WIXLIB

Updated Apr 2009

The purpose of this presentation is to make you betteraware of the numerous improvised weapons andingenious hiding places that have been created and arein use by today’s criminals. The majority of the materialused in this presentation comes from various lawenforcement officer safety bulletins throughout theworld. This presentation attempts to combineinformation from those bulletins into one easy to viewpresentation. In the interest of keeping the focus to thethreat on hand, many of the circumstances surroundingthe identification of these items has been removed.Knowledge is safety.

Unless you stay informed, danger will find you

Improvised WeaponAny item that has been designed, modified, or disguisedto function as a weapon.

California’s Dangerous Weapon Law (12020 P.C.)12020(a) PC Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable byimprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, oroffers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, anyundetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm, anycamouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which contains or consists of any flechettedart, any bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multibursttrigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, anymetal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, anyunconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gaugeknife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack,slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.(2) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, oroffers or exposes for sale, or who gives, or lends, any large-capacity magazine (11 ormore rounds).(3) Carries concealed upon his or her person any explosive substance, other than fixedammunition.(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger

Firearms

Zip GunsZip Guns are among the most commonly improvised firearms. Finding pieces of metal pipeand tubing like these on a suspect may indicate the makings of a zip gun, among the mostcommon improvised firearms. A handgun round is inserted snugly into a small diametertube. That "loaded" tube is then inserted into a larger pipe, which has an end cap with apiece of pointed metal inside it. When a suspect slams the end cap back against a hardsurface, the pointed metal strikes the primer of the round like a firing pin and dischargesthe weapon. The zip gun can be disassembled and the parts discarded with little chance theywill be put back together and identified as a weapon.This "Zip-Gun" was takenoff of a Arizona Suspect inSeptember 2004. The zipgun was made from aThis is an exampleportable flare gun and fired of a zip gun that hasa .38 Caliber Bullet. It isbeen modified to beoperated by a pull andconcealed inside arelease of the triggerlarge pocket knife.mechanism.

Tire Pressure Gauge Zip GunIn May 2002, Officers in Houlton, Maine recovered a tire pressure gauge that hadbeen converted to a .22 caliber zip gun.32 Caliber Pen GunAvailable for sale over thecounter at Arizona Gun shops

Mini-Maglite GunThe Ares Defense Systems of Blacksburg,Pennsylvania Company also manufactures aMini-Maglite Gun that fires a single .380 or.22 Caliber round. It is made out of thestandard 2 “AA” Cell Maglite flashlight bodyand is about 4” long. It operates just likethe Maglite Shotgun Flashlight. This weaponis manufactured in several colors and has aoptional end cap that will help make theweapon look like a normal flashlight. Theweapon retails for about 450.

Concealed Bolt Guns

Flare Gun Conversion KitThe “Pirate’s Plague” flare gunconversion kit uses metal adaptersto alter standard plastic 12 gaugeand 25 mm flare guns, giving themthe capability of firing an assortmentof .38 caliber pistol bullets andshotgun rounds. It is marketed as aweapon conversion available forsmall vessel sailors. The company’swebsite (captainforhire.com) claims,“The adapter is not a firearm, it islegal to possess all over the world.”When the adapter is inserted intothe flare gun, it alters that flare gunfrom being a device, not primarilydesigned to be a firearm, into afirearm, violating section12020(a)(1) PC, (zip gun andunconventional pistol). Thecompany also markets CapsicumRounds, (O.C.) as well as extremelyloud blanks that may be fired in any12 gauge device.

Pellet Gun ConversionThe City of Hemet Police Department in California found in a juvenile’swaistband an “airsoft gun” that had been converted to fire a .32 caliberbullet. The juvenile explained how he inserted a sheet metal screw to actas a firing pin and then purchased a piece of pipe to act as a barrel. Thepipe simply slid into the end of the barrel. The subject was then able tofire “one .32 caliber bullet” through it. He stated that it works for one shot.

BB Gun to Shotgun ConversionIn August 2006, officers from the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina,impounded several improvised weapons, one ofweapons was composed of an off the shelf BBgun and additional homemade components thatwhen combined, converted it into a single shotshotgun. To operate, a shotgun shell is inserted inthe adapter, the adapter is then connected to theBB gun. When a BB is fired, it acts as a firing pin,popping the shotgun primer cap and causing thedischarge of the shotgun shell.

Maglite ShotgunSafety PinAres Defense Systems of Blacksburg, Pennsylvaniamanufactures and sells a .410 Shotgun that resembles a three“D” Cell Maglite flashlight for around 600. It is a fullyfunctional high quality weapon that fires a single .410 calibershotgun round. The flashlight functions by pulling back aspring-loaded firing pin, much like a “zip gun” or portable flaregun. Once the safety pin is pulled, the operator pushed downon the firing lever, discharging the weapon through the endcap of the flashlight. The weapon’s flashlight works, but is ofa lesser light intensity. The weapon is considered an NFA(National Firearms Act) weapon. Subjects in possession ofsuch a device are required by federal law to have properdocumentation of ownership.

