In your opinion what is the best non-firearm weapon?

[HoosierQ]

Loyalist Dave Has A Point

Clubs are good. The people of New Guinea use a club made out of some sort of obscenely hard tropical wood. The thing is shaped more or less like a pick handle but in cross section comes to a point down each side. Again this wood they use is as hard a iron and when this thin edge, backed up by bulk hits something, much damage is done. And being wood, it is light enough to get in subsequent strikes, unlike say an entrenching tool.

The ancient Egyptians, in the Old Kingdom had only copper. They used a mace. A granite ball, the size of a baseball with the hole through the middle and a haft through it like a modern hammer head.

 

[WardenWolf]

My opinion: the club. A club can be fast and devastating. Clubs counter knives very effectively, as well, and can be used to break the arm holding the knife. Granted, in a trained hand, other weapons may work better, but a wooden club is the universal non-firearm weapon that can be used to effectively counter most other non-firearm weapons.

 

[JShirley]

Ivycat, considering the naginata is shorter than the yari and more difficult to learn, I must disagree. Further, in the picture you're showing, the naginata user is not taking advantage of one of the great strengths of all polearms, instead allowing the swordsman to close with him.

sepeteus, welcome to the forum. What is that?

John

 

[Pun1sher]

cane sword.

 

[JShirley]

Worst idea for legal carry EVER.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

As Clint Eastwood demonstated in "Pale Rider", a good piece of hickory.

 

[JShirley]

Really, as many people have said in this thread and elsewhere, if you are looking for an effective, easily learned, and easy to have or find practically anywhere, a piece of wood is a great choice.

For me, I prefer a piece of phenolic rod between 1 and 1 1/4" in diameter. Micarta (C or CE) is preferred, but I recently got a paper (XX) that isn't quite as tough, but still stronger than any wood by probably 200%. If you pick the right phenolic rod, it will look like wood.

J

 

[Dirty Bob]

For public carry, a stick. I use a hiking stick on trails, a cane when walking in my neighborhood and in other urban/suburban environs. It's in your hands when trouble starts, and it can be used by a novice. Training is not essential for it to work, but training and practice definitely make it more effective. In expert hands, the stick is an awesome tool.

For home, I'd choose a short spear. I can show someone the very basics in a few minutes, and a torso wound with one thrust of a broad-bladed spear head would not likely be survivable without immediate medical attention. The spear is also generally much less expensive than a sword of comparable quality. A spear would be very ugly to face in a narrow hallway.

For myself, I'd choose a sword for the right hand, and in the left hand, either a buckler or targe, or a madu. A madu is a short, double-ended spear with a small shield in the middle to cover the hand. The madu, in skilled hands, is a very nasty left-hand weapon. The lower spear point is the weapon that will probably do the most damage. The sword draws the attention, but what looks like a block with the madu actually sets up the lower point for a stab to the leg or abdomen.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[whitetailheadhunter]

A blade with a good edge.

Knives never need reloading!

 

[JShirley]

A knife is one of the most useful tools. It's not the best weapon by a long shot.

Welcome to THR.

John

 

[Carl Levitian]

All of this is groping in the dark because of the lack of definition in the original post. Does he mean in present time? Or in historical past times? Social status of person carrying, as it can mean a huge difference what will be carried. I beleive in medevil England and Japan, it was execution on the spot for a person of the peasant class to found with a sword, or other weapon of war. Thus the popularity of the walking staff/quarter staff for travelers on the old roads.

For the common man, even going back to biblical references, "Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me." holds very true.

Fast forward to parts of the world that have massive riots, like the Sikh/hindu clashes in India, you see a heck of alot of both police and rioters swinging long rattan staffs.

So it seems to come down to "for who, when and where."

For a noble born rich guy who has years to learn the art, a sword may be his best bet overall. For the humble peasant farmer carrying his grain to market in a wagon, the well tested quarter staff may be best. A modern guy living in a place where a firearm is not permitted, (U.K., Japan, some U.S. cities) most likely will do well with a stout cane/walking stick outside of his home.

 

[Hostile Amish]

The classic Bowie knife is the best non-firearm weapon practically. Good balance, stays sharp, multiple uses, good survival tool, etc.

For everyday use, you can't beat a folding knife.

 

[AZ Insurgent]

I'm going with a machete. Even if they tried to block the blow with their arm it would still get chopped off.

 

[lvcat2004]

Ivycat, considering the naginata is shorter than the yari and more difficult to learn, I must disagree. Further, in the picture you're showing, the naginata user is not taking advantage of one of the great strengths of all polearms, instead allowing the swordsman to close with him.

When trained properly, Naginata is much more dangerous than Yari. But for a beginner, Yari may be better, I don't disagree.

The picture doesn't mean anything. That's all I could find. A couple of white boys using tachi and naginata...what else can I say.

 

[JShirley]

Okay. I just would hate for folks who knew nothing about spear work to think there was some advantage to getting so close to a swordsman.

J

 

[sidheshooter]

The classic Bowie knife is the best non-firearm weapon practically. Good balance, stays sharp, multiple uses, good survival tool, etc.

+1 if it is the right design. With a blade of 10-11 inches or longer, it basically becomes a very frightening stick; combining the best attributes of stick (reach, crush, leverage of speed) with a knife (touch and be effective).

 

[arcticap]

This outfit offers 4 different pre-shaped Eastern American Indian ball clubs that are 18" - 23" in length:

http://www.gunstockwood.com/products.html#bclub

 

[Portedglock26]

Tazer just ask the cops and the people who have been tazed!

 

[mercop]

The Tazer is great in stand off situations when it actually works.- George

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'm revising what I said earlier and running with:

1. Ranged: Big Bore PCP airgun (as mentioned it is NOT a firearm), and

2. Non-ranged: Yari or Naginata!

Honorable mentions to recurve bow, chisa katana, taser, and short spear.

 

[thesolidus]

My Brain

I'll just start head butting everything!

(Not sure that's what that martial arts instructor meant....)

 

[conw]

arcticap, nice "back massagers"...at least, that's what I'd claim they were

 

[KINGMAX]

It's between your ears

It's that thing between your ears, your brain. Remember not to panic, keep your cool, consider the total situation before you start reacting. (jmoho)

 

[sidheshooter]

Tazer just ask the cops and the people who have been tazed!

If you include all the cops involved in the Rodney King fiasco, you'd probably get a different opinion!

 

[gallowglas]

May I suggest the humble ax?
Or perhaps the American Tomahawk?
There is, quite literally, a battleax by my bed.

Room to swing is not a problem, I practice with it and know it's limitations in every room.