[dukeblue91]

I too vote for a machete vs any other knife.

[Chuck TX]

A machete is a useful tool, good for many applications. Having a few can't hurt.


Melee weapon? A great concept until someone pops a cap in your @$$. Even if you are highly skilled (or think you are) up close and personal / hand2hand is a losing situation after a few goes at it. If things reach that point, a good book on Escape & Evade tactics may prove more useful.

Originally Posted by red442joe

"18" Tramontina would be my pick!"

Frying pan? I googled it. My google-fu is weak.

Guessing it is like a woodsmans pal.

Joe

Machete manufacturer in Brazil.

[Commander_Zero]

In the 'big edged weapon' category, a good gladius copy. The guys at ZombieTools make some nice stuff. For blunt-impact, I loves me some PR-24 action.

[Batesmotel]

Originally Posted by Bren

Do you get a lot of your survival knowledge from Dungeons & Dragons?

Beat me to it.

If I had to have a sword it would be a Cold Steel 1917 pattern USN cutlass. Strapped to my backpack.

BTW I hope everyone learned their tactics from D&D and video games. It will make my life easier.

[thetoastmaster]

Originally Posted by Bren

Melee weapons? Do you get a lot of your survival knowledge from Dungeons & Dragons? Nobody else really uses the term "meleee weapons" unless it is leaking into mall ninja land from the large population of D&D playing mall ninjas.

This.

I think there are a few melee weapons that fit into the modern hoplophile's arsenal, the short blade, the short stick, and flexible improvised weapons like the bandana.

As much as I love the long blade and pole weapons, how would I carry one around? A full-sized spear won't even fit in my car.

For dedicated melee weapons, I say the same thing I say about firearms: What kind of training have you had? For purely defensive blades, I like a thick, full tang and a blade with a thin edge and a thickish spine. Unfortunately, purely martial blades are hard to find. Camp knives make crap fighting knives and fighting knives make crap camp knives.

The best easily concealable purely martial knives I have ever seen are Rick Frigault's customs. For a larger blade, it's hard (impossible?) to beat a real fighting Bowie. Think along the lines of a Bagwell.

Most folks don't train enough to get the most good out of a dedicated martial fixed blade, and would do better with one of Mike Janich's Spyderco folders.

[Berto]

A 'hawk or 'smatchet' type knife would be pretty ideal IMO.

[RWBlue]

Originally Posted by Landmonster

I know lots of stuff will "suffice".

I'm seeking what is best.

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head. He went galumphing back.

This being said, I would prefer a bow, crossbow or anything that I can use to keep the distance from my attacker.

[BR549]

Originally Posted by RWBlue

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head. He went galumphing back.

This being said, I would prefer a bow, crossbow or anything that I can use to keep the distance from my attacker.

As much as I love shooting bows for fun, competition, and hunting...

...using a bow as a defensive weapon against a single attacker is not a good option, much less so for multiple attackers...

...circumstances could possibly make it work...

...but the possibility of those circumstances working out where the bow becomes a 'good' choice is so slim that I would never consider it...




Get your bow (or crossbow), and see how fast you can take three shots at a non-moving target.




Then consider the ramifications of the target attacking you prior to or just after the first shot.

[Restless28]

Ka-Bar Kukri. $44.99 on Amazon. Highly rated.

[SFCSMITH(RET)]

While I believe in training, choosing, and practice so none of your possible events happen to me, I will state that I have a "woodsmans pal" strapped to the outside of my pack, and I know I wouldn't want to be smacked with the damn thing.

I wouldn't for a minute "stockpile" "melee weapons".. Carry a good EDC knife, keep whatever tools you think you might need handy, and know how to use them and ALWAYS remember:

To a pessimist, the glass is half empty,
To an optimist, the glass is half full,
And to the survivalist, the glass makes a fair weapon if needed.

[quake]

I don't have 'pre-purchased melee weapon plans', as I figure anything that deprives me of a pre-purchased better weapon could probably just as easily deprive me of any pre-purchased melee weapon as well.

That said, a two-foot section of 2/0 to 4/0 SE cable with with either tape or plasti-dip on on end for a handle could be a terrible thing. My dad carried a short section of cable like that behind the seat of his pickup when driving to & from work. We lived on a farm, but he drove ~60 miles to a detroit steel mill for quite a few years as well in the late 60's & 70's. He wouldn't keep a gun in the truck, but that short section of probably 1/2" diameter cable was a fearsome thing the one time I saw him use on a misbehaving steer.

[RWBlue]

Originally Posted by BR549

As much as I love shooting bows for fun, competition, and hunting...

...using a bow as a defensive weapon against a single attacker is not a good option, much less so for multiple attackers...

