Mace for Self Defense

Mace was the first chemical agent manufactured for personal safety use in the form of a defense canister. Unless mixed, Mace may not be considered as effective as pepper spray.

Mace is a product of CN gas developed initially as a chemical agent during World War One. In 1928, Courson and Stroughton developed Orthoclorobenzamalononitrile (CS), a crystalline powder rather than a gas. In the 1950s, the U.S. military began working with CS, which was found to be about ten times more effective/irritating than CN gas. In 1965, CS, Mace, was adopted as a tool and used by law enforcement agencies in crowd control during civil unrest.

There are several considerations when evaluating whether to carry Mace for self-defense:

• Mace manufacturers assign a shelf life to each spray canister because pressure was found to dissipate within the canisters over time. Mace canisters should be shaken regularly to maintain the chemical mixture.
• Do not expose the Mace canister to extreme heat or cold, such as leaving it in a vehicle.
• The assailant must be within range and not out of range of the Mace spray canister.
• The spray canister must be aimed properly.
• If you use Mace on someone, you will likely be affected as well.
• Consider if you would be incapacitated or ineffective when exposed to Mace.
• If you experience respiratory reactions, Mace may not be a suitable choice for personal protection.
• Explore the advantages and disadvantages of Quick Fix Items.

CS within Mace does not affect everyone equally, and in cases where someone is angry or on drugs/alcohol. After spraying from a Mace canister, the CS may take 20 to 60 seconds to take effect, if at all.

If Mace is used, some of the symptoms of CS chemical exposure are tightness in the chest, nose, or throat, a coughing or choking sensation, profuse watering and involuntary closure of the eyes, and profuse runny nose, as well as a burning sensation in the eyes, lungs, and skin. The skin may experience a burning sensation that is more intense if the pores are open due to previous or current sweating.

Sometimes nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and panic are experienced but usually occur when higher dosages derived from riot control/military-sized canisters, during training exercises in teargas chambers, are used for protective ‘gas’ mask familiarization training, or during civil unrest, or during SWAT operations.

Before pepper spray, law enforcement officers carried Mace canisters with a potency level three times greater than what was sold to the general public.

Contemporary Mace products designed for personal protection often mix CS with pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Products are also available for personal security.

 

Return to Choices in Self Defense for more suggestions.