WHAT is the BEST SWORD for HOME DEFENSE??

[Adam Bodorics]

Well, well, seems like not only we Hungarians are in this not-exactly-good situation concerning laws...
I prefer my messer, my girlfriend prefers her shortish longsword for home defence, but we have a lot of steel stuff around here... trivially if my messer is in the bedroom while I'm in the kitchen, I won't go back for my preferred weapon, I'll simply pick up one of the maces. Not as good, but will do. Choose what you're best with, but learn to use anything that's around you - my best friend prefers dussacks, but he successfully defended himself against a knife attack with a bottle.
...
Oh, by the way. Francisco. Check your laws about antique and/or muzzleloading stuff. Here any antique/muzzleloading/blackpowder firearm is legal to posses, but not to carry. If your laws are like our ones, you can use any available tool in lethal danger, and if the defence is righteous then not even an illegally owned object would make the defence illegal - the illegal possession of a forbidden object would be a different legal matter. This would mean that if you defend your life with a muzzleloader, you won't be even fined, given that you can prove that the defence was legal. If your laws are like our ones. Yes, American readers - these laws are as stupid as they seem, I know.

[Francisco Urbano García]

If your laws are like our ones, you can use any available tool in lethal danger, and if the defence is righteous then not even an illegally owned object would make the defence illegal - the illegal possession of a forbidden object would be a different legal matter.

For what you're saying law in Spain is basically the same than in Hungary. The problem about using an illegal weapon is that the judge might feel prone to consider manslaughter (not sure if that the equivalent legal term in English) instead of rightful defense in the event you end up killing the intruder.

Let me give you an real life example that happened in Spain... A thieve was trying to rob a ban when he was caught by the owner, none of them had any weapons and they started a bare hand fight. The owner of the ban manage to throw the thieve to the floor and then kicked him on the chest and stomach three times. The kicks produce an internal bleeding on the thieve and eventually died. Well... What do you think that happens? Believe it or not the owner of the ban got a two years in jail sentence because, according to the judge, there was no reason to attack him cause the thieve was not threatening the owners' life, only trying to rob the ban.

Now, replace the kick on the floor with an illegal weapon and you better get ready for a looong holidays in jail. You see my point? But it gets worst... much worse...

My mother had a little convenience store where she would sell goods like cheese, fruits... meat. One day a thieve came in with a knife and my mom grabbed a long butcher knife (kind of small sword) to protect herself. The thieve didn't expect the reaction and after a few seconds of threats he decide better go cause it didn't look as easy as he expected.

She call the police afterward and, again, believe it or not, here is what a policeman said to her in confidence "if you ever kill a thieve in a fight do not call us, you would only get into troubles, just get the body and dump it on the mountains" I swear.

In fact, even if I defense myself righteously with a legal sword and I am not hurt in any way cause either I was lucky or well trained, it would not be a bad a idea just to hit myself with something just to prove I had to defend myself.

That is how is law in some Europeans countries... it sucks.

[Jay Vail]

Francisco, good for your mom. And sorry about your legal situation. A person without the right of self defense is not free.

[Francisco Urbano García]

Francisco, good for your mom. And sorry about your legal situation. A person without the right of self defense is not free.

You're very right. When policemen themselves advise you not to call them or else... Something is very wrong.

[Shane Smith]

Francisco, good for your mom. And sorry about your legal situation. A person without the right of self defense is not free.

You're very right. When policemen themselves advise you not to call them or else... Something is very wrong.

Sounds like the "Three S" policy is being advocated.

Shoot
Shovel
Shutup

[Francisco Urbano García]

Sounds like the "Three S" policy is being advocated.

Shoot
Shovel
Shutup

Well, I reckon that for Arma the "Three S" policy should spell:

Slash
Shovel
Shutup

hahaha... I'd better laugh about it, otherwise is just too sad, but yeah, this is basically how a police officer advised my mom off the record if ever an intruder, thieve, etc... would die in the fight.

[Francisco Urbano García]

First I'd like to thank everybody for their help, really, I've learn a lot from all your post and I have summarized your advices in a way that I think most of us would agree:

1- There is no best sword but best sword for every situation and person! I mean, given a particular situation, like home defense, nearly every possible weapon have been advised, and all this choices are not just based on personal taste but probably on the individual being short, tall, slim, fat, weak, strong...

2- Since we don't know what room we're gonna be when the intruder breaks in, we'd better have a weapon in each room that fits that room layout. Which is kind of fine if you intend to have a collection, we just have to place our staff nicely... and wisely.

