Photo Credit: Thisfunktional

Ever wonder what sort of weapons can be used for self-defense besides firearms and knives? I’m going to provide some self-defense weapons, while they may seem unusual, actually work.

Some common self-defense weapons include firearms, pepper spray, expandable batons, fixed-blade knives, stun guns, and electronic controlled devices (a.k.a. Taser). Please note that it’s important that when choosing a self-defense weapon that it’s acceptable under your state’s laws. For example, in Michigan, stun guns are illegal but Tasers are legal – for possession and/or carry – as long as you have a valid concealed carry license AND have successfully completed a civilian Taser course. Currently, we are looking into the possibility of acquiring the proper certifications to conduct civilian Taser certification courses.

When you think of unusual self-defense weapons, what comes to mind? Is it a Kubotan? Brass knuckles? Byrna? Is it a historical firearm that you saw in the store or online? Let’s take some time to dive into some unusual items that work well as self-defense weapons.

Tactical Flashlight

“A good tactical flashlight will not only chase away the shadows, but may also chase away the bad guy”, as described in Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals. Some things to keep in mind when choosing a good flashlight are a high output beam with a minimum brightness of 60 lumens as 60 lumens is bright enough to momentarily blind an attacker even in daylight (i.e. to put things into perspective, 125 lumens is like staring at the sun), lithium batteries as they have a shelf-life of up to 10 years, has a higher energy output compared to alkaline batteries and isn’t affected by the cold so you can leave it in your car (great for states like Michigan!), tail-cap on/off switch as opposed to a switch on the side, and LED lights because they’re very durable so you can even hammer nails without breaking it.

Two common options are the SureFire 6PX Defender and SureFire Z2-S CombatLight.

Kitty Knuckles

Not only are kitty knuckles a stylish keychain but they are produced from strong aluminum and are used in a similar manner as brass knuckles. To use them, you would slide your fingers into the finger holes on the keychain and then deliver a strong punch into your attacker while jamming the sharp ears into him.

Please note: Kitty knuckles are not legal in most states as they fall under the same category as brass knuckles. Please review your state’s laws before you decide to go with this option.

Tactical Pen

While the tactical pen can be used as a writing instrument, it mainly serves as a utility tool and self-defense weapon as some of these pens even have a really sharp and pointy tip, which could be used to fend off the attacker.

Materials vary as some pens are produced from aluminum while others are produced from reinforced military-grade stainless steel or titanium. The tactical pen can be used to slash, strike pressure points, and stab (particularly the eyes or throat).

Newspaper

The video below is a clip from the Valuetainment interview with Clint Emerson, where he explains how to develop a newspaper into a weapon.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post and possibly learned something new. Again, regardless of the self-defense option(s) that you choose, make sure that you are compliant with your state’s laws and any state that you plan on traveling to. With any questions that you may have, be sure to consult with an attorney that specializes in this particular field (i.e. I don’t recommend a tax attorney for self-defense related topics). If you know of any other unusual self-defense weapons that work, feel free to share in the comments section.