Improvised Weapons
October 1, 2008 by HQ
Filed under Improvised Weapons
What is the most effective hand-to-hand zombie combat weapon? Is it the Shaolin spade? The Japanese katana? The Swiss halberd? This question has been argued time and again by soldiers and civilians alike. The answer is actually quite simple: the best weapon is the one you have in your hand at the time of attack. A hand-forged samurai sword worth thousands of dollars is useless if it’s lying in your sleeping bag as a zombie clutches your throat. Likewise, a ten-dollar crowbar can provide years of faithful, defensive service if maintained well and used properly.
For an excellent historical example of weapon improvisation, look to Okinawa as a guide. In 1609, the island was captured and occupied by the Japanese Satsuma Clan. Shortly thereafter, the Clan banned possession of swords and firearms by all commoners and the peasant community. In order to defend themselves, the largely farming Okinawan population turned to their everyday agricultural tools, and developed them into the weapons-based martial art known as Kobudo.
Implements that were used to dig furrows (sai), carry baskets (bo), and harvest rice (kama) were transformed into the weapons that are still present and practiced hundreds of years later. Two of the most popular Kobudo weapons seen in the West are the nunchaku, made popular by the late martial artist Bruce Lee, and the tonfa, which has been modified for law enforcement use as the side-handled PR-24 baton.
Okinawan history shows us that it is not necessary or required to spend hundreds of dollars on custom-made weaponry. With a combat mindset, take a walk around your home, your garden, or your garage. You will spot many everyday implements at your disposal that can provide excellent protection against the undead.
I keep a crow bar in my apartment and car. I suggest praticing swings, if in close combat you can not afford to miss the target.
We’ll be covering specific improvised weapons, including the popular crow bar, in greater detail in future briefings.
I am a huge fan of the crow bar. A tool and a weapon all in one. What more could you ask for??
if your using an improvised weapon practice in not only key, but a mater of life and death. as VENESSA stated “you cant afford to miss the target.”
one thing thats great about improvised weapons is that there’s always room for improvement to make it a custom weapon. one thing that can be annoying about crowbars is if you have or find a squire/flat-edged one. that’s not too comfortable to swing, but it is an easy fix.
by taking some ductape you can make a small section on the handle easier to grip, thus increasing the force you can swing it. when making a ductape handle remember that your closed palm isnt totally round, its more of a squished “D” shape. take peices of tape and roll them in on them selves (so the sticky side is out) and stick them to the side of the crowbar where your fingers touch when holding and swinging. after it has a small mound (about as big as your closed hand around the crowbar), wrap the whole handle in tape to seal it. the softer rolls of tape will absorb shock and improve comfort without hampering its prying and attacking abilities.
The crowbar is indeed a tried and true weapon and tool combination. I, however, prefer a very large wrench. I have several 18″-24″ long combination wrenches (open/crescent on one end, box end on the other) for use with 2″-3″ bolts. Heavy, but not unwieldy, lots of edges, which are highly effective for cracking bone (arms as well as skulls), and much like the crowbar, damned hard to damage beyond basic bludgeoning use. Someone here mentioned duct tape as a quick and dirty handle. On my favorite wrench, I’ve used an old belt and wrapped a leather handle with a loop for easy carry and stow.
Personally, crowbars are not my favorite, though I can see their attraction for most. If you have ever gotten the claw stuck in some undead skull, it will definitely make you think twice about the crowbar as a weapon of choice.
Something more akin to a mace or weighted club is more my style. Aluminum baseball bats are both lightweight, hard to damage and can deal a mighty blow. Of course, having one at hand is key…
As we are discussing improvised weapons, this means that you were caught unaware or separated from your primary weapon(s). Crowbars are great and most garages will probably have them, but you may need to kick in a number of doors, and rummage around wasting time and making noise. If caught away from home, I would look for a house with a chimney. Kick one door, go to the fireplace. The common fireplace poker! 3+ feet of iron bar, with a handle…Oh yeah!
I brought up crowbars (melee) and screwdrivers (close quarters) in other sections but they deserve a mention here as well.
I would like a crowbar but I have no idea where a bouts to buy one but I’ve also got a huge Samaria Sword and a still in awesome condition WW2 sword which my granddad used so if I forget one then I would always have a spear but if I forget both then I guess I would need a Crowbar. Oh I’ve also got a crossbow and I practise almost every day so I’m a pretty good shot but I don’t know if it will be affective but I guess what ever damages the brain is good right?