Steamy non-firearm weaponry

[H. MacHinery]

I suppose - although this is more one for females - you could construct some sort of clockwork-looking folding fan, which opened out to reveal blades as opposed to paper. Similar things have been made in the past, and it wouldn't be too difficult to make it look steampunk...
(dunno if that's been suggested already, since I haven't read through the thread.)

Look to Japan for examples of similar devices, and a little Victoriental veneer.....

[cyberjacques]

How about a chatter-sword?  Someone suggested earlier a chainsaw dagger, but the full sized chatter-sword might be good as well.  It might be a bit more diesel-punk than some would like, but if it's strictly a costume item, perhaps a clockwork mechanism instead of a gasoline engine could drive the chain.  You might even get it to turn for a few seconds.  I've also been contemplating the possibility of a telescoping clockwork sword, which deploys full-length from the hilt at the push of a button...

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

The samurai sword/ katana problem is quite bad in the UK, hence specific legislation.

Chains, oh dear we are in mods/rocker territory and bicycle chains, a favourite 1960's weapon well known to the uk police, and definitively not steampunk.

[Monti Christo]

The use of a weapon depends very much on the situation you find yourself in as well as your personal comfort level with that weapon. Back in the day, your average joe wouldn't be able to afford a sword, and would be more likely to use one of his daily implements. That's why the peasants go running at the evil castle carrying torches and pitchforks. I'm sure they'd do more damage hefting a weapon they were comfortable with anyway. Hand a peasant a sword and he's likely going to get himself killed.

Having said all that, I would suggest using something you are familiar with and turning it into a weapon.

I work with knives, mallets, and wrenches on a daily basis.

To be honest, large wrenches make crap weapons. The reason? That wasn't their intended purpose. They don't have a specific striking surface, and usually don't have a very good hand grip. The balance is all wrong, and personally, I wouldn't want to carry our big wrench around for more than a few minutes at a time.

Also, the guy you're going to be hitting isn't going to stand there and wait for you to clumsily bring the wrench up over your head for a killing blow. Even if he's unarmed, he can easily punch or kick you while you've got yourself exposed.

Mallets, on the other hand are fairly fool proof. Stick with one thats easy to hold in one hand. You get maximum power for the size of the weapon, and you have a free arm to block with. You could even go with two mallets. It'd be easy enough to rig to a tool belt, and you don't really have to worry about hurting yourself while practicing. As far as it being lethal, it doesn't have to be, but this is the weapon we used on the farm to dispatch rabbits with very efficiently. Toss a blade on it and you've got a hatchet.

Personally, I'd go with a knife. Again, it's what I'm comfortable with. I've used one all day, everyday for the last decade or so. It's practically an extension of my hand. I know how to hold it when both hands are busy. I know how much force to apply to a thrust or a slice, to cut through flesh and bone (I'm a cook). I have practiced martial arts long enough to be confident in my bodies ability to sustain damage or get me out of a bad situation. It's more of a finesse weapon than one based on brute strength. Would I win against a master swordsman? Not likely. But how many master swordsmen do you know?

The point is, if my life were on the line, I'd pick the knife every time. Not because I think it looks better than a sword-cane, or a chainsaw rocket launcher. It's because that's what I am comfortable with.

If I didn't feel as comfortable with a knife as I do, or it was just a brawl, not a to-the-death match, then I'd go for the mallet, or one of it's close cousins: hatchet, sledge hammer, or a light axe. (I split my own wood all winter, so I am pretty comfortable with these too.)

Look around. What do you use daily that is almost a weapon?

[Gryphon]

Entrenching tools make devastating hacking weapons, plus they're fun to target-throw like tomahawks. 

[T.Taylor the Third]

cane or pencils   i oftan hold multiple pencils in one hand the points progecting out like wolverine's claws.
and the cane i care cause its awsome and i like the quarter staff and its like, a quarter quarter staff with a hook

[DrTom]

Or perhaps an olfactory assault - an atomizer loaded with concentrated skunk scent or truly vile cheap perfume. 

Hrmn...Victoriana pepper spray?

[Gryphon]

or perhaps chloroform?

[Alain Raethorne]

or perhaps chloroform?

But definitely not Color Forms.   [/Simpsons reference]

[iapryx]

Some people talked about claw weapons before, and I was thinking that the new Prince of Persia's claw looks pretty punk.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Prof. J. Odderwall Costom]

Greetings to one and all! There have been many wonderful items mentioned in this thread! I for myself am the proud owner of a Taiaha, the Maori version of a quarterstaff. It is very cool looking, even if I have never used it in an actual battle. More info on this very cool weapon can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiaha

~J.

[Haizea]

Some people talked about claw weapons before

Yeah, a claw! Like that spiffy one Vincent Valentine has:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Not impossible to reproduce, and easy enough to steampunkify (if you didn't want to look as though you were just cosplaying a game character).
And again, not sure if claws of the Vincent Valentine variety have been brought up before. My apologies if someone has already mentioned it.

[helios]

As a New Zealander, and one who has wielded a Taiaha, abet very little, and with little skill, I would say that the Taiaha is not a quarter staff. It has a sharpened blade (of wood) at one end used for slicing and bashing, and there is a carved spike-like blade at the other end used for stabbing.
But, other than that, Taiaha's are pretty damn cool.

