The problem with carrying a weapon of any sort is that there's always a temptation to use it, in this particular case the idiot got within fairly close range before hitting the dead man once. So consider that for a moment, if someone comes within a few feet of you with a surly look on their face would you pull out pepper spray and spray them in the eyes, or would you pull out a knife and stab them?

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The problem with carrying a weapon of any sort is that there's always a temptation to use it, in this particular case the idiot got within fairly close range before hitting the dead man once. So consider that for a moment, if someone comes within a few feet of you with a surly look on their face would you pull out pepper spray and spray them in the eyes, or would you pull out a knife and stab them?

Stab in the stomach

Pepper spray may not be effective

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

The stun taser I can't even see that doing anything?

May i suggest testing it out on yourself to gather some statistics ?

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

What about the other self defence weapons?

Tamarin walking stick, looks innocent though it’s an effective heavy clobbering device.

3 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Today I did a walk around in the Pattaya markets

Pepper spray was available and flick knives and the small tasers ( are they effective?

After watching that attack on Phuket where the elderly Australian guy was killed by a steroid thug I am thinking about purchasing

If he had had pepper spray he possibly would of been alive , I don't know about the electric tazer though ,

The point is ,is it legal here in Thailand to carry pepper spray ?

What about the other self defence weapons?

The stun taser I can't even see that doing anything?

In some States of Australia it's now legal to carry pepper spray if you can justify it and bring it back with you to Australia

Kali is a Filipino martial arts of knife fighting so it may be beneficial to older men if you want to carry a knife for that training reasons

just tell any wannabe attacker you are georgieboi the floor mopper from AN.... they will quickly back away.

10 minutes ago, novacova said:

Tamarin walking stick, looks innocent though it’s an effective heavy clobbering device.

Agree, and mine is very hard wood, as I broke a earlier one over a dog's head. That had to hurt, along with a dislocated jaw.

Carry a small blade, but more for slicing food, than defense, though reassuring to have.

Same as USA, always have something on me, or near by, but yet to ever need, 25 adult years in both, USA & TH.

3 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Today I did a walk around in the Pattaya markets

Pepper spray was available and flick knives and the small tasers ( are they effective?

After watching that attack on Phuket where the elderly Australian guy was killed by a steroid thug I am thinking about purchasing

If he had had pepper spray he possibly would of been alive , I don't know about the electric tazer though ,

The point is ,is it legal here in Thailand to carry pepper spray ?

What about the other self defence weapons?

The stun taser I can't even see that doing anything?

In some States of Australia it's now legal to carry pepper spray if you can justify it and bring it back with you to Australia

Kali is a Filipino martial arts of knife fighting so it may be beneficial to older men if you want to carry a knife for that training reasons

i recommend carrying everything you can

The only times that I have needed to give myself a few seconds to escape (from high power water guns during Sonkran), I have used the same tactic, and it would probably work with some drunken oaf as well..

As the person comes at you, look past/behind them and shout out (in Thai or appropriate language):

Look out!! An elephant!!!

This crazy exclamation has always resulted in the person turning around, allowing me time to make myself scarce..... :)

5 hours ago, johng said:

Thais can carry guns..foreigners no.

Some Thais can carry guns, but they are few and far between. Like the US, you need a permit and they aren't easy to get here. Carrying a gun licensed for home defense is a good way to get arrested and thrown into jail, especially if its used in self-defense.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i recommend carrying everything you can

I take my wife. "Sic 'em honey!!!"

do it to them before they do it to you

Why pepper spray ? Take some chili pepper from the market, with the highest Scoville Heat Unit, put in a small spray plastic bottle with water and you are all set. Or a small plastic mini grip with red hot chilli powder. A quick sprinkle on any attacker will definately be more legally correct and as effective as the pepper spray sold...perhaps even stronger !! 🤣

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Why would a psycho care if you are "good looking" ?

I added the "good looking" adjective for a little laugh.

14 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Today I did a walk around in the Pattaya markets

Pepper spray was available and flick knives and the small tasers ( are they effective?

After watching that attack on Phuket where the elderly Australian guy was killed by a steroid thug I am thinking about purchasing

If he had had pepper spray he possibly would of been alive , I don't know about the electric tazer though ,

The point is ,is it legal here in Thailand to carry pepper spray ?

What about the other self defence weapons?

The stun taser I can't even see that doing anything?

In some States of Australia it's now legal to carry pepper spray if you can justify it and bring it back with you to Australia

Kali is a Filipino martial arts of knife fighting so it may be beneficial to older men if you want to carry a knife for that training reasons

If you feel so insecure living in Thailand, is it worth it? Ultimately your health may suffer.

Time to go back home?

The only weapon that works in an attack is the one that is already in your hand when the attack begins.

