20 DIY Weapons that May Save Your Life!

Most
preppers
understand
the
importance
of
having
a
defensive
weapon
close
at
hand.
Evil
has
always
existed
in
the
world
and
probably
will
always
exist,
and
that
means
you
must
be
prepared
to
confront
it
if
you
don’t
want
to
be
made
a
victim.

Thankfully,
if
you
live
in
a
free
country
you’ll
have
plenty
of
tools
to
choose
from,
knives
and
guns
among
them.

However,
lacking
our
chosen
weapons
does
not
mean
we
are
free
from
the
responsibility
of
producing
one
when
it
is
time
to
stand
and
deliver.

Your
attacker,
be
it
a
hostile
human
being
or
just
an
unruly
and
enraged
beast,
will
be
entirely
too
willing
to
prosecute
the
attack
when
you
are
nearly
defenseless.
Aside
from
costing
you
serious
cool
points,
you
will
pay
for
this
lapse
in
blood,
perhaps
even
your
life.

Going
forth
armed
is
great,
but
it
might
be
better
still
to
know
how
to
make
a
weapon
out
of
any
materials
you
have
close
at
hand.
That
way,
anywhere
you
go
you’ll
be
armed
so
long
as
you
have
the
ultimate
weapon:
your
brain.

In
this
article
we
will
be
sharing
with
you
20
devastating
weapons
that
you
can
craft
yourself
using
a
little
bit
of
ingenuity.

In
the
Gravest
Extreme

If
you
habitually
carry
a
self-defense
weapon,
knife,
pistol,
pepper
spray,
collapsible
baton
or
whatever,
you
might
be
thinking
that
you
have
no
need
of
learning
about
improvised
or
DIY
weapons.

After
all,
you
aren’t
going
to
be
the
one
that
gets
caught
out
empty-handed
when
a
serious
fight
is
about
to
go
down.
Right?
Right…

Except
Mr.
Murphy
gets
a
vote
in
the
situation.
I’m
referring
to,
of
course,
everybody’s
most
hated
Uncle
Murphy
of
Murphy’s
Law
infamy.
Murphy’s
Law
states
that
if
something
can
go
wrong,

it
will,
and
furthermore
it
will
usually
go
wrong
at
the

worst
possible
time.

That
means
that
when
you
need
a
weapon
the
most,
it
would
be
your
luck
that
you
probably
just
won’t
have
it.
Maybe
you
are
in
a
sensitive
environment,
maybe
it
is
the
one
and
only
time
you
chose
not
to
carry
it.
It
could
be
lost,
broken,
whatever.

The
point
is,
you
don’t
have
your
usual
EDC
weapon
or
weapons,
whatever
they
might
be.
So
now
what
do
you
do?

If
your
answer
is
to
shrug
your
shoulders
or
scratch
your
head,
I
have
bad
news
for
you.
There
are
no
rain
checks
for
life
and
death
encounters.
What
you’ll
need
to
do
instead
is
forgo
the
panicking
and
come
up
with
an
alternate
force
multiplier,
and
do
it
fast.

That’s
where
these
DIY
weapons
can
save
the
day.
Whether
you
need
a
weapon
right
this
second
for
an
imminent
threat
or
something
a
little
more
substantial
capable
of
getting
you
through
the
long
haul,
you
are
bound
to
find
several
that
will
do
the
job
on
the
list
below.

20
DIY
Weapons
that
May
Save
Your
Life!

1.
Club

If
the
humble
club
was
not
the
very
first
weapon
that
mankind
devised
then
I
don’t
know
what
was.

You
can
make
a
club
out
of
almost
anything
sturdy
they
can
withstand
impact,
but
they
all
do
the
same
thing
for
you,
providing
you
with
reach
and
greater
power
as
well
as
protecting
your
hand
from
impact
compared
to
relying
upon
fisticuffs.

No
matter
where
you
go
it
is
a
virtual
certainty
you’ll
be
able
to
improvise
a
club
out
of
something,
be
it
in
a
corner
of
human
civilization
or
deep
in
the
wilderness.

A
sturdy
branch
works
wonders,
especially
one
from
hardwood
like
hickory
or
oak,
but
you
could
also
make
a
handy
one
out
of
a
table
leg,
armrest,
old
tool
handle
or
the
sturdy
metal
of
a
serving
cart
handle
or
a
piece
of
discarded
piping.

