SJG Game-Friendly Knives?

Nighthawk · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: San Diego

I've been playing around with some prop work for cosplay lately, namely making plastic knives out of sheet styrene. I would like to be able to apply it to airsoft, but it's not really clear to me what constitutes a game-friendly knife. The prototype I made was dull, but *looked* sharp.

The main thing is that it wasn't very flexible. You'd still have to really go out of your way to hurt a person with it, but what one person says is perfectly safe another person might say is a safety hazard, and in my opinion all depends on who's doing the handling.

I've kicked around the idea of making just the center of the knife out of plastic and using a acrylic painted craft foam to bulk it out, which will add a lot of flexibility to the prop but also drastically cut down its durability.

A last idea I had was to learn how to cast rubber.

The main thing is, this could lead to some cool props I might be willing to do by commission. My original goal was to make a realistic looking machete that was airsoft friendly, but this could ultimately even lead to a prop E-tool for certain impressions. And how cool would it be to get an E-tool kill in a game?

So my question is this: what constitutes a safe prop weapon as far as SJG games go? (How soft must it be? Does softness matter? How flexible must it be? Does flexibility matter? Etc.)
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zap · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

Be careful with the casting seams as they might be sharp and could cause an issue.

there are already rubber training knifes available for purchase, so you are beating a dead dog on that, me thinks.

A rubber e tool just sounds wierd.
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Nighthawk · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: San Diego

I'm well aware there are rubber training knives available, but the styles they come in are fairly limited. Kabar, Tanto, Brown Bear and a couple variants on a modern bayonet are the only ones I know for sure that turn up.

The purpose of custom knives could better serve impressions though. Say a Vietnam impression - you could have a machete. A rubber e-tool wouldn't be intended to be used for digging, etc. - it would just enhance the look of an impression and maybe get a memorable kill or two.

Does anybody have any insight as to the question I'm actually asking though?

CueBall · Colour Sergeant Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 528

I think Andrew Whitney was going to work on something like this...
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Shifty · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:18 pm Post subject:

I take you haven't seen his rubber rock....
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Nighthawk · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: San Diego

This is immensely unhelpful information.
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Rabbit · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:06 pm Post subject:

What I would do Mike, is take your existing styrene knife and dip it in black "tool dip". Its used to insulate the handles of tool to prevent electrocution, and to make a better grip, you can find it at home depot in a can. It should work to make the knife more dull and soft.

I hope that helps.
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Shifty · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:38 pm Post subject:

I don't think the Grenadiers actually have any rules about custom knives, so the best bet would be to use the existing rubber training knives as a template for softness and flexibility.
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Nighthawk · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: San Diego

Good idea, Rabbit. I'll try that.

Shifty, thanks for the answer. I think that'd be a safe rule of thumb to go by too.
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CueBall · Colour Sergeant Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 528

Before playing a game with anything you have made, be sure to have a Grenadier Officer approve it.
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Dinosaur · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:35 am Post subject:

"Damnit Mike, how did you manage to kill him with a rubber E-Tool??"

"I dunno, accident i guess"

god i can see it in my head.
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Sgt Cracker · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 76

Rubber M-16 bayonets are available for the Vietnam Period impression. I got mine from Aaron Horrocks. They clip on the gun nicely due to the plastic handle, and look really good. Always wanted to get a bayonet kill.
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zap · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:25 am Post subject:

It looks like AEX has a Rubber M16 Bayonet with Sheath for $10.99.

You can see a picture on their web site. Looks nice.
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AaronHorrocks · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 521 Location: Livermore, CA

I had imported a few of those rubber bayonet kits a few years ago. I might be able to find 'em again.
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