Steamy non-firearm weaponry

[spcglider]

I was thinking about a steam-y staff or power wand (maybe something like BoBa Fett carries in the Star Wars Holiday Special Cartoon segment)  or something akin to a Bobby's billy club or truncheon.  Very British, those last.

-Gordon

[dr490nw4rri0r]

The Aetheric Truncheon? Rig one up with a battery inside of it that delivers a strong but short shock to anyone the main part touches, and keep it in a treated leather holster at your side.

[Marrock]

The Aetheric Truncheon? Rig one up with a battery inside of it that delivers a strong but short shock to anyone the main part touches, and keep it in a treated leather holster at your side.

Yeah, they had something like that in a really bad movie called Demolition Man.

It's also called a cattle prod.

[Matthias Gladstone]

Continuing with the crossbow theme, how about s ateam powered crossbow? A small steam engine on the back could wind the string after each shot to provide a decent rate of fire.
Failing that, how about the tesla staff from arcanum? Basically a tesla coil on a stick. Great gun.
-Matt

[A.G.Morgan]

Speaking of Tractor supply co.  I always admire their selection of large springs.

Speaking of large springs, I'd like to devise a device implementing the use of springs.

Speaking of a device implementing springs, what sort of weapon would lend itself to the use of a spring loaded mechanism?

Aside from crossbows, compound bows, and such the only kind of weapon with a spring in it that has any kind of practicality are switch blades and those spring loaded daggers that break into three prongs (ever see The Three Musketeers?).

Now that I think about it, there are also arrow heads used by hunters that are loaded to extend prongs after hitting their quarry. Helps the arrow stick in or some such.

[Matthias Gladstone]

Speaking of Tractor supply co.  I always admire their selection of large springs.

Speaking of large springs, I'd like to devise a device implementing the use of springs.

Speaking of a device implementing springs, what sort of weapon would lend itself to the use of a spring loaded mechanism?

Aside from crossbows, compound bows, and such the only kind of weapon with a spring in it that has any kind of practicality are switch blades and those spring loaded daggers that break into three prongs (ever see The Three Musketeers?).

Now that I think about it, there are also arrow heads used by hunters that are loaded to extend prongs after hitting their quarry. Helps the arrow stick in or some such.

You, sir, have forgotten the harpoon gun.
-matt

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Before starting on any weapons project, please, please, please check the local weapons laws. The United Kingdom is especially tough on swordcanes, concealed knives, crossbows, tazers, projectile weapons of every sort, and you had better have a good reason to be carrying the blunt instrument you are carrying. If one does not want a stick fighting cane, I would suggest a cricket bat. It is quintessientally british/Victorian and capable of modification, for example brass chasing along the edges would make it far more formidable, and yet still apparently innocous. A brass collar on the handle would also work, and improve the look as would a brass knob on the end of the handle. Linseed  would give it an antique look (and smell) and you could put appropriate antique lettering on it giving a name or company.

[Engineer]

As a Victrorianesque gentleman, there is a simple alternative to not carrying a firearm: have you 'man' carry one for you! Suitable men of the lower orders are a easily hireable for an appropriate fee to act as valets, chaufeurs, bodyguards, &c.  If you don't want your 'man' to carry a gun then hire a prizefighter or somesuch ....

[CaptainPhania]

This may technically be a firearm, but what about a potato launcher? My friend has one and he's steampunked it a bit (he also fired it at my head, didn't do too much dagame). I'll find a picture as soon as I can.

[Otto Von Pifka]

we have a spanner at work thats about 3 foot long but it weighs about 20 pounds!

lugging something like that around will get tiring fast.

I like to make most things from the foam insulation sheets you can get at the hardware store. its not all that resilient but its dirt cheap!

you can either saw it out or preferably buy or make a hotknife for carving foam. sawing makes a great deal of mess and you need to sand alot to remove the marks.

sanding foam is easy enough as long as you don't tear it from rubbing too hard.

as far as sealing and strengthening the foam, I gave up on trying to paint the foam directly and now I cover it with a layer of aluminum duct tape. it gives it a harder skin, reinforces the foam from flexing too much , and gives something for paint to adhere to. a smooth surface is fairly easy to do and if you want a rougher finish you can wrinkle the tape up before peeling off the backing and adding it to the foam

swords are easy enough but even an old fashion spanner wrench would be possible.
simple details can be pressed into the surface after its covered with tape by denting it with something, a
washer or coin can be rolled along on edge to leave seams. you dont have to push all that hard, or it will just pierce the tape. then you just rub on some black paint and it will highlight the indentations.

practice makes perfect so just cut up some pieces and cover them to practice on, the painting afterwards can make any added details really pop out at you.

[Chief Librarian]

I've always been a fan of this concept sketch of this steampunk 'power fist' melee weapon found on Deviantart:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Source: http://legato895.deviantart.com/art/Steampunk-Arm-mounted-Weapon-6300392

Reminds me of Acroyear II's arms from the old Micronaut toy line by MEGO.

Cool tho.

-Gordon

I can not believe you actually referenced the Micronauts. 

I think that was the second comic book title I started buying as a kid, after I discovered Rom, Space Knight.

I salute you, sir.

And completely agree.