Once
you
have
your
club
in
hand,
you
know
what
to
do.
Aim
for
the
head,
and
swing
for
the
fences.

A
club
can
make
an
excellent
ambush
weapon
in
any
situation
where
you
need
to
hide
or
shelter
in
place,
and
is
easily
capable
of
disabling
an
attacker’s
limb
holding
a
weapon
or
brain
them
outright
if
you
get
the
drop
on
them.

2.
Mace

A
mace
has
much
in
common
with
a
club,
but
whereas
most
clubs
are
more
or
less
uniformly
straight
and
symmetrical
with
perhaps
some
minor
reinforcement
on
the
impact
end,
a
mace
features
a
prominent,
rugged
protrusion
perched
on
top,
capable
of
dramatically
amplifying
impact
forces.

Maces
have
been
effective
weapons
in
close
combat
for
ages,
and
though
they
are
seen
as
archaic
weapons
today
the
principles
behind
their
operation
are
no
less
effective.

A
mace
is
a
DIY
weapon
you
can
fashion
yourself
as
an
improvement
to
the
humble
club
if
you
have
the
right
materials
at
hand
and
some
time
to
work
on
it.

Starting
with
a
sturdy
club
as
a
handle,
fashioning
an
oversized,
smashing
head,
particularly
one
made
from
metal,
to
the
end
and
then
securing
it
against
repeated
impacts
will
give
you
a
SHTF
survival
weapon
that
can
go
the
distance,
or
a
truly
devastating
first
strike
implement.

A
simple
mace
can
be
made
from
a
hardwood
baseball
bat
using
nothing
more
than
strips
of
riveted
pig
iron
attached
to
the
top.
The
additional
weight
and
the
protruding
rivets
will
smash
the
daylights
out
of
anything
you
strike.

3.
Axe

The
axe
is
another
ancient
tool,
one
that
has
seen
an
estimable
use
in
the
forest
and
on
the
battlefield.

A
sharpened,
splitting
wedge
perched
atop
a
stout
handle
is
capable
of
cleaving
through
the
densest
hardwood
with
a
handful
of
whacks,
and
so
can
easily
do
the
same
thing
to
flesh
and
bone.

First
things
first,
if
you
are
without
a
weapon
and
are
in
any
place
that
has
a
fire
axe
stashed
as
an
emergency
tool,
don’t
be
afraid
to
grab
that
and
get
your
Jack
Torrance
on.

But
assuming
you
do
not
have
a
proper
ax
handy
that
you
can
repurpose
as
a
weapon,
you
can
make
your
own.
Any
beefy,
sharpened
wedge-shaped
piece
of
metal
that
you
can
attach
to
a
handle
will
do
the
job,
at
least
in
the
short
term.

You
might
not
be
playing
proper
lumberjack
with
it
for
very
long,
but
I
can
promise
you
it
will
likely
hold
up
long
enough
to
put
an
attacker
in
a
world
of
hurt.

In
a
wilderness
survival
situation,
an
ax
can
be
made
from
a
sharp,
napped
piece
of
rock
or
bone
and
then
lashed
securely
to
a
notch
in
your
handle
in
the
same
fashion
that
ancient,
primitive
axes
and
tomahawks
were
made.

4.
Spear

Swords
might
get
all
the
glory
on
the
ancient
battlefield
but
it
is
spears,
and
a
whole
lot
of
them,
that
have
done
the
heavy
lifting
and
much
of
the
killing
through
the
ages.

A
spear
is
truly
an
ideal
close
combat
weapon
so
long
as
you
have
the
room
to
wield
it.
A
spear
affords
you
stand
off
capability,
ease
of
use
and
deadly
effect
all
for
an
entirely
minimal
investment
of
time
and
material.

Like
most
of
our
other
primitive
DIY
weapons
we
have
covered
so
far,
a
spear
is
usually
born
of
a
lengthy
handle,
one
that
is
about
as
long
as
you
are
tall
in
this
case,
and
a
sharpened
leaf
or
arrow-shaped
point
on
the
end.
Happily,
there
are
all
kinds
of
things
you
can
use
to
fashion
a
spear.

