Pepper spray is commonplace in today’s society. People carry it on them when walking the streets for protection. Police officers use it to subdue people. Many remember watching protests at UC Davis in 2013 where one officer seemed as if he was spraying plants with pesticides rather than pepper spraying a group of protesters.

How can this device be used for such starkly different purposes? The Smithsonian has the answer. An article by Daniel A. Gross, titled “The Forgotten History of Mace, Designed by a 29-Year-Old and Reinvented as a Police Weapon,” sheds some light on the inventor and the original purpose of the creation. Gross traces mace back to Alan and Doris Litman. Alan submitted applications for a number of inventions before shifting his focus to self-defense. According to Gross, he submitted applications for an “Assailant Incapacitator” and an “Aerosol Safety Device.” The two combined to form a mixture of harsh chemicals in a pocket-sized bottle.

Not long after, one of Doris’s colleagues got mugged, leading the couple to discuss ways women could protect themselves. The pocket-sized pepper sprays already available were known to unintentionally spray the sprayer. According to Gross, when the Litmans began experimenting, they “mixed chemicals like kerosene, Freon, and sulfuric acid to dissolve and propel harsh irritants. After trying a dizzying array of chemicals that seared the eyes and face, they settled on chloroacetophenone, a chemical the U.S. military had highlighted as a potent tear gas during World War II.” After some less catchy options, they settled on naming the device “Chemical Mace.” Gross writes, “According to newspaper reports, the name implied that chemicals could produce the same incapacitating effect as a medieval mace—a chilling design of spiked club—but without causing the same brutal injuries.” Two years later, Litman would accept a $100,000 offer from Smith & Wesson, which began Mace’s transition into a law enforcement tool.

Nonetheless, the original intent of the pepper spray is still as relevant as ever. For those looking for a non-lethal weapon for protection, Armory Replicas has a number of options for you. One of those options is our Eliminator Jogger 3 in 1 Pepper Spray. It comes with a half-ounce hard case that includes an elastic jogger strap, key ring, and belt clip. The weapon is rated at 2.0 million SHU (Scoville Heat Units), at 15 percent concentration, and fires up to 20', making it one of the most effective weapons of its kind on the market.

At Armory Replicas, we have a wide variety of self-defense products so that you can feel safe wherever you are. Our pepper sprays are only the tip of the iceberg. Whatever self-defense, replica armory needs you may have, your best bet is Armory Replicas!