If your hands are arthritic...

[Hank_Z]

I just received the Sharkie (not Sharpie) markers that I had ordered. These suckers are extremely strong and can be used effectively in self-defense. Hitting and thrusting.

I bought one for my wife. Her hands are painful and weak due to arthritis that's attacked them over the years. We don't think she can hold onto them with enough strength for them to be very effective in self-defense.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how someone with severe arthritis in both hands can use Sharkies, pens, pencils, and other similar items in self-defense? (I did buy a pepper spray device for her.)

Hank

[MikeNY]

Hank get her a kitty kat keychain holder I googled it. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADBF&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=kitty+kat+keychain&spell=1

Most are either hard plastic and some are metal. Either way easier to use than a Highlighter. Those Highlighters make great yawara sticks and are easy to use.

[Hank_Z]

Thanks for the info, Mike and Donna. We're not sure if she could hold that keychain holder while striking someone. There's one other big consideration for us that may not apply to many people in the U.S.

In Costa Rica, the person defending himself/herself has to be extremely careful to keep from landing in prison. Our knowledgeable attorney strongly recommended using, whenever possible, self-defense items that (i) can reasonably be used for purposes other than inflicting injury (the Sharkie can be used as a regular marker) and/or (ii) weapons that are not likely to inflict serious injury. Items like the Sharkies, steel writing pens, pencils, very solid pocket flashlights, and pepper spray fit these criteria. The sharp prongs on the keychain device don't really fit those two criteria and could cause us legal problems.

Hank

[Grant Douglass]

g'ay Hank z , about the arthritis , i've got it in a couple of fingers.
have you looked at things like glucosamine with condriotin. ? works well.
also regualar exercise & movement are good too.
check out some chinese " Chi gung ' metal balls.

About the size of golf balls or bigger if need be .
i;ve got about 15 various sets from golf ball size to gorrilla balls size from stone to marble & metal.
don't get the enamel ones , if you accidently drop the they chip badly.
mate go down this path along with finger exercises, the balls, & medication .

training & weapons are another story ,medications & movement are a good place to start.
digger

[Grant Douglass]

G'day Donna, how are you darl?
it's nice to see someone finally come up with something that is beautifull to the eye & VERY practicle.
now this is the kind of item i would love to road test & give a write up.

I think what sets this apart from all the other weaponry out there is ONE BIG FACTOR!

it looks like a cute keyring, NOT an OFFENSIVE WEAPON OF LETHAL PROPORTIONS>

This is the kind of article that being plastic & gentle in design won't get a second glance.

note the design is spot on for ripping, maiming, stabbing & genarally creating mayhem.
If this little keyring could stand up to some serious work out , it would be near top of the list in non agressive looking weapons.( sleepers)

Donna if you would like few tips on a variety of ways to apply i t , let me know & i'd be happy to email you somethings to read & ponder.
thanks darl , for dropping this in for us to look at.
Truely less offensive then a standard blade, a whole lot less deadly then a gun & a lawsuit.

a viable option. Donna
ta cobba digger

[Larry Wick]

Hi Everyone,

As I have come to expect on this forum, great ideas and suggestions from all. To use any type of weapon it is important that it is useless and potentially dangerous if you cannot deploy it quickly and use it effectively. Any time a weapon is used for self-defense there is always the chance it may be used against yourself if not used in a way to stop and and discourage further attack.Remember, your goal is to escape and survive. Pepper spray or any type of chemical would probably be most effective in this case, as it does not take physical strength and to much accuracy to make it effective. However in saying this there is always the chance it may be accidently sprayed in ones own face. To be effective it should be carried in ones hand concealed at all times if you are concerned about a certain location or situation. Age, health and physical ability plays the role in what level of preparedness you should be in. I think any type of weapon is excellent, but you need to practice to see if you can make it effective. Be honest with yourself, be realistic at your chances of survival if you employ your weapon. Always keep in mind your legal consequences stay alert and use your common sense. And Practice whatever you think will work for you.

Be Safe, your friend, Larry

[akelly]

There are two types of spray patterns for pepper spray: the STREAMER and the FOGGER. The streaming pattern is the most common and the one that needs the most training with, simply because you have to be more accurate with it. The fogger pattern is probably the most "forgiving" in terms of aiming, because it generally shoots a "fog" that envelopes the entire head. Both have about the same distance, I think, usually around 8 to 10 feet. But the fogger model is going to either have fewer shots (if it's the standard key chain model) or it's going to be a bigger "cannister/fire exstinguisher" size, making it hard to carry concealed.

Hope that helps? :)

Arnold

[MikeNY]

I remember years ago in NY some women carried a small tube of liquid soap for muggers. They'd take a small plastic tooth paste tube, add liquid soap and put the cap on. I never heard of it being used but liquid soap in the eyes were be a killer. The residue from the tooth paste would just add zing to the mix and grit too.

Hank as has been noted before (even in the old forumon this topic) pepper spray or mace is an equalizer for your wife. You might also consider a dog, makes a fine pet and not many men want to fight a large German Shepard. To your wife the dog is a pet, companion and she'll see it as a baby that never grows up, and the dog will just love having family. Make sure you wife is not allegric to dogs first, once she gets one she fall in love with it and not want to give it up even if she is getting sick.

[VRT Man]

Here's one that my brother told me when he had a paper route in the '50's. Some of the other paper boys were bothered by dogs running up and biting them.

They stopped this from happening by mixing a quarter cup of ammonia with the remainder of the cup as water. They'd fill a squirt gun with this mixture, and when the dog would run up barking, would squirt the dog in the eyes. The dog would only temporarily be incapacitated, but would run away whining because of the sting in the eyes. It recovered.

