Indeed, today’s handheld electroshock weapons have come a long way from the earliest prototypes first developed in the 1960s.
Origins of the Stun Gun
It was an aerospace engineer that originally came up with the idea of creating a small propellant device that would emit a pair of projectiles. The projectiles looked more like barbed darts attached to wires coming out of a flashlight case. This first prototype was dubbed the Taser TF-76. The shock from these early devices was hardly more than enough to simply surprise a recalcitrant in the hopes that he would behave better.
The devices gained in popularity and Jack Cover, the engineer, soon started his own production company. Because it was considered a Title 2 weapon by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division of the United States government, the Taser was only allowed to be used by law enforcement agents. Since this was such a limited market, it was not long before Cover’s company was forced to close its doors.
The Modern Stun Gun
The Taser would have faded into history if it were not for a pair of Arizona brothers who sought to revamp the weapon and make it available to the average consumer in mass markets.
Along with Jack Cover, the Smith brothers of Scottsdale came up with a new design that involved compressed air as the impetus for the darts in the cylinder. They called this new model the Air Taser 34000. The key differences were the propellant and the projectiles, which were composed of Anti-Felon Identification Confetti to aid in police tracking efforts.
The Air Taser was demonstrated at a conference in Prague. Unfortunately, it failed the test of law enforcement officials miserably as the jolt from the device was deemed not strong enough to stop an assailant. Thus the next incarnation of the stun gun came about.
The brothers and Cover went back to the drawing board and came up with a new way to deliver a stronger electric shock. This more potent shock would cause muscles to seize up, thereby rendering most assailants temporarily immobile. The Taser M18 and M26 stun guns quickly became a hit. Because it was non-lethal, these weapons were a perfect alternative to guns for many security personnel as well as law enforcement agents.
There have been many more versions of the original electroshock weapon created by Jack Cover decades ago. The shape has changed, the devices have become lighter, and advancing technology has allowed for a greater bang for the buck.
Today’s stun guns are sophisticated, non-lethal weapons that the average consumer can feel safe carrying for personal protection. Check out the available options on today’s market and find a self-defense device that is perfect for your needs.