3- Whatever the collection of weapons we choose, we have to practice in its usage. Which is cool cause that means lots of fun! So we better choose weapons not only because they're good but because we fancy them, this way we will probably practice more.

4- We should remember that the combat attitude is even more important that the weapon we use, so we not only have to make sure we have our weapons ready but so our minds.


Said so, those guidelines let us lots of room to decide what and how, and in my personal case the first thoughts about the what and how is going to be something like:

1- Dooway - Gladius
2- My Bedroom - Katana
3- Guest Bedroom - Dao / DaDao
4- Dinning Room - Longsword / Dane
5- Bath Room - Stainless Steel Folded Knife & Anti-Wasp Spray
6- Corridor - Butterfly Swords / PuDao


The only thing annoying me is that crooks will have a sword in every room too, that is why I am thinking about some sort of sea cadet knot that I can attach to the scabbard so that if you know the knot it can be easily untied but if you don't it will take you a while to figure it out... Or any other sort of measure that would not make it easy for them to draw the sword but only for those that know the "trick", besides this will stop visitors kids to draw the sword and play with it.

In fact the winning trick that, so far, I have figure out so far is to attach a rope to the sword and to a metal puzzle (http://www.maxpuzzles.co.uk/metalpuzzles.html) If you already tried to solve one of these you already know that is not that easy, and even paying close attention it can take you long to solve it and separate the two metal pieces... till you learn the trick, then it just take you a split of a second to solve it ans separate the two pieces.

So if I attach one of these to the sword and the crooks won't have time, nor patience, nor the peace of mind necessary to solve the puzzle and draw my sword against me... And as for kids, well it will take them long enough to solve the puzzle so that I can wonder where the hell they are AND... I just thought up that I could add some little bells on the rope so that kids can't mess with the puzzle without me noticing hahaha... geee... this is fun! And again, thank you all!

[Stacy Clifford]

I would not want to have any kind of puzzle or difficult knot holding a weapon I may need to access very quickly, the last thing you need to have is a brain fart under extreme stress so that right when you need it most, you forget the trick to open it and fumble like an idiot in a dark hallway. Worse things have been known to happen, keep it simple. You have the advantage over a robber of knowing your own home better than he does, and you should know how to navigate it and find things in the dark. If you have things well placed then that might allow you to regain the element of surprise. As for kids getting into things, ask the many fathers on here where and how they display their weapons and keep them safe.

Also, I'd keep a spear or staff in the hallway where it's really hard to get past the point, with a gladius or falchion to back it up in case they do. I like the bug spray idea though, a can of RAID will definitely shut down your eyes, nose and mouth for a few minutes, and it would be appropriately used on two-legged vermin.

[Francisco Urbano García]

I would not want to have any kind of puzzle or difficult knot holding a weapon I may need to access very quickly, the last thing you need to have is a brain fart under extreme stress so that right when you need it most, you forget the trick to open it and fumble like an idiot in a dark hallway.

I am aware of the cons, but to forget how to solve the puzzle would be equivalent to forget what 911 (112 Europe) is for. I mean, once you know the trick is really easy, I remembered a 12 years old kid daring me to solve one; she would dare me by solving it at her back without looking at it in just an instant, then she would put it back the same way and handed it to me with a let's-see-what-you-can-do glance...

And anyway, think that if you cannot manage to do something that otherwise would take you a split of a second, then you cannot probably manage to handle a blade either.

Just solving the puzzle when you have to take care of the blades is more than enough to remember the puzzle... And anyway, I was thinking that perhaps the blade on my bedroom would not be locked at all since that room cannot be easily accessed, and visitors should not go there anyway. Besides, if I am sleeping I am already there so, no need for locks.

Nonetheless I agree with you there is a danger on adding this "trick" locks but I just personally believe the advantages surpass the disadvantages in a break in situation. My "scenario" is to fight one fireman axe and one or two big knifes, without locks I might be facing my own heavy weaponry.

[Gene Tausk]

I would not want to have any kind of puzzle or difficult knot holding a weapon I may need to access very quickly, the last thing you need to have is a brain fart under extreme stress so that right when you need it most, you forget the trick to open it and fumble like an idiot in a dark hallway.

I am aware of the cons, but to forget how to solve the puzzle would be equivalent to forget what 911 (112 Europe) is for. I mean, once you know the trick is really easy, I remembered a 12 years old kid daring me to solve one; she would dare me by solving it at her back without looking at it in just an instant, then she would put it back the same way and handed it to me with a let's-see-what-you-can-do glance...

And anyway, think that if you cannot manage to do something that otherwise would take you a split of a second, then you cannot probably manage to handle a blade either.