Scrap
metal,
a
carefully
folded
and
sharpened
steel
can,
a
broken
circuit
board
and
even
your
trusty
pocket
knife
can
all
be
affixed
to
the
haft
using
cordage
or
duct
tape
with
the
expectation
that
it
will
hold
up
for
several
strikes
at
the
very
least.

Spears
are
also
versatile
and
make
for
powerful
if
short
ranged
thrown
weapons.
For
self-defense
against
dangerous
animals
and
humans
alike
they
work
quite
well,
but
you
shouldn’t
underestimate
their
usefulness
when
hunting
either.

5.
Fist
Load

A
fist
load
is
any
object
that
can
be
gripped
comfortably
and
tightly
in
a
closed
fist
with
the
purpose
of
adding
mass,
and
therefore
power,
to
a
thrown
punch.
Fist
loads
are
notorious
street
fighter
weapons
and
can
be
fashioned
from
any
compact,
dense
cylindrical
object.

Probably
the
most
famous,
or
rather
infamous,
is
a
roll
of
nickels
or
quarters
grasped
and
held
in
the
hand
for
the
purpose
but
a
compact
length
of
pipe
or
even
a
small
sack
of
lead
shot
can
be
used
too.

Now,
a
fist
load
does
give
your
hand
additional
structure
when
punching
but
it
does
not
obviate
the
need
for
good
technique
if
you
want
to
avoid
self-injury
when
punching
someone.

In
fact,
throwing
a
punch
or
connecting
with
poor
technique
when
holding
a
fist
load
could
very
well
result
in
more
injury
than
normal
so
make
sure
you
practice
a
little
bit
to
get
the
feel
of
it
if
you
plan
on
employing
this
technique.

For
additional
mayhem,
a
spiked
fist
load
can
be
used
which
as
the
name
suggests
is
any
device
held
in
the
hand
that
allows
spikes
or
prongs
to
protrude
from
between
the
fingers
–
sort
of
like
Wolverine’s
retractable
claws.

One
gruesome
variation
on
this
technique
involves
a
roll
of
quarters
loaded
about
six
quarters
short
of
full
and
then
piercing
the
roll
with
common
nails
spaced
to
fit
the
user’s
hand.
Capable
of
producing
a
devastating
blow
that
is
difficult
to
see
coming!

6.
Carabiner

A
properly
sized,
load
rated
and
locking
carabiner
can
function
very
much
like
brass
knuckles
in
a
pinch.

Whatever
you
might
think
about
the
legality
or
efficacy
of
brass
knuckles,
there
is
no
denying
that
having
a
hardened
alloy
or
steel
loop
around
your
fist
can
help
you
dole
out
some
serious
pain
and,
hopefully,
protect
your
hand
when
striking
at
the
same
time.

This
is
a
great
option
for
sensitive
environments
because
carabiners
have
become
a
common
fixture
pretty
much
everywhere
as
tool
hangers
or
key
rings.

This
means
that
no
one
should
give
you
a
second
look
if
you
just
so
happen
to
have
one
among
your
possessions.
set
yourself
up
for
success
by
making
sure
the
gate
on
your
carabiner
locks
securely
closed
with
a
threading
collar
so
it
doesn’t
open
and
impale
your
hand
on
impact.

Also,
take
the
time
to
try
to
find
an
oval
one
that
will
fit
around
your
fingers
as
well
as
can
be
expected
to
further
minimize
the
chances
of
injury.

7.

Kubotan

A
kubaton,
sometimes
known
as
a
yawara
stick,
is
an
ultra-compact
baton,
sort
of
like
a
miniature
club,
used
for
striking
sensitive
parts
of
the
body,
increasing
the
effectiveness
of
various
joint
locks
and
for
pressure
point
manipulation.

This
is
an
undoubtedly
effective
weapon
for
a
skilled
martial
arts
practitioner
who
can
make
the
best
use
of
it,
but
for
us
mere
mortals
it
can
still
dramatically
focus
the
force
of
a
blow
and
create
some
really
screaming
pain
upon
impact
with
an
attacker.

Usually
made
from
high
impact
plastic,
wood
or
metal,
you
can
get
very
much
the
same
effect
by
using
a
short
length
of
pipe,
a
hardwood
dowel
or
even
a
metal
pen.

You
can
probably
look
around
the
environment
you
are
in
right
now
and
spot
at
least
two
things
that
could
work
as
a
kubaton
in
a
pinch.

