WHAT is the BEST SWORD for HOME DEFENSE??

[Stacy Clifford]

Actually he has a point, the cutlass was designed for shipboard combat in close quarters below decks. Gotta find a good maker that carries one though.

[Alan Forbes]

Absent of a Gladius, the Albion Sovereign would be a logical choice for close quarters. It only has a 27.75 inch blade that starts out 3 inches wide (strong cutting) at the guard and tapers to a severe point (good for thrusting). Even though you lose maneuverability versus the Albion Gladius (The Sovereign has a 7.5 inch longer blade), you gain an advantage over a cutlass by having use of a double edge.

[JeremyDillon]

I've personally been told many times that the best course of action when faced with an armed robbery is to calmly tell the burglar to take what he wants , before calling the police once the criminal has left with an actual physical assault being a last option. Your chances of being injured increases a great deal, I imagine, when you, say, assault the gunman with a sword. There's something to be said for protecting property, but when push comes to shove I'd rather be without my flat-screen and take no chance at getting shot. A vast majority of burglars aren't looking to kill anyone and a good door lock or a motion activated light can often do the trick. I'm not really experienced with so-called home defense, but I'd urge people to stay safe and cooperate with a criminal. That's the best way to ensure your safety and safety of your family.

[ChristineChurches]

I've personally been told many times that the best course of action when faced with an armed robbery is to calmly tell the burglar to take what he wants , before calling the police once the criminal has left with an actual physical assault being a last option. Your chances of being injured increases a great deal, I imagine, when you, say, assault the gunman with a sword.

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I'm not really experienced with so-called home defense, but I'd urge people to stay safe and cooperate with a criminal. That's the best way to ensure your safety and safety of your family

I'm curious as to who told you this - an armed robber?

The fact of the matter is that if someone enters your home armed, you do not know how they are going to react when they find the home occupied. The fact that they themselves have weapons indicates that they have already decided that force may be needed to take what they want. Letting them take the items without a fight does not mean that they still will not harm you - you have seen their faces, heard their voices, wrecked their time schedules, behaved too reasonably in their opinion so something is fishy. While I do not necessarily advocate protecting property over life, you truly do not know their intentions.

Yes all other measures such as locks, lights, dogs should be taken, but once that person is inside - in that "indes" moment - one needs to take back the vor. As the masters all advocate, one should use prudence when deciding to fight, but it is easier to defend ones self (and family) with a good offense.

[Aaron Pynenberg]

cooperate with a Criminal? yes, because they are always going to tell you exactly what they will actually do with you due to the "code of the criminal" - lol, no I wouldn't want anyone to cooperate unless you are powerless, but when are you really powerless? Maybe when you have made the decision to be powerless perhaps? Criminals want three things:
1- your life
2- your body
3- your property

You can choose which of these things you are willing to give up, but I would never cooperate with a crimianl, it will almost always be worse for those involved, that's why they are considered criminals, and reorting to whatever criminal measures they are to get what they want.

The days of Law Enforcement telling civilians to cooperate are long gone, the only thing cooperation makes you is a dead person in most cases..now we teach you to resist, put up a fight and create attention and defend yourself and your family.

Does that mean you can shoot anyone who enters your home for any reason under all circumstances? -no of course reason, and the circumstances will dictate the response, but these ideas of being sued for using force to defend yourself are the well- publicised exception not the rule. Don't be sheep... people- AP

[Alan Forbes]

I agree with Christine & Aaron. The forced home invasions down here in Florida have been particularly violent and bloody with the criminals either out of their minds on drugs or gangs who kill without a second thought. I say resist and resist violently.

[Gene Tausk]

I've personally been told many times that the best course of action when faced with an armed robbery is to calmly tell the burglar to take what he wants , before calling the police once the criminal has left with an actual physical assault being a last option. Your chances of being injured increases a great deal, I imagine, when you, say, assault the gunman with a sword. There's something to be said for protecting property, but when push comes to shove I'd rather be without my flat-screen and take no chance at getting shot. A vast majority of burglars aren't looking to kill anyone and a good door lock or a motion activated light can often do the trick. I'm not really experienced with so-called home defense, but I'd urge people to stay safe and cooperate with a criminal. That's the best way to ensure your safety and safety of your family.

Cooperate with a criminal? We live in the United States, not North Korea. We have the right to bear arms and defend ourselves.

Think about what you are saying. You are saying that you can reason with someone who:

1. Violated your home, so obviously he does not give a **** about your real property
2. Is planning on taking property from your home, so obviously he does not give a **** about your personal property
3. This is "armed robbery" so the person is carrying a weapon, which means he is psychologically, on some level, prepared to use this weapon
4. And - this is someone who has willingly placed himself in a position where he is in an isolated environment WITH YOUR FAMILY while armed.

And, you want to reason with him. Great. Talk with him. No doubt he will be happy to fill you in on his personal philosophy and life history while allowing you to call the police. Heck, offer him coffee and doughnuts while you are at it.

[Benjamin Parker]

Just shoot him and eat the coffee and donuts

[Mike Cartier]

I think what Gene is trying to say as that we as Americans have a little tradition we call "the talking stick which goes BOOM!"
Its a great conversation starter (or stopper).

all jokes aside if someone comes into your home with a weapon i would take that as a threat to your safety and your family.

[Cooper Braun]

I think Gene and Aaron have said it all as well as I ever could, and I quite agree.

Does that mean you can shoot anyone who enters your home for any reason under all circumstances? -no of course reason, and the circumstances will dictate the response, but these ideas of being sued for using force to defend yourself are the well.

