Blaster (flamethrower)

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The Blaster was a 1998 invention by South African inventor Charl Fourie to provide a deterrent to carjackings. With a rising crime rate, carjackings became a serious concern in South Africa. The Blaster was a car modification that functioned as a liquified petroleum gas flamethrower; when a carjacking occurred, the driver could step on an additional pedal next to accelerator and flames would erupt from outer sides of both front doors, "neutralizing" the assailant. The inventor claims it is unlikely to kill but would "definitely blind" the assailant. In South Africa, it is legal to use lethal force in self-defense if in fear of ones life, and ownership of flamethrowers is unrestricted.

The Blaster received ample (and often satirical) media coverage from abroad. In particular, it was notable as the concept that gave its inventor the 1999 Ig Nobel Peace Prize (a parody of the real Nobel Prizes).

By 2001, only a few hundred had been sold, and the inventor was instead marketing a pocket-sized "personal flamethrower".^[1]

When the product left the market, existing units were left without a source for maintenance, which created a potential hazard for owners of the units who wished to keep them operational.