In the past few years many have wondered if we have reached the apex of knife design. We have seen new materials being used in knife construction and there have been many new locking mechanisms for folding knives. On the other hand, the basic designs of fixed blade knives have not radically changed in eons. Please don’t take me wrong. Several new knives have come on the market that can only be deemed as outstanding. However, most of them are new combinations of a known handle style with a known blade pattern.
You can sit back and relax; the idea that knife designs have become stagnant is about to be blown away, literally. A new knife, the WASP, is now being manufactured by WASP Injection Systems, Inc., and is marketed as a “Compressed Gas Injection Knife.” Unless you’ve seen their advertisements, you are probably wondering what in the world I’m talking about. It’s really rather straightforward; the WASP has a CO2 cartridge inserted into its handle and an exhaust port near the tip of the blade. Thrust the blade into an object, push the release button and you inject a charge of CO2 gas. Tactical Knives’ editor was the first to tell me about this knife. My first reaction was to wonder about the purpose of the design? After all, I’m a former engineer and designed the TOPS Harpoon. If anyone should take a serious look at the design, it should be me.
The WASP is delivered in a foam-filled plastic case holding the knife and three extra CO2 cartridges. The package also includes a catalog of options and an instruction sheet. Forget the instruction sheet; I am all man and went straight to the catalog. The model that was sent to the studio was known as the “All Purpose Knife.” WASP Injection Systems also offers an “Aviation & Marine Safety Knife” and a “Special Ops/Tactical Knife.” Look closely and you will see that the only difference between the three is handle material and style. The blade is identical from model to model and is made of ¼-inch 440C stainless steel. The clip-point pattern has a small gas outlet hole bored from the handle towards the point along its centerline. This gas bore runs to within an inch of the tip before it sweeps upward to emerge out of the false edge of the clip point. The primary edge is flat ground and the spine of the blade is basically a false edge with the exception of a 2 ¼-inch area of sharpened serrations. The blade is welded to a guard/gas release hub and the handle holding the gas cylinder is screwed into this guard. The handle material for the sample was Neoprene and designed to hold a standard CO2 cartridge as commonly found on pellet rifles. Interchangeable handles are available in black or orange-colored rubber and about 18 various woods.
The Reason Why
That is a simple description but it really doesn’t explain why a company would introduce such a knife. The answer is simple; if you find yourself in a dangerous situation—shark-infested waters, grizzly country, you get the idea—and the 5 inches of cold steel just won’t cause enough damage, push the button and you inject 40-plus cubic inches of compressed gas into the wound channel. According to WASP Injection Systems, the gas is expelled at 800 psi and should freeze surrounding tissue with its sub-zero temperature. OK, not your normal paper cut. Their catalog points out that if you’re a diver, you can defend yourself against a marine predator. They don’t mention sharks by name, but that is what I would worry about. Stab and inject that Great White and he should float to the surface before doing you any harm. Hiking the back woods full of lions, tigers and bears? Oh, my! To quote the brochure, “The effects of this injection will drop many of the world’s largest land predators.” The military/tactical use is also mentioned and you can imagine the surprise such a tool would give an enemy sentry.
All of this sounds really good if you’re in need of a defensive weapon, but you must be wondering if this new knife will live up to its advertising. If you’re waiting to hear how I went after bears, forget it! No, I didn’t even try to bait a shark or two. My wife made threats of her own once she saw me eyeing a rabbit in the yard. What I did do was have a conversation with my dog’s vet. It took a little explaining to get him to take me serious. He made me promise not to print his name or the name of his clinic but in his professional opinion, “That would hurt!” As with any weapon, he thought a lot would depend on the location of the wound, but no matter where you stabbed the animal, it should get his attention and deter a continuation of the attack. A chest wound should end the confrontation in seconds. From the vet’s office I headed to the emergency room of a local hospital. Again the results were the same, a lot of explanations on my part followed by a confirmation by the doctor that such a weapon would cause “severe distress!” For the past week I have been worrying that someone would come across a body full of cold air. The squad cars would be at my door in minutes.
