Long ago, in the distant past, beyond the horizon of written history, a momentous event occurred. An ancient human picked up a blunt object and beat another to death for the first time. That moment changed the world forever.
Since then the art of self defense and the advance of weaponry have grown along with humans. Entire arts forms have formed around specific self defense weapons. Inventing techniques and methods to hone these deadly weapons to perfection over centuries.
And as civilization advanced, it became necessary to learn how to wield these weapons. And this trend has stopped even today. Self defense weapons are still prevalent and relevant in our modern times. They are a critical item to own and know how to use for self-preservation and protection.
No matter your size or gender self defense weapons can even the playing field. Providing even meek individuals with an upper hand in a deadly encounter. However, there are hundreds of self defense weapons out the market today. Almost too many to choose from.
It’s both a wonderful and overwhelming situation.
There are lots of choices but how does one settle on a single option…So, Skilled Survival decided it was time we put together a list. A catalog of the most popular and useful, and insane weapons for self defense.
A list to help you decide which self defense weapon is right for you.
- Tasers
- Mace / Pepper Spray
- Brass Knuckles
- Credit Card Knives
- Tactical Pens
- The StrikeLight
- Monkey Fist
- Hands And Feet
- The Quarterstaff
- Sword or Machete
- Tonfa / Nightstick
- Nunchucks
- Tri-Section Staff
- Hyper Whistle
- Key Knives
- Cell Phone Stun Gun
MODERN SELF DEFENSE WEAPONS
Since the advent of those ancient self defense weapons, a lot has changed.
- Fights have gotten dirtier
- Technology has gotten better
- The martial discipline has diminished
And weapons, well, they’ve changed with the times.
Today, we have a staggering variety of modern-day weapons of self defense.
Most that take little to no formal training to use effectively.
Most of these modern weapons can be operated by an idiot, in fact. Which makes them perfect for society at large.
1- Tasers
Civilians use them for self defense, and some people use them on their friends for fun.
But if you’ve ever seen a video of a real taser shocking a real person, then you understand that these are not simple toys.
These powerful, futuristic weapons are compact.
Making them small enough to fit inside a pocket or purse comfortably.
Some are handheld and require direct contact. Others are fired from a pistol using a gas canister.
But they all pack a nasty punch.
And when used against an attacker they can render them immobile to ensure your escape.
Plus, they are classified as a non lethal weapon.
So you don’t have to worry about killing someone you used it on (unless they were wearing a pacemaker).
2- Mace / Pepper Spray
Pepper Spray is a classic, easy-to-use self defense weapon, it’s cheap, and it works.
It’s made to chemically burn every pore of human flesh it comes into contact with.
When sprayed into the face or the exposed genitals of a male assailant, it will drop them to their knees.
We recommend Devil Juice Pepper Spray.
Devil Juice is measured at 3,000,000 SHU – an astounding 300 times hotter than the jalapeno pepper!
Plus, anyone can use pepper spray without having to take an advanced series of classes.
Sure, you should practice using it but that can be done in a 10-minute backyard session.
3- Brass Knuckles
You can buy all different kinds of them, but generally, they all achieve the same effect.
A punch with a pair of brass knuckles is more like striking someone with a medieval flail.
These can be pretty brutal when put to real use.
So be sure you have the stomach for a hemorrhaging face, brain fluid, and nasal matter.
4- Credit Card Knives
You can quickly slip them out of your wallet and into the jugular artery of your attacker.
- Some credit card knives come with folding blades built into them.
- Others are just sharpened rectangles of steel.
- Some of them even function as survival multitools.
But all they all make a decent last resort self-defense weapon in a pinch.
5- Tactical Pens
The best everyday carry weapons double as ordinary everyday objects.
The tactical pen is a perfect example of this. It works just like a pen and looks like a pen.
But when danger rears its ugly head, it can be used to jab, stab, and batter the living hell out of an opponent.
Some of them even double as multi-tools.
I’ve seen ones containing knives, scrapers, screwdrivers, and even flashlights.
StrikePen
For example – The StrikePen is a whole pocketful of EDC tools rolled into one milled aluminum package.
From the bright LED flashlight to the interchangeable tooltips.
The StrikePen is a serious piece of survival gear.
The solid tungsten steel striker tip makes it an excellent close-quarters weapon. Plus it doubles as an emergency glass breaker!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a StrikePEN if it didn’t write with a smooth black ball-tip point.
The bottom line is if you know how to use a tactical pen properly, it can stop an intruder in their tracks.
6- The StrikeLight
When you awake in the middle of the night to investigate a noise – do you take a tactical flashlight or a baseball bat?
With the StrikeLight, you take both!
It includes a powerful LED flashlight and multiple light modes. The best self-defense mode being a disorienting strobe setting.
With a StrikeLight, you’ll intimate a threat and head off a more serious altercation.
If the situation goes from bad to worse, the solid aluminum construction lets you use the light as a baton.
Plus, the aggressive teeth and endpoints make quick work of anyone on the receiving end of your swing.
If you need a little more reach, the barrel extends another 4 inches with the twist of a wrist. That’s 4 more inches of intimidation!
7- Monkey Fist
One of my very favorite self-defense tools is also one of the oldest – a Monkey Fist Knot.
The monkey fist surrounds a heavy ball with wraps of rope, giving you a weighted end on your line.
They’re great throwing a length of rope over a tree branch – or to make a devastating close-quarters weapon.
Benefits Of Modern Day Weapons
Most of these weapons are easy to use.
