fountain pen-I like fountain pens-but as a ready to deploy weapon, it loses something to the others, in that the cap has to be removed. Of course, a fountain nib is a much sharper and more blade-like tip than a ballpoint, but it's also more fragile.....

They all stab pretty well, though-I used them for insertion points for garlic cloves on a shoulder I smoked:
View attachment $Copy of Picture 018.jpg
Oh, the shoulder came out fine!
View attachment $Picture 019.jpg
:lfao:

So, what do you all think? I'd be open to a discussion on pen techniques I've developed, but I think that they're fairly mostly obvious-and pens are somewhat less versatile than other weapons-their real advantage lays in their everyday, innocuous nature....
 
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seasoned

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Formative, and most forgotten instrument, of writing. I carry a few of them in my jobs, but will look for at least one that can be used for that one signature move. :)

I think soft tissue areas like the neck and face would be ideal. I like, and have always taught, that a weapon does not have to look like, or appear to be a weapon.

A knife or gun if dropped in the heat of the moment, could be used against you, but a pen if dropped..................
 

Cyriacus

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I consider Pens to be an amazing way to start a defensive sequence. LIke, stab with pen > punch > punch > punch. It could also be amazing for breaking a grab. Person grabs lapel > Stab their wrist > punch > punch > punch. Or something.
I know im simplifying a bit, but what im getting at is that it could be a good way to start. I wouldnt call it the best way to finish. And most importantly, You can legally carry them.
 

Grenadier

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I have one of the Smith and Wesson pens that was given to me as a gift, and this unit is also cheap to own, since the ink refill units can be obtained at any Staples, Office Depot, etc. It writes very smoothly, and looks innocuous enough. Right now, you can find them for well under 30 bucks:

http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWPENBK-Tactical-Black/dp/B0026W4ZW4

Whenever the folks at the airport look through my briefcase, they're more curious about my green laser pointer (5 mW, Class IIIa), since it's finely tuned to give off the brightest possible light at a 5 mW rating.

I agree, that basically, soft tissues are the main target, since hitting a hard target would result in the pen bouncing off.
 

Grenadier

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On another note, it's good to see you didn't let that tasty-looking, nicely marbled beef roast go to waste!
 

punisher73

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On my flight to Hawaii, I took a cross ink pen with me since my other goodies were checked in lugguage. I tried to go with a pen that didn't look like I was trying to take a pen as a weapon just to avoid TSA cavity searches. LOL

The cross pen I had was a gift, and I think is only around $20. It had a very sturdy metal casing and a fairly sharp ink tip as well to aid in puncture.
 

MA-Caver

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If I don't have my knife then my go to is a pen.

Honestly if I had gotten to where I would use a pen in a fight... I'm not going to care if it writes afterwards or not.

Lots of good vulnerable soft spots on the human body where a pen would have no trouble entering if enough force is applied. The ones pictured are pretty, but I don't think I've ever had owned a pen long enough to make it worth the money to buy one. But that's just me... chronically poor.

As they say, the pen (can be) mightier than the sword... sorry Sukerkin, but even you must admit that it's true.
 

malteaser14

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Fairplay, before reading this I would never have considered using a pen as a weapon... Yet neither have I considered carrying a weapon!
 
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Empty Hands

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Very nice work. If you are worried about grip, rubber grips are very common and innocuous on many of today's pens. You could consider using one of those.
 

Rich Parsons

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Elder,

I have also used pens, cheap ones to defend myself. They do break. They do cause lots of pain. They are an improvised weapon.

I like your initial designs, and I like the idea a lot. Those being sold today look tactical and do not pass the laugh test of coudl it be a weapon.

I like stealth. I think it is a good idea.

If you need a beta tester, let me know.
 

aedrasteia

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So, what do you all think? I'd be open to a discussion on pen techniques I've developed, but I think that they're fairly mostly obvious-and pens are somewhat less versatile than other weapons-their real advantage lays in their everyday, innocuous nature....


I think i never thought about a "tactical" pen - that is amazing!! i'm going to get this -
and it writes and is refillable too~!

I think this is a pork roast. I think I'm going to get a pen, clean it and stab the PORK Roast!!!
and then fill the stabby places with garlic and herbs, rub with S & P and cook it and serve it while
I show off my stabby pen!

too cool.
 

WC_lun

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Years ago a sifu of mine trained me a bit with what he called a three hand stick. While it was longer than a pen, most of the weapons techniques can be substitued for use by a pen. I've tested some of them out over the years and pens make great bars for painful chin na. Of course, the stabbing thing works great too :)

I like the teak ones you made. The others are good too, but there is something about teak made items that I really enjoy the look. Also really like the look of that beef :)
 

dancingalone

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I've related this story before... but a female student of mine drove off a predator with her disposable pen (a Bic or Papermate). She punched him in the face with the point and penetrated all the way through his cheeks and fractured his cheek bones. He was lucky she didn't blind him. (I don't have any sympathy for him - he's in jail right now for another offense.)

Pens are awesome, and they're readily available in campus environments where unfortunately assaults happen all too frequently.
 

Jenna

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Pens-as-weapons reminds me of that scene from the film Casino, Joe Pesci character uses the pen in a mad frenzy.. I would post video only yikes it is gruesome..

You would have a market here in UK as legal carry here is like tiny blade and nobody can suggest aforethought with a pen as a defence.. or maybe if it is a pen proven to be designed for a specific purpose then that affects its legality?? I do not know.

These look lovely. If they were for sale there would be a rough price??
 

jks9199

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All that about pens, just to justify posting up your smoked shoulder? Y'know, we do allow recipe & food posts in the proper sections, don't you? :D

Nice work on the pens. I especially like the middle, teak set; the maple set looks a little big & bulky to me.
 

mmartist

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In a pinch a pen will do one hell of a job for self defense. And sometimes people will underestimate it.
 

rlobrecht

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nobody can suggest aforethought with a pen as a defence.. or maybe if it is a pen proven to be designed for a specific purpose then that affects its legality?? I do not know.

I was wondering the same thing. Would a jury decide that your tactical pen made your self defense into something premeditated?
 

David43515

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Beautiful, beautiful work Elder. If you ever do decide to start selling either the wooden ones or the all titanium ones I'd say there's a market for them. You might consider doing some test marketing on-line or getting a table at a big gunshow and seeing how they sell. Put a video with a five minute loop of you stabbing them into different test materials on your table and you'd make several good sales. Or you might be able to get a third party to market them for you so you don't have to mess with the sales yourself. We did that a lot with our custom knife business.
 

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