Customer Reviews

Disguised Weapons: The Law Enforcemnt Guide To Covert Guns, Knives, And Other Weapons

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...the quality of the writing is very poor. As an example, on opening the book to a random page (153), I find the following, in the description of a keychain car alarm remote that conceals a small blade:

"Such convenience items have become so popular and common that they usually escape close inspection, making the weapons they disguise more difficult to detect. If used properly, of course, such items could prove fatal."

Now, in the first place, the ubiquity of keychain car remotes does not make it more difficult to detect a weapon concealed within one; it only makes it less likely that an officer might try to do so. In the second, it is at best sloppy and at worst downright wrong to characterize the use of a disguised weapon to cause fatal injury as "proper." What the author really means, of course is, "if used expertly" or "if used effectively," but that's not what he says. Such carelessness is typical. The sentiment that an officer would do well to look twice at every item in a suspect's possession is repeated, literally, on every other page, and one very quickly gets the sense that the words are just there to pad the pages. It would have been a better book if it were shorter, with less finger-wagging, more pictures, fewer pages, and a lower price.

Then again, it's possible that Mr. Meissner has included so much brotherly from-one-officer-to-another advice as a salve for his conscience, or at the very least to ward off critics (like me) who would point out that his book is a resource for those who would conceal and carry disguised weapons as much as for those who would discover and confiscate them. Published and marketed by Paladin Press (of "Hitman" fame), the book is just as likely, or even more likely, to end up in the hands of terrorists and criminals as in those of police and security personnel. I have nothing against Paladin--indeed, I'd even go so far as to call them a national treasure--but the hypocrisy of Meissner's words weighed against the subject and substance of the book almost completely undermines his credibility as a writer, even in those rare instances when he has something meaningful to say.

Officer Meissner has obviously spent much time & effort on this work. For novices or budding crime writers it should prove an eye-opener yet for the audience for which it is apparently intended he is preaching to the choir. Law enforcement PROFESSIONALS (those who take their craft & their safety seriously) who haven't slept through their Academy classes may find it useful as a reference work to remind them to remain vigilant. For those who show little regard for themselves or their fellow officers - nothing will make them observant or thorough.
Officer Meissner's choice of some "weapons" (ex. "Swiss-tech" which is a lightweight though well-made mini multitool) seem geared more for holding cell or escort officers. Many of the objects he cautions about may be more useful as assassination tools than outright weapons. I grew up in the South Bronx & worked there for years as a junior high teacher & later as a community psychologist. Most of the mayhem I saw was committed with knives and later - with the advent of metal detectors - shards of plastic or titanium.
Having worked in several of New York's most volatile maximum security prisons for nearly 2 decades (as well as being a thriller writer & martial artist of 40 years experience)I can attest to the value of checking for weapons. I have, 'tho, seen more damage inflicted with sharpened toothbrushes, old ballpoint pens or pieces of bed springs than some types of objects he presents.
This should not, however, diminish the value of this book; only to caution prospective buyers that some of what he mentions is most useful in the hands of those who know how to use them quickly & cleverly. I just wish he had trimmed his cautions and had a few more photos (or failing that - some drawings) so one could better recognize the weapons or those similar to them. I hope Officer Meissner continues to share his expertise & experiences with us.

After reading this book, I found it to be very useful in detecting how criminals can deceive members of the law enforcement community. The book will open one's eyes and make police officers re-examine every piece of property that a criminal will have on him at the time of arrest. A very well written book that gives the reader very useful information.

Author Craig S. Meissner draws upon his many years as a New York City police officer in "Disguised Weapons: The Law Enforcement Guide To Covert Guns, Knives, And Other Weapons", a profusely illustrated compendium on the diverse kinds of covert weaponry found on people in the street, prisoners in custody, and favored by those with nefarious intent. There are guns disguised as beepers and cell phones, plastic knives shaped like credit cards, stun guns in the form of pens and flashlights, even blowgun flutes and condom garrotes. Informed and informative, "Disguised Weapons" is a unique compendium of lethal covert weaponry that should be considered a 'must read' for everyone in law enforcement from the cop on the beat, to the private security guard, to the border patrol agent, to airport security personnel, to members of the armed forces in hostile territories, to defense-minded civilians.

In my study, and instruction in Self-Defense, I have found the training I received in Combat Hapkido to be exemplary. But, like any body of knowledge there is a degree of change or an evolution. Towards this end, I have wanted to help in this evolution. This was my motivation for buying "Disguised Weapons...".

The title of this book should really be the "Encyclopedia of Disguised Weapons" as the author has taken a painstaking approach to be both interesting, and as well thorough. I feel that I am somewhat expert on the topic now, having read through material and studied the photographs. The information contained has been an exceptionally good when the black belt instructors come together for further training.

If you are in the field of professional protection or professional security, you will likely find the material in this book a wealth of information. As one military friend put it, at least all of the material is on book - the organization of which is very important as well.

I heartily recommend this book for anyone who is serious in the business. Sadly, and I pray that this is not the case, in the wrong hands this book could be dangerous.

I bought this book to get some idea how to disguise my weapons better and how others might be disguising theirs. This book did not help me at all. It is a good book, but it is targeted at US America. There are a lot of weapons covered that are only thinkable under the liberal laws of the USA.
If you are a non US citizen you will find a lot of facts where you will think 'What a crazy country that this stuff can be legally purchased'. But it will not help you with questions like: What kind of my self-defense weapon can I hide how ?
It was interesting to read, but I felt, I should have spend my money on another book, because I am not living in the US.