Hmmm... let's see how many "field expedient" weapons we can figure out for on-board - given what we can legally carry on and what is already available on-board.<br><br>First - legal carry-on's that can be prepared before hand or retrofitted on-board.<br>1) per Doug - sharpened credit card ( are the platinum ones any better? :-) (still probably illegal given usage and intent. and since the intent would be obvious you would probably go to jail if caught.)<br><br>2) any writing implement - from personal experience I can state that a #2 pencil can be jammed through someones arm with quite impressive results as I was the victim of this on the school yard many decades ago.<br><br>3) Those little plastic cups that they serve water in will result in quite sharp edges if you crack one in half.<br><br>4) utilitikeys have been mentioned on this forum but would probably be considered illegal. OTH you could sharpen the spine of a normal key and though you would probably ruin it's ability to open the lock you would have a sharp to carry-on. - (still probably illegal given usage and intent. and since the intent would be obvious you would probably go to jail if caught.)<br><br>5) Do they allow you to take on disposable razors? The blade could be liberated from this tool.<br><br>6) If you bring a CD you can crack it in half and get two rather sharp blades each 3.5" long.<br><br>7) Many PDA's are being delivered these days in titanium boxes and titanium cases are available for these devices if they arrive in plastic. The cover of one of these cases or devices could certainly be sharpened on one edge for a substantial and sturdy sharp. If you further purchases a leather case for this device the sharp edge would be quite well hidden until needed.<br><br>8) When I travel with my laptop I carry a small printer in the bag which I am examining now. Seems there are a number of very stiff plastic pieces on this device that can be removed and sharpened and put back on with little sign of tampering. <br><br>9) Any excuse for bring a piece of flat glass is sufficient to provide substantial and very sharp blade. If said glass is pre-scirbed you can even control the shape of the resultant blade upon breaking. Let's say a vanity compact with mirror? Picture frame with picture of loved-one? <br><br>10) Jewelery. Any piece of jewlery with a straight edge can be sharpened and if it is properly decorated will not be closely examined. Dog-Tags with those rubber silencers. Heavy Mr. T type disk around neck even a large cross, ankh etc.<br><br>So much for "no sharps on planes".<br><br>Now how about the easier self-defense devices that work in close Qtr's.<br><br>1) Martial Arts Knowledge & Skill. Hard to acquire but once acquired, very effective and impossible to confiscate. Skill is required for effectiveness and must be maintained.<br><br>2) Whips. These are easy to use with a little practice and can dis-arm an assailant. Most of us men where one around the waist already.<br><br>3) Blunt Weapons. The stewardess's have large aluminum trays for delivering food and drink. I have my laptop, book, boot..... All of which can be thrown, or clubbed. These are a poor replacement for a blade when your opponent has a blade but better than waiting for the lunatic to fly into a building and scorch you to death in a blaze of jet fuel!<br><br>4) Cat's Claws - key ring decorations - see comments on jewelery.<br><br>5) Kevlar gloves - while not exactly in the same category as the other items listed here they can certainly help to dis-arm a foe with a blade.<br><br>6) net / club combination. Throw a coat, cloak, airline-blanket over the assailant and while they are disentangling themselves use the blunt instruments mentioned earlier. - this works even better when one defender uses the net and another the club.<br><br>7) Garrot - parratooper speed laces. Would be very difficult to use on a standing asailant who has a knife but if you were in the seat behind them and they were not sitting next to their buddy...... many conditionals here <br><br>8) Chemicals. I can't bring pepper spray but any aresol with alcohal in it will work somewhat. Breath spray, cologne, perfume... aim for the eyes at close quarters and be prepared to follow up with blunt weapon<br><br>9) Flame This is a very dangerous weapon to use in a closed pressure vessel but.... see # 8 above and combine with a lighter and you have a flame thrower effectiveness determined by the pressure and streaming characteristics of the alcohal source.<br><br>10) Sling shot. Not the wrist-rocket type but the ancient type. A hankerchief and a shoelace or two is all you need then small projectiles such as a childs marble sack would readily provide.<br><br>A problem with all of the above is that this whole line of thinking is an attempt to circumvent the rules and if detected prior to use will cause you much trouble. <soapbox> Personnaly, I don't think that the proper reaction to armed criminals found in our midst is to disarm, but that is the one that is being enforced on us by the representatives that we elected and the continued disinterest of our fellow citizens in preparing to defend themselves and police their own communities. (I digress!)</soapbox><br><br>Feel certain that the enemy is thinking of all of these "Field expedient" weapons and probably more.<br><br>Travel safe!