Is a knife 2nd best to gun?

[Eleven Mike]

Knives are commonly discussed because they're more commonly carried than sprays, batons, stun guns. Not because they are a great weapon, but because they are handy for mundane tasks.

On the other hand, knives aren't discussed as often as one might think. Machetes, very large bowies and Multi-Pliers aren't really knives. Threadjack.

 

[Dirty Bob]

Almost anything can be a weapon. The late James Mattis on Bladeforums was fond of saying something like: "A tool's ability to do work is often equivalent to its ability to do damage."

That said, I carry knives as tools, but I'm always conscious of their ability to do harm as well as work, and I treat them with respect.

Get a little knife training, and you'll soon realize just how scary they can be. I've faced a knife a few times, and my response was a hasty retreat.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[steeltiger]

I carry knives for use primarily, I have no handgun training, nor do I own one.
Inside six to eight feet, I'm somewhat competint in my skill to not get completly killed, but after that, I would want a firearm, even though I don't know how to effictivly use one, six feet is my limit between ''I win'' and ''I'm dead'', but I'm going to throw anything I have in my hand and duck for cover. Knives are allergic to long range, but extremely effictive up close, as I said before I carry knives for utility, but if I need to I want to be able to survive the encounter uninjured if possible. If my life is at stake I'm gonna fight with watever I have, just rember ''a cornerd man is the most dangerous, becaues he has more to loose''.

 

[G.A.Pster]

I don’t know I think a crossbow would be second best.

 

[Baba Louie]

While most of us do carry some form of blade daily, a dear friend/former room-mate who trains and teaches Aikido showed me a couple of things using sticks, simple walking canes found at Wally World or CVS pharmacies.

Ouch! And I really really mean OWWWCCCHHH! As in Fairbairn deadly baton kinda ouchy pain. She had me bruised on both arms, both legs and each side of my ribcage and never broke a sweat. (She also told me she avoided my groin, head and neck cause she liked me too much... thank Goodness for small favors)

So while I don't yet NEED a walking cane in these early "golden years" I have purchased a couple and think/know it'd be a good tool to keep people at bay for a bit... but like anything else, it requires practice practice practice. If I lived somewhere that I could not legally carry a handgun or a knife, a stout umbrella or cane might buy a moment (or a lifetime's) respite.

The story of COL Applegate and the pack of young thugs keeps coming to mind. Tho' heaven knows I'm no Rex Applegate (not even in the same ballpark ... tho' I do have a Bill Harsey A/F and an autographed copy of his book he gladly sold me ) a very few simple moves with a stick backed up with serious training, serious force and surprised speed/reaction could save the day.

 

[Leadhead]

Two people facing each other.
One has a knife in hand, the other has a pistol in hand.
The knife is 2nd best.

All these senerios where the guy has a knife out and attacks someone with a pistol in their pants does not make the knife better, it just demonstrates that drawing a weapon(any weapon) while being attacked up close is not easy.

 

[feedthehogs]

One thing to remember with any type of spray. The wind may not always be in your favor.
You can disable yourself along with your attacker leaving you vulnerable or those with you vulnerable to secondary attacks or attacks by others.

Knives, canes or what have you are no good without proper training.

 

[sm]

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[Eleven Mike]

Pickups can be used to attack as well as retreat. Then you sue the dead perp's family for damages he caused to your bumper.

 

[sm]

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[Eleven Mike]

sm, I don't want to offend you, but what's with the long, rambling posts all the time?

 

[sm]

I fixed it.
I was asked to post "Software not Hardware" by someone.

 

[Eleven Mike]

That was interesting.

 

[sonofodin]

My .02 cents

I trained in martial arts. I carry pepper spray if they are too big or they look like I cant fight them hand to hand, fair. If I cant fight them hand to hand fair, the mace comes out. If the wind is against me, I'll try to obviously move so that it is or create a distraction. The blades only come out when they outweigh me by 100lb+, cant be fought or maced. Remember, use of a blade in self defense is almost as serious as a gun. Since I cant legally carry a gun yet, I usually tote more than one blade. Various folders where my right AND left hand can reach them. I keep a speed assist for my left hand, since its my dummy hand. I keep my second and best in my right and one in my cargo for any chores that might dull one. Martial arts are probably the best way to go, same with mace. Anyways, just me chipping in.