So what do you carry when you can't carry?

[Beiruty]

Kimber peper blaster:

http://www.pepperblaster.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Leatherman weave.

http://www.leatherman.com/products/prod ... =9&f=6&c=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jumping Frog]

I haven't seen anyone mention yet a good stout wooden cane.

• They can be very effective at defending and striking at a distance. (Which can make for a good defense against a knife -- a knife is still a bad situation, but a cane is much better than empty handed.)
• You can effective incorporate tonfa & police baton techniques, including spinning.
• They are not regarded as carrying a weapon. You can carry a cane into a courtroom or onto an airplane without raising any eyebrows.

Personally, I like the offset T handle style like you find on this page: http://www.americancane.com/products.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[silverbear]

Pepper spray and fixed blade knife (in sheath) in front pocket.

[gigag04]

Couple of the guys at work carry these. I won't like to be jabbed with one.

Benchmade 1100 series pens.

[llanite]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I like both the Kimber and Benchmade pen items.

One note on 30.06 postings and my company's garage - while the legality of leaving the gun in the car is debateable, my company's stipulation that I follow all company rules or risk dismissal is not - I won't be trying to win the battle only to lose the war by risking unemployment (as well as risking immediate and painful death when Mrs. Llanite finds out...)

The funny thing is that I travel many places where the company is happy to pay for people with fully automatic weapons to escort me, but doesn't trust me to be responsible for myself - oh well...

[Purplehood]

I remember some self-defense classes/seminars that mentioned the use of your keys as a last-resort defensive weapon.

Kind of a cat-fighting extension of your paws.

[drjoker]

This is a really big problem for me as I travel a lot. Many countries in Europe and Asia, such as Britain, China or Japan, have laws that ban pepper spray, stun guns, knives of any length carried on the person, nunchucks, clubs, etc. Virtually anything that can be used as a weapon is banned in most countries in Asia and Europe. Switzerland, Panama and Argentina are about the only countries I know of where civilian gun ownership is allowed by law.

I'm thinking about carrying a big metal flashlight (biggest size mag lite) in a holster or a special steel shaft unbreakable umbrella with a bottle of lemon juice spray (for spraying in perp's eyes) or a padlock on a chain. Which combo of defensive tools do you think is better? flashlight/chain, flashlight/lemon, umbrella/chain, or umbrella/lemon? Or is there something else better that you'd suggest?

Thanks,

[Jumping Frog]

This is a really big problem for me as I travel a lot. Many countries in Europe and Asia, such as Britain, China or Japan, have laws that ban pepper spray, stun guns, knives of any length carried on the person, nunchucks, clubs, etc. Virtually anything that can be used as a weapon is banned in most countries in Asia and Europe. Switzerland, Panama and Argentina are about the only countries I know of where civilian gun ownership is allowed by law.

Get a stout wooden cane and learn how to use it. A cane would be legal in all of those countries, as well as in the airports, on the airplanes, etc.

If you spent even 5 hours in private instruction with a martial arts studio that can show you both defensive and offensive moves with a cane, and then periodically practiced with the cane, it would provide a formidable defense.