WEll this doesn't bode well

[SeaCat]

I have several friends in the local Sheriffs Departent. All of them ride. Lately they have been seeing a growing group of young Latino Males riding Sport Bikes and sporting a three part patch on their leathers. Neither the central patch or the name has been registered in any database.

I have seen them a number of times when riding to and from work in the downtown area. They always seem aggresive in their riding habits, especialy around other riders. (The last time I saw them while riding there were six of them. They blew past me like I was sitting still, three on each side and almost close enough to tap pegs.)

What doesn't bode well is the fact they all wear a 1%'er patch on the front of their leathers and they seem to be around a lot of the violent crimes in our area. (Mainly things like Home Invasions and Armed Robberies.)

Oh and the other day one of them went splat against a bridge abuttment at a high rate of speed. (The official estimate is well over 100 MPH) He was carrying a modified TEC 9.

This isn't a good thing. In my area we have two MC's. One is a 1%'er (Outlaws) and the other isn't, (Enforcers). They get along well enough because they don't mix and they respect each other. Neither of these clubs is one to play games with. Another 1%er Club could make things nasty.

Cat

 

[Handley_Page]

Forgive my ignorance, Cat, but what's the significance of a patch (badge ?).

 

[R. Richard]

Forgive my ignorance, Cat, but what's the significance of a patch (badge ?).

A three-piece patch consists of a center patch, which displays the club's emblem and two crescent-shaped patches, known as "rockers," above and below the center patch. The top rocker displays the name of the club, while the bottom rocker displays the region of the club, usually a state or city.

In outlaw motorcycle clubs, the three pieces are earned only when a prospective member (known as a prospect) is approved for membership, according to House. A prospect has only the bottom rocker. When he is approved for membership, he receives the top rocker and club emblem. In many outlaw clubs, a full member has to signify that he's willing to commit murder on behalf of the club.

In some cases, a three-piece patch does not mean a biker belongs to an outlaw club. Some military and veterans' motorcycle clubs wear three-piece patches on their vests or jackets.

Some outlaw bikers wear a small, diamond-shaped patch with "1%" on the front of their vests. Many outlaw motorcycle clubs refer to themselves as "1 percenters," which is a reference to a statement by the American Motorcycle Association that 99 percent of American motorcyclists are law-abiding. The association made this statement denouncing a violent incident between two early outlaw biker groups in Hollister, California, in 1947. (Also the source of the movie, 'The Wild One.') Law enforcement agencies generally consider the diamond-shaped "1%" patch a sign that the person wearing it is involved in criminal activity. The counterpart to the "1%" patch is a "99%" patch, often worn by members of law enforcement motorcycle groups.

In the USA, members often use nicknames. Don't ever hassle a member with the nickname 'Chain.'

 

[voluptuary_manque]

A three-piece patch consists of a center patch, which displays the club's emblem and two crescent-shaped patches, known as "rockers," above and below the center patch. The top rocker displays the name of the club, while the bottom rocker displays the region of the club, usually a state or city.

In outlaw motorcycle clubs, the three pieces are earned only when a prospective member (known as a prospect) is approved for membership, according to House. A prospect has only the bottom rocker. When he is approved for membership, he receives the top rocker and club emblem. In many outlaw clubs, a full member has to signify that he's willing to commit murder on behalf of the club.

In some cases, a three-piece patch does not mean a biker belongs to an outlaw club. Some military and veterans' motorcycle clubs wear three-piece patches on their vests or jackets.

Some outlaw bikers wear a small, diamond-shaped patch with "1%" on the front of their vests. Many outlaw motorcycle clubs refer to themselves as "1 percenters," which is a reference to a statement by the American Motorcycle Association that 99 percent of American motorcyclists are law-abiding. The association made this statement denouncing a violent incident between two early outlaw biker groups in Hollister, California, in 1947. (Also the source of the movie, 'The Wild One.') Law enforcement agencies generally consider the diamond-shaped "1%" patch a sign that the person wearing it is involved in criminal activity. The counterpart to the "1%" patch is a "99%" patch, often worn by members of law enforcement motorcycle groups.

In the USA, members often use nicknames. Don't ever hassle a member with the nickname 'Chain.'

Or throw red paint on them because they wear black leather!

 

[Weird Harold]

Or throw red paint on them because they wear black leather!

