Household Tools as Improvised Weapons In-Depth Guide

[Zombie Preparedness InitiativeKey Master]

Household Tools as Improvised Weapons In-Depth Guide

Author: Double_Tap on Thu, 2010-08-05 05:58

I’m aware this subject has been tackled occasionally before, but I wanted to give the most in-depth and informative guide to improvised weaponry possible. There are many people on this site who do not feel they possess the appropriate weaponry to survive in an outbreak situation, or are unsure on what improvised weapons may work and which may not. This guide should hopefully give the correct information to what will hypothetically work and what won’t. Obviously, such guides contain personal opinion but I have tried to remain as official as possible and only deal in cold, hard facts. The following paragraphs are dedicated to the Average Joe (Or Josephine), where ever in the world he/she may live. They don’t have a box full of fire-arms and twenty years of elite military experience; they merely have their own wits and the objects around them. With a little improvisation, I hope to show that every home contains a potential armada of lethal anti-zombie weaponry – all you need to know is how to combat them.
(This guide uses typical zombies in which terminating the brain is the only way to kill said zombie. It does NOT tackle ‘Rage’ zombies, as seen in films such as 28 Days Later. Remember that Rage zombies can die in the same manner as a human being, but just apply the factor of speed).

- EDGED WEAPONRY -
Edged weaponry are weapons that use a solid, thin point to penetrate through flesh and damage internal organs. In the case of a zombie, this edge must be able to penetrate the brain. There are two sub-divisions of edged weaponry: blades and wedges. Blades resemble a knife or a sword, which stab, while a wedge shaped edge, like an axe, would cleave. Edged weapons with a wedge are wielded in a similar way to blunt weaponry.
- Knives have limited capabilities against the undead. Survival or pocket knives are invaluable tools in survival situations however, so they should still form part of your kit. A knife can penetrate the brain through the eye socket or through the base of the skull, but the shortcomings are obvious. Knifes that aren’t used for combat (kitchen knives, for example) will not be able to pass through the thick bone of the skull, and may break in the attempt. They have severe lack of range, meaning using one risks a bite more so than other, longer-handed melee weapons. However, they can quickly terminate a ghoul if thrust into the eye-socket and into the brain. Such a movement is more easily accomplished with a screwdriver or ice pick, and these tools are therefore superior for extreme close quarter combat, rather than a flimsy knife.
- Improvised pole-arms, such as spears, pitchforks, scythes, anything with a sharp point that is thrust towards the target’s vulnerable areas. In a zombie, this is only the brain; this severly limits the usefulness of such weapons. An improvised spear, such as blade taped to a broom handle, has enough reach to keep the zombie safely at bay without risking bodily contact. However, killing the zombie outright poses a problem. A well-aimed thrust into the skull could only be achieved through soft areas such as the eyes, and pulling off such a feat is supremely difficult, even to those trained with pole-arms. For defensive purposes, a makeshift spear or pitchfork would be able to keep the threat away, but not easily kill it; similar to a staff.
- An axe or hatchet has good killing power against an undead opponent. More space and effort is needed in comparison to a knife or screwdriver, however the killing power is far superior and a long-handed axe offers security against the gnashing jaws. Unforunately, large axes are relatively heavy to wield over long periods of time. A small hatchet is portable and faster in close-combat, but lacks reach. Either way, a good blow using the edge will be able to slice the skull like a melon, and the butt of the axe can be used as a hammer if the edge dulls. Pick-axes share many common features with the above, but the edge is more prone to becoming stuck within the brain case and does not have the addition of a powerful blunt side. However, the small point can be driven through delicate areas with more precision.
- Large blades, such as machetes, possess more strength and reach than the average blade. However, they still possess shortcomings. Decapitation with a sharp machete is a difficult but certainly not impossible task; limbs can be hacked off allowing for quick escapes from an immobile zombie. However, penetrating the skull is still not as easily accomplished as with something like an axe. With a machete, you’ll want to aim for the neck. Keeping the edge razor sharp aids with decapitation enormously. The Kukri machete has a curved blade which can slice a neck more effectively than a straight blade, but either can get the job done.

- BLUNT WEAPONS -
Blunt weapons are objects that rely upon massive internal trauma and raw impact energy to destroy the zombie’s brain.
- Wooden staves, whether a curtain rod or Japanese Bō, are defensive weapons that have enough length to push a zombie backwards, allowing room to escape or to unleash a strike. Given the lack of killing power found within a wooden staff, fleeing is the more approriate option. While a staff may have the thickness to break the jaw or knee-cap, the wood is likely to fracture upon impact with the skull, knocking the zombie down but not terminating it. In a desperate situation, it could be broken into a sharp spear and jammed through the eye.
- Bats, like cricket bats or baseball bats, are a preferable alternative. Both can be used to kill a zombie with approriate strength. Space must be allowed to draw the bat back for maximum impact. Aluminium baseball bats are lighter and easier to wield but may dent after repeated impacts with the skull. A steel baseball bat may be the best option, or Cold Steel’s Brooklyn Smasher and Brooklyn Crusher: http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/Brooklyn-Smasher-Brooklyn-Crusher.html
- Hammers have strong heads which can break through skulls with relatively little force. Small hammers are light, strong and can be used for many useful purposes, but lack range. The small handle of a claw hammer offers little security from the grasping arms of a hungry ghoul. However, the head is large enough the smash into the brain, and so hammers should be considered for indoor combat. Sledgehammers, however, need to be wielded outside. They are very heavy, doubly so when swinging them around, and unimaginably so when travelling with them on foot for long distances. Sledgehammers have unquestionable killing power, but the weight means they should only be used when in a stronghold, not on the move.
- Lengths of metal like pipes and pokers contain enough potential energy to carry through the skull into the cranium. They are light and offer decent reach. A common crowbar is tough and unbreakable, and is an invaluable tool as well as a useful melee weapon. This could be the best improvised weapon if you’ve practiced with it, but remember that striking a skull hard can cause painful reverberations through the metal. A handle to improve grip should be considered. Do not swing with the hooked ends – they might pierce a skull, but could become stuck and very messy.
- Rocks can be found in every natural enviroment on earth, and were man-kind’s first weapon – well, we’ve moved on since then, but if completely unarmed, picking up a rock in a sticky situation is always better than a naked fist. Pummel into the head until the zombie stops moving, but this poses a very high rate of infection. Always look to your environment in desperate situations if your weapons are not at hand.

I think that’ll do for my first post. Please post improvements, additions, and your opinions.

[Author]

Posts