WHAT is the BEST SWORD for HOME DEFENSE??

[s_taillebois]

". 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"

Which I have done when working for institutions which did have some social problems, or had the potential of miscreants coming into the facility out from the boundaries.

And staffs did seem to be historically very popular as a means of having a weapon about when having an obvious weapon about was inappropriate. To some extent here in the US there's a related resurgence to that concept-in some areas walking sticks and the like seem to be gaining some popularity.

[JeremyDillon]

I can understand your point, Aaron, and I would certainly share it if I had received the same amount of training you have had, but as it stands, I'm just not so sure I'd be up to the task of effectively neutralizing someone who is probably far more acquainted with real violence than I, and that means my ability to survive hinges on my ability to avoid violence. Although I think some of you may have misunderstood my point (I certainly wasn't proposing having a sit down chat with the burglar, Gene), I suppose I'll have to concede my point, due to the overwhelming opposition, especially considering that Mr. Pynenberg (and possibly others of you) is involved in law enforcement.

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

I suppose I'll have to concede my point, due to the overwhelming opposition, especially considering that Mr. Pynenberg (and possibly others of you) is involved in law enforcement.

American law enforcement. I figure a good portion of the advice would not be perceived all that well in other countries. I certainly hope that the definition of self defence in my country does not rely on me killing the other guy to prove that I was in danger

[Stacy Clifford]

Don't lump all American law together, each state here has its own separate laws on how to treat such situations. The Colorado law sounds pretty badly written from the way Cooper describes it; only injuring an intruder shouldn't count as possible grounds for him to sue you. I'll leave it to the officers and lawyers here to cover how other states do things. Just because most Americans retain the right to kill in defense of family and home doesn't mean we want to if it can be avoided, but if you don't assume the worst with an intruder, it makes it much easier for the worst to happen. They intrude because they don't think the worst will happen to them.

[ChristineChurches]

One of the things that all of us who have responded on this thread have emphasized is that your training and mindset are your greatest weapon over any armed intruder in your home.

If your mindset is that "well, as long as they are just taking my stuff it's ok, but as soon as they try to harm me then I'll physically react", you will be too late - action is faster than reaction, an armed assailant is prepared for whatever action they may have to take in the course of their crime.

It was their decision to enter you home with the intent of harming you - either by taking your property or committing physical harm to you or your family. It is your decision as to whether or not you are a victim.

Jeremy, this is something you have to decide way before a crime is ever committed, so that you are not fumbling for your actions in the moment. Your earlier statements remind me of an older couple who are close friends of mine whose advice for if I was ever confronted by a rapist was to not fight back so that I would still have my life - they obviously do not know the statistics on rapists killing their victims or repeating their crime, or how many rapes are prevented by fighting back. Now, you may be thinking that this thread is not about rapists attacking, but if someone entered the home of your mother/sister/aunt/daughter/wife/niece/girlfriend, would you want them to take that chance and give the assailant the benefit of the doubt? Would you trust criminal to just take stuff? I don't. You give them the power if you do not take action.

And, Vincent, while it sounds very cold-blooded, dead men tell no tales. Even here in the states where are are allowed to defend ourselves, you can still be tied up in the legal system if the criminal who broke into your home is hurt but alive - no matter how right you are in disabling him in the course of defending yourself. No one wants to have to take a life - we are all talking worst case scenarios here - but you have to be prepared to neutralize the threat...and hitting someone in the leg or arm will not necessarily do that.

[Francisco Urbano García]

Jeremy, this is something you have to decide way before a crime is ever committed, so that you are not fumbling for your actions in the moment. Your earlier statements remind me of an older couple who are close friends of mine whose advice for if I was ever confronted by a rapist was to not fight back so that I would still have my life - they obviously do not know the statistics on rapists killing their victims or repeating their crime, or how many rapes are prevented by fighting back.

Yeah, I agree, the "please don't kill me take whatever you want" strategy should be the last one. I mean, if they catch you by surprise, you're outnumbered and with no possibilities to succeed then, sure, try the psychological approach, but otherwise...

And you're right Christine, when they find a place that offer no resistance they usually come back later on since they know it is an easy target and they feel they can keep milking the cow.

There is a tragic case in my city where a girl was raped in her own home by an intruder, she offered no resistance to save her life... few months later, the same intruder raped her in her own home again. Yes, she saved her life but how about the psychological damage? Life is important, but only if you have certain quality of life.

