Bar none, the sjambok is the finest non-lethal self-defense weapon available to the general public — at any price. Sure, pepperspray is good (particularly Mace pepperfoam), but it requires special training to use effectively, and can either fail to function or blow back in your face (in a strong wind). Spring billies and expandable batons are also good, but unfortunately, they happen to be prohibited weapons in many jurisdictions. A stout walking stick is highly effective in skilled hands, but the average citizen would probably just end up having it taken away and used against him. Electronic "stun guns" are silly toys utterly worthless for defending oneself, and are widely prohibited as well. Silly little keychain yawara palm-sticks (like the kubotan) and penlights with weighted endcaps (like the mo-gem) are totally ridiculous (after many hours of training, however, they can successfully be used to help restrain belligerent individuals, while inflicting minimal damage). As a non-lethal weapon, the sjambok remains unsurpassed.

But what, exactly, is this sjambok of which I speak? It is simply a length of "extruded virgin black plastic" to which a rudimentary grip (and wrist strap) has been affixed. It is currently available in three lengths — 36", 41", and 54". It is almost weightless, and can easily be swung at high speed even by one who is frail and weak. Its light weight enables one to change the direction of a blow in mid-swing, or launch a blistering series of multiple strikes (far easier than if one were attempting the same with a heavy wooden stick). This weapon can be handled with incredible deftness, is capable of precise accuracy, is extraordinarily fast, and can be picked up and used effectively by an individual with no prior training. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to kill someone with it (unless one were to beat a helpless victim for half an hour, or use it as a garotte). It is a fearsome weapon, indeed.

Now, I’m going to pull a section of text directly from the Cold Steel catalog:

"Unlike most western style whips, the Sjambok (Sham-Bock) is not plaited from thin leather strips. Instead, it is carved whole out of the thick back skin of a Hippopotamus.

"Turning a piece of Hippo hide into a Sjambok is a laborious process. First, a suitable strip of hide is carefully hand carved into a tapered lash between 3 and 5 feet in length. The diameter of the whip at the butt is about 1" to 1 1/8", tapering to 3/8" or so at the tip. This rudimentary lash is then rolled continuously for hours between two heavy steel plates to make it as uniform as possible.

"In Africa, the Sjambok is a cattle prod, a whip, a riding crop, and a means of self-protection. It is also known there as the premier snake killer. Its considerable reach, lightning speed and devastating impact make child’s play of dispatching even the biggest snake. And since the Sjambok is swung like a rod, not cracked like a western-style whip, the Sjambok does all the work.

"In fact, in the hands of a determined man or woman, a Sjambok is an awesome non-lethal tool for self-defense. A light blow can raise a serious welt, while a heavy stroke can cut through heavy clothing like rotten cheesecloth, leaving a fearsome wound that is extremely painful and guaranteed to deter virtually any aggressor.

"The Sjambok was adopted by the South African police as a riot control weapon. Because of the large number of Sjamboks that were needed, the issue item was made from precision molded black plastic. Give one a try, and you’ll soon see why it earned its awesome and well-deserved reputation." (Special Projects, #21, Spring 2001, p. 48)

The retail price of Cold Steel’s 36" sjambok is only $6.99, and it is the optimal length for indoor use. Their sjamboks come with a ribbed plastic grip as well as a flat plastic wrist strap, both of which ought to be immediately removed. The strap is unnecessary, and just tends to get in the way. It should be snipped and discarded. If you want a small loop at the end of the handle so you can hang it from a nail, one can be fabricated from either leather lacing or dyed hemp twine. The ridges of the hard, red plastic grip bite uncomfortably into uncallused (or ungloved) hands, and this can prove distracting. As a solution, one can either smear the grip with epoxy and slide it into a custom bicycle handgrip, or one can simply slice it off with a razor and wrap the handle with tape. Friction tape works quite well in this capacity (be sure to leave a swelling of extra layers at the end), but is sticky and should be rubbed with sawdust so it doesn’t pick up all sorts of debris (or adhere to your hand). If you’re concerned about appearances, you could cover the friction tape with a wrapping of colored paper (or cloth) tape, being sure to wrap it evenly and smooth out any wrinkles. The surface of duct tape, electrical tape, and silicon tape would be too slippery for sweaty hands. Braided leather could also serve as a good grip, provided it was epoxied in place.

The sjambok can be laid next to one’s bed, slid under a couch, hung from a nail, stowed in a closet, tossed behind the bench seat of a pickup, or folded in half and stuffed in a saddlebag (or gymbag, attache case, etc.). It’s narrowness enables it to be stowed in a great many discrete places (alongside the refrigerator, behind a filing cabinet, under the edge of a carpet, between seat cushions, or even taped underneath one’s desk), and if discovered, at first glance it does not appear to be very weaponlike at all. You could probably even pass it off as a tool of some sort (perhaps for snaking out clogged drains). To the best of my knowledge, the sjambok is not specifically prohibited anywhere, however, since it has been designed solely for use as a weapon, it may be classified as a "dangerous instrument" in certain jurisdictions.

The sjambok is great! It is cheap, easy to use, and incredibly effective. A single hard swipe can split a pair of dungarees and leave a nasty laceration. A light slap can inflict a painful welt. In skilled hands, the sjambok can be used to block, feint, and execute high speed combination attacks. It can be used to drive off curs, dissuade a knife wielder, or engage multiple opponents. It can only be successfully countered by severance with a big sharp Bowie-type knife or machete (of course, a powerful handgun would also defeat this weapon). For nearly any defensive (or offensive) situation where lethal force might be considered inappropriate, the sjambok would be our weapon of choice. Unlike a bone-breaking stick or a flesh-cutting blade, it could even successfully be implemented by a peacenik pacifist (if sufficient threat existed). No warrior’s household should be without one!

The 36" sjambok (order #95SAS) can be ordered directly from Cold Steel’s Special Projects by calling 1-800-255-4716, or you can connect to their website in our links section. It’ll be the best seven dollar investment you’ve ever made.