Deplorable quality of homemade weapons

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
No political opinion is being expressed in this observation.

This morning I looked at an online article that showed photos of weapons which had been confiscated from the competing factions at a demonstration in Portland, OR yesterday. Even though plenty of bad intent was evident, I was appalled at the poor quality of the work on any of the weapons which had been assembled (as opposed to picked up off the ground or taken out of a kitchen drawer). Duct tape appeared to be the most common method used to join materials, but the lack of imagination was even worse than the low level of construction skills. Some items bordered on the absurd; for instance, a device which was said to be a slingshot was made of a long necked funnel with what appeared to be six or eight feet of surgical tubing threaded through holes in the sides (making the holes in the plastic probably represented the highest level of technical skill displayed in any of the photos). Aside from the ridiculous design, how this was intended to be used in crowded quarters, in the presence of hundreds of police officers, is anybody's guess. I suppose that if you only intend to use a weapon at one demonstration and then abandon it, there's no point in putting too much effort into it. But, still, where's the pride?

Stan
 
I guess if they had any skills they would be a work and paying taxes and wouldn?t have time or energy for demonstrating.
 
I think you hit the nail on the head, the weapons are one time use and can be taken apart quick so they are no longer weapons and pitched. Most people with even the slightest hint of brain power aren't stupid enough to show up at a demonstration with an easily identifiable weapon. Doing so would be a green light for the cops to go to town without any worries of being accused of excessive force.
 
Most college students are quite familiar with the slingshot device you describe. It is quite effective at its intended purpose, which is to launch water-filled balloons distances of up to 100 yards. Sometimes called a "funnelator". Thank God law enforcement confiscated this implement of destruction before its owners were able to unleash its awesome power on their opponents.
 
On the other hand after watching many episodes of Forged in Fire my grandson wants to quit his electricians job and become a knife maker. A visit to eBay shows me hundreds of knife blanks already ground for ten bucks. I don't think too many would make it as a knife maker/ blade smith.
 
(quoted from post at 10:19:45 06/05/17) Most college students are quite familiar with the slingshot device you describe. It is quite effective at its intended purpose, which is to launch water-filled balloons distances of up to 100 yards. Sometimes called a "funnelator". Thank God law enforcement confiscated this implement of destruction before its owners were able to unleash its awesome power on their opponents.

Have you ever seen what a water balloon will do to the windshield of a car?
 
Remember the zip guns the gang bangers of a few years back used to have? A block of wood, a small door latch, a heavy rubber band, a roll of electrical tape and an antenna snapped off a Chevrolet? A little work, and they had a single shot .22 pistol. Nowadays they're all carrying real guns procured on the black market or stolen.
 
There is no pride. You should try to staff a manufacturing plant and see who/what walks through the door. The lack of character seen is often beyond comprehension.

I have a friend that sells robotics and he says his business is good because people no longer want to work for a living. They think they should hire in off the street someplace in middle management making $50K+. If there isn't an app on the phone that covers the task then they aren't interested.

Also more than half of them will stand you up for an interview and just not show up.

I feel better now.....
 
Mark;

Apparently some do. A few weeks ago my wife and I drove down to the central Oregon coast for a couple of days. Coming back, we wanted to stop at the Portland IKEA which is near the airport, east of the downtown area. We timed it just exactly wrong and ended up in the worst rush hour traffic I've been in in years. It took us over an hour to make our way across the city from west to east, probably not even ten miles. Almost as bad as Seattle, which is saying something.

Stan
 
Glad you feel better, Bob. It didn't do much to improve my state of mind. I'm counting on those people to keep Social Security alive.

Stan
 

Just a pathetic attempt by your local law enforcement to make you think that there was really something dangerous happening. water balloons have been a staple of junior high kids mischief for probably 80 years.
 
Could you ask him if he is crazy. Knife makeing for a side business or a hobby, sure. I have seen some of the real Japanese knifes and 5hey start in the $250.oo range and UP!!!! I know one chef who picked up an eight inch cleaver about a month ago. He put close to half of his weeks take home into it. Damascus body with a high carbon steel edge. this thing is beyond surgically sharp. He let me make two cuts with it. One on broccoli and another on some beef. I never ever would want to get in a stree fight with this kid ane that blade. On utube there are several good videos about real knifes. I have tried to find a couple to explane knifes and a piece or metal that sort of looks like a knife.
first knife video2
 
Have you ever SEEN what a water balloon will do to a windshield.? It will get it HORRIBLY, HORRIBLY wet.
 
You ever see a potato cannon? A buddy demonstrated one of them after work one night. Plastic drain pipe glued together, looked like a big Farmall M muffler with a longer pipe and about a three inch sewer clean out screwed into the back end, barbeque ignitor threaded in the side. Ram rod a potato down the barrel, load it up with hair spray and push the ignitor. Sounded like a bomb and had around 100 yards range. The guy was pretty innovative, had a weedwacker motor hooked to a blender so they could mix drinks when they camped on a Mississippi island every weekend.
 
Yep, I remember! The girls used to sunbathe on a convenient grassy bank on the other side of the dorm, with bra straps undone to eliminate tan lines. The funnellator (mounted on a pickup with two 2x2 uprights) could easily send a water balloon over the 3-story building causing photo ops.
 
Off topic, but acetylene bombs are fun for July 4th. Set up your torch for cutting, then snuff it out with a welding glove. Now fill a balloon with the mix, and tie in a knot. Put the balloon in a paper grocery bag, and twist up the top like a fuse. Lite the VERY top of the grocery bag and run. Last time I did this, I had 2 balloons and only one grocery bag. Neighbor called and asked if there was a wreck on the highway. Haven't done this since 9/11, for obvious reasons!
 
Made several potato guns. First was a 4 inch I gave to my niece. She thought it was the best thing ever. Took it to school. She went to a private school and the science teacher just loved it. Painted it up in cammo patterns before I gave it to her. The next one was an 8 inch monster. Stands over 6 feet long. It will hurl a spud close to three hundred yards on a perfect shot day. It actually kicks when you fire it. Now here are the skinnys. Inside the screw in cleanout plug i installed a Piezo striker and made a spark gap. To fire it all you need to do is hit the button on the back. Next and most important is I DON'T use hair spray. All that stuff does is gunk things up. Get a $3.oo can of butane lighter refill at the flea market. Take the smallest red plastic adapter and match a drill bit to it. Drill a hole in the side of the gun. You want about a 16-1 fuel air mix. No higher than 22-1. If the mix is too lean it will not fire. If too rich it will not fire. After you get that little "psit" of gas just right and fire it half a dozen times then chamber warmed up, Shazam!! Now you can shove a potato in and fire on the Bizmark. Lots of utube crazy posts.
 

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