Don't Go Armed!!! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Canadian Dude** · 06-29-2003, 07:53 AM

Well this topic has come up between friends of mine who do not, and have not travelled abroad, "Do you carry any type of protection?"

My answer to them is "YES", i have my witt, my manors, and my quick thinking and my ability to talk to people.

Usally I get alot of laughs on that one, then the next statement, " I ment a knife or pepper spray"

And the answer is a very big "NO"

To carry a weapon when you are travelling is I think a sign of parranioa, should you really be treking through a strange country when you parranoid? I don't think so, how could you enjoy a trip like that?

Not to mention you the risks of carrying a weapon:

1. You could be held by the customs of the country your leaving when they find it, airport secuity is mighty tight these days.

2. If they don't find it on the way there, someone may find it when you get off and now your starting your trip explaining how that mace got in your bag to 2 very large Police officers.

3. I am going to guess you have taken no course on how to use the weapon other than a warning labels or what you have seen in the movies, so when you pull out you weapon, you will most likley be disarmed and have it used against you by the carrier thug who you just made friends with.

4. Someone may notice it while your in a store, or hostle, or public place and you will prob be arrested for carry a concelled weapon. Ah yes nothing like that phone call home to your parents " Mom/Dad, send money, I am in jail!"

5. If the weapon is noticed by someone who has offered your lodging for the night, you could very well offend them and end up on your ass in the street at midnight.

If I had to recommend something to carry for guys and gals, if you feel unsafe, carry a wistle, or an electronic alarm device that you can get at any secuity store...prob a much better route to take.

FYI

**crionnacht** · 06-29-2003, 01:00 PM

good tips, CD! Yep, a whistle is already on my list of things to pack, but I opted against the electronic thingamagic, mostly because of a lack of space in my pack. A whistle is convenient because you can just carry it around your neck.

crion

softhands · 03-01-2004, 05:36 AM

in a post9-11 world not a good idea but there are what we call everyday devices you can use for self protection. Hair spray can double up as mace and a rolled up magazine may help.

**Somnambulation** · 03-02-2004, 04:27 PM

I actually have a knife that I was planning on bringing, not for security, but more just as a simple tool for opening and cutting things and stuff like that. The thing is is that it looks slightly more aggressive than the average Swiis Army knife, more of a "tactical" style knife, with a 4 inch locking blade. Do you think I will get any hassles in Europe for bringing this along? I obviously won't bring it into the passenger compartment on an airplane, but do they care about knives on trains or at border crossings? I don't want to get tackled and beat down for whipping it out and trying to open a container of food at the wrong time.

**Carisia** · 03-04-2004, 05:46 AM

Somnambulation - in the current state of anti-terrorist affairs, you could run the risk of having your knife confiscated. If it's all utilitarian and of no value, and you really want to have it w/ ya, then you can store it w/ your check in luggage. Usually, you won't have a problem w/ flying, since it won't be in the passenger cabin. But... the problem is when you're taking the train or bus or something like that. For instance, in some larger stations, such as when I was boarding my train from Barcelona to Madrid, they actually where scanning all of the luggage before you were allowed to board the train. So that could be a problem...

In general, especially if I'm backpacking, I don't like to check my travelpack in anyway. I had this REI bought camping silverware set held together in key chain, you've seen those right? the tips of the knife and fork are round - childproof, but they still confiscated them... no biggie for me, but just gives you an idea.

Koomori · 10-09-2005, 02:59 AM

hmm... well from what I know(which is, admittedly, very little) various countries have various laws, I was traveling around the UK and found a knife in a gift shop in Wales, I was talking to the guy ringing my up and he said that "it is legal to carry, but don't take it to the pub, just use common sense" and when I got back home and was talking to my uncle, who is a cop, he said it was actually illegal for me to even own it here in the states, because it was over six inches(the thing has a blade as long as my upper arm). I figure when I travel, I'm having some form of weapon with me, because I am paranoid, I like the comfort of havong a weapon, the only time I don't have weapons on me is when doing so would affect other people, I usually carry a small knife, even when I was at school, figuring the people I might need to use it against would probably have something bigger anyway, I didn't bring anything with me on my trip because I was concerned that it would affect the group as a whole, I mean, at school, I'd get expelled, on the trip, the whole group could conceivably be affected, I figure that unless I feel 100% safe, or I have to think about the implications for more than just myself, I'll have a knife, unless it's illegal(though it would come in handy for being deported when the money runs out...) I'm not experienced, I'm not worldly, so I can't give advice, I'm just saying that I'd carry a knife, because the fucks you'd need it against are going to have at least that anyway...

**pinion** · 10-09-2005, 02:52 PM

^
I'm going to straight up disagree with you. Carrying any sort of weapon is never a good idea. If you stick someone you will go to jail, plain and simple, it doesn't matter what the circumstances are. We don't live in the middle ages where you need to carry around a sword. Any time you carry a weapon you are putting yourself and those around you in more trouble then a little knife could do you good.

Believe me if you get jumped by 5 guys carrying bats and you pull out a 6' inch shank you will get your ass handed to you...if they don't kill you. I think you're more likely to fall down and stab yourself then cut someone trying to jump you.

**space virgin** · 10-09-2005, 03:06 PM

^ What he said.

Carrying a weapon around in Europe is going to get you some unwanted attention-- and I don't mean from would-be criminals, I mean from people who can do more than just hand your ass to you: Customs Officials and Border Patrol.

