Tag Archives: Improvisation

Getting creative and using something in a way you might not if the proper equipment were available to you, for example turning a shovel into a makeshift weapon of self defense.

Womens Self Defense: Using Car Keys in Self Defense

Posted by on November 29, 2011 Comments Off
key ring

Many women’s self-defense classes teach that you can use your car keys as a potential weapon of self-defense.  If you are traveling alone, well before you approach your car you should take out your keys and hold them in a way that there are keys sticking out between your knuckles.  If you were to punch someone with your key arranged this way, it could cause a far more serious injury than a punch by itself, especially if you manage to jam a key into your assailants eyes.

OF course, now that you know this tidbit of safety info, you should practice holding the keys this way and gently pressing against solid surfaces (such as a door) to see if you can keep the key steady against your palm as you thrust your hand forward.  If you can’t keep the keys steady, they won’t do much good when your fist connects.

Personally I think it’s better to be prepared with a more reliable deterrent (such as pepper spray or a stun gun)  but sometimes you have to make due with what you have in the moment and improvise your way out of a tough situation.

Featured Photo by Travelling_Artist

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Improvised Aerosol Can Flamethrower

Posted by on November 27, 2011 Comments Off

In a pinch, this technique could provide you with a means of self defense in a hurry.  You will need 2 items -

  • An aerosol can of subtype, such as hairspray, WD-40, or can of axe/lynx body spray deodorant.
  • A lighter (preferably), matches, or another way to create fire.

While spraying the contents of the can, hold the lighter up to the spray at least several inches away from the can.  When you spark the lighter, this will turn the product being sprayed into a mini flamethrower.

Here’s a great video example on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wp_fixdI5k&feature=related

Caution: Do not attempt this at home, as it can be very dangerous.

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Improvisation: Making a Bone Knife

Posted by on November 17, 2011 Comments Off
bone knife

You can use a bone to craft an effective edged weapon. First, you will need to select a suitable bone, though note you should only use a bone knife only to puncture because such a knife can’t hold an edge and can break or flake if used for other tasks. Larger animal bones, like a leg bone from a deer, are the best to work with.

To make a bone knife, lay said bone on another hard object. Shatter the bone by smacking it with a heavy object like a rock. From the ensuing pieces, select the pointed splinter which would make the best tool. You can continue to shape and sharpen this splinter by rubbing it on a rock with a harder surface. If the piece that results from the shattering of the bone is too small to handle by itself, you can add a handle to it by lashing the bone splinter securely to a piece of bone which will serve as the handle.

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Improvised Weapons: Making a Shiv

Posted by on November 13, 2011 Comments Off

A shank made in prison, hidden in a hollowed-out book

A shiv is a prison slang term for any pointed or sharp hand-held item used as a knife.  A shiv is a makeshift weapon, a normal object altered to create a tool for self defense.  Shivs are often made by prison inmates across the planet. A shiv can be made from many, many different objects, like:

  • A glass shard with shirt fabric wrapped around one end by which to handle it
  • A razor-blade stuck in the end of a toothbrush.
  • A shard of plexiglass; handle wrapped with electrical tape.
  • A plastic comb with some single-edge razor blades inserted into the teeth, tied/wrapped with a shoelace.
  • A spoon or any utensil sharpened on end

Use your imaginations!  Bonus points if you can find a creative way to hide your shiv, such as in a book with paged carved out to create a secret compartment as in the photo example.

Featured Photo by istolethetv

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Improvised Weapons: Making a Stone Knife

Posted by on November 13, 2011 Comments Off

 

A stone knife created by the Aztecs

In order to craft a stone knife tool, you need three things:

  • A sharp-edged piece of stone.
  • A chipping tool – a light and blunt-edged tool used to break off smaller pieces of stone.  You can make a chipping tool from wood, bone, or metal.
  • A flaking tool – a pointed tool used to break off thin, flattened pieces of stone.You can make a flaking tool from bone, antler tines, or soft iron.

Begin by shaping the desired form on your sharp piece of stone by using your chipping tool. Try to make the knife somewhat thin. Next, using the flaking tool, press it against the edges. This causes flakes to come off the opposite side of the edge, leaving behind a razor sharp edge. Use the flaking tool along the whole length of the edge that needs to be sharp. With patience, this will provide you with a sharp cutting edge that can be used as a knife.  Lash the blade to some type of hilt.