Mobile Cell Phone GunThis mobile phone has been altered to fire four .22 caliber rounds with a touch ofthe otherwise standard keypad. The phone does not function as normal cell phonesand has been completely gutted and replaced with a rudimentary spring-woundpercussion mechanism. From the outside this “phone” is indistinguishable fromnormal cell phone except it is much heavier. The gun is loaded by twisting thephone in half. A .22 caliber round fits into the top of the phone under the screen.The lower half, under the keypad, holds the firing pins. The bullets fire through theantenna by pressing the keypad from numbers five to eight, or depressing the“connect” button.

Folding GunThis is one of the smallest firearmsyou can buy. It is a 5 shot .22 caliberpistol manufactured by NorthAmerican Arms. It has a grip that foldsover the barrel and cylinder. This onewas concealed inside an eye glasscase when discovered, but fits easilyin pockets, hats, etc. When clipped toyour pants pocket it almost looks likea pager.Same weaponconcealed in abelt buckle

Necklace GunThis same firearm, the North AmericanArms 5 shot .22 caliber pistol was foundtied to a rope, and worn like a necklaceunderneath the shirt of a suspect arrestedin Stillwell, Oklahoma. You can see howeasy it would be to miss this weapon in aquick cursory search. The weapon shownhere is being demonstrated by a StillwaterPolice Officer.

World’s Smallest GunThe Swiss Mini Gun is the smallest commercially handgun in the world. It’sextremely small -- just over two inches long. It comes with tiny bullets (2.34 mmCaliber) designed especially for the weapon that can penetrate skin. Even in itsholster, this gun is so small that may pass for a keychain ornament. As its nameindicates, the Swiss Mini Gun is manufactured in Switzerland. The gun is aminiature, detailed copy of the Colt Python revolver. It sells for approximately 5000 to gun collectors.Extended Trigger

Tear Gas GunsThese are .22 caliber non-lethal TearGas Guns. They are sold through“Police” and “Sportsman” Magazines.The ad explains that no federal licenseor gun permit is needed to carry oneand that they sell for 30 each.Credit Card “BB” ShotgunA new twist on the idea of concealableweapons, the credit card-sizedshotgun, is shown at Koscielski'sGuns and Ammo, in Minneapolis, MI.It's a two-shot weapon machined froma block of metal the height and widthof a standard credit card, and about ahalf-inch thick. Each barrel fires sevenstandard steel BBs. It retails for 100.

Cane ShotgunThis Single Shot.410 gauge Shotgunis available over theinternet for 1200.Bicycle Pump GunIn October 2006, Police in Tampa, Florida discovered this bicyclepump on a parolee. The bicycle pump had be modified to fire a single.45 caliber bullet when depressed.

”The Club” ShotgunThis is “The Club” steeringwheel-locking device soldaround the world, easilymodified to fire shotgun shells.The handle end of the the Clubhas been hollowed out to act asa barrel.When the locking end is pulledback, the interior metal cap(altered to act as a firing pin) ispulled away from the round.It is fired by “slamming” theends back together

Pocket GunThis gun fires .45 ACP, .357magnum, and .38 Specialrounds. It is a single shotweapon, double action weaponmade by the “Downsizer Corp.”It measures 3 ¼” long, 2 ¼”tall, and is .90” thick.Wallet Gun

CIGARETTE PACK GUN“Cigarettes can be dangerous for your Health”This firearm is usually a single-shot weapon of varyingcalibers. Although much heavier than a normal cigarettepacket, this weapon is visually difficult to distinguishfrom the genuine article. Real cigarettes will often beinserted next to the barrel, and the firing button isconcealed beneath the packet's label. In addition, thepacket could be kept closed, concealing the barrel but nothindering the operation of the weapon. Any brand ofcigarette or cigar packaging could be used in such a device.CIGARETTE CASE GUNShoots a .22 caliber round and is very quiet.Has a pull type pen gun (that is the smallpiece off of the box, about the size of alighter). The square box is the silencer. Fitsneatly in a cigarette case. This unit isconstructed well. Manufacturer is called“DAW”, designed by the great gun fairy forsome government agency somewhere.There are two units available, extremelyrare item.”

Knife GunThis is a single shot .22 caliber long rifle “pistol” disguisedas a hunting knife. It is manufactured by a company called“Powell & Brown” out of Tucson, Arizona. A cockingmechanism is located at the top of the handle. There is nosafety. A slide release collapses the knife at a 30 degreeangle to load or unload the weapon. The trigger is locatedjust forward of the grip.Cocking MechanismSwivel ReleaseTriggerc/o Crook County Sheriff, Prineville, OR

Briefcase GunThe Enigma Briefcase’s designfeatures a fully functioning sixshot .22 LR revolver incorporatedin the handle of a professionalbriefcase. The case functions asa regular briefcase, with theadditional capability of firing six.22 LR shots. This double actionrevolver allows you to fire as fastas you can pull the trigger.Because the firearm is carriedlike a regular briefcase, you arealways holding the firearm at theproper height. The briefcase isbeing marketed over theinternet.TriggerMuzzle