As a side note, I'm female and possessing a not-exactly-fearsome countenance (oh, but looks are deceiving...), yet I don't feel the need to carry a weapon anywhere. And belive me-- I've wandered into a fair share of sketchy neighborhoods by myself at night in cities both here AND abroad.

The only time I'd carry a weapon is if I'm deliberately planning on doing someone else harm.

**TimmyJames1976** · 10-10-2005, 04:15 AM

just owning a firearm in the US ups your chances of dieing in a homocide %50

**d_fresh** · 10-10-2005, 07:08 AM

you gotta be super paranoid to feel the need to carry a big ass knife around with you.

**Slacker** · 10-10-2005, 02:14 PM

I was thinking of bringing a knife with me on my trip. Not for protection, and knife is a very good tool. Extremely useful.

If for some reason I wasnt allowed to bring one I could do without, but its nice to have an option. And the knife that I would bring would be a little 2 incher that you would NEVER pull out lol. You'd get yer ass kicked for pullin a little 2 inch knife out! Unless yer MacGyver or something lol.

**Somnambulation** · 10-10-2005, 09:23 PM

Well, I did bring the tactical style knife to Europe, twice, and it was no problem. I would always recommend people to bring a knife with them when travelling because it comes in handy so much, not really for protection, but just for cutting things that need cutting, like food. Ive used it out in the open in every city that Ive been to with no problem at all. I even bought a pretty sweet butterfly knife in Barcelona and carried and used that with no problem. The only place that a knife might get you in trouble is in England because they have such a high stabbing rate, but if you are obviously not a hooligan and using it for peaceful purposes, the police probably wont bother you.

Funny side note - I accidently had my knife on me as I was going into Ministry of Sound in London. I realized it too late to stick it in my shoe and they patted me down and everything, but didnt catch it. Funny part is, my buddy had his ecstasy taken from him, a couple of pills hidden in his wallet, but I got in with a blade. Hehe.

**Slacker** · 10-11-2005, 10:58 AM

Quote:

I even bought a pretty sweet butterfly knife in Barcelona and carried and used that with no problem.

Did you bring it back to the US? If so how?

**Somnambulation** · 10-11-2005, 08:32 PM

I just put it in the pack, which was checked on the flight home. They did search my pack, but didnt find it or didnt care.

Bman61255 · 01-13-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pinion@Oct 9 2005, 05:52 PM
^
I'm going to straight up disagree with you. Carrying any sort of weapon is never a good idea. If you stick someone you will go to jail, plain and simple, it doesn't matter what the circumstances are. We don't live in the middle ages where you need to carry around a sword. Any time you carry a weapon you are putting yourself and those around you in more trouble then a little knife could do you good.

Believe me if you get jumped by 5 guys carrying bats and you pull out a 6' inch shank you will get your ass handed to you...if they don't kill you. I think you're more likely to fall down and stab yourself then cut someone trying to jump you.

[snapback]80573[/snapback]

IF five guys jump you w/ bats then you probably pissed of the wrong person.....but in any case.....leave the knife in the kitchen and just shoot the prick!!

**TheWills** · 01-14-2006, 12:25 AM

If you cant get out of a situation with your own 2 fists and maybe your boots, then a knife is probably gonna get you in trouble, if you got a knife some guy is gonna pull out a gun and shoot you unless hes ubercool and professional about it and just tries scaring the fuck outta ya, if you wanna duke it out with him and he pulls a gun hes not gonna shoot you cuase your fists dont subcontiously pose a big a threat as a knife, I would say if anything pepper spray

chelseafc05 · 01-14-2006, 01:58 AM

or if you pull out a knife and go hey man you got a light....and ya wallet then he goes thats not a knife thats a knife.....

crocodile dundee was that greatest

Behind_Blue_Eyes · 01-30-2006, 09:41 AM

one can even watch a couple kung fu films to brush up on any needed ninja skills

**Canadian Bacon** · 02-01-2006, 06:11 PM

Great advice CD. I strongly agree... talk your ass out of all situations, except when shit hits the fan everyone should know how to throw a good elbow and knee.

These are two most effective defense weapons because they are close combat and work in nearly any position. Also you don't need a lot of force to put someone down with it. So here is my tips of advice from taking thai kickboxing for a few years.

Elbow: you want to use your wait to follow through. Power comes from the hip. Better yet, grab the other person's shirt and pull them towards you.

Kness: you'll want to wrap your hands behind the person's neck, move your waist back as far as possible and hit up with your knee, pointing your toe down and leaning back.

If they pull a knife, best thing to do is run. If you can't run, throw the nearest things at him. If you can't throw anything, put your jacket over your hand, and try to fend him off while you find an escape. If you don't have a jacket, then try to use your shoe to fend him away.

**MeTurk** · 02-02-2006, 03:36 AM

I wouldn't ever acrry weapons, I could have done with a penknive of someit but it will be obvious to any official that finds a penknive that's it a tool not a weapon. If your knive is to fancie and obviously a weapon they may take it off you. Although I was allowed to bring a siccors onto the plane flying from Wien to Dublin, they found it, had a chat and put it back into my carry on)

The law in Ireland and England is another thing there's no such thing as killing or maming in self defence, your almost expected to take the beating and report them.

I've seen a trick for dealing with being atacked by more than one person. Grab one of them by the lugs then just bite him on the head, hard as you can. Draw blood. The basic premis being when they see the crazy thing you did to the first guy they won't come near you.