Throwing line or weapon? If you look at a "monkey fist", this question seems rather inappropriate at first. Nevertheless, these special objects are covered by the German Weapons Act under certain circumstances. The following article therefore explains what constitutes a monkey fist and whether it is to be classified as a weapon. Finally, the question of whether it could even be a prohibited weapon will be clarified.

Definition and original purpose

A monkey fist initially only describes a simple knot that can fulfill several purposes at once. On the one hand, this knot is used in seafaring. It is used to weigh down the end of a throwing line. But the monkey fist is also used for climbing (as a safety knot) or casually on a key ring (as a decorative knot).

In addition, however, there are currently also items on offer that are intended for self-defense. A metal ball is then usually woven into the knot, which results in the following weapon law assessment.

Monkey fist as a cutting and thrusting weapon

According to § 1 Para. 2 No. 2a WaffG, weapons are portable objects which by their nature are intended to eliminate or reduce the ability of people to attack or defend themselves. If a monkey fist therefore contains a metal ball, it can be assumed to be a blunt weapon, taking into account its specific design and purpose.

This idea is by no means new, as the monkey fist was already very popular as a weapon among sailors at the time. The heavy end can be swiftly accelerated, causing considerable injury on impact, especially if you hit your opponent on the head.

Classification as a prohibited weapon

The next thing to consider is whether the monkey fist could also be a prohibited weapon. And here the comparison with the classic manslayer is obvious. The following definition can be found in the general administrative regulation to the Weapons Act. "Deadly clubs are flexible objects such as rubber hoses, straps and ropes, at least one end of which is weighted by metal or material of equal hardness. As with the steel rod, flexibility is an essential criterion, as this is the only way to ensure the intended amplification of the striking effect."

We are therefore dealing here with a very similar design and function of both objects. For this reason, the BKA also comes to the conclusion that a monkey fist is to be classified as a manslayer and therefore also as a prohibited weapon.

Reasoning from the BKA assessment notice

"Due to the use of the metal ball in the monkey fist, the object in question, like the classic manslayer, is designed to potentiate the human impact energy through a centrifugal movement of the weight to a considerable impact energy in order to cause injuries to humans."

Conclusion and final observation

We can therefore conclude that even if various online stores offer monkey fists for
self-defense, it is better to stay away from them. This is because even the purchase of a monkey fist with a metal ball can constitute a criminal offense and could result in a substantial fine or prison sentence. And, of course, such violations also have an impact on your reliability under firearms law.

Further information on the Monkey Fist and, of course, other prohibited weapons can be found on my YouTube channel "Kwannick - Waffengesetz und Co".

Disclaimer: The excerpts from the Weapons Act are taken from the currently valid version of 01.09.2020. The author of this article assumes no liability for the topicality, correctness and completeness of the information provided.