16 Comments
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Chanelle Gutari's avatar

This is fascinating - the serious consideration of what people routinely ignore. I could swear, however, that I saw something similar at the National Museum of Art in Washington DC a couple of months ago. It was not as sleek but it was a mobility assistance device used by an elderly woman. She was able to turn it into a small stool which she used while looking at the paintings. I will watch out for it now. BTW - I saw you on the Black Man Spy cast with Malcom Nance re: events in Ceuta. Great to hear about your work.

Carol's avatar

P.S. I was not the woman Chanelle Gutari saw at the Natl [Gallery] Museum in WDC. At the Spy Museum? Maybe (!).

Dexter Ingram's avatar

Hi Chanelle - thank you! It was definitely worth the wait. I appreciate your support, truly!

Mark A. Fowler's avatar

Fascinating, as always! A reminder of the evil, devious minds that the Soviet regime nurtured.

Andrew Beaton's avatar

Thank you, Dexter. This cane reminded me of the ponchos we found in Army Navy stores as children for some reason. Well crafted, durable, and versatile. I still wish I had mine.

Truthsayer's avatar

This brings back memories when a Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, was killed in 1978 with the tip of a poisoned umbrella.

Dexter Ingram's avatar

Thank you. The Bulgarian Ricin Umbrella - I tell that story oftern. :)

Carol's avatar

I have several of these- less the firearm- that belonged to my grandmother. Each is probably 100 yrs old. I've carried one along to outdoor events where seating is or may be limited. Spiffy.

Robot Bender's avatar

You're right. It's chilling and absolutely brilliant.

Vanessa Martin's avatar

That is a very interesting piece and by looks alone, seems like an innovative idea for the elderly to sit and rest as needed. The mind typically stops there to ponder the invention itself but doesn’t go a level deeper to consider that it might be a shotgun. I thought of two ordinary items that can be used as weapons: 1) sunglasses wherein both arms can slip off unleashing two ice picker-type appendages that when used on vital organs can prove fatal, and 2) a female hair scrunchie filled with a coiled garrote. Very interesting article!

Michelle's avatar

What ordinary object could hide something? I think the bond movies left little that could be surprising. They’ve hidden things in pens, lipstick cases, hairpins, brooches….

I must say that cane stool gun was brilliant and I never saw it before. But I’m like a dog with a bone now…..🤔

Dexter Ingram's avatar

I joke with my friend Jonna Mendez that anything can be a gun or a camera. Most folks would be surprised!

Michelle's avatar

Well I am! The camera, I can see how one could be fitted into anything, but I would have thought that more space would be needed for a gun that would limit what it could be concealed in. Scary!

Des Parker's avatar

Dexter, this was a wonderful story. Your "cane" makes it very 007 and fascinating. Like Chanelle, I saw you on Black Man Spy. I am subscribing now.

Thank you for sharing your insight and knowledge.

M. F. Hopkins's avatar

The more of your articles I read, the more my mouth drops open. At this point, I'll just parrot what Chanelle Gutari said here.

Edna's avatar

I'm all too familiar with being invisible, but the rifle inside a cane/stool is too clever!