cas tactical wakizashi or katana

[Nate805]

A blade will not stop a determined individual

swords have been stopping determined individuals for thousands of years.

[djjonny]

True. I know this is gonna sound weird but mainly personal protection (and all the hype from the incident in florida). I'm not saying I believe in zombies. But if something does happen people WILL riot. So If I run out of ammo I want them as far as possible from me. What would you reccomend

For that case a good pair of running shoes and good knowledged of the area you are in if possible.
In the case of a riot no matter how good you are with a sword how many can you fight until you are overwhelmed?

If the entire mob is intimidated by you holding a katana then good. But if not the katana will only serve to weigh you down.

[Dr Heelhook]

A blade will not stop a determined individual

Maybe, but it'll be hard for him to see where he's going, when his head is lying on the ground.

[CaneC808]

My input is what's mission critical?? What do you need to accomplish?? I spent time in jungles/rainforest and had a waki and it was great aside from constantly sharpening it. I've wanted a custom for awhile but just as a "fun" user. If your going to spend money for "shtf" invest in a good rifle, a good scope, and lots of ammo. I can tell you if you post up that you're looking for a waki maker they're out there. Then you could have it made to personal spec. An not busting balls but if you aren't experienced in figthing with a certain weapon youre likely to hurt yourself before anyone else. I'm having a pretty good week if I've only sliced myself once outside the kitchen. I'd probly lop an ear off with a katana. Really.

[will_1400]

Maybe, but it'll be hard for him to see where he's going, when his head is lying on the ground.

I would prefer not to get that close to a determined individual...

[will_1400]

For that case a good pair of running shoes and good knowledged of the area you are in if possible.
In the case of a riot no matter how good you are with a sword how many can you fight until you are overwhelmed?

If the entire mob is intimidated by you holding a katana then good. But if not the katana will only serve to weigh you down.

THIS. Best defense in the world: don't be there when **** goes down.

[will_1400]

swords have been stopping determined individuals for thousands of years.

So have fists. Just sayin'.

[CWL]

swords have been stopping determined individuals for thousands of years.

That's not true. Aside from movies and video games, historical battles have been won with arrows and spears since they were invented.

Since the introduction of personal firearms in the 1300's, every other weapon invented by man has played a far second to them.

You guys need to stop playing fantasy in the real world. There are plenty of people who will kill you without a thought, and they have the means and weapons to do so. You're more likely to be robbed at gunpoint, or even stabbed with a screwdriver from behind, and you will never get a chance to draw that Hanwei sword from your back. -AND if one does try to eff-around with a real sword on your back, you're going to slice your head, neck and fingers when trying to draw it and then stab yourself again when trying to put it back into the sheath.

[XanRa]

That's not true. Aside from movies and video games, historical battles have been won with arrows and spears since they were invented.

Since the introduction of personal firearms in the 1300's, every other weapon invented by man has played a far second to them.

You guys need to stop playing fantasy in the real world. There are plenty of people who will kill you without a thought, and they have the means and weapons to do so. You're more likely to be robbed at gunpoint, or even stabbed with a screwdriver from behind, and you will never get a chance to draw that Hanwei sword from your back.

The point I was trying to get across

[Nate805]

So swords didn't stop determined individuals? All this time we were being lied to? They apparently are incapable of doing damage to a human body and all those coldsteel videos of them going through two pigs at a time and stories of the samurai testing them out on condemned criminals is all smoke and mirrors? All this time in my life I thought that something powerful enough to lop arms and legs off was enough to kill a human but I guess not. I guess that video of the guy murdering the three cops with a butcher knife is also fantasy. Or maybe a sword is less effective then a butcher knife?

[djjonny]

In all seriousness, when are you gonna ever get to use a katana?

Nearly all over the world if you carry it around town a cop will probably confiscate it before you get to use it

At home it's either too long (eg in the passage), too traumatic (eg your toddler seeing you hack someone to death) or a high chance of collateral damage
The 3rd scenario (col dam) can be minimized by training kendo, kenjutsu or ninjutsu well.
However you'll be spending time training to use a weapon at home only when the situation allows it (assuming you keen on using a katana or even a wakasashi)

Lastly you in a situation than allows it and are trained. The cops arrive to find a person hacked, maimed, decapitated ...etc and you are not hurt or not hurt that bad
You then have to convince them it was necessary self defense.
Even if you get out of this it will go to court along with all the time wasted and lawyer fees.

