Field improvised knives, FBI FTU, concealable weapons

[Jim Choate]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003, Anonymous wrote:

> 1. The pop-top steel lid on a can e.g., of catfood forms a sharp
> edge when removed.  (I have a permenant scar on a finger
> attesting to this.)  If half the disc were grasped in a cloth
> it could be more effective than several of the items you list.

Negative, bend it in half and get two edges for the price of one.

> 2. Similarly, the steel lid on e.g., a tuna can forms a sharp (and
> flatter, and slightly more rigid) edge when removed with a can opening
> tool.

If you have the can opening tool it is a weapon as well, great for making
big gaping puncture wounds.

>  A can opening tool can be very small, e.g., the military-style
> can openers, which by itself is not dangerous.

Bullshit. A strike to the throat just above the shoulder blade, into the
eyes, slash into the fingers or heal, lips/ears, etc.

-EVERYTHING- is a weapon. A 'weapon' is nothing more than a STATE OF MIND.
It is the intent to do harm.

> 3. Even a beverage can, e.g., from a beer purchased in flight, can be
> ripped into a sharp edge, although the thinness of the (typically soft
> aluminum) metal makes this less effective than the above.

The flat circular tops and bottoms are prefered, but a piece of the
sidewall is effective just like a small razor blade (hint: fold the piece
in half).

> 4. The large knitting (crochet) needles which I believe
> the TSA admits could be filed into a sharp point, producing
> a spike as effective as some you list.  As these are typically
> aluminum, abrading them into a point would not be difficult.

Actually all sizes are good. You can use crochet hooks as well, hurt like
hell pulling that baby out.

> 5. It is possible that a skilled knife maker could chip a glass
> bottle into a knife while in the restroom, producing something
> comparable to the obsidian knife you list.  The production process
> might be noisy however, unlike the above.

Chip a bottle into a knife? Doofus, just break the bottle and use the
pieces. If you want to be stealthy don't use the kneck/bottom as a handle,
use a piece from the side just like a razor (hold betwix thumb and first
two fingers).

> Comment, which you will no doubt ignore:
> Given the facility with which weapons are improvised or concealed,

Like a pencil, a rolled up magazine, a plastic credit card (it will cut if
wielded in such a manner), a shoe string as a garrot, etc. Your opponents
body can be used as a weapon against itself as well (eg strangle somebody
with their own arm, or break it and then stab them with the lower bone
shard).

> it might be a better idea to stop motivating the
> actors, as distasteful as that might be to some in power.

But that would mean they'd have to treat them as equals, and they can't
have that now....


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