Using Gunny’sTest Subject
How else do you test this weapon? If you ever watch Mail Call on the History Channel, you should have seen their usual stand-in for enemy soldiers, the deadly watermelon. Anything good enough for the Gunny is good enough for me. While I was expecting results, I will admit to being taken aback by the resulting damage. The plan was to inject the melon, slice it open, and measure the wound channel. I was even prepared to measure the depth of any freezing caused by the release of the CO2. In just a second the rind was flying apart and the fruit was decorating everything in a 10-foot radius. While the catalog claims you can use the knife for several charges, it took only a moment to empty the CO2 cartridge. Anyone buying the knife should waste a few cylinders in practice.
There were a couple of items that should be mentioned. First, at the time of this writing, there is no sheath supplied with the knife. A quick call to the manufacturer confirmed that a sheath was in the design process. They also mentioned that aftermarket Nylon sheaths such as made by BlackHawk or Spec-Ops would work at this time. If you go this route, make sure that any retention strap does not come into contact with the gas release button. Once the cylinder is placed in the knife, the release button has only two modes: On and Off. There is no safety. A good waterproof sheath that covers the release button would be a welcome addition.
And It Cuts Too
After I emptied the gas cartridges on hand, it was time to find out how the knife worked as a cutting tool. The profile of the blade is similar to other combat/utility blades I have tried before and this knife proved to be acceptable in all of my cutting chores. The edge came from the factory razor sharp and the knife is more than capable of holding its own in the woods. Various ropes and webbing proved no problem to the serrations along the top of the blade. I wish I had more time to really evaluate the durability of the Neoprene handle but, as mentioned, the handles are interchangeable and can be ordered in just about any combination you can imagine.
There has already been a news article in British papers calling for a ban on this new and deadly weapon. That alone should justify checking out this new tool. I eagerly await a first-hand account of when this knife gets tested in a “Wasp versus Shark” situation.
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FAQs
What does a wasp injection knife do? ›
It is designed to inject high-pressure gas into a wound cavity through a hole in the blade, rather than using gas to propel the blade forward. This is said to expand and freeze the wound, inflicting more damage to the target.
What would a CO2 knife do to a body? ›And also because of co2 it freezes the wound. So there's no blood being put into the water it's not
What is a CO2 knife? ›The knife is built with a hollow channel that runs from the handle to a small outlet hole in the blade. When the user presses the button near the blade's guard, the CO2 cartridge contained in the handle is tapped releasing the gas at a high rate of velocity through the blade and into the target. GY6vids.
Are Wasp knives illegal? ›A. In the State of California, there is no maximum length for knives in general. However, the maximum legal length for a switchblade knife is 2 inches. Additionally, it is illegal to carry daggers or dirks concealed, and also illegal to carry many types of knives which are designed for concealment.
What would a wasp knife do to a human? ›The aptly named WASP Injector Knife shoots a compressed basketball-sized ball of gas into the victim where it instantly freezes then explodes the internal organs at 800psi.
What is the most deadliest knife in the world? ›Mark I Trench Knife is the deadliest knife ever built. It is a historical knife used during the First World War. It was constructed for the US soldiers battling in the trenches.
How much does a wasp injection knife cost? ›The WASP Injector Knife system is available through the WASP website for US$380.
What states is a butterfly knife illegal in? ›The states that ban butterfly knives include Texas, Kansas, and Hawaii. Butterfly knives are not allowed to be owned or used at all in these three states. Carrying or even owning a butterfly knife in these states could lead to severe legal penalties.
Are two sided blades illegal? ›In California, switchblades with blades of two inches or longer are illegal. Fixed-blade knives with blades of two-and-a-half inches or longer are illegal on college/university/school premises. And any knife with a blade longer than four inches is illegal in a public building.
Are OTF knives effective? ›3 Reasons Why You Should Carry an OTF Knife - YouTube
How do ballistic knives work? ›
In plain English, a ballistic knife is essentially a blade attached to a hollow handle that fits inside of another outer hollow handle, which contains a coil spring. The coil spring compresses inside the handle, and a latch holds the knife blade down against the spring pressure.
Why are zombie knives banned? ›However, in the case of zombie knives, they need to meet three key criteria to be considered illegal: they must have a cutting edge, a serrated edge and “images or words that suggest it is to be used for the purpose of violence”.