Unless you have trained with that weapon, it's of virtually no use to you at all.

Just because you put on a Ninja gi, it doesn't automatically give you Ninja skills. You need to learn and practice. That even goes for the stick you grab from the ground. You do NOT know how to use it as anything other than a caveman club! And that only works from behind...

Knives? Keep in mind that in a knife fight, EVERYONE bleeds, not just the loser.

Pepper spray? Sure, IF it's already in your hand when the attack starts. In your pocket is next to useless.

Most men believe they are great fighters, despite never having trained and being out of shape. Their last fight was in 7th grade in the schoolyard, yet they still believe they could take on anyone. Especially the Gym Rats. They think muscles equal skills. The result is in the videos we see of foreigners swinging wide haymakers with no power, mostly hitting air and having no positive effect. There is a reason professional fighters train...

I've carried a pocket knife every day since I was a Cub Scout, in every country that I've lived in. Illegal in all of them as the blade length exceeds local limits. Started with a Scout knife, moved to a 'gentleman's pocket knife' in my 20's, then switched 25 years ago to carry a tactical folder. BUT... although I have many years of fight training, I have NEVER even come close to needing it for that purpose, or even considering it!

I prefer to leave the confrontation, and do so. But hell, the reality is, I haven't even had a verbal confrontation in the last 15-20 years. What kind of 'grownup' gets into fights these days?

The best bet is not to put yourself in places where the fights start. And we DO know where and when most of those places are, don't we?

15 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Stab in the stomach

Pepper spray may not be effective

15 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Stab in the stomach

Pepper spray may not be effective

While I may agree that under truly extreme circumstances that might be your only recourse generally speaking it's going to result in a tremendous number of problems the possibility of prison time and unless you can prove it was self-defense your life's never going to be the same again, and this is why I mentioned the potential consequences of carrying any sort of weapon. You may be tempted to use it!

This thread is titled "...self defense weapons." Having a knife, pepperspray, or a taser for self defense means that they'd normally be in your pocket or waistband.

That Swedish Turk thug made a surprise attack. -I doubt that anyone here, including myself, would be able to draw their weapon as they're falling onto the street. That victim may have already been unconscious before he hit his head, as the strike looked like one to the vagus nerve (instant KO).

The best "defense" in these situations is to maintain distance and never let an aggressive beast get close-enough to launch a strike. For cases like this, a cane would have been very useful, even a lit cigar would help you keep others at a distance.

19 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Sure ,but what if that thug kept coming at you like he did with the old guy

You would be at an advantage with a knife in your pocket ,would you use it ?

Apart from the legal side.

Unless you are prepared to kill someone .

Forget about a knife or any other weapon similar.

20 hours ago, worgeordie said:

You are a boxer George , why would you need a weapon ,

when you have fists of fury, don't do it ,carrying a weapon

could land you in lock up.

regards worgeordie

How skilled a person is in martial arts is irrelevant IMHO. Some years ago I acted for a family where the husband was a 4th Dan in Karate

He owned a small corner shop in London

He tried to stop a small school boy stealing as I recall a bar of chocolate

Sadly he died when stabbed by the 13 year old school boy who had a sharpened screw driver in his pocket

As another poster said - if possible best to walk or run away

20 hours ago, johng said:

Thais can carry guns..foreigners no.

Anyone CAN carry a gun if they have hands and the strength to do so. However, it is not legal even for Thais to carry a gun unless they have a permit. Most Thai people with gun permits have a permit to own and keep a gun at a registered address which is usually either at home or the workplace. Permits to actually carry a gun are very rare, come with so many restriction that makes it just about worthless to legally carry a gun. Moreover, the government recently announced that no new such permits will be issued for the time being and many of the existing permits are being withdrawn.

18 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

So consider that for a moment, if someone comes within a few feet of you with a surly look on their face would you pull out pepper spray and spray them in the eyes, or would you pull out a knife and stab them?

Stab in the stomach

Pepper spray may not be effective

Really, you'd plan to walk around with an open knife in your pocket - just incase someone looks at you the wrong way and enters your personal space ? - a rather neurotic and unhinged mentality.

5 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

I've carried a pocket knife every day since I was a Cub Scout, in every country that I've lived in. Illegal in all of them as the blade length exceeds local limits. Started with a Scout knife, moved to a 'gentleman's pocket knife' in my 20's, then switched 25 years ago to carry a tactical folder. BUT... although I have many years of fight training, I have NEVER even come close to needing it for that purpose, or even considering it!

I prefer to leave the confrontation, and do so. But hell, the reality is, I haven't even had a verbal confrontation in the last 15-20 years. What kind of 'grownup' gets into fights these days?