This is one of the reasons I love living in Colorado. We have what is actually called the "Make My Day Law" which states that I am allowed to shoot anybody who has malicious intent while on or in my property (defined as house, land, or car). Basically says that I am totally within my rights to defend my family and my land and not get sued.
Also on the getting sued thing, if the robber is armed, it is almost impossible to get sued over it, if (and I stress the if) you kill him or her. Legally you have to meet force with force, which means basically that you can't try and injure, you must kill, because if you just incapacitate them it means (legally) that you didn't actually feel you life was in danger.

Just shoot him and eat the coffee and donuts

I am sorry you feel this happy-go-lucky about it. I personally feel that we train for the possibility we might need our skills (any martial art really, and guns too), not because we want to. I have friends who have taken lives (all in the line of duty), and even though they did what was right, it weights on them. Death is not easy, but in case of defending your family and home, well for me there is no really choice.[/quote]

[Alan Forbes]

As far as the best weapon for home defence (i.e. Gladius, Arming Sword, Cutlass, Baseball Bat, Shot Gun "The SEMI automactic variety"; pistola or an AR-15 ), the best home defense weapon is the one's that's nearby and handy when you need it!

[Peggy Sue Coates]

I may be wrong but I think the reply's being made here may have crossed the ocean. This topic started as a discussion of what the best weapon to use in Spain, where guns and many other forms of defense are illegal. The actual question was not A) did the home need defended (since apparently armed home invasions resulting in harm have increased which is why an option was being looked for so the answer here was yes) but B) what weapon/sword would be best and why.

I have found the discussion of the differences between swords and their purposes which has resulted to be very interesting however arguments about US law regarding guns and their uses seems to be somewhat unhelpful.

A question I have not seen posed or answered is how much if any training and if so in what kind of sword training does a "defender" need in the given situation or would having the weapon simply give the invader a bigger more expensive knife with which to harm the family. As a defense tool using something with which the person is highly skilled and familiar rather than unskilled might be more to the point.

An example is my father who used a teamroping rope in a situation which armed men came to the ranch where we were..he had the rope to hand and by using it quickly, brutally and effectively he stopped them cold till the cops came and got them (one was a murder who had run from police and being looked for. He had hospitalized several police in the process of escaping.)

Just a thought...but if you are a mechanic and happen to keep tools around house a large wrench can really dent a head...or play a sport such as hockey which would let you reach out and touch someone then using what you are familiar with might be best...I know when i first picked up a sword I certainly would have been useless against someone who has at least some skill with their chosen "profession " of violence...

[Stacy Clifford]

I think this point has already been made here indirectly at least, but I think having some sort of training in the use of various hand-to-hand weapons is more important than what particular weapon you are using. Having a weapon that is optimal for the space you're fighting in may be helpful, but if you never make it to grab that weapon then it does you no good. If you know the principles of fighting with weapons then getting anything solid in your hands means you're armed. I would say that ideally you want to have at least some training in all four size categories of weapons (my own categorization here): single hand small (dagger, rod), single hand large (arming sword, rapier, mace, etc.), two hand small (longsword), and two hand large (staff, polearms, doppelhander, etc.). With at least some experience in each, no matter what you pick up you should be able to use it effectively. Knowing how to use two weapons (sword & dagger, buckler, shield) can't hurt, but I think the odds of you being able to grab two useful weapons under duress are quite a bit lower than grabbing one.

[s_taillebois]

Most of the people on this forum would be proficient enough that the form of sword would not matter all that much. So as M. Clifford and others have noted it would be the intent and skill to use it which matters.

In centuries past (referring to English traditions) often the sophistication of the weapon for the common people could be as limited as a staff, lead cudgel, or all purpose dagger and with these they were often able to protect themselves. To the extent that this protection was an obligation within the community. In the original terms that is what the hue and cry was, and in some communities to ignore it was considered a court offense. So people would be required to assist their neighbors (or the local constable) with whatever implement they did own whether it was a sword, bow, bill or a lump of lead on a handle. Perhaps these were mobs from a modern sensibility but it was a means to keep some order in medieval and later communities. So the concept of cooperation with a home invader, rapist, robber or etc would have been quite alien to them. Such troublesome people were often fortunate to be handed over to the local Sheriff (usually Nobility) retaining anything remotely resembling all their original parts.


*(They did have protocols however doing something like bearing a staff too highly aloft was considered offensive...and often enough to get strangers chased out of the community. And the wearing of swords varied, the monarchy did place some early restrictions but those related to the nuisance length of some fashionable civilian swords...they kept knocking over the produce or prodding women 'accidentally')

[Martin Lysen]

So in essence, there is no best sword for home defense. Train earnestly, as they say. Train ringen or other hands on martial techniques, in conjunction with knife and club work.

And be on the lookout for weapons in your home that are not weapons. Hammers, wrenches, sticks, garden tools etc. If I were assaulted in my home, I would probably reach out and get my hands on a hickory stick, a hammer or a kitchen knife. A hard wood stick or staff can be inconspicuously stored in any room to be on hand for you but not being obvious for an attacker that is not looking for it. If it has to be a "war" weapon, a mace or metal reinforced stick is not bad either. It will have strength to resist powerful attacks, and can put out serious hurt.
A small buckler works as a knuckle duster and could deflect an axe chop that would otherwise have made serious damage.
Chains are useful as well. They are hard to block, but can be used quite well for defense against a weapon. They can also bind, entangle and choke. Also, they are perfect to hide or store in an easily accessible place.

My advice is based on me living in Sweden, where guns are rare for the most part. It might be more applicable to the Spanish situation.