...circumstances could possibly make it work...

...but the possibility of those circumstances working out where the bow becomes a 'good' choice is so slim that I would never consider it...

Get your bow (or crossbow), and see how fast you can take three shots at a non-moving target.

Then consider the ramifications of the target attacking you prior to or just after the first shot.

There is a reason the pope made the crossbow illegal to use in war.

I am not suggesting the bow/crossbow vs. glock. I am suggesting bow when the other option is a machete/sword.

Even if I only get off one aimed shot before I have to drop the bow and go hand to hand, I am still better off than the person with no distance weapon.

I will try shooting three moving targets.

Tell me how much luck have you had hunting with a machete or sword?

[cowboywannabe]

what would Conan do?

[MadMonkey]

Originally Posted by cowboywannabe

what would Conan do?

Host a TV show?

[b_oglethorpe]

I could use almost anything in my house as a melee weapon. You guys could really get creative.


Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[Arvinator]

Hard to beat a fixed blade knife, such as the KaBar Glock Field Knife or a Cold Steel. I also like my Louisville slugger wooden bat I've had since I was a kid.

I recently found some metal probes with a stainless end, and I sharpened the end on one of them and found it to be sharp and penetrates easy, only about 3/8 inch diameter.

if I had to go buy something toady for the money, a wooden pick handle would be hard to beat with my Glock Field knife on my belt as backup.

[ArmoryDoc]

One could learn something from MS13 and the skinnies in Africa. The machete is one of THE most effective and feared weapons for close-in work when a gun is not practical or available.

[Commander_Zero]

Originally Posted by cowboywannabe

what would Conan do?

Duh! He would drive his enemies before him, crush them beneath his feet, and hear the lamentations of their vimmen.

[BR549]

Originally Posted by RWBlue

There is a reason the pope made the crossbow illegal to use in war.

I am not suggesting the bow/crossbow vs. glock. I am suggesting bow when the other option is a machete/sword.

Even if I only get off one aimed shot before I have to drop the bow and go hand to hand, I am still better off than the person with no distance weapon.

I will try shooting three moving targets.

Tell me how much luck have you had hunting with a machete or sword?

Then we somewhat agree.

Even with a bow, there is no reason not to have a knife/machete/tomahawk/sword/other at hand also.

I have killed many, many animals with a large variety of items other than guns and bows...

...intentionally as in hunting and then out of necessity because that is all I had at the moment...

...including some that were easy, some that were difficult and frightening, and some that happened by mere "luck" if you will...

...including feral cats, feral dogs, racoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, wild hogs, deer, snakes, squirrel, rabbit, fish, and miscellaneous birds...

Originally Posted by RWBlue

This being said, I would prefer a bow, crossbow or anything that I can use to keep the distance from my attacker.

While I can agree wholeheartedly regarding the use of a bow to wound or kill (eventually) something at a distance...

...my experience indicates that a bow is not to be relied upon "to keep the distance from my attacker"...

Therein lies my disagreement with your earlier post and the reason for my subsequent post.

[FireForged]

Originally Posted by Bren

Melee weapons? Do you get a lot of your survival knowledge from Dungeons & Dragons? Nobody else really uses the term "meleee weapons" unless it is leaking into mall ninja land from the large population of D&D playing mall ninjas.

hahahaha! I was thinking something very similar but you said it better.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by FireForged

hahahaha! I was thinking something very similar but you said it better.

After I posted that, I actually googled "melee weapons" on the off chance I was wrong and maybe the British used the term or something. Result #1 was Wikipedia:

The term melee weapon is a neologism, usually absent from scientific and historical scholarship, and apparently deriving from the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.

So for melee weapons to stockpile, I'm going with Bastard Sword...with magical enchantment.

[FH Alum]

Have we totally forgotten what we learned during the zombie discussions in years past?? Crowbar. It wont break like a bat, they are cheap, powerful and a multitasker.

[Kozel]

Small shovel can be a very deadly weapon

Cold Steel Spetsnaz Shovel in use - YouTube

Cold Steel Spetsnaz Shovel in use - YouTube

[FireForged]

If all you had was a shovel.. would you really throw it? I mean come on. I think it would be better served in the hand.

Unless you have half a dozen knives or shovels or tomahawks, axes.... who is going to throw it?

[Kozel]

Originally Posted by FireForged

If all you had was a shovel.. would you really throw it? I mean come on. I think it would be better served in the hand.

Unless you have half a dozen knives or shovels or tomahawks, axes.... who is going to throw it?

SpetsNaz is trained to use it as a shovel, axe, and throwing weapon.
Plus if you get pulled over with machete and an axe you may have some xplaing to do. Who will bother you if you just have a shovel?


.