retractible claws [just an idea]
 

I have a few hundred dollars at my disposal. I have been thinking about contructing a pair of functional "wolverine claws".

I haven't really analyzed it but this is what i've already figured out.

i'll make a reinforced wrist bracer (so my wrist will not be able to move individually from my forearm [so i don't break it trying to test out the functionability]). I would like to make the claws use a "out the front automatic knife" setup (spring loaded). Unforunately, i cannot find a good diagram or explanation of how these knives work. i have a few, but i am not willing to destroy them to find out (they are all quite expensive).

so, really what i am asking is :

-can anyone tell me how to make the release mechanism?
-can anyone recomend what grade of steel or other metal to use?
-safety hazards?
-errors in my thinking (i know the whole idea of making claws is pretty stupid, but i'd feel quite accomplished if i could actually do it).
-a price estimate (if possible).

REMEMBER: i want these to be FUNCTIONAL, not just movie props.

thank you and goodnight.

You should be able to get blueprints for spring-loaded knives from the U.S. Patent Office...

http://www.muc.muohio.edu/~natedogg/main.htm

This is how one guy made a set for his Wolverine costume. While it does not seem to really be what you're looking for in way of performance (as they seem more the movie prop style), it might give you some ideas to throw around on construction.

Good luck, I'd be very interested in seeing how they turn out.

Functional...wolverine claws.
Hmmmm. And these would be ultimately used for...cutting vegetables in the kitchen? I guess I just don't get it. What market is it, that you ultimately plan on targeting? Why would I want this, if not just to impress my friends and neighbors?
I don't mean to rain on your parade or anything, but of what value would a set of wolverine claws be...if not as a movie prop?

Not to mention that switch blades are illegal in certain places... Weilding six, switch blades more so.

Maybe he just wants them for himself and isn't necessarily trying to sell them?

I say good luck to you bro, post pics of your progress and (hopefully) eventual success.

Um, yeah.

This whole thing sounds to me like one big safety hazard.

It's all fun and games...until someone loses a spleen. :D

which just may be the reason i think this is one of the coolest ideas I've ever run across
:thumbsup:

thanks for the support.

just to clear this up
-switchblades are illegal in newyork (oh well, this is worth it, and i might work on it upstate).
-i know its dangerous.
-I'm not planning to sell it or show it off, i'm planning to do it just to see if i can. I want it to be functional because a movie prop would be kind of stupid.
-i found out that some knives have a release pressure of over 300 pounds. i don't think i'll need that kind of release power. I'll need a type of safety on it. and i'll use a pin-pull mechanism to release it. I'd also like to release it by making a fist, this sounds hard, but not if you add brass knuckles to it. So that when you grasp hardly, it pulls down on the brass knuckles which, in turn pulls out a pin. I'm not planning to kill anyone. i would just like to be able to chop up watermelons(and other fruits and such) in a slightly sadistic fashion. There would be no way of selling it due to how dangerous it is and the limited market (it would be pretty expensive).

oh, and about the link on one of the previous replies (about the guy with the wolverine costume), thats what inspired me. I realized that if you hit those things with a bat, or tried to chop something up with that you would either break your wrist or break the blades off of the sliding mechanism.

until next time,
Tim

One thing you are going to have to think about (aside from all the sliding mechanisms) is the leverage that those blades will have when they are extended.

If the bottom of the blade doesn't extend far enough back along your arm, there will be a very weak point where the bottom of the blade, connects to the contracption that hold them on your wrist. Of course, adding length to the blades means that when retracted they will go further up your arm, past your elbow. It also means that when extended, the force will be absorbed by your forearms rather than the contraption...

Just something to consider.

Save yerself some "concealed weapon" charges and spend the $ on a high quality hooker. You will have way more fun. hehehe