Hamilton Felix
New member
I like something rcd2co said in the pen thread: "Look for something that won't be illegalized."
Along these lines, I thought I might start a general discussion of what may or may not be classified as a weapon in the legal sense. Also, I'm interested it what may or may not attract attention or be considered a weapon.
As we were putting together my wife's BOB, I reached for a 12" "Barong" machete, which is a versatile tool, while she reached for her Cold Steel OSS, which is definitely a weapon. I got to thinking about this.
She likes her ASP telescoping baton (ex-cop, liked 'em in the past). But the ASP and various other non-lethal devices can cause more legal trouble than the guns we both wear legally.
What about a small shovel in the car? Yes, I have one or two of the Cold Steel E-tools, and I have sharpened and repainted the edges.
What about a hatchet? Normal item in a backwoods pack or survival kit. Axe, hatchet machete are all very common items near our rural home, but I'm not sure how they are viewed in the city where my wife works.
Heck, we normally have at least one each, full sized axe and shovel in our vehicles in winter. Should be a chainsaw, too, at least for me on my commute.
A Maglite is not a weapon, but it can be a heck of a bludgeon.
I have a stainless skull-headed Cold Steel City Stick, but my youngest kid beat the crap out of it on a rock, and I'm have a very difficult time finding a plain stainless-headed City Stick to replace it. Seems Cold Steel is now selling a far less effective and poorly balanced aluminum-headed model. I've had to return two now, because vendors did not change their descriptions of the product. In general, I do not think canes are viewed as weapons, though a fighting cane from Canemasters might attract attention if recognized.
Tactical pens and flashlights with "strike bezels" are becoming too well known. I have a hunch they'll attract unwelcome attention in some circles.
Discussion on the legality of brass knuckles can go on forever, but regardless of whether it's a "paperweight" or a "belt buckle," the perception will be that it's a weapon.
So.... do ya think that hatchet or small machete is a non-weapon if it's in a survival or hunting pack? What about the entrenching tool?
Along these lines, I thought I might start a general discussion of what may or may not be classified as a weapon in the legal sense. Also, I'm interested it what may or may not attract attention or be considered a weapon.
As we were putting together my wife's BOB, I reached for a 12" "Barong" machete, which is a versatile tool, while she reached for her Cold Steel OSS, which is definitely a weapon. I got to thinking about this.
She likes her ASP telescoping baton (ex-cop, liked 'em in the past). But the ASP and various other non-lethal devices can cause more legal trouble than the guns we both wear legally.
What about a small shovel in the car? Yes, I have one or two of the Cold Steel E-tools, and I have sharpened and repainted the edges.
What about a hatchet? Normal item in a backwoods pack or survival kit. Axe, hatchet machete are all very common items near our rural home, but I'm not sure how they are viewed in the city where my wife works.
Heck, we normally have at least one each, full sized axe and shovel in our vehicles in winter. Should be a chainsaw, too, at least for me on my commute.
A Maglite is not a weapon, but it can be a heck of a bludgeon.
I have a stainless skull-headed Cold Steel City Stick, but my youngest kid beat the crap out of it on a rock, and I'm have a very difficult time finding a plain stainless-headed City Stick to replace it. Seems Cold Steel is now selling a far less effective and poorly balanced aluminum-headed model. I've had to return two now, because vendors did not change their descriptions of the product. In general, I do not think canes are viewed as weapons, though a fighting cane from Canemasters might attract attention if recognized.
Tactical pens and flashlights with "strike bezels" are becoming too well known. I have a hunch they'll attract unwelcome attention in some circles.
Discussion on the legality of brass knuckles can go on forever, but regardless of whether it's a "paperweight" or a "belt buckle," the perception will be that it's a weapon.
So.... do ya think that hatchet or small machete is a non-weapon if it's in a survival or hunting pack? What about the entrenching tool?