[akumabito]

Those Taiaha seem to be somewhat similar to the Japanese Naginata..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naginata

[Prof. J. Odderwall Costom]

My apologies, I miss-worded my statement. I was taking my information from the tag that came attached to my Taiaha. I have never wielded a Taiaha, as I am afraid I might damage mine, and God only knows where I could get another! I found mine at an antique mall tucked away in a corner. It only cost me US$20! It can with a very old looking typewritten tag explaining about the Taiaha, and the Maori traditions surrounding it. It was by far the best find I've ever encountered in my life, as it is always a conversation starter when anyone sees it. I've often considered taking it to our local museum, the Nelson-Atkins, and meeting with an anthropologist to find out how old it may be. Perhaps I shall after Thanksgiving. Anyhoo, I'm rambling... Apologies once again, and... Taiahas ftw ^.^

[Monti Christo]

I am the proud owner of an antique Gurkha kukri. I know my blade was in North Africa during WWII, the Canadian officer I got it from said he had gotten it from a Brit who had served in northern India, and had gotten it from Nepal sometime in the 1910's (possibly just before WWI.) It's quite possible that the blade itself is a fair bit older than this, as the Brit would have gotten it from a Gurkha.

http://www.khukuriblades.com/kukri_history/

The blade itself has quite a bit of weight to it, and the handle is wood and brass. It would need no modification to look good on a steampunk outfit.

[cyberjacques]

I am the proud owner of an antique Gurkha kukri. I know my blade was in North Africa during WWII, the Canadian officer I got it from said he had gotten it from a Brit who had served in northern India, and had gotten it from Nepal sometime in the 1910's (possibly just before WWI.) It's quite possible that the blade itself is a fair bit older than this, as the Brit would have gotten it from a Gurkha.

http://www.khukuriblades.com/kukri_history/

The blade itself has quite a bit of weight to it, and the handle is wood and brass. It would need no modification to look good on a steampunk outfit.

I have one of these that looks identical to the one in the top-most picture in the link you provided, scabbard and all, though I'm pretty sure that it's a reproduction, since I got it for about $15.  The craftsmanship of mine isn't quite as good as I'd like it, and the blade isn't sharpened and was clearly cast, not forged.  Plus, the brass cap at the end of the scabbard isn't fitted very well, and the horn-like material that the hilt is made of has a big gnarly crack down the side.  But it's decent as a costume item, I got several complements on it at Renn Faire, and people always want to hold it.  Good pirate accessory, methinks.

[Monti Christo]

I have one of these that looks identical to the one in the top-most picture in the link you provided, scabbard and all, though I'm pretty sure that it's a reproduction, since I got it for about $15.  The craftsmanship of mine isn't quite as good as I'd like it, and the blade isn't sharpened and was clearly cast, not forged.  Plus, the brass cap at the end of the scabbard isn't fitted very well, and the horn-like material that the hilt is made of has a big gnarly crack down the side.  But it's decent as a costume item, I got several complements on it at Renn Faire, and people always want to hold it.  Good pirate accessory, methinks.

Absolutly.
It's unfortunate that modern consumerism has reduced us to having poor imitations of well crafted items. Although, I guess that's part of steampunk, too.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Rather nice article in the Law Society Gazette this week on Samurai Swords and their reclassification as offensive weapons, which I would recommend as it sets out the two defenses of historical and re- enactment weapons. Apparently the police have been confused on enforcement and have been erring on the side of caution, so pleased be warned about carrying swords at all.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Check this weeks Law Society Gazette on The reclassification of samurai awards as offensive weapons.

[Monti Christo]

Different countries have different laws (I'm not in the UK), and I wouldn't go walking down the street wearing a sword. Besides, a kukri is more like a heavy, curved bowie knife. The blade is no longer than my forearm. Swords tend to be much larger.

[HolyRoller]

Different countries have different laws (I'm not in the UK), and I wouldn't go walking down the street wearing a sword. Besides, a kukri is more like a heavy, curved bowie knife. The blade is no longer than my forearm. Swords tend to be much larger.

Tell that to a cop. Makes no difference to them.

[Captain Lyerly]

I have a hankering for a steamy blade, and the one on the wall at 221B Baker Street is probably the one I would like to have the most.  Other than a rack of cutlasses for my steam launch, of course...

Holmes had, among other things, a Khyber knife on the wall.  Always wanted one.  Wouldn't dream of carrying one in public, though.


Chas.

[jringling]

Unless I missed the post under this topic, the perfect “side arm” has been missed.  Every engineer/adventurer should have one of these strapped to their hip:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I didn't know what these wrenches were called, so a quick google search resulted in: (okay, we are all adults here, mostly...) an Erection Wrench, or less formally, a Spud Wrench. The tapered end allows you to line up the holes on heavy steel and the offset open end allows for knuckle room while tightening. I am going to clean this one up and try to polish the tapered end. I plan on making a leather holster with some sort of steam qualities...not sure how yet.

[H. MacHinery]

Unless I missed the post under this topic, the perfect “side arm” has been missed.  Every engineer/adventurer should have one of these strapped to their hip:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I didn't know what these wrenches were called, so a quick google search resulted in: (okay, we are all adults here, mostly...) an Erection Wrench, or less formally, a Spud Wrench. The tapered end allows you to line up the holes on heavy steel and the offset open end allows for knuckle room while tightening. I am going to clean this one up and try to polish the tapered end. I plan on making a leather holster with some sort of steam qualities...not sure how yet.

Oh, the possibilities!

"Is that an erection wrench in your belt, or are you just happy to see me?"

"What's wrong with it that it needs a wrench?"

"Oh!  You said 'wRench'!"