That’s one of the most significant benefits of using them.
Unlike ancient martial arts weapons, they don’t require extensive training to use.
Most are also “non-lethal” (unlike swords and some other martial arts weapons).
This means you can defend yourself without worrying about becoming a murderer yourself.
So your conscience can rest easy.
Finally, these modern weapons of self defense are more concealable than ancient self defense weapons.
You can keep tasers in your bag, you can keep mace on a keychain, you can hide a tactical pen in your shirt pocket!
It’s far more realistic to carry modern self defense weaponry than any of the ancient options.
ANCIENT SELF DEFENSE WEAPONS
Back in the day, before tasers and mace, people used their hands.
They either used their bare hands or a hand-held instrument to protect themselves.
These blunt force objects were the primary weapon to combat the dangers of life.
These are known as weapons of martial arts.
8- Hands And Feet
There are weapons attached to your body – if you know how to use them correctly.
And while it may seem obvious, it’s still worth pointing out.
With proper training, body parts become lethal weapons for self defense.
It’s difficult to overstate the usefulness of these hand and feet only arts. We’re talking about martial art forms such as:
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Hapkido
- Aikido
- Jujitsu
- Muy Thai
- Krav maga
If you can become proficient in any of them, you will never be unarmed – even in your sleep.
9- The QuarterStaff
The staff has been trendy throughout history for two main reasons:
1) Staffs are innocent-looking.
People often carrying them for walking, hiking, or just to look cool.
2) They can be lethal in the right hands.
Staffs are great for self defense because they easily parry and block attacks.
There are long staffs, bo staffs, jo staffs, hiking staffs, walking staffs, even canes kind of count.
And they all have specific defenses you can learn from an instructor.
If you want to be proficient with a fighting staff, it’s become you picked up this highly rated book, read it, and put it into practice.
10- The Sword or Machete
It’s lethal, it’s personal and comes in just about every shape, style, and size imaginable.
However, they take considerable skill to wield effectively.
But if you become an expert with a katana or a saber, you become a death knight unto yourself.
Or better yet, get a more practical large blade – The Survival Machete.
11- Tonfa/Nightstick
The nightsticks that police officers use are based on the tonfa design (kind of an “L” shape).
They are traditionally wielded in pairs, but a single one will do just as well.
If you can whip one of these bad boys out, and strike your attacker in the head, a nightstick is utterly deadly.
12- Nunchucks
You don’t have to be Bruce Lee to use a pair of these effectively.
There are some very basic strikes, easy enough for anyone to learn, regardless of skill level.
Not only that, but they come in some very compact, very discreet sizes.
This means you can easily hide a set in your vehicle’s center console, in a backpack, or inside of a purse.
Plus they just look freakin’ awesome.
Pros and Cons Of Ancient Weapons For Self Defense
The pros of any of these martial weapons of self defense are obvious.
First off, they’re badass.
If you can fight off a gang of muggers using a pair of nunchucks or a katana, you are going down as a legend of the streets.
The cons, however, are just as obvious.
This is the year 2018, and people don’t often go around carrying walking staffs or swords.
Some of these (like the nunchucks) can be concealed.
But by in large, chances are, when trouble occurs, it won’t be when your trusty tonfa is tucked away in your dobak.
Chances are it’s going to catch you unawares and unprepared, as trouble, always seems to.
WEIRD WEAPONS FOR SELF DEFENSE
These we had to include just because they are so strange, so unique and so irregular.
Some are not practical at all.
Some might actually work, but they’re all weird and wacky in their own way.
Who knows, though, maybe you’ll find one that’s perfect for you.
That one-off, insane weapon that strikes your fancy and fits your lifestyle.
Or, you’ll get a couple of chuckles out of this section.
Either way, it’s worth including.
13 Tri-Section Staffs
There’s a fair chance you’ll knock yourself out using one of these, then cause any harm to the attacker.
If you haven’t been properly trained with a tri-section staff beware.
You will undoubtedly walk away from an attempt to use a tri-section staff with a lot of bruises.
If you’re a master of Chinese martial weapons, go for it. If not, well, you might be better off with a taser.
14- Hyper Whistle
With 142dB sound levels, The HyperWhistle is disorienting and painful at close quarters.
It’s against human nature to attack someone with a 142dB alarm going off!
Even if your attacker persists, this loud whistle will draw attention from as far as two miles away.
A survival whistle is a smart device to add to your self defense weapon arsenal.
15 Key Knives
Within them, though, they conceal a folding blade that can be pulled out at a moment’s notice.
16 Cell Phone Stun Guns
They work, but you’re going to have to carry two phones on you (the real one and the stun gun one).
At that point, you might as well just buy an actual stun gun/taser.
THE FINAL WORD
When it comes to using weapons for self defense, it’s all means necessary.
You use whatever you have to to keep yourself safe and protected.
If that means carrying a katana around with you everywhere you go, so be it… I guess.
But you can also carry mace, extending batons, tasers.
These are more practical weapons for the same purposes.
We aren’t here to tell you how to defend yourself, though.
Choose the weapon you like and that you will feel most comfortable using.
However, some people may use self defense weapons for evil, too.
In the wrong hands, they can become weapons of offense.
That is not only dangerous to others, but it’s also outright dishonorable.
Use your self defense weapons, for self defense only.
Use them for good.
Because once you get that kind of power in your hands – you have a moral choice.
How will you conduct yourself? How do you choose to survive?