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Wasp Knife - Information, Pictures, Videos

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By livelonger


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The handle canister holds compressed carbon dioxide (CO2), which discharges through a tube in the Wasp Knife tip
The handle canister holds compressed carbon dioxide (CO2), which discharges through a tube in the Wasp Knife tip
In a demonstration, the Wasp Knife explodes a watermelon.
In a demonstration, the Wasp Knife explodes a watermelon.

Wasp Knife - How it Works

The Wasp Knife, which the news media has been reporting on recently, is extremely deadly. This is the way it works:

  • in the knife handle, there is a small canister of 24 grams of compressed carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • there is a small tube running from the canister opening to the tip of the Wasp Knife blade
  • when a small button in the handle is pressed, the knife discharges the compressed (and extremely low-temperature) CO2 through the tube at approx 850 psi
  • if something (or someone) is stabbed with the Wasp Knife and the button pressed, a basketball-sized area of their tissues can be instantly frozen (which is very, very deadly)

This might be a useful feature if you're an underwater diver and a great white shark is attacking you - the shark's tissues are snap-frozen, but also the influx of gas can exert upward pressure on the buoyant shark, which will only increase internal pressure as it approaches the surface.

But this sort of weapon can easily get in the wrong hands and be far more deadly than a knife or dagger. The knife is sold for $380 from WASP, usually to hunters, pilots and divers who might run into bears, sharks and other deadly animals.

Understandably, its ready availability has plenty of law enforcement authorities concerned. (See news items about the Wasp Knife at the bottom of this page)

A British friend of mine had this to say:

In the UK, they also worry about Swiss Army Knives, child-grade pepper spray, plastic bb guns and aggressive-looking bananas. :)

This is not much more than a gimmick from a person-person perspective. A human would be unconscious from a severed artery in less than 30 seconds, and dead within minutes. You don't need a $380 turbo-charged, inter-cooled knife for that. If anything, the emphasis on stabbing puts the attacker at greater risk of being disarmed. Knives are far more effective as cutting as opposed to stabbing weapons.

I can see how the Wasp knife might be useful against an attacking wild animal. But it's even better at impressing your mates by blowing up fruit, household objects, bicycle tires...

Wasp Knife discharging

Wasp Knife Explodes Watermelon

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camedmondson profile image

camedmondson  says:
17 months ago

Wow, that's scary! Who would have thought the knife would be reinvented? I want one because I hate watermelons.

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
17 months ago

Thanks Cam. What on earth did watermelons ever do to you?

Linc2010  says:
17 months ago

I did not know that this cultural phenomenon of knife gangs existed. Thanks for the heads up!

renchin profile image

renchin  says:
17 months ago

this is awesome - there should be a wasps-knife-gang in the Warriors2 movie

New Day profile image

New Day  says:
17 months ago

Scary stuff! I've never heard of this knife. We carry only pocket knives at our house.

Paraglider profile image

Paraglider  says:
17 months ago

I'd say that is something that didn't need to be invented and, if you'll pardon me saying so, doesn't need to be publicised in the present social environment.

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
17 months ago

It looks like it does have it's uses!!

I just hope the pros for its use far outweighs the cons!

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
17 months ago

Paraglider: I'm just here to provide information about it, not to promote its sale and use.

jim10 profile image

jim10  says:
17 months ago

I heard about this idea a while ago but their weren't any actually knives using it yet. Now that I see it in action it pretty much seems equal to putting a small grenade or firecracker inside someone. I think you should need a license to carry this. Obviously someone in contact with dangerous animals or in a war should be able to use it. I defintely don't feel safe that anyone with $380 can get one.

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
17 months ago

A licence is probably an excellent idea since it is a mechanized device.

Constant Walker profile image

Constant Walker  says:
17 months ago

I can't imagine why something like this would be sold on the open market... but even if it weren't, the black market would be right there with it.

camedmondson profile image

camedmondson  says:
17 months ago

I think the good news is, the gun is still king. I also wanted to let you know that I'm making my own prototype for pastry chefs that shoots out a blast of whipped cream. I'm calling it "The Frost".

Emanuel Nordrum  says:
17 months ago

That is somewhat... disturbing. Imagine what it might do to the human body - and the knife isn't really distinct from other knives, so you might never know that's what you were being attacked with.

On the other hand, $380 is fairly steep, especially when a regular knife is more or less free. I doubt we'll see a sudden influx of people using one. But when one pops up, it'll be to really scare the hell out of someone. Or to murder them horribly. One or the other, really.

Channy profile image

Channy  says:
17 months ago

wow, cool knife... but watermelon's don't fight back...

FindingForrester profile image

FindingForrester  says:
17 months ago

I just read about some kid in England who killed with one of these. Did you read about it? You should add it to your hub.

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
17 months ago

FindingForrester, I haven't been able to find any report of that. I did read that UK police are worried about it and have alerted people to its dangers. I do have a friend who had something to say about it, and I'm going to add it to my Hub (he's from the UK).