Nonetheless, I believe not all the fights have to be exclusively physical; there is a psychological dimension, when I am asked about self-defense I advice my female friends with several psychological tricks to avoid a rape situation when they cannot avoid it otherwise.

At the end something is sure; it is your choice and everybody here just share thoughts and experiences so we can choose whatever we feel better for us.

And talking about the best sword for self-defense and the psychological approach... Given that Hollywood has given so much "magical powers" to the Katana... perhaps crooks might feel the Hollywood Power shining out of the Katana and respect it more than any other blade, assuming, of course, that they know nothing about swords.

I guess if the sword looks scary that gives you some advantage too... mmm... though to me one of the most scary looking swords is the Falcata and perhaps easier to use inside a home... mmm....

[Tony_Klabunde]

I know this is out of date but I had to share, its long.

Spain, Aww, I heard so many good things about it…I am still going there, I have friends…

Anyway, one of my greatest compliments was from Aaron P, ARMA Appleton. When he was a fresh lad just starting the force when we were in the Guard together.

He said. “Every time I approach a suspect. I think to myself, What would Tony to do to me?”
It tickled me and inflated my now aging ego.

Well now what an interesting dilemma. I put myself in your shoes, Francisco.

I am older now, I really do not want to have to kill someone or main them seriously. I am trying to put good intentions  back into my life.

My solution::::

I got two plump mastiffs. Bull mastiffs. One Puppy is now 130bls/63.64 kgs , the other 80lbs/36.36kgs. They are wonderful to the fact that they were designed to be game warden dogs, and not kill people but to knock them down over and over again, and maul them only as long as they struggle or fight.

Beautiful animals and primal weapons that cannot be turned against me! A pork chop tired to a cat will not make these dogs falter. They are family dogs and guard their territory with a vigilance that is amazing, they love children and their family. They will let anyone in, but will not let them move unless the owner or family member is with them. Intimidating beasts to be sure, I do not know the dog laws in Spain, and like any pet, Good ownership is necessary and strong leadership. Having a 200lbs unruly beast will never do.

So with some love, care and time, even a 30lbs dog will tear through an intruder or three, research them, there are many wonderful guard dogs that would be right for you. If your still interested pm me and I will link some wonderful choices depending on your circumstance.

Now weapons,

Whatever you feel comfortable welding. I favor my hands and or a quick blade. I also have two GIANT dogs. That is me. My suggestion is a short sword, or machete like weapon in close quarters. A thrust with a 42-46 inch sword in a hall way is not where I want to be two to one. So the axe is not a scary thing to me..

Your Home is and can be a weapon. Blue smoke and mirrors, never forget that. Do you own your home? If so make escape ways, a door behind a mirror, Hidden door into the attic, From the attic to safety? Trap door to the basement or foundation. And out you go like a rabbit. No confrontation, no worries. Everyone’s safe, and I did not have to main or kill anyone.

Rip up boards in certain places to make them squeak more to alert you and your companions. Make a small safe room. My Chica thought I was crazy when I purposely laid out the floor we redid, to make the floor squeak when someone walked to our door or the little girl’s room and other places. Now she loves it. She knows who is where in our house. And so do my dogs. Practice escape routes with the children, just like in case there was a fire. I mean come on; this is their lives we are talking about.


So, I would go with two dogs, (I love them.) I will never be without two of these beasts. They will drop an intruder quicker than you can imagine. Plus Bullmastiff’s Bark to alert. Think of a loins roar in dog form. The sound alone will pause the toughest would be intruder. At night when my dogs do bark, I shout I am releasing them. Only because the boys friends might be over. I open the bedroom door, they dash out, scout the house, check the kids come back to let me know it’s clear and then I let them outside. The we repeat in the yard. I have yet to have them find anyone. Woe be to that beast.

I have a lot of ideas that are simple things to do to make your home safer for you and your family. feel free to PM me. The dogs made it so I would not have to put someone stupid in a life or death confrontation with me. Now, even when I travel I know my family is very safe. My boyz will keep them safe until I return.

[JeremyDillon]

Great post, Tony. Makes a lot of sense to me, at least.

[Steven Blakely]

i still think you should get a fire extinguisher size can of repelent peper spray. non lethal and best of all its a projectile.

[Jason Taylor]

I think about this kind of thing a lot. Probably more than is healthy, actually....

At any rate, I wouldn't think about this question in terms of "what sword will I buy," but "what sword will I buy that will maximize my home's defensive potential?"