Just solving the puzzle when you have to take care of the blades is more than enough to remember the puzzle... And anyway, I was thinking that perhaps the blade on my bedroom would not be locked at all since that room cannot be easily accessed, and visitors should not go there anyway. Besides, if I am sleeping I am already there so, no need for locks.

Nonetheless I agree with you there is a danger on adding this "trick" locks but I just personally believe the advantages surpass the disadvantages in a break in situation. My "scenario" is to fight one fireman axe and one or two big knifes, without locks I might be facing my own heavy weaponry.

I completely agree with Stacy on this. In stressful situations, this old proverb is very true: you don't rise to the level of your expectations, you sink to the level of your training.

Use the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

[ChristineChurches]

I agree with Gene and Stacey - adding another step to defending your life is a bad idea. Untying a knot is not the same as swinging a weapon - one is a gross motor movement that when practiced often your body will perform automatically, while the other, well, have you ever tried to untie a knot when your hands are shaking? Not easy at all. Even if you work with them all day long.


Instead, I would put the blades/weapons out of plain sight but where you and your family could easily find them.

[Bill Tsafa]

I would never use one of my swords for home defense. It is very bad publicity for the sword community overall even if it is in self defense. It really raises eyebrows because swords are out of the ordinary. If you survive this encounter you will likely be know as the crazy sword guy. I would use a bat or a machete. They are more common and less likely to make the news.

If you kill the person, which is likely if he truly means to kill you, the police will confiscate your sword until an investigation is completed. You may or may not get it back. If they believe that your response was excessive they may take all your swords.

There have been a number of movements to ban swords and this sort of publicity would not help. Nun-chucks have been illegal in NY for a long time because of bad publicity from the Bruce Lee era. If they can ban something as simple as two sticks with a rope between them, they can ban swords. If you use a bat or machete, it is a lot harder to ban sports and garden equipment. I always thought that if I had to kill someone I would use a Peace Sign to beat someone to death and run the post through him. Politicians can go make Peace Signs illegal.

[Francisco Urbano García]

I would never use one of my swords for home defense. It is very bad publicity for the sword community overall even if it is in self defense. It really raises eyebrows because swords are out of the ordinary. If you survive this encounter you will likely be know as the crazy sword guy.

That could certainly be, but if it turns out you just killed a known serial killer or rapist, then instead the crazy sword guy you become the hero knight and, thus, promoting sword among general public.

If you kill the person, which is likely if he truly means to kill you, the police will confiscate your sword until an investigation is completed. You may or may not get it back. If they believe that your response was excessive they may take all your swords.

Well... If he truly means to kill me and that happens I can buy a new sword, I cannot buy a new life. Don't you think?

There have been a number of movements to ban swords and this sort of publicity would not help. Nun-chucks have been illegal in NY for a long time because of bad publicity from the Bruce Lee era.

Well, actually in the UK they're about to ban Katana like swords, but not because people use it for self-defense, but because some cracked nuts used this swords to attack innocent people. So, in fact, by using swords as a self-defense mean you are promoting a decent use of swords and you would have something to show to those that want to ban swords in the UK or elsewhere.

I always thought that if I had to kill someone I would use a Peace Sign to beat someone to death and run the post through him. Politicians can go make Peace Signs illegal.

Hahahahaha... that is a good one! I might just buy now heavy portraits of some politicians to protect my hallway.

[Shane Smith]

At least one of our guys has bayoneted a home intruder. He reports that the guy ran out the door and collapsed a ways off.

[Peter Goranov]

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.

It's the same in Buglaria! I'm not allowed to pull a knife or dagger in a fight if my attacker hasn't displayed at least an equally deadly weapon as well. So if he is a 130 KG delinquent i have to go bare handed against him. GREAT! Blades over 20cm are illegal to use in a fight AT ALL. Even if the attacker has an AK-47 (which is also illegal but what does he care).

I don't think you should worry about this though. When idiots want to pick a fight in my book anything goes and there is no "fair fight". If he was dumb enough to pick a fight with me (because i certainly don't look intimidating) he should bare the consequences of how messed up in the head i am. Even worse if he is to invade my home. In your situation i would use the weapon i have the most skill with, and possibly one that wouldn't one-shot someone (killing is a big problem with the law here, even in self defense. The USA is much better off in that you can shoot them full of holes and get away scott free. But pulling someone's guts out with a Gladius certainly won't go here.). I personally would use a quarterstaff (or Jo) as this is the melee weapon i am the least bad at (i can't claim i have skill yet).