using System;

​

public class Program

{

    public static void Main()

    {

        var strEquipement = "-weapon;1;1;1";

        string[] strEquipementSansPointVirgule = strEquipement.Split(';');

        // this works I can read all positions [0],[1],[2],[3]

        string strEquipementIsole = strEquipementSansPointVirgule[0];

        // this works, I can read the "-weapon" and it works in a MessageBox

        if (strEquipementIsole[0] == '-')

        {

            // do something here

            Console.WriteLine("Found");

        }

    }

}