8.
Shank
/
Shiv

An
improvised,
field
expedient
knife
or
spike,
more
often
known
by
its
slang
term
of
shank
or
shiv,
especially
in
convict
parlance,
is
a
perennial,
ubiquitous
weapon
that
can
be
found
in
any
tightly
controlled
environment
like
a
penitentiary
or
anywhere
else
that
prisoners
might
be
held.

Human
ingenuity
knows
no
bounds,
and
you
can
prove
it
by
looking
at
the
sheer
variety
and
intricacy
in
the
designs
and
materials
used
to
craft
shifts
in
prisons
all
over
the
world,
even
the
most
rigorously
monitored
maximum
security
joints.

Anything
that
can
keep
a
point
or
produce
an
edge
can
be
made
into
a
shiv.
You
could
take
the
plastic
handle
of
a
dish
brush
and
whittle
it
into
a
stabbing
point.

The
tiny,
delicately
flexible
blades
of
a
disposable
razor
could
be
carefully
removed
and
glued
or
set
into
the
heated
handle
of
a
toothbrush
to
form
a
slashing
weapon.

Scrap
iron
or
metal
of
any
kind
could
be
ground
on
a
concrete
floor
into
a
killing
edge.
A
broken
circuit
board
or
carefully
turned
piece
of
thick
wire
could
do
much
the
same
and
on
and
on.

The
only
limitation
on
the
efficacy
and
refinement
of
your
shiv
is
how
much
time
you
can
spend
creating
it.

Several
hours
or
a
half
days
worth
of
work
could
produce
a
crude
knife
that
could
arrival
a
production
model.
Quick
thinking
and
a
few
seconds
could
see
the
barrel
of
a
plastic,
disposable
pin
snapped
off
turning
it
into
an
oversized
hypodermic
needle
suitable
for
thrusting.

9.
Flail

A
flail
is
another
medieval
weapon,
one
equal
parts
renowned
and
reviled
for
its
capricious
effectiveness.

Consisting
of
a
chain
or
rope
with
a
weighted
striking
end
mounted
to
a
handle,
sometimes
with
spikes,
prongs
or
other
embellishments,
a
flail
relies
on
the
momentum
of
the
flexible
head
to
inflict
positively
devastating
wounds.

However,
a
missed
strike
leaves
the
wielder
wide
open
or,
even
worse,
may
allow
the
striking
part
to
double
back
on
the
user
with
disastrous
results.

You
can
easily
fashion
your
own
flail
quickly
from
a
variety
of
materials.
A
common
belt
with
a
heavy
buckle
can
inflict
serious
blunt
and
tearing
injuries
whereas
the
biker
gang
favorite
of
a
length
of
heavy
chain
is
ready
to
go
all
on
its
own,
and
can
be
made
even
more
effective
by
simply
clicking
a
padlock
on
to
the
end.

One
prepper-centric
variation
is
the
monkey’s
fist
knot
usually
crafted
from
paracord
and
easily
enhanced
by
inserting
a
heavy
stone
or
ball
bearing
into
the
center
of
the
knot.

This
is
another
weapon
that
is
devastating
in
its
first
strike
capability.

10.
“Loaded”
Umbrella

Sometimes
you
need
to
go

really
low
profile
while
remaining
armed,
but
what
are
you
supposed
to
do
if
you
are
in
an
environment
where
any
overt
weapon,
or
discovery
that
you
have
armed
yourself,
could
mean
serious
consequences?
In
that
case,
it
is
time
to
get
your
secret
agent
on
with
a
weaponized
umbrella.

Sometimes
employed
by
European
gangsters
in
tightly
policed
environments,
a
loaded
umbrella
takes
a
little
bit
of
setup
to
craft
but
is
well
worth
the
trouble.

All
you
need
to
do
is
open
the
umbrella
and
then
zip
tie
or
tape
a
variety
of
common
crescent
or
box
and
wrenches
along
its
length,
and
the
longer
the
wrench
the
better
since
this
will
add
much
needed
stability.
Then,
simply
close
the
umbrella,
secure
the
velcro
or
button
wrap,
and
go
on
about
your
day.

Most
umbrellas
are
seen
as
harmless
considering
they
are
so
lightweight
and
flimsy,
but
swatting
someone
over
the
head
with
this
one
could
easily
stave
in
their
skull.

