Which of the following would be considered a deadly weapon under the definition when used in a threatening manner?

• A. Pistol
• B. Pen
• C. Book
• D. Chair

Answer: (A)

A deadly weapon is any object that is capable of causing death or serious bodily harm, and using or brandishing it in a threatening way meets that definition. A pistol is a firearm with inherent lethal potential, so threatening with it clearly fits the deadly weapon standard. The pen, book, and chair aren’t inherently dangerous in the same way; they could be used to threaten or injure, but they don’t have the same built‑in capacity for lethal harm as a firearm, so they aren’t classified as deadly weapons in this context.