I would say this method could be used as a "poor man's mace" to avoid muggers; carry a sturdy, powerful squirt gun and use it like any gun. Shoot for the eyes. Maybe even 100% ammonia.

--Greg Mangan

[MikeNY]

I'm not sure what pure ammonia would do ddc. You could load an orange squitgun with liquid soap, might have to play around to see if you need a little water. Greg your brother was smart that trick might well work of ladies too; I'd recommend a squirt gun that is a bright orange so someone doesn't get shot.

[Grant Douglass]

G;day NY, donna & crew it's nice to se us all visit in the realm of home made wapons again.
Mike is right, you can use soapy laundry water out of soap flakes, it hurts like a bugger , & isn't permanet & won't kill anyone.
there is a small book written by an ex specail air service SAS officer who used to make this in their training as a home made pepper spray.
He also used to use cayan curry powder, or chilli powder.
as a hkid i had a handfull of the hottest chilli's roken off & rubbed into my eyes by my sister.

WHOA! it was evil to say the least left me totally ratshit for at least an hour in etreme pain. no permanent damage; i'd have to give it at least forty out of ten for incapasitation & pain.

soapy water isn't as evil but will easliy render you blind for at least a few minutes.
as for a delivery system an old decent pump spray or better still a spray bottle, it will come down to how rersourcefull you can be .

sniff about , the cheap shops & lookfor pump sprays that you can carry & still put out a distance decent spread.
Best thing i've come up with is a cleaning spray bottle.
if you lie find one with a great trigger device then source a smaller bottle & cut down the inner tube length.

When yo get to this point make up a mix & get your husband o put on some swimming goggles, test out your range & accuracy.

like i said i've been tear gased, in the army & it was nothing compared to the chilli's in the eyes.

I met an expoliceman from Shri lanka & he told me how they used to have a soft bag full of evil chilli powder, if the had a crim who was a smarty, they'd face plant them in it.
He laughed his head off telling me about a quick face plant into the powder puff , they instantly changed their demaenor.
probably got im a few confessions on the way.
i'll dig u the recipe for you all.
nice to see you mike, digger

[Grant Douglass]

g'day donna when i said cleanimg bottle i actually meant the cleaning plastic container bottle it came in NOT the contents.

i'd go with soapy water or the cayan pepper & curry powder mix.
as for legalities , here you may only what would be classd as what you'd need in your handbag or pocket.
if you couldn't justify carring something as part 0f your dialy bussiness.
then you get busted.
Eg
If you carry a knife & you say you use it for your lunch. That won't wash with the court.
i have a friend who is a nurse, he was carring the small est little box cutter & used it to cut plastic tubing & other things in nursing.
the blade was only 1/2 an inch long & he got searched coming home from a late shift on a train, they found it .

He told them it was from work & what it was used for.
they said to him " well your not at work now " & he got charged & fined $ 550 .00 dollars.

alot of the time you will find that the legal system will be right off target when it comes to your personal safety.
you may generally use the minimun of force nessecarry to defend yourself.
here is where alot of people come undone ,by using unreasonable force or excessive force .

This can actuallystop a person from really effectively defending themself because of the legalities.
when it comes down to the sharp end,

DO what you have to do survive, better to be judged by 12 of your peers then be carried by 6 of your relatives.
A general good tip is carry the phone number of a good legal solictor or barrister in your wallet.
when you are in a hostile situation you need to have all of your mind on the job.
Not on what may happen later.
this could deminish your responce & chances of coming out alive.
Being a woman will generally get you a little more slack then a man when it comes to defending yourself against a attacker.
digger

[MikeNY]

Grant a small plastic squirt bottle with liquid soap could well be for cleaning your hands, a small bottle of Hot Sauce might well be for your enjoyment of food. I've never seen Hot Sauce (Chili and Cayan Pepper in liquid base, I think a slight amount of alcohol and water) in a small plastic squize bottle, usually it is sold in small glass bottles; but you might we preferr Mama Digger's own special Hot sauce for your food, in a handy small , portable plastic squeze bottle :lying: and accidently squirt some in a muggers eyes.

I heard that in Sicily, Italy, Southern Europe and the Middle East they were known to throw powdered Black Pepper and or Chili Pepper into peoples faces before they stabbed them for various offenses. A can of Black pepper in your pocket might mean your a cook lol.

[Grant Douglass]

g'day mike NY hows it going mate?
now that you mention it, the last time i used fine black pepper was the time when we were training in The Shed! flash was ducking under a metal training knife & came up too early, i acdently sconned him a beauty, it split his head,
The girlsgot a little worried, all it needed was a few stitches, but me i can't sow for penuts.
I got some fine black pepper i keep handy for this reason & packed the wound with it.
It forms a natual scab & helps conjeal it.
worked like a ripper the girls were amazd as was Flash.
mate as a kid, i choppeed my chin nearly off, my uncle george who was a butcher by trae said , " pass the little bugger over here," he then put my chin ack on & sealed it with black pepper , didn't even leave a mark.
i've used it on my kids & myself over the years,

i got told about using coffee for the same reasonm to seal up & congeal the blood, they do it in the middle east.
wll you guessed it , last time i gave myself good accidental cut i went the coffe to test out this theory ,

guess what ? IT WORKS!

nice to catc up with you MikNY, hope all is well with you cobba.
BUT FINE BLACK PEPPER is fantastic for cuts.

speaking form a kid who cut his chin nearly off with hi oldmans loose razor.:angel:
digger