11.
“Millwall
Brick”

The
Millwall
brick
is
an
ingenious
improvised
weapon
one
with
a
decidedly
dodgy
and
unsavory
history.

Made
of
little
more
than
a
common
newspaper,
sometimes
embellished
with
other
gruesome
implements
as
we
will
learn
in
a
moment,
this
weapon
was
named
for
the
Millwall
F.C.
soccer
team,
and
made
rightly
infamous
through
its
use
by
countless
hooligans,
spreading
rapidly
through
Europe
and
remaining
common
to
this
very
day
in
criminal
sectors.

All
you
need
to
do
to
craft
your
own
Millwall
brick
is
a
few
sheets
of
newspaper,
opened
wide.

Fold
one
set
of
opposite
corners
together
and
then
tightly
roll
up
until
it
forms
a
dense
bundle.
Now
fold
it
in
half
again
using
the
other
set
of
corners
and
you
should
have
a
small,
lumpy
club
capable
of
breaking
bones.

You
can
make
your
Millwall
brick
even
better
by
soaking
it
in
water
and
then
allowing
it
to
dry
after
creating
it
or
by
taping
the
open
ends
together
to
improve
the
handle.

Some
hooligans
even
turn
these
weapons
into
a
sort
of
garbage-craft
tomahawk
by
driving
a
nail
through
the
center
before
folding
it
together
at
the
end,
or
embedding
weighted
stones
or
sharpened
spines
of
metal
into
the
fold.

12.
Rolled-up
Magazine

You
read
that
right.
A
sort
of
cousin
to
the
Millwall
brick,
a
common,
glossy
stock
magazine
that
is
rolled
up
as
tightly
as
you
can
manage
and
grasped
firmly
forms
of
the
equivalent
of
a
pulp
nightstick.
Blows
from
such
a
weapon
can
easily
concuss
someone.

Like
the
Millwall
brick,
this
is
one
weapon
that
you’ll
reliably
be
able
to
create
no
matter
where
you
go
and
what
environment
you
are
in
so
long
as
it
is
a
human
settlement.
Magazines,
newspapers
and
their
equivalents
are
so
ubiquitous
as
to
be
found
basically
everywhere
at
any
given
time.

Also
like
the
Millwall
brick,
the
more
time
you
can
spend
creating
it
the
better
it
gets.
Giving
your
roll
up
magazine
a
wrap
in
duct
tape
along
its
length
will
help
prevent
it
from
loosening,
thus
robbing
it
of
effectiveness.

13.
Glass
Bottle

The
nastiest
weapon
in
any
bar
fight
is
the
simple
glass
beer
bottle.
Smashing
a
glass
bottle
over
someone’s
head
or
across
their
face
will
produce
a
stunning
impact
and
gruesome
lacerations
simultaneously.

Once
the
bottle
has
broken,
you’re
still
left
with
the
neck
and
its
jagged
end,
a
dreadful
slashing
weapon.

Glass
bottles,
mugs,
steins
and
similar
drinkware
are
found
pretty
much
everywhere,
meaning
you
will
usually
have
ready
access
to
a
glass
vessel
ready
to
be
turned
immediately
to
use
as
a
horrifying
weapon.

Consider
super
sizing
this
acquisition
by
grabbing
a
wine
bottle
instead,
a
bottle
that
is
famously
difficult
to
break
in
comparison
thanks
to
its
thicker
construction.

As
always,
this
is
one
of
those
weapons
that
can
be
just
as
dangerous
to
the
user
as
it
is
to
the
target
and
if
you
have
time
to
don
a
glove
or
grab
the
neck
with
a
thick
napkin
or
towel
you
can
provide
yourself
a
modicum
of
protection
against
lacerating
your
own
hand
should
the
entirety
of
the
bottle
shatter.

14.
Lamp
Cord

Sometimes
when
the
chips
are
down
and
you
are
being
cornered
or
hunted
you’ll
need
to
pull
out
all
the
stops.
As
a
surreptitious
ambush
weapon
or
unexpected

coup
de
grace
a
strangling
ligature
can
be
made
from
any
strong
length
of
rope,
cord
or
wire.

Common
lamp
wire,
found
everywhere
attached
to
everything
from
printers
to
appliances
and
lamps,
as
expected,
is
surprisingly
sturdy
and
easily
repurposed
as
a
strangling
weapon.

