WHAT is the BEST SWORD for HOME DEFENSE??

[Jaron Bernstein]

Just to sound a cautionary note here: if you have kids, you might look for some ways to make sure los ninos can't access a sharp blade. Maybe get a burglar alarm system? In terms of blades for a narrow hallway, something like this:

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/alb ... ers-xv.htm

is pretty spiffy. It has the point control of a laser pointer for thrusting and an can cut handily as well.


Jaron

[Benjamin Parker]

What about knuckle dusters, knives, and such can you obtain those?

Nope, everything is illegal, including pepper sprays or anything throwing arrows. The most dangerous legal thing I can get in Spain without problems is a sword.

Okay I would suggest something with reach, perhaps a long sword or a zweihander! they will probably go somewhere else if they see one of those in your hand , then a gladius. If you have a family you could work up plan where they all go into the master bedroom, then if you have a sheild you set up in the doorway thermopylae style.

If you have a family depending on how old the kids are you could get them to take self defense with plenty of releases, strikes, weapons, disarmament and grappling, also make sure they know how to use they weapons

Everything is illegal except swords? what impact weapons like maces? or spears what about sheilds? what about chain mail?

BTW someone mentioned scenairios where you get home and are attacked is there a way you could carry a gladius in say a gym bag? and get to it easily?


Anything that fires arrows eh? what about stones?

[ChristineChurches]

I agree with Aaron on this one - a kit of possible weapons should always be at your disposal if you are unable to legally have a gun to protect yourself.

Before I moved to Las Vegas and met my husband - who introduced me to the joys semi-automatic weaponry - I lived alone in our wonderful nation's capital for 9 years - where pretty much everything is illegal (but still easily obtained) . One thing you learn pretty quickly is that almost anything can be used as a weapon when someone breaks into your home while you are there, if you know how to use them. Rocks, umbrellas, lamps, frying pans, rolling pins, kitchen knives - all of these are useful.

Another thing to remember is that much medieval weaponry (other than the longsword) originally had nonmartial uses that translated to martial ones when necessary - the flail for threshing grain, single edged knives for pretty much everything, the ax...you get the picture.

If my husband is away, the defensive items I keep near my bed are a handgun, a flashlight, a hammer and a mace (not the spray). While I appreciate the idea of a thrusting weapon for close quarters, I would not feel comfortable defending myself with it - a gladius gives you the hacking option as well, while allowing you the room to move. It would be cool to be able to use a longsword, but few homes have the space for that.

In all, though, the best weapon is you. Having the "optimal weapon" does not make you safer. Knowing how to fight back in adverse situations with and without a weapon is your best defense.

[Stacy Clifford]

Agreed, learn how to fight well and anything easily picked up and swung becomes dangerous in your hands. I mentioned the soup can in a pillow case, and actually in Talhoffer's "Fight Between a Man and a Woman" the woman is using a rock wrapped in her veil - the old rock in a sock! Swetnam also claims to have once won a rapier duel using only a knife tied on the end of a stick. No country can ban all possible weapons if you're skilled and resourceful.

[Benjamin Parker]

Yes you should definitely look into household items a big meat tenderizer can do a lot of damage

[Gene Tausk]

What about knuckle dusters, knives, and such can you obtain those?

Nope, everything is illegal, including pepper sprays or anything throwing arrows. The most dangerous legal thing I can get in Spain without problems is a sword.

Okay I would suggest something with reach, perhaps a long sword or a zweihander! they will probably go somewhere else if they see one of those in your hand , then a gladius. If you have a family you could work up plan where they all go into the master bedroom, then if you have a sheild you set up in the doorway thermopylae style.

If you have a family depending on how old the kids are you could get them to take self defense with plenty of releases, strikes, weapons, disarmament and grappling, also make sure they know how to use they weapons

Everything is illegal except swords? what impact weapons like maces? or spears what about sheilds? what about chain mail?

BTW someone mentioned scenairios where you get home and are attacked is there a way you could carry a gladius in say a gym bag? and get to it easily?


Anything that fires arrows eh? what about stones?

Zweihander? Glad you live in a castle. If I tried using one in my house, I would cause damage to the house long before I would even get the chance to harm the intruder. BTW - if someone is motivated enough to break into your house, it is unlikely that seeing you with a weapon will deter them.

Agree with Jay regarding a gladius. Also would advise a dagger supplement.

As for the person who posted the question, you have my sympathies in that you live in a country where the government does not trust its citizens and wants to keep them disarmed. Unfortunately, the way things are going in my country, it may not be very long before we follow your "example."

[Jonathan Newhall]

Generally chain mail is fully legal because its applications are defensive only. In rare instances you need a permit, at least in the states. Not sure about Spain.

If the most dangerous thing you expect to run into are bladed weapons high quality chain mail (should run you around 400-600 dollars from what I've gathered) should protect you from anything up to a large axe. Fireaxes don't quite count as "large", but they aren't small either, which is why I would recommend high quality.

