What is the best self-defense weapon available?

What is the best legal weapon to defend yourself? The answer may surprise you. 

As a self-defense expert with over 40 years of martial arts experience, I've heard this question a lot. I've met hundreds of martial arts experts, defensive tactics instructors, and self-defense gurus all with differing opinions on weapons, martial arts, and self-defense. Ironically, most would agree on with my answer to this question. 

At Harford Armory we've tested hundreds of different types of weapons, ranging from state of the art to those that have stood the test of thousands of years. But still, only one stands out as the most supremely effective weapon against attack or the threat of violence.

It may shock you to learn that it's the one thing we cannot sell in our store. Why? Because you already have it. You have it with you every day in every situation, whether harmless or dangerous. 

What is this powerful weapon that can keep you safe and help you survive the threats of the dangerous world we live in? It's your mind, or perhaps more specifically your brain. 

Only your brain can help avoid danger in the first place. Only your brain can help you maintain awareness of the possible threats around you. Only your brain can help you talk your way out of a situation. Only your brain can make your body run away. Only your brain can make you act in ways that sidestep injury. Only your brain to employ other weapons. Without it, there is no defense for yourself or those nearby. 

With the exception of your brain, all the other weapons have distinct advantages and disadvantages that apply differently in different situations for different people. We'll go through those to help you advance your self-defense, but it's important to start with the fact that no weapon can protect you if your mind and body are not prepared to use them. That preparation comes in the form of advanced planning and practice. 

If you're reading this, you clearly have a brain (unless you're a generative AI). The question is how have you educated and prepared your brain to proactively plan for your safety and to react when a threat is imminent?

Now that we've covered the somewhat obvious, let's talk about all the various tools that enhance your safety and security in various situations. 

Let's consider some of the broad situations where you may need different tools for self-defense. Each of these will change how you prepare and what you carry or have at hand for protecting yourself (in addition to your brain and body). 

  • Home Defense
  • Car/Automotive Defense, RoadsideSafety, Carjacking Prevention
  • "Street" Safety, Walking Defense
  • Workplace Safety (non law enforcement jobs)
  • Gym Safety, Exercise Safety, and Outdoor Jogging Protection
  • Law Enforcement and Protective Services On-the-Job Defense

 It's also important to consider your own physical aspects:

  • Strength
  • Speed for Escape
  • Mobility, Agility, and Athleticism
  • Body Type, Size
  • Training Level
  • Ability to Act Under Pressure

Other important considerations:

  • Local laws where you live, work, and travel
  • Your legal status to carry various weapons
  • The type of clothes you will be wearing (yes, this is actually very important)
  • Restrictions specific to where you are visiting, your workplace, or where you will be traveling

Each of these factors is important to selecting the right self-defense tools. Certainly your safety comes first, but at Harford Armory we will always advise you to operate within legal restrictions and to only carry items that your comfortable using. Sometimes having a self-defense weapon can escalate situations and make them more dangerous. Our goal is to always improve your odds of survival. Imagine pulling a weapon on an unarmed attacker and the attacker disarms you and uses the weapon against you. This could dramatically increase your risk of injury or death, and at a minimum reduce your chances of escaping the situation with minimal harm.

In the above example, even if you do manage to escape, you could get in legal trouble. Part of preparing is learning what's legal in the areas you live in and travel through. It also important to understand your own limitations and inclinations. You should never carry a weapon that you aren't willing to use if the circumstances require it.  

Another key to preparing is learning to effectively carry self-defense items so they are accessible, concealed to preserve the element of surprise (where this is allowed), and ready to deploy in a the most common situations.