But
this
is
a
weapon
that
you’ll
need
to
employ
with
devious
strategy,
as
it
won’t
do
anything
but
sting
and
annoy
if
used
in
any
other
way.

No,
for
this
improvised
DIY
weapon
to
do
the
job
you’ll
need
to
loop
it
over
the
attacker’s
neck,
preferably
from
behind,
and
then
pull
and
pull
and
pull
until
the
thrashing
stops.

This
is
a
niche
weapon
for
highly
specific
defensive
applications
but
if
it
is
all
you
have
close
at
hand
it
is
time
to
get
sneaky
and
do
what
needs
to
be
done.

15.
Slingshot

A
rare
improvised
projectile
weapon,
the
humble
slingshot
is
much
more
than
that
implement
of
choice
for
childhood
menaces.

At
its
simplest
nothing
more
than
a
length
of
elastic
cord
or
tubing
with
a
pouch
to
hold
a
projectile
and
affixed
to
a
forked
branch,
a
properly
made
slingshot
is
capable
of
launching
a
projectile
with
impressive
effect
and
equally
impressive
accuracy.

This
is
a
weapon
that
will
require
a
little
bit
of
scavenging
and
your
undivided
attention
to
craft,
so
it
is
not
something
you’ll
be
able
to
whip
out
at
the
instant
when
an
attack
starts.

However,
for
survival
situations
in
the
wilderness
or
for
potentially
distracting
or
maiming
a
human
adversary
a
slingshot
is
hard
to
beat
when
you
need
some
distance
for
safety.

16.
Windmill
Boomerang

This
is
another
ranged
weapon,
a
throwing
one,
only
it
will
not
return
to
you
despite
the
name
unless
you
go
pick
it
up
yourself.

Sometimes
referred
to
as
a
windmill
star,
this
is
nothing
more
than
a
pair
of
straight
branches
or
other
sturdy,
symmetrical
members
that
are
lashed
together
in
an
equilateral
cross
shape
with
each
member
being
equal
in
length.

In
use,
it
is
thrown
overhand
with
force,
and
the
design
maximizes
the
chances
that
the
target
will
be
struck
squarely
for
maximum
damage.

Originally
designed
for
hunting
and
implemented
in
various
guises
by
various
cultures
across
the
globe
throughout
history
it
remains
an
easy
to
assemble
and
highly
effective
throwing
weapon
today.

If
you
are
stuck
in
a
wilderness
setting,
and
have
access
to
a
little
bit
of
sturdy
cordage
and
a
knife
you
already
have
everything
you
need
to
fashion
this
weapon
once
you
can
locate
a
couple
of
suitable
branches.

17.
Fire
Extinguisher

A
fire
extinguisher
is
typically
employed
for
preventing
harm,
not
causing
it,
but
in
a
pinch
they
make
surprisingly
capable
weapons
useful
in
various
ways.

First,
and
most
obviously,
the
dense,
roiling
cloud
of
chemicals
produced
by
most
fire
extinguishers
makes
for
an
excellent
smoke
screen,
and
when
directed
into
the
face
of
an
attacker
will
handily
blind
and
begin
to
asphyxiate
them,
allowing
you
to
make
good
your
escape
or
launch
a
follow-up
attack
that
is
more
decisive.

Additionally,
fire
extinguishers
are
pressure
vessels,
and
that
means
they
are
usually
made
from
extremely
tough,
high
grade
steel,
the
kind
of
steel
that
packs
a
major
wallop
when
it
is
smashed
into
somebody’s
head
with
enthusiasm.

We
already
have
a
couple
instances
on
record
of
people
trapped
in
buildings
by
terrorists
or
psychopaths
who
used
a
fire
extinguisher
to
good
effect
so
you
know
it
will
work
for
you
when
all
other
options
are
unavailable.

One
quick
note,
make
sure
you
aren’t
using
a
fire
extinguisher
that
is
really
just
a
pressurized
water
caster
as
squirting
your
attacker
in
the
face
with
a
stream
of
water
might
only
give
them
a
chuckle
before
they
shoot
you.

18.
Flamethrower

Well,
we
talked
about
a
weapon
usually
employed
for
putting
out
fires,
now
it
is
time
to

start
a
couple
of
fires
of
our
own.