Listessa profile image

Listessa  says:
17 months ago

Now THAT's a Knife. crocodile dundee eat your heart out

Shadesbreath profile image

Shadesbreath  says:
17 months ago

I confess to wanting one very badly now. LOL

Sally's Trove profile image

Sally's Trove  says:
17 months ago

I really have to wonder about the minds that thought this thing up. I've never had the opportunity to turn a weapon on another person, but I imagine if I did it would be to defend myself, and my weapon would be a threat, and only in the last instance would it be an instrument of death. This thing seems to be an instrument of death first, defense last. Yes, it's good for secret service operatives and bear and shark killers. Bad for victims of low-life criminals. Yuk.

stevenschenck profile image

stevenschenck  says:
17 months ago

We had a similar item called a "Shark Stick" about 4 foot pole with co2 dart on the end. I never used one, but the story was that it made a mess out of a large shark. I doubt it is much more dangerous than a plain old knife if you are that close anyway. Great Story, Thanks

nisanth mn profile image

nisanth mn  says:
17 months ago

the irony is, more people are going to die than sharks or bears!!

any way, wonderful idea!!

thanx for the information.

cgisme profile image

cgisme  says:
17 months ago

I am sorry but it is total nonsense that this knife has been used in the UK.

Lidian profile image

Lidian  says:
17 months ago

I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I actually thought that this was a clever wasp-killing device!

livelonger profile image

livelonger  says:
17 months ago

I might be in for one of those, Lidian! (Actually, maybe its cousin, the Mosquito Knife)

xrated profile image

xrated  says:
17 months ago

Good. I have one.

bonnieweelass profile image

bonnieweelass  says:
16 months ago

nice idea but i think it's dangerous to have it circulated and anyone can buy it.

degg  says:
16 months ago

If you're concerned about this thing you'd better go protest you local hardware store too. I hear people can by *hammers* and *screwdrivers* there! That sort of thing could kill somebody too. Worry more about why someone would want to turn it on another person than about it's existence. Given the desire to cause harm almost anything can be a weapon, and a lot of mundane objects will ruin your day just as, if not more readily, than a gimmicky $400 knife.

topstuff profile image

topstuff  says:
15 months ago

More weapons=Less deaths

budwood profile image

budwood  says:
15 months ago

Yeah, TopStuff.  You're probably right - - except for the delay of everyone getting a suitable weapon.  The old standby, the six shooter that tamed the west, is still by far the best.

. . . And, as you know, an armed society is a polite society.

Ricardovitz  says:
13 months ago

Have all of you Brits had your balls cut off? COME ON!!! This knife is friggin cool. I'm probably going to get one (yes I'm from the US). Are you really telling me that if they were as legal as butter knives in your country you wouldn't get one? Sure you would!

Don't you Brits still have any hunting instinct in you? Does the Brit government put some kind of testical-shrinking, anti-testosterone acid in your water? Unless y'all grow some balls and realize that 95% of the world would love to cut your heads off and serve them for dinner to starving Africans, y'all are doomed.

We have not evolved into a non-violent species and we won't in the next 1000 years. You better wise up and think about what CAN happen. Because whatever CAN happen, will.

HammyTime  says:
12 months ago

Anyone who is afraid of this knife should reprioritize their list of dangerous objects. Thousands die in cars, from falls, accidental poisonings...hell, you even have a better chance of being struck by lightening than killed with this thing. It would be good for bear or shark attacks I suppose, though I am no expert, but it is definately overkill for a person. Anyone who has you at enough of a disadvantage that they can plunge a seven inch blade into your body cavity doesn't need any help killing you. Also, 38 states in the US allow for legal concealed carry of a firearm. The first rule of gunfighting is...BRING A GUN! You can have your knife/bicycle pump, I'll take my snubby. I WILL say, however, that it is cool as heck!

Riley  says:
8 months ago

so many of these comments are stupid. like do you need a license to operate one, or how you can't distinguish a wasp from another knife. to you retards. getting stabbed with ANY knife is not worth it. you're like, oh my Gosh! not a wasp knife!

Ricardovitz  says:
7 months ago

The Wasp Knife is a bad-ass knife. Here's some thoughts fer y'all:

Turn it into a flame injection knife - use propane canister instead of CO2

Snake Bite knife - if stabbin and air injecting ain't enough fer ya, then put some Snake Poison in that thar knife - or come up with yer own concoction.

Ricardovitz  says:
5 months ago

Hey Riley, get a life!!! This here Wasp Injection knife will rip you a new one. It ain't jest a knife - it's a leathal death delivery system. I would have named it LDDS, but I reckon them Mormons might have sued me over it.

Anywhoo, I'm tellin ya that if you swap out that CO2 canister fer a propane canister and hook up BBQ ignition system - it'll stab you AND BBQ yer guts all at the same time!! Fun fer the whole family, boys and girls. Yessiree.

S. Wood  says:
4 months ago

That's an awesome weapon. Especially if you're in bear country where you can't carry your concealed weapon due to the liberal mentality that's so prevalent in this country. Last I checked, if someone wants to kill you, they can still use a tire iron. Maybe they should be licensed too!!!

J. Gingle  says:
4 months ago

That knife scares me. It should be banned. No one needs a knife like that and only a terrorist or criminal would want one.

The United Kingdom has the right idea - don't let these killing machines in the hands of ordinary citizens. I could see a teenager stabbing an old lady in the gut with one of those, pressing that button and then blowing her all to hell.

Scaredybrit  says:
3 months ago

This knife is a killing weapon. Its like a steel penis, ready to thrust into and destroy anything and everything. You men and your disgusting macho bullshit.

franki79  says:
3 weeks ago

OHHHH YOU'RE HUB MY LANGUAGE!!! Have no idea why but have always loved and been facinatinated by knives,,, I think I just take after my mom, but on a grander scale. Lol.

She likes the collectors knives esspecially Harley Davidson,,, I do too but I also love all kinds of other knives,,, In fact if you wanted to get me a Christmas present,, I wouldn't mind that first knife. LMAO!

Wait,,, bad idea,,, my boyfriend would take one look at it and be drooling and about ready to cream himself,,, lol.

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