You shouldn't warn people about that.

Rational people don't need to be warned and the animal rights nutjobs, like PETA, need to learn by doing.

 

[R. Richard]

Or throw red paint on them because they wear black leather!

Back in the old days, almost all large motorcycles were chain driven. A motorcycle drive chain can be swung, very effectively, as a weapon. Some of the stronger riders became very adept at the use of a motorcycle drive chain as a weapon. The nickname for such a rider was usually 'Chain.'

No, you don't want to hassle 'Chain' and definitely you don't want to start throwing red (or any other color) paint. The throwing of red paint could lead to the spilling of lots of non-paint red. There are stories of people surviving a full force chain stroke to the head, but those stories almost all start with, 'Once upon a time.'

 

[SeaCat]

AS has been mentioned above, the patches show ones affiliation with a club or group.

In all of these groups one must earn the patches or colors. (Earning the colors is called being patched.) Depending on the club the earning of the colors can be anything from serving time in the club to doing illegal activities up to and including murder. It depends on the club and their activities.

In my area we have two established clubs who's colors are well known. These are the Outlaws, (A 1%er club) and the Enforcers. Both of these clubs wear the triple patch. Both clubs are well known and left alone.

In my area we also see the occasional Angel Patch.

This new and third club is a wild card that is problematic. They are an onknown. From what has been seen so far they are 1%ers and therefore shitting in the Outlaws territory. They also seem to be a bit antagonistic towards the Cruisers which puts them in the sights of the Enforcers and the unaffiliated riders.

As for me, I'm unpatched and unaffiliated although I have been approached by one of the local clubs. (I won't say which one.) Some would say that even though I don't ride a Harley and am unpatched I should be wearing a 1% patch.

Oh and the new club is wearing the name of Daemons. (Their spelling not mine.)

R. Richard. A bike chain can be a usefull weapon if you learn it's good and bad points. (ie. in one way it's flexible and in another way it isn't.) It also can make a good defensive tool if formed into something like an offset link bracelet.

Should I mention here that "Sons of Anarchy" is fiction?

Cat

 

[TE999]

I'm guessin' you'll be seeing some of these punks in your hospital very soon, Cat. The ones that live that is. Arrange it so they get a high colonic even if it's a gunshot wound or a broken jaw.

 

[SeaCat]

I'm guessin' you'll be seeing some of these punks in your hospital very soon, Cat. The ones that live that is. Arrange it so they get a high colonic even if it's a gunshot wound or a broken jaw.

I'm not that nice.

Cat

 

[R. Richard]

R. Richard. A bike chain can be a usefull weapon if you learn it's good and bad points. (ie. in one way it's flexible and in another way it isn't.) It also can make a good defensive tool if formed into something like an offset link bracelet.

Should I mention here that "Sons of Anarchy" is fiction?

Cat

If you try to use a chain and you don't become an expert, you're commiting sucide. A well worn secondary chain has more flexibility than you might think in the 'non-flexible direction.' The most common way to carry a chain is as a belt. However, many states now outlaw the wearing a motorcycle drive chain as a belt. However, the chain belt can be covered with leather, without really compromising the effective deployment of the chain.

The chain is both an offensive and a defensive weapon. In either mode, the chain must be kept up to speed, or it's damn near useless. In either mode, the chain must be deployed in a controlled fashion. STRENGTH is an absolute necessity for the user of a chain. Surprisingly, body flexibilty is also a necessity. A really good user can go under or over a sloppily deployed chain and do some real harm to undefended areas.

I have never read "Sons of Anarchy." My experience is real world experience.

 

[SeaCat]

If you try to use a chain and you don't become an expert, you're commiting sucide. A well worn secondary chain has more flexibility than you might think in the 'non-flexible direction.' The most common way to carry a chain is as a belt. However, many states now outlaw the wearing a motorcycle drive chain as a belt. However, the chain belt can be covered with leather, without really compromising the effective deployment of the chain.

The chain is both an offensive and a defensive weapon. In either mode, the chain must be kept up to speed, or it's damn near useless. In either mode, the chain must be deployed in a controlled fashion. STRENGTH is an absolute necessity for the user of a chain. Surprisingly, body flexibilty is also a necessity. A really good user can go under or over a sloppily deployed chain and do some real harm to undefended areas.