This is really a mindset thing. Just go around your home and look for the stuff that could work for you. From where I'm sitting at my computer right now, I can reach three tactical folders, the chair I'm sitting one (the chair is an awesome weapon if you have the room to use it, by the way), a club-shaped vase, the chair next to me, an aluminum handled mop (better than nothing), and this blocky glass lamp thing I can throw ($12 for two at Ikea). I always say, any weapon is better than no weapon. I believe Machiavelli has a quote to that effect....at any rate, know what you already have among your mundane items that can work in your favor. Most people have a kitchen knife rack. Butcher knives and meat cleavers are scary fighting tools. Got a toolset? Screwdriver (Rondel technique, baby!) and hammers. I have a ton of sturdy lumber stored by my door for waster-making projects, most of which will work. Incidentally, I discovered that a rounded bar of hickory (all four edges rounded like a waster blade--they told me it was called a bullnose) makes an effective, light, and relatively balanced too that's easy to hold and should focus the force along the thin "blade" edge. It's also pretty inconspicuous and easily explained.

So under the bed I've got the flashlight. I've got two sharps, but I'd never even bother, too bulky, even the smallsword. Various cudgely items behind books on the bookcase, steel rods on the porch left over from the last crafting project I was working on. Generally, most houses are packed with effective self-defense tools, you just have to think the right way about them. And pick them up with that thought in mind, occasionally, so you know how it feels and what techniques you can apply with it.

Also definitely get some empty hand skills that you feel you can count on. Ensures that you can get to the weapon you need. But keep that weapon in mind; don't fall into the trap some self-defense teachers tout (ludicrously, in my mind) that you only need martial arts/whatever they're selling you to protect yourself. Heck, I'd keep a brick in every room if I had to. Those things are better weapons that people think, you know?

By the way, this is all assuming that you can't get a gun, which should be ideally kept in a quick-access gun safe with a full magazine next to it. Maybe barring that, a taser (the kind that shoots off with a CO2 cartridge).

Gene--you're in Texas, if I remember. Sorry to hear you lamenting the overly-restrictive weapons laws, too. Here in the People's Republic of California, we look to Texas as kind of the promised land of free personal weapons ownership....is it all a myth? Here we don't even get more than ten bullets (unless they made that federal)....'Cuz you know, bullet #11 is the one that does the real damage....and criminals never buy illegal weapons....yeah....

(Sorry, couldn't resist going slightly off topic. I promise I'm done now....)

Jason

[Martin Lysen]

Tony, Steven and Jason all offer excellent advise, with a sword hardly being needed at all. Kudos.

[dvcrsn]

Since the op can't realistically use a gun--how about tools that also make good weapons--if you have a yard, an assortment of machetes, barongs, kukris and tomahawks/hatchets can usually be justified very easily. Also don't forget to get imaginative with the improvised impact weapons (heavy walking sticks and baseball bats) and kitchen knives (here I would tend to go with the 6 to 9 inch Old Hickory boning/utility and butcher knives--high carbon steel that can take a more than adequate edge to do some serios damage) and one advantage of the <$10 kitchen knife or the $20 machete--if the police take them or they break--who cares.

[Randall Pleasant]

You must use a full name in your profile as called for by the forum rules. Please change to your full name or expect action from the moderators.

[Shane Smith]

Since the op can't realistically use a gun--how about tools that also make good weapons--if you have a yard, an assortment of machetes, barongs, kukris and tomahawks/hatchets can usually be justified very easily. Also don't forget to get imaginative with the improvised impact weapons (heavy walking sticks and baseball bats) and kitchen knives (here I would tend to go with the 6 to 9 inch Old Hickory boning/utility and butcher knives--high carbon steel that can take a more than adequate edge to do some serios damage) and one advantage of the <$10 kitchen knife or the $20 machete--if the police take them or they break--who cares.

Please re-register with your real, full name per forum rules. Thanks.

[carlo arellano]

I've been to Madrid and, Toledo, and benidorm. I arrived in Spain with no weapons and while I was there it was easy enough for me to buy a rather large navaja and a gladius, cheaply. I simply left the weapons with relatives when I left.

At home, here is my non-firearms kit:



It is too easy to jam a large weapon at close range so a longsword would not be my first choice. Spend some time, as I have training with some partners in your own home. Practice situational training. You will then have a good idea of what kind of tools function in that environment. I know where I can hide, i know the choke points and i know where the fusebox is (hence the night vision goggles).

fun topic.