[teucer]

A cane. Not a sword cane, just a cane. Read Cunningham on the Cane as a Weapon for how to use it, or study up on your Bartitsu.

A Leatherman. It's got a knife blade, so you could use it as a weapon in a pinch - but it's also a tool suitable for all sorts of steamy mechanical projects.

As I see it, if it's to be part of day-to-day fashion rather than a costume, it should be real and you should have it for a reason. Self-defense is not a sufficiently pressing concern for most of us to carry around spanners, so as cool as they are I wouldn't. But it's entirely up to you.

[Captain Lyerly]

I have a walking stick, a cane.  The shaft is a pretty boring thing, though I may get another; right now it it just a sassafrass stick with a rubber tip. 

This http://www.armor.com/2000/catalog/item011.html is the head.  I don't believe it is currently in production, I had to beg around to find this particular one after I had wanted one for over 20 years.

I have to assume it would be most effective; no one has bothered to menace me since I began carrying it.


Chas.

[Marrock]

Ok kids, you want to talk non-firearm weaponry, I have one for you here and as soon as my camera charges I'll have pics to prove it exists.

Back in the days of my misspent youth I actually went to a public high school and my father was fairly adamant that I not carry a knife beyond the small pocket variety he was wont to carry... so I had to improvise quite a bit.

Foremost among my personal arsenal was the bag I carried all my books in, this was a standard mason's toolbag of the canvas variety.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mine was a bit more battle scarred though.

And in this I carried most of what most folks left in their lockers, which I refused to trust, but along with the other detritus there was one item that was capable of doing more damage than one could scarcely credit, a three-ring binder constructed of stainless-steel diamond deck made for me by a very good friend.

Now this binder could hold about 400 pages of paper and was, for all intents and purposes, bullet-proof, which, when carried in the aforementioned toolbag and swung with a modicum of force, could produce some rather impressive impact damage to anyone on the receiving end of it's trajectory.

If memory serves, I seem to recall it even becoming stuck in a cinderblock wall of the machine shop when a certain Baron lost his temper with one of the seniors from another class, causing this senior to lose any credibility he may have had when he started whining about a sophomore trying to kill him with a notebook.

It still sits here, the hinges may squeak some and the covers may be a bit scratched up for some reason, but I wont part with it for anything.

I think I'll go see if those scratches can be polished out a bit...

[Steven S.]

hmmm.. slightly curious about that binder... what exactly was used as hinges?

[Marrock]

hmmm.. slightly curious about that binder... what exactly was used as hinges?

Two inch wide steel piano hinges.

[Engineer]

hmmm.. slightly curious about that binder... what exactly was used as hinges?

Two inch wide steel piano hinges.

Ouch! I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of that!

[Marrock]

Ouch! I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of that!

Damn near dislocated my shoulder teaching a few less than astute individuals that bit of wisdom.

And here it is in all it's glory... along with a bit of dust.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

That's ⅛" stainless steel diamond deck for those at home keeping score.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I keep about 400 sheets of black notepaper in it now, for reasons I can't adequately explain.

[Jake krugar]

do want

[clockwork creation]

after reading this delightfull thread i have taken advice from all and have decided to put brass plating on the edges of my cricket bat, i shall post pictures when its done

[Lady Penelope]

The binder is nice enough (and looks like it could serve as a lethal weapon... ), but I'm head over heels in like with that black notebook paper! 

[Marrock]

The binder is nice enough (and looks like it could serve as a lethal weapon... ), but I'm head over heels in like with that black notebook paper! 

Considering the damage it's done to cinderblock walls, the occasional desk and someone's foot, it would definitely qualify as a lethal weapon... which is why I carried it all those years.

Used to be great for quieting a room, just lift it up a couple feet and drop it onto the desk, guaranteed to attract attention... they hated me in the school library.

I got the paper at Staples a few years ago when it was on sale, I think the 400 sheets (4 reams) cost me all of $2 and it sat in a box in storage till fairly recently.

I have a thing for silver and gold metallic gel pens... especially since the black paper makes the gold look more like brass.

[Dr. Munro]

Might I just echo what has already been said.  Check the law.  It can be a very serious offence to carry any form of weapon in the UK.  This goes for knives with a blade above two inches.  All flick knives.  All knuckle dusters.  All BB guns that resemble a real model.  All concealed weapons.  Even aerosole cans.  Even a cricket bat can be considered a weapon if you can't prove why you're carrying it.  All it takes is for one person to tell the authorities.

Please, I get so many letters at our MP's office from people that have fallen on the wrong side of the law for reasons like this and there is absolutely nothing that can be done.

[Marrock]

I used to carry a baseball bat on the backseat of my car way back when, one of the local cops suggested I hit the Slavenation Army store and grab up an old baseball mitt and leave it laying next to it on the seat.

No one ever looked twice at it after I did just that.

But yes, heed the good Dr.'s advice and double check, if for no other reason than knowing what laws you're breaking so you don't look so surprised when you get nicked for it.

[Dr. Munro]

The man speaks the truth.  It will be alot easier for you if you know what laws you are infringing when trying to blag your way out of them.  Nothing it worse than that sinking feeling you get when you realise you're just incriminating yourself further