Why is gravity knife illegal? ›The 1958 law had been passed by lawmakers at that time to get rid of what they felt were dangerous weapons. The list included brass knuckles, “Kung Fu stars” and switchblades. Gravity knives had been thrown into this list. That resulted in about 70,000 people being arrested in New York between 2000 and 2012.
What knives are illegal in USA? ›However, there are several restrictions on knife possession. For instance, it is illegal to carry switchblades, balisongs, and butterfly knives, which are common in the United States. Furthermore, dirks, metal knuckles, daggers, and similar blades are illegal.
What is a gas knife? ›It is a surgical stainless steel knife with a gas canister in the handle. When you stab a victim, the knife "injects a freezing cold ball of compressed gas, approximately the size of a basketball, at 800psi nearly instantly."
Can you own a dagger in Australia? ›Daggers are concealable knives with both edges sharpened or with a spike designed for stabbing. You aren't allowed to bring daggers into Australia.
How much does a wasp injection knife cost? ›The WASP Injector Knife system is available through the WASP website for US$380.
What states is a butterfly knife illegal in? ›The states that ban butterfly knives include Texas, Kansas, and Hawaii. Butterfly knives are not allowed to be owned or used at all in these three states. Carrying or even owning a butterfly knife in these states could lead to severe legal penalties.
Can you own a dagger in Australia? ›Daggers are concealable knives with both edges sharpened or with a spike designed for stabbing. You aren't allowed to bring daggers into Australia.
What is a gas knife? ›It is a surgical stainless steel knife with a gas canister in the handle. When you stab a victim, the knife "injects a freezing cold ball of compressed gas, approximately the size of a basketball, at 800psi nearly instantly."
Are two sided blades illegal? ›
In California, switchblades with blades of two inches or longer are illegal. Fixed-blade knives with blades of two-and-a-half inches or longer are illegal on college/university/school premises. And any knife with a blade longer than four inches is illegal in a public building.
Why do dive knives have a blunt end? ›The tip of the blade can be blunt, sharp or tanto. A blunt tip is great if you don't plan to use your knife for stabbing and piercing. It makes the knife safer and prevents you from accidentally puncturing the hoses, exposure suits or BCDs.
What was the knife used in Scream? ›Ghostface uses a modified Buck 120, which is a common eight-inch hunting knife that is used as the main weapon by Ghostface, a persona adopted by the primary antagonists of the Scream film series.
Why is gravity knife illegal? ›The 1958 law had been passed by lawmakers at that time to get rid of what they felt were dangerous weapons. The list included brass knuckles, “Kung Fu stars” and switchblades. Gravity knives had been thrown into this list. That resulted in about 70,000 people being arrested in New York between 2000 and 2012.
Why are OTF knives illegal? ›These laws were put in place to protect against violent crimes carried out using switchblades. Automatic OTF knives are very easy to conceal and can be as deadly as a pistol at close range, so the laws passed by some states are understandable.
Are stiletto knives legal? ›Dirks, stilettos, daggers, and push knives are legal to own. Disguised knives like lipstick knives, cane knives, and boot knives are legal to own. Bowie knives and other large knives are legal to own. Basically, any knife is legal to own and have in your home.
Can I carry a Swiss Army knife in Australia? ›You can't carry knives, including kitchen knives, Swiss army knives or box-cutters, batons, cattle prods or bayonets without a lawful excuse. A 'lawful excuse' could include having the weapon for work, sport, recreation or a weapons collection, display or exhibition.
What self-defence weapon is legal in Australia? ›Western Australia is the only place in Australia that allow you to carry an OC, capsicum or pepper spray for self-defence purposes in circumstances you have reasonable grounds to apprehend or lawful excuse.
Can I carry a sword in public Australia? ›you cannot have possession of an offensive implement in a public place or school without reasonable cause and this would include swords.
What is the most deadliest knife in the world? ›Mark I Trench Knife is the deadliest knife ever built. It is a historical knife used during the First World War. It was constructed for the US soldiers battling in the trenches.
What is a dirk knife? ›
A dirk or dagger is a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. Most pocketknives and folding knives are not considered to be dirks or daggers unless the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.
Is a butterfly knife illegal? ›In California, butterfly knives are prohibited. Under California Penal Code 21510 PC, butterfly knives are classified as a form of switchblade. Carrying, possessing in public, selling, or otherwise transferring a butterfly knife is illegal under this legislation.