I have never read "Sons of Anarchy." My experience is real world experience.

Hmmmm, I seem to have once again hit a hot button. I think I'll let the experts who know all tell all.

Cat

 

[oggbashan]

When Og was young (if ever there was such a time) the local thugs were called razor gangs. They used the old-fashioned cut-throat razors to attack members of other gangs. A cut-throat razor could be concealed easily and possession of one wasn't illegal. Seeing someone with a deep facial scar from such a razor wasn't unusual.

Some of them decided that using sharpened bicycle or motorcycle chains would be a good idea. (Place the chain in a vice and file the external edges to an angle.) They apparently thought that it would give them the ability to attack an opponent using a razor at a greater distance. They had the disadvantage that if stopped by the Police a sharpened chain was obviously an offensive weapon.

Unfortunately, self-inflicted wounds by chain-wielding thugs was more common than injuries to their opponents. They changed to machetes, still in frequent use in London.

Baseball bats as weapons have never really caught on in the UK. They are too light. Pickaxe handles were and are more effective.

Og

 

[Boota]

Most of the outlaw gangs in this area killed each other off in the 70's. Back then, I've been told, it was extremely violent. They'd kill a guy and then go try to kill the ones who attended his funeral.

 

[R. Richard]

When Og was young (if ever there was such a time) the local thugs were called razor gangs. They used the old-fashioned cut-throat razors to attack members of other gangs. A cut-throat razor could be concealed easily and possession of one wasn't illegal. Seeing someone with a deep facial scar from such a razor wasn't unusual.

A stright razor is an inefficient, very short range weapon. However, when I was younger, Negros would come from the South with a straight razor hung on a piece of string around the user's neck. The setup was used with a shirt that wasn't tucked in and enabled a quick grab for the hidden straight razor. Extreme care was necessary when dealing with a guy with a string around his neck. The nickname 'razorface' was common among the careless.

Some of them decided that using sharpened bicycle or motorcycle chains would be a good idea. (Place the chain in a vice and file the external edges to an angle.) They apparently thought that it would give them the ability to attack an opponent using a razor at a greater distance. They had the disadvantage that if stopped by the Police a sharpened chain was obviously an offensive weapon.

Unfortunately, self-inflicted wounds by chain-wielding thugs was more common than injuries to their opponents. They changed to machetes, still in frequent use in London.

The swung chain is, essentially, a flexible club. The idea of sharpening the edges seems to offer a very small improvement in function for a large increase in danger to the user. However, the main problem that you describe seems to be the result of too little practice witht the weapon. In the South Central the preferred method of deployment was as a belt, with the buckle used as a handle in weapon mode.

Baseball bats as weapons have never really caught on in the UK. They are too light. Pickaxe handles were and are more effective.

Og

I'm surprised that someone in the UK would carry a pickaxe handle, rather than the Irish Shillelagh. The Shillelagh is a walking stick and should be entirely legal. If the Shillelagh is too light, one can always go to a loaded stick. In the South Central, the principle stick weapon was essentially a Filipino style escrima stick. The escrima stick was fairly light, but could be well used as a thrusting weapon.

One weakness of the motorcycle chain as a weapon is that the multi-piece construction is a moveable feast for a scumbag crime lab. Thus the chain needs to be fully discarded after successful use. Also, the chain tends to become damaged if used defensively against another chain and, again, needs to be replaced.

 

[oggbashan]

The law in England and Wales about possession of an offensive weapon is complex and has varied over recent years.

Any object that was obviously a weapon and has no other use could lead to the owner's arrest and conviction. A knife of any size would be classed as offensive except when used at a place of work. Playing baseball is rare here. Being a builder's labourer and therefore having a pickaxe in your vehicle is more feasible.

A shillelagh is not a practical walking cane. Someone claiming that a shillelagh was a walking aid would probably need medical evidence of disability to avoid conviction for possession of an offensive weapon. Even so, they would probably be advised to use a more conventional cane.

Time and location is important. What would be acceptable in a toolbag during the wroking day could be illegal if carried on a person in a town centre on a Friday or Saturday night.

I carry a fairly comprehensive tool kit in my car. In the spare wheel well, under a hinged cover, I'm not likely to interest the Police. But if I had some of the items beside my seat, easily accessible - then they are "offensive weapons".

Og