Take note that while a stone knife will be useful for puncturing and chopping functions, but it will fail to hold a fine edge, save for some stones like chert or flint.

Featured Image by Daniel R. Blume

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Survival Gear: Safety Pins

Posted by on October 26, 2011 Comments Off

 

safety pins

Consider throwing three or four safety pins into your bug-out bag or emergency kit, they will take up a very small amount of room and have several uses.  You can make quick repairs to your clothing so that it doesn’t fall apart while being worn, keep your shelter together, replace a zipper puller, improvise a fish hook, or close a wound in a hurry, though make sure the safety pin is sterilized first.

Featured Photo by Mauro Cateb

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Survival Gear: Wire

Posted by on October 26, 2011 Comments Off

Packing a section of wire (10 feet or so) in your bug-out bag is a smart choice because wire can be used for a multitude of functions.  Wire can used to set up a tripwire around your location, to set up a snare to catch an animal, as a clothing line, to fasten random broken items, or fishing line among other uses. Read more »

Improvised Survival Tools: The Molotov Cocktail

Posted by on October 25, 2011 Comments Off
molotov

Preface:  As incendiary devices, Molotov cocktails are illegal to manufacture or possess in many regions. In the United States, Molotov cocktails are considered “destructive devices” under the National Firearms Act and regulated by the ATF.  The information presented here is for informational purposes only and should not be attempted.  In other words, do not try this at home.

It goes by many names; the gasoline bomb, petrol bomb,  fire bottle, Molotov bomb, and others.  Against rebellious youth, they go by the name homemade frag.  A Molotov cocktail is a general type of improvised incendiary weapon.  For those of you without access to real grenades, the Molotov cocktail makes a fine substitute and is fairly easy to manufacture in a short time, provided you have the right equipment.

To make a Molotov cocktail, you would need 4 things:

  • A glass bottle filled with
  • A flammable liquid (such as gasoline, alcohol, methanol, ethanol, turpentine, or wood alcohol, but only fill the bottle about half way full)
  • A rag/fuse soaked in said flammable substance and stuffed tightly into the mouth of the bottle, while still leaving a wick to lite.

Once the rag is lit, throw the bottle at your zombie foe hard.  The bottle will break, spilling the flammable contents of the bottle on the unsuspecting zombie, and the burning wick will ignite the gasoline.

If you want to make your Molotov cocktails even more effective, consider adding these to the mix:

  • Gunpowder (for extra boom)
  • Tar (to help the the burning substance stick to the zombie better)
  • Acid (to help penetrate non-flammable surfaces)
  • Motor Oil (if used with gasoline, can help the burning substance stick better) Read more »

Improvised Survival Tools: The Condom

Posted by on October 15, 2011 Comments Off
condoms 2

Aside from the intended use for a condom (which I assume you have already figured out), there are a few other uses that could be helpful to you in an emergency survival situation:

  1. Tie one to your glasses to use as a band so your glasses don’t fall off your head if you need to move quickly or bend your head at odd angles.
  2. Can hold water or some gathered food item.
  3. A quick way to water-proof important papers or anything else you don’t want to get wet, such as matches.
  4. Can be placed over the mouth of a beverage container to prevent contamination if it lacks a top.
  5. Use as a second skin to protect blister injuries or to cover wounds in general, or as a sterile hand covering when tending a wound.
  6. Wear on your penis for purposes of protecting it, such as if you happen to be swimming in the Amazon and you fear a Candiru fish may swim up your urethra or that a Piranha fish may try to bite your penis.
  7. You can start a fire with a condom, filled with liquid and used as a lens to focus sunlight. Read more »

Survival Gear: Zip Ties

Posted by on September 27, 2011 Comments Off

A zip-tie rainbow pole!

Uses for zip ties:

  • Brightly colored zip ties can be used as place markers if you get lost in the woods and you need to find your way back, Hansel and Grettle style.
  • You can fashion handcuffs out of a few zip ties.
  • A larger zip tie or a few joined together can be made into a snare.
  • Zip ties are useful for holding random surfaces or objects together.
  • Zip ties can be used with just one hand.

You can find plenty of zip tie varieties for sale at http://www.cabletiesplus.com

Featured Photo by Jaysin Trevino Read more »