Bolas as a Z-day weapon?

by **drifts14x** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:30 am

So I've been looking into smaller alternative weapons, particularly the type that would not attract a big amount of attention.

I looked at bolas, and was wondering, could you make a Bola effective for zombie killing?

I know they were originally intended to tangle up an animal's legs, but what if you made it more hardcore.

My thought would be to buy some of those dummy baseball grenades, unscrew the detonator/spoon assembly, and then put them on the end of the lines. Throw high for the neck area, chances are that if you hit the target, you'd smash the head in.

Love to see it tested, or flamed to pieces. Flame on!

by **phil_in_cs** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:43 am

Moving to Zombie Combat since the OP is specifically addressing zombies.

by **polliedes** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:01 am

I am by no means an expert on the subject, but if I recall correctly, bolas were not made for killing as much as tangling the target (not that deaths did not happen, but were relatively rare).
Then you could move in with a less accurate but more lethal weapon to finish the job.

by **drifts14x** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:32 pm

I was thinking for more of a high neck throw (obviously requiring some training).

I mean, if you went low, you still get them tied up.

If you go too high... you probably should have practiced more.

I guess I'd really like to see what these would do to a watermelon or something. To see if they would be forceful enough to break the skull.

by **foxx** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:20 pm

I'd think go for the legs, anywhere between the ankles and knees could trip them up. I'd like to think they couldn't untie a knot, or cut the line.
Killing every Zombie may not be necessary, slowing them down from a distance would be a great way to say alive.

by **VinnieD** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 2:18 am

It seems like bolas are already good enough. If you can trip up a zombie it can't chase you. If it's just one zombie you can curbstomp it when it's down, if it's a group of zombies you should be more concerned about escaping than killing. In fact, I'd think a struggling zombie on the ground might even trip up others pursuing you.

by **Jeriah** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 2:36 am

drifts14x wrote:So I've been looking into smaller alternative weapons, particularly the type that would not attract a big amount of attention.

I looked at bolas, and was wondering, could you make a Bola effective for zombie killing?

I know they were originally intended to tangle up an animal's legs, but what if you made it more hardcore.

My thought would be to buy some of those dummy baseball grenades, unscrew the detonator/spoon assembly, and then put them on the end of the lines. Throw high for the neck area, chances are that if you hit the target, you'd smash the head in.

Love to see it tested, or flamed to pieces. Flame on!

I don't think it'd smash the head in enough to kill a zombie. But hey, only one way to find out! Find us a zombie and let's test this! (Actually, a bola could be a good way to capture a "live" zombie, for all sorts of experiments. Entangle its legs, then use a mancatcher etc. to restrain it, get a Hannibal Lecter mask on its face, and so on.)

by **KnightoftheRoc** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:20 am

drifts14x wrote:So I've been looking into smaller alternative weapons, particularly the type that would not attract a big amount of attention.

I looked at bolas, and was wondering, could you make a Bola effective for zombie killing?

I know they were originally intended to tangle up an animal's legs, but what if you made it more hardcore.

My thought would be to buy some of those dummy baseball grenades, unscrew the detonator/spoon assembly, and then put them on the end of the lines. Throw high for the neck area, chances are that if you hit the target, you'd smash the head in.

Love to see it tested, or flamed to pieces. Flame on!

I assume you mean the grenade bodies, not the detonator heads. If I was using dummy grenades for this, I'd leave the det-heads right in place, and tie to them. If the hollow heads weren't enough to pop the zed-melon, and you were feeling particularly manly that day, you could try filling the grenade bodies with molten lead (through the hole in the bottom), and letting it cool. Your grenades would end up somewhere around 8 pounds a piece, at a rough guess, but I think that if you got that amount of weight moving fast, it ought to do the job. However, assuming you even have the strength to toss 16 pounds or so of unstable, floppy projectile, I doubt you'd manage to wrap it around the head where it would do damage, and a neck wrap wouldn't smash the head. The best bet would be to entangle around the torso to trap the arms, and/or get the legs, and then dispatch the zombie manually, up close and personal. If you're hoping for something like they showed in the Bond movies, you'd need explosives, and I don't see exploding bolas ending well for anyone.

by **Ad'lan** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:40 am

Reading old accounts (particularly the voyage of the Beagle), it seems the bolas is both less powerful on foot, and not very lethal. If you were skilled in it's use, I can see it bring useful in bringing down a zombie before dispatching with a club.

by **Doctorr Fabulous** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:55 am

Step 1: Buy a good, sturdy net.
Step 2: Weight the edges.
Step 3: Practice using it in conjunction with a trident.
Step 4: Forget what bolas are and get some gladiatorial armor.

by **foxx** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:22 am

Doc Torr wrote:Step 1: Buy a good, sturdy net.
Step 2: Weight the edges.
Step 3: Practice using it in conjunction with a trident.
Step 4: Forget what bolas are and get some gladiatorial armor.

Weight the edges, with grenades!

I'd pay to see that show, give me some popcorn. Ever think we've got it all wrong, about the PAW? Maybe Zombies won't be so much of a problem, we'll use them for labor, till they stink too bad, then send them to the arena. Will Zombie killing sports ever replace football?

by **KnightoftheRoc** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:48 pm

foxx wrote:
Doc Torr wrote:Step 1: Buy a good, sturdy net.
Step 2: Weight the edges.
Step 3: Practice using it in conjunction with a trident.
Step 4: Forget what bolas are and get some gladiatorial armor.

Weight the edges, with grenades!

I'd pay to see that show, give me some popcorn. Ever think we've got it all wrong, about the PAW? Maybe Zombies won't be so much of a problem, we'll use them for labor, till they stink too bad, then send them to the arena. Will Zombie killing sports ever replace football?

Perhaps, but only until some one organizes PETZ- People for the Ethical Treatment of Zombies. An ironic sounding name for the group, since they may just become like pets... :lol:

by **by-the-throat** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:11 am

KnightoftheRoc wrote:
foxx wrote:
Doc Torr wrote:Step 1: Buy a good, sturdy net.
Step 2: Weight the edges.
Step 3: Practice using it in conjunction with a trident.
Step 4: Forget what bolas are and get some gladiatorial armor.

Weight the edges, with grenades!

I'd pay to see that show, give me some popcorn. Ever think we've got it all wrong, about the PAW? Maybe Zombies won't be so much of a problem, we'll use them for labor, till they stink too bad, then send them to the arena. Will Zombie killing sports ever replace football?

Perhaps, but only until some one organizes PETZ- People for the Ethical Treatment of Zombies. An ironic sounding name for the group, since they may just become like pets...

Too late

Based out of my very hometown even.