If
you
had
an
adventurous
childhood
like
I
did,
there
probably
came
a
point
where
you
did
the
old
homemade
flamethrower
trick
using
an
aerosol
can
of
flammable
material
and
a
match
or
lighter.
Sound
familiar?
Then
you
already
know
how
this
works!

To
employ
this
weapon,
hopefully
as
a
total
surprise
to
your
adversary,
all
you
need
to
do
is
locate
any
pressurized
can
full
of
material
that
has
a
highly
visible
and
obnoxious
warning
about
the
flammability
of
its
contents.

With
that
done,
grab
your
trusty
Bic
or
Zippo-
you

do
carry
a
lighter,
don’t
you?-
ignite,
and
then
spray
the
contents
of
the
can
through
the
flame
from
a
couple
of
inches
away.

The
result
is
going
to
be
a
large
and
impressive
fireball,
and
depending
on
the
contents
of
the
can
the
burning
fuel
might
stick
to
the
target.

At
any
rate,
this
can
inflict
hideous
burns
and
will
surely
distract
any
attacker
it
is
employed
against.
With
a
little
luck,
they
will
catch
fire
and
have
bigger
problems
to
worry
about
besides
killing
little,
old
you.

As
you
might
expect,
you
should
use
the
greatest
possible
care
under
the
circumstances
to
keep
from
setting
yourself
or
the
surrounding
environment
on
fire.

19.
Scalding
Liquid

Sometimes
the
most
effective
weapons
are
the
most
innocuous.
There
isn’t
a
human
being
alive
that
isn’t
extremely
vulnerable
to
high
temperature
liquid,
and
it
is
a
“shame”
then
that
there
is
so
much
of
it
all
around
us
at
any
given
time
if
only
you
have
the
clarity
of
mind
to
make
use
of
it
when
you
need
a
weapon
and
are
caught
empty-handed.

Fresh,
screaming-hot
coffee,
tea
or
soup
can
be
slung
into
an
attacker’s
face
to
inflict
terrible
pain
and
blind
them.

This
might
be
your
first
line
of
defense
if
you
are
in
a
restaurant
and
have
any
clothes
at
hand,
or
in
a
convenience
store
or
gas
station
that
is
currently
being
robbed
as
there
is
always
hot
coffee
on
or
boiling
water
available
for
tea.

20.
Crow’s
Feet

Some
weapons
are
best
used
to
cover
an
escape
or
prevent
the
advance
of
an
enemy.
One
such
ancient
weapon
that
remains
in
use
all
the
way
up
to
today
around
the
world
is
the
crow’s
foot,
or
caltrop.

These
jagged,
jangly
spiny
contractions
are
comprised
of
a
roughly
pyramid
shaped
arrangement
of
four
spikes
originating
from
a
central
connecting
point.

In
use,
no
matter
how
they
are
thrown,
dropped,
launched
or
scattered
there
will
always
be
a
point
sticking
up
with
the
other
three
resting
on
the
ground.

Usually
made
from
iron
or
steel,
and
more
than
capable
of
puncturing
normal
footwear
to
say
nothing
of
bare
feet,
you
can
make
your
own
if
you
are
handy
with
welding
or
soldering
or
quickly
fashion
some
from
scrap
metal
or
nails
and
strong
two-part
epoxy.

Seasoning
these
ahead
of
the
likely
route
of
advance
of
an
attacker
means
they
will
have
to
slow
down
to
pick
their
way
through
the
field
or
make
noise
if
they
want
to
get
through
it
in
a
hurry,
hopefully
alerting
you
to
their
presence.

But
if
they
advance
upon
the
field
of
crow’s
feet
and
they
aren’t
aware
of
their
presence,
don’t
worry,
they
will
be
sounding
off
mightily
soon
enough!

Conclusion

Being
unarmed
doesn’t
mean
you
have
to
stay
that
way.
Your
first
weapon
is
your
brain,
and
using
it,
along
with
some
tips
and
tricks
in
this
guide,
means
you’ll
always
be
able
to
produce
or
fashion
on
improvised
weapon
for
any
situation.

From
medieval
implements
made
with
modern
materials
to
weapons
of
opportunity
or
desperation
and
even
repurposed
common
goods
or
junk
many
of
the
weapons
on
this
list
can
be
just
as
devastating
as
their
purpose
made
counterparts.