I think GG plans to ask the aggressor to 'stop' while he removes his knife from his fanny-pack... but really, I think this mental case wants to walk around with a cattle prod assuming eveyrone is out to attack him...

As you correctly point out - what kind of grown-up 'gets into a fight' these days ?

Clearly it happens though - but to be the innocent victim of a completely unprovoked attack is extremely rare - it could be argued that 'nearly' 100% of risk is avoided by simply not being an idiot and maintaing composure to walk away or at least de-escalate - extract yourself from any potential situation - thats nto being a snowflake, thats just having the sense not to get involved.

I think GG genuinely thinks he has time ask an aggressor politely to “stop” while he fumbles around in his fanny-pack for a weapon, that says more about his deluisional mindset than the reality most people live in. Walking around assuming everyone is a threat and fantasising about countermeasures is hardly a balanced way to move through the world.

And you’re right - what grown adult should be “getting into fights” in the first place? It is not secondary school. Most situations that turn physical begin long before the first shove - with ego, pride, drink, or a refusal to step back.

Of course, unprovoked attacks do happen. But they are rare. In the overwhelming majority of cases, risk can be dramatically reduced by not rising to bait, not posturing, and simply removing yourself from the situation. That is not weakness, and it is not being a “snowflake”. It is basic self-control and situational awareness.

25 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

However, it is not legal even for Thais to carry a gun unless they have a permit.

Not any more;

Suspension of public carry permits (Por.12): The Interior Ministry will continue its temporary suspension of permits allowing individuals to carry firearms in public, in effect since 20 December 2023. Officials are strictly prohibited from issuing carry permits to members of the public, in a bid to reduce the risk of crime and public violence.. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2026/02/20/thailand-tightens-gun-licences-public-carry-ban/

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

risk can be dramatically reduced by not rising to bait, not posturing, and simply removing yourself from the situation.

yeah, it's good advice which i try to follow.

being a tough guy can get you killed.

there's a guy I've spoken to a couple of times. i bump into him and we make small talk. but the other day, i noticed a hostile look at the corner of his eye as he was walking away. so this guy is a backstabbing two-faced piece of crap.

he wasn't overtly hostile, but I don't like people wasting my time chattering and being duplicitous. this is the same ahole who interrupted me in the middle of a set at the gym a while back.

I just let it go, but my blood was starting to boil. Glad I didn't have a baseball bat on me.

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

yeah, it's good advice which i try to follow.

being a tough guy can get you killed.

there's a guy I've spoken to a couple of times. i bump into him and we make small talk. but the other day, i noticed a hostile look at the corner of his eye as he was walking away. so this guy is a backstabbing two-faced piece of crap.

he wasn't overtly hostile, but I don't like people wasting my time chattering and being duplicitous. this is the same ahole who interrupted me in the middle of a set at the gym a while back.

I just let it go, but my blood was starting to boil. Glad I didn't have a baseball bat on me.

You’re absolutely right... Clearly the only reasonable response was to smash his face in with a baseball bat - all because you “noticed a hostile look out of the corner of his eye”.

How dare he interrupt you mid-set. Obviously that warrants a life-altering, disfiguring assault. That’ll teach him not to “look like a back-stabbing two-faced piece of crap”.

Perfectly proportionate. Totally rational.....

When you finish your 'set' - I think you need to be very careful not to flex too hard - you'll blow lightbulbs and crack mirrors... and remember, not to push the earth down too hard and nudge it off axis when you do those press-ups.....

Everything is illegal if you use it, even in a self defense situation.

6 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Everything is illegal if you use it, even in a self defense situation.

Even your bare hands?

22 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Today I did a walk around in the Pattaya markets

Pepper spray was available and flick knives and the small tasers ( are they effective?

After watching that attack on Phuket where the elderly Australian guy was killed by a steroid thug I am thinking about purchasing

If he had had pepper spray he possibly would of been alive , I don't know about the electric tazer though ,

The point is ,is it legal here in Thailand to carry pepper spray ?

What about the other self defence weapons?

The stun taser I can't even see that doing anything?

In some States of Australia it's now legal to carry pepper spray if you can justify it and bring it back with you to Australia

Kali is a Filipino martial arts of knife fighting so it may be beneficial to older men if you want to carry a knife for that training reasons

A very sad state of affairs when one has to consider self defence weapons when in "Safe and Trusted" Thailand!!

4 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

A very sad state of affairs when one has to consider self defence weapons when in "Safe and Trusted" Thailand!!

georgieboi the floor mopper aint in Thailand.

10 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

A very sad state of affairs when one has to consider self defence weapons when in "Safe and Trusted" Thailand!!

Over my 26 years here I have never considered the need for self protection of any sort except for a couple of stones to throw at the occasional SOI dog!