As for the US losing its weaponry - the latest I've seen is a ban on the more dangerous weaponry being proposed. Semi automatic pistols, et c. should still be perfectly legal as well as small clip size semi automatic rifles for hunting, target shooting, et c. It might get worse, though - never underestimate the snowball effect.

[Shane Smith]

Zweihander? Glad you live in a castle. If I tried using one in my house, I would cause damage to the house long before I would even get the chance to harm the intruder. BTW - if someone is motivated enough to break into your house, it is unlikely that seeing you with a weapon will deter them.

I'm with you on the two-hander Gene. Heck, my ceiling fans didn't even survive my first longsword waster

[Jaron Bernstein]

Zweihander? Glad you live in a castle. If I tried using one in my house, I would cause damage to the house long before I would even get the chance to harm the intruder. BTW - if someone is motivated enough to break into your house, it is unlikely that seeing you with a weapon will deter them.

I'm with you on the two-hander Gene. Heck, my ceiling fans didn't even survive my first longsword waster

Oddly enough, shortly after I got my Sempach a mysterious dent showed up in one of my ceilings as well.....

More seriously, I would also advise talking to a Spanish criminal lawyer on what is illegal and not for how you may (or may not) defend yourself, your family or your property. It would not be good to successfully skewer a burglar to then go to jail (or get sued out of existance in court) for having done so.

[Simon Dask]

My advice would something quick and stabby like a dagger or gladius and a buckler. Also don't use stones for throwing if you miss they will be thrown back at you. If you like to throw stuff use bottles or other stuff that breaks on impact.
Also try to look for chemical mace that is sold for use on animals in some countrys these don't count as a weapon and are leagal. It's the same stuff sometimes even better. What is sold to fend of bears is more than able to deal with any human.
Also buy more than one weapon and hide them in diffrent places. But be sure to hide them you don't want them to be used against you.

[Randall Pleasant]

When the subject of home defense comes up it is natural to talk about weapons. However, home defense has to start with knowledge, planing, and well defined goals. The topic of this discussion should actually be about FAMILY defense within the home. Saving one's family is the primary goal and saving one's self the the secondary goal - there should be no goals beyound that. Only a fool would defend the TV or silverware! If an object is worth defending then don't have it in your house.

Knowledge: Do you actually know the layout of your home? Can you natigate through you house blind? Do you know what objects in your house will make good weapons? Do you know the weak areas of your home? Phones? Do you know how long you might have to hold up in a room before police arrive? Flashlights?

Planning: Have you defined escape routes? Do family members know the escape routes for specific areas of the house? Do family members know who is expected to fight so other members may escape?

There are of course 10,000 more questions to ask one's self?

[Jonathan Newhall]

Hey, if the TV and silverware aren't worth defending why do you own them! :p

And yeah, light fixtures on the ceiling aren't very fond of waster practice indoors it seems.

[Francisco Urbano García]

More seriously, I would also advise talking to a Spanish criminal lawyer on what is illegal and not for how you may (or may not) defend yourself, your family or your property. It would not be good to successfully skewer a burglar to then go to jail (or get sued out of existence in court) for having done so.

You're very right, in Spain you can only reply to an attack in the same proportion of the threat. That means that if you find someone at your home unarmed you're only legally allowed to call him names and call the police by phone... You cannot attack him, in fact he could sue you if you do!!! I know, I know.... Stupid.

Now, if he is armed and you attack him you'd better do it with something legal and that means no guns, sprays, knucles, tasers... Because you're not suppose to have those and you could get into big problems with the law.

In fact you are not suppose to use swords either!!! But the trick is that you're allowed to own swords as ornament and you're allowed to use ornament to protect yourself, much the same you would use your mother in law jar. So, if I am taken to court, I can plea that I just use an ornament, not an illegal weapon and then I would be in the safe legal side.

[Jaron Bernstein]

[

In fact you are not suppose to use swords either!!! But the trick is that you're allowed to own swords as ornament and you're allowed to use ornament to protect yourself, much the same you would use your mother in law jar. So, if I am taken to court, I can plea that I just use an ornament, not an illegal weapon and then I would be in the safe legal side.

I would run that scenario by a good lawyer first. Just because you can do something, even if it is the correct thing to do, does not neccissarily make it legal. Of course "legal" is something for lawyers and courts to figure out. Legal can vary widely even with the same fact pattern (in this case the skewered burglar) depending on which judge you get and the quality of your respective lawyers. Get the right combination of those, you are home free. Get a bad lawyer or the wrong judge, hope you like being in jail after you pay the bad guy lots of dinero.

[Benjamin Smith]

I'd get a small longsword that's easy to handle and able to move tightly in close quarters. Albion's Mercenary or Crecy, available from Albion Europe would be a good choices and are their most economical options.