Knockout dust? any basis in fact?

Question

ok... I know this is silly, but in films and such usually someone will use a cigar full of knock out dust or something similar. does this have any basis in fact at all? or just a convenient plot mechanism

Answer 1

There are many chemicals that can render a person "knocked out"

the most common used chemicals are going to be in a gaseous or liquid state, but that's usually not a problem to make a salt and powder it.

films are mostly shenanigans.

cigar with knock-out dust... in the real world would be replaced by  hypodermic darts.

with darts you have range advantage over the cigar

you can shoot again if the first doesn't work

I remember a story where the russians filled a theater with this gas that knocks people out to try and stop a hostage situation.... however. the ruskies ended up killing most of people in the room, since dispersion of gasses and doses is difficult in a situation like that.