If the laws are different where you are then I stand corrected

[stabman]

) or a high chance of collateral damage

More chance of "collateral damage" with a gun.
And yet I don't see many people saying that guns suck for defending oneself.

Shooting people is traumatic for many people too. Your toddler won't like seeing or hearing that either.

[stabman]

swords have been stopping determined individuals for thousands of years.

So have fists. Just sayin'.

Not when the other guy has a sword.

[djjonny]

More chance of "collateral damage" with a gun.
And yet I don't see many people saying that guns suck for defending oneself.

Shooting people is traumatic for many people too. Your toddler won't like seeing or hearing that either.

Agree.
Ok the col dam and trauma weren't good examples. The point is Japanese swords are very situational and imo unpractical

[will_1400]

So swords didn't stop determined individuals? All this time we were being lied to? They apparently are incapable of doing damage to a human body and all those coldsteel videos of them going through two pigs at a time and stories of the samurai testing them out on condemned criminals is all smoke and mirrors? All this time in my life I thought that something powerful enough to lop arms and legs off was enough to kill a human but I guess not. I guess that video of the guy murdering the three cops with a butcher knife is also fantasy. Or maybe a sword is less effective then a butcher knife?

Faulty logic. I can use "it's worked for centuires" to justifiy going unarmed. I can use "well it kills people" to justify using some kind of poisonous solution in someone's drink. That's assuming I use the logic you're trying to use.

It's not about killing, it's about stopping the threat as quickly and efficiently as possible. To get as good as you'd need to be with a sword to do de-cap hits/limb severing blows, etc under pressure with any kind of consistancy would take a great deal of dedicated training.

Plus you've got what djjohnny said: a katana is over 3 feet long and very conspicuous. Hardly conducive to the majority of situations we're likely to face.

Another thing about swords... they weren't as common as spears, seaxes, tomahawks/hatchets, etc as far as warfare goes.

Final notes: swords were indeed great weapons for self defense back in the day. Technology has moved on to render the majority of them obsolete as a primary weapon. Why would I let you get within 4 feet of me when I can just shoot you from further out? Why would I dedicate years of training with an obsolete weapon when I can use the same time to use a more effective modern weapon?*


*I'm a martial artist and I study sword arts as my hobby, but the typical person isn't going to put in the time needed to be truly skilled with a sword.

[stabman]

Agree.
Ok the col dam and trauma weren't good examples. The point is Japanese swords are very situational and imo unpractical

For alot of situations, that's true.
I still don't want to rush someone weilding one though.

Sword, spear, or shotgun, my response is the same:
"I'm so outta here!"

[will_1400]

Not when the other guy has a sword.

This could go round and round for a while... such as "not after I take it from him".

But I'll preempt all arguments and state that I'll simply remove the life-like mask that people believe is my face to reveal that I'm Chuck Norris, thereby winning all fights before they happen.

[CWL]

So swords didn't stop determined individuals? All this time we were being lied to? They apparently are incapable of doing damage to a human body and all those coldsteel videos of them going through two pigs at a time and stories of the samurai testing them out on condemned criminals is all smoke and mirrors? All this time in my life I thought that something powerful enough to lop arms and legs off was enough to kill a human but I guess not. I guess that video of the guy murdering the three cops with a butcher knife is also fantasy. Or maybe a sword is less effective then a butcher knife?

You seem to base your "knowledge" on what you have found on the internet. Ever delve into actual facts or history? Ever study any Martial Arts, combatives, self defense, or firearms training?

Yeeseeesss, go on believing in an out-of-shape fat guy's marketing vid, or in a pitifully untrained police incident in the Third World, and I guess if you were some badass in Feudal Japan, you may almost have a point (even though every major battle in Samurai Japan was fought with bows and spears -until firearms overtook their importance -look up battle of Sekigahara).

Lots of things can kill, even a bad serