Weapons Of Opportunity For Counter-Terrorism

[Eric]

I usually wear Western boots when flying (heck, most other times too) as the toe is nice and hard. Hits really well. Also, very comfortable and easy on/off for TSA and whenever I feel the need.

Belt with fairly large buckle; Large body pen (Montblanc ususally, or whatever I can get); laptop power cord makes an excellent weighted whip chain or improvsed 'restriction device'...

I've had flashlights confiscated, so I don't take those anymore.

[CR Williams]

Okay, I see using the belt as a flexible weapon. But what are you going to hold up your pants with after you take it off?

Three feet of paracord, anyone?

[eight_88888888]

Okay, I see using the belt as a flexible weapon. But what are you going to hold up your pants with after you take it off?

Three feet of paracord, anyone?

Wear tighter pants. Or tie the paracord to a coupla carabiners and use that as a belt...on top of your usual one.

[djk010468]

Not long ago tadgear was selling a retractable key retainer, the kind that you wear on your belt and pulls out to about two feet. With a plastic coated braided stainless steel cord in it. I doubt I could break it, unless I tried to swing on it.

Holding the keys in one hand, the retainer in the other, and pulling it out, if only you could get behind them...

They weren't expensive, so I bought two...:D

[peregrine]

Not long ago tadgear was selling a retractable key retainer, the kind that you wear on your belt and pulls out to about two feet. With a plastic coated braided stainless steel cord in it. I doubt I could break it, unless I tried to swing on it.

Holding the keys in one hand, the retainer in the other, and pulling it out, if only you could get behind them...

They weren't expensive, so I bought two...:D

That would make a great flexible weapon. Bad guy could be tied up very easilly alowing you to shell him with punches and elbows.

[Clint B]

I always reckoned a feller could slip his support arm through the straps of the removable seat cushion /life prerserver and use it as a shield if he were being attacked by mediterranean feller with say oh a box-cutter type instrument.

[Eric]

I always reckoned a feller could slip his support arm through the straps of the removable seat cushion /life prerserver and use it as a shield if he were being attacked by mediterranean feller with say oh a box-cutter type instrument.

I'd prefer not to, only because it will get in the way of my ripping his head off and shoving it up his nether regions

[Eric]

As I consider this topic, I have realized that we are not really talking about improvised weapons but rather about pre-planned and deniable weapons. True improvisation is being attacked at dinner and cracking the aggressor's skull with a ketchup bottle; it is using whatever you happen to have at hand, without any pre-planning to make specific items available. What we are really doing is costuming weapons as other items. This gives us much greater flexibility. In true improv, that carabiner will not have paracord wrapped around half of its length to provide you with grip. In our scenario, we have the luxury of planning in advance and wrapping that 'biner up.

The previous comments about backpack frame material got me thinking about ways to shield and conceal weapons as part of a piece of luggage. If the "weapon" were fabricated as part of your luggage, it should pass through security. Once through security, the item could be removed and made accessible. I haven't come up with an idea for edged weapons, but sticks could be carried through in this manner. Imagine a canvas bag which has a pair of plastic (nylon/polypro/whatever) rods inserted along the bottom to provide rigid support for the bag. Make the rods 22" long (max carry-on length) and 3/4" diameter. You would have a miniature pair of escrima sticks.

I once had an ab exerciser that was a 6" wheel (of the lawn mower variety) with handles sticking out each side of the hub. Refabricate such a device but make the handles a solid rod, extending 16-18" through the hub of the wheel. Once through security, just pull the rod out and place the wheel in your bag.

The normal carry-on rollaboard bag has a handle which extends from the bag, made of two telescoping tubes. If you re-designed this apparatus, you could make the extending tubes single solid pieces, rather than the flimsy telescoping 2-, 3-, and 4-piece tubes. Make the tubes of solid aluminum, with quickly releasable pins that will separate them from both the bag and the upper handle. Voila! You have two aluminum sticks with which to wage war.

That last idea would require a lot of machining and work, and might quickly become prohibitively expensive. The first two ideas are certainly possible and within reach. Once you make anything sharp or pointy, the TSA will cue up on it. But if you stick to blunt impact weapons, it becomes too difficult for them to regulate. Imagine a ruling prohibiting "cylindrical tubes or similar objects" of some length or material. It would destroy air travel. (TSA: "I'm sorry, sir. I'm going to have to remove the handle from your rollaboard because it is a dense and roughly cylindrical object.")

I had an idea for an air travel weapon the other day that would be wonderful if it works, but I'm not sure that it will work. My wife and I decided to take up tennis. As I was spinning the racquet in my hand, I quickly regained the movements that I had once spent so much time learning with sticks and commas. A standard tennis racquet could be used in a pinch. But what I really started imagining was a specially-made aluminum racquet with just a bit of an edge around the head. Put some neon paint on it, and you would look like a modern metrosexual. But I checked the TSA regs, and the tennis racquet is not mentioned. It falls to the "discretion" of the screeners. That is something that cannot be relied upon, so I wouldn't want to depend upon having access to that particular tool in flight.

With a little planning and handiwork, I think we could come up with some pretty effective tools that would pass TSA scrutiny. But none of them can be high-production items or the TSA will learn about them and send out a memo prohibiting them.

Actually, I've thought the same myself. You could use the same aircraft aluminum they use for telescoping batons. If not the batons themselves. Or replace the existing telescoping handles with carbon fiber, which many of them already are, on the high priced stuff at least. Sharpen the edges that are in the handle & bag; now you have 2 - 4 removable skewers! Or removable telescoping batons.

[Clint B]

I'd prefer not to, only because it will get in the way of my ripping his head off and shoving it up his nether regions

Im thinking along the lines of focus pads. A back pack or an attache' case could be used also for stuffing a bad guy up against the bulk-head or floor while protecting your vitals from slashes.

Improvised body armor is what Im driving at I guess.:D

[Guantes]

I'm still partial to my 1-1/4" leather belt, with the nature-art, 2-1/2" x 3", half pound, pewter buckle. It has been in "the tray" on numerous flights and never been questioned other than how nice it looks.