bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
My wife loves Rose bushes.There are17 around the house mostly under Windows. HEY BAD GUY, try to crawl in a window the Rott is hungry
Blades for home defense?
- Thread starter MTMilitiaman
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jar
Contributing Member
When I lived on Hilton Head the front and back windows looked out through Pyracantha Bushes. In the words of Clubber Lang ...
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
^ yep, as Mas once said, "pity the fool that fails in the victim selection process"
AlexanderA
Member
Thinking of using a knife (or other edged weapon) for home defense is kind of silly. 99% of people don't have the mindset that it would take. Plus, you'd be in real trouble if the home invader had a firearm. The knife would be worse than no weapon at all, because it would just provoke the bad guy.
That said, I think that an M1860 naval cutlass repro would be about the best of a bad choice. It's short enough to be handy in a home, yet long enough to give a decent reach. Plus, the large bell guard protects the leading hand. But please take a fencing class before attempting to deploy something like this. And make sure your opponent is not armed with a firearm before pulling out your sword.
That said, I think that an M1860 naval cutlass repro would be about the best of a bad choice. It's short enough to be handy in a home, yet long enough to give a decent reach. Plus, the large bell guard protects the leading hand. But please take a fencing class before attempting to deploy something like this. And make sure your opponent is not armed with a firearm before pulling out your sword.
JeffG
Member
"...and right over there is where George cut that sucker's arm clean off. Service Pro did a great job on the blood stains, dontcha think?"
Old Dog
Member
jar
Contributing Member
Not planning on how to use whatever is available seems somewhat sub optimum plan to me, but then I'm just an old codger. I always was taught that you plan on what to do when stuff doesn't go right, when you don't have the tool you want or the ideal situation. In a household scenario that is likely to include knives, cooking utensils, lamps, turtles, light, sound, furniture and retreat.
And knives are great in close and often fast to deploy even against a gun.
theotherwaldo
Member
I suppose that I could use one of the many swords, cutlasses, lances, spears, daggers, bayonets, machetes, knives, arrows, axes, hatchets, straight razors, geologist's picks, or the many other sharp or pointed objects in or around my home... until I could reach a pistol, shotgun or rifle.
I would would much rather go for my revolver or get my AR, but the absolute closest weapon to my bed is a 3lb Falcata. It's a curved, heavy cleaving sword. Many, many, many generations ago, someone in my bloodline of the Iberian Celts probably used one against the Romans.
See, the falcata perplexed the Romans. It was heavy, it was curved. It could reach past their short swords and over their shield wall. If that didnt work, it could go THROUGH the shield itself. The Iberians wore next to no armor so they would remain acrobatic on the field. Very aggressive shock troops used by Hannibal many times in place of heavily armored soldiers.
So I guess if I hear a window break downstairs and I charge into the darkness slashing with a massive sword and swearing at the top of my lungs clad only in my boxers, I'm just digging deep into my ancestry
In all seriousness, all points of access are illuminated. Back gate is locked. Doors and windows are locked. Security cams downstairs with night vision and siren accessible by my phone. .357 in the drawer next to my side of the bed, 9mm pistol in a safe on top of the night stand. Dog used to be good for noises, but hes a deaf old man and would sleep through a garbage truck driving through the living room backwards these days. Oddly enough, the cats growl at people at the door.
I don't see a need for an edge weapon over a firearm. However, I have a passing knowledge on how to use them, and I'm stronger than average. Anything downstairs they can have. If they come upstairs, I'll be posted at the top. That's as far as they'll make it no matter what.
See, the falcata perplexed the Romans. It was heavy, it was curved. It could reach past their short swords and over their shield wall. If that didnt work, it could go THROUGH the shield itself. The Iberians wore next to no armor so they would remain acrobatic on the field. Very aggressive shock troops used by Hannibal many times in place of heavily armored soldiers.
So I guess if I hear a window break downstairs and I charge into the darkness slashing with a massive sword and swearing at the top of my lungs clad only in my boxers, I'm just digging deep into my ancestry
In all seriousness, all points of access are illuminated. Back gate is locked. Doors and windows are locked. Security cams downstairs with night vision and siren accessible by my phone. .357 in the drawer next to my side of the bed, 9mm pistol in a safe on top of the night stand. Dog used to be good for noises, but hes a deaf old man and would sleep through a garbage truck driving through the living room backwards these days. Oddly enough, the cats growl at people at the door.
I don't see a need for an edge weapon over a firearm. However, I have a passing knowledge on how to use them, and I'm stronger than average. Anything downstairs they can have. If they come upstairs, I'll be posted at the top. That's as far as they'll make it no matter what.
theotherwaldo
Member
Falcata... sounds like a Ganga Ram Kukri
jar
Contributing Member
Gotta Ask> What is a GRS?
They are quite close. In fact, my Falcata is by Himalayan Imports. It's not built like the traditional Falcatas are said to have been. The originals were tested by taking the blade and flexing the flat against the top of your head until the ends touch your shoulders and when released would spring back to true.
Mines about 3/8" thick and very weight forward. My 21" Ganga Ram is a nimble minx compared to this bruiser.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
A Gunners Mate buddy of mine in the Coast Guard actually made a formal suggestion to the Captain that cutlasses should be issued for the boarding inspection party.
Gunner thought it would be safer than the Colt 45 inside the confines of a ship...
edwardware
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I can see the CNN headline now, "TRUMP ISSUES PIRATE SWORDS TO TROOPS, VOWS TO KEELHAUL FOES"
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Sounds good but when "Gunner" made the suggestion I think Carter was President..?
John Joseph
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For fending off an attacker at close quarters with a blade, the kitchen Butcher's knife would be adequate. At sword's length, IMHO, a pistol rules.
Old Dog
Member
Sharpening one's swords is great therapy ...
OP
OP
MTMilitiaman
Member
You break into some guy's house hoping to steal a PS4 that you can pawn for your next score, and he comes stumbling into the living room in his underwear with a khukuri and a .357, what do you do?
Meanwhile I'm with the guys rocking the cutlass. I've never bought a sword but if I did, it would be a cutlass.
theotherwaldo
Member
If you really want a cutlass, IMA-USA has a good repro of the French model 1833.
I picked up one. Nice, but I prefer the kukri in tight quarters.
I picked up one. Nice, but I prefer the kukri in tight quarters.
If the plan is to wait until things go bad and then scramble around for whatever is within reach, then it makes perfect sense use whatever you can put your hands on the fastest and also to learn to be proficient with any potential weapons that may be lying around.
My plan is to carry what I plan to use so that I don't have to look around for something if there's a crisis. I find it easier to carry a pistol than a sword, spear, hatchet/axe or a large fighting knife.
Old Dog
Member
This thread is making me think I need to pick up some more swords ... Can anybody say, "Elizabethan Rapier?" (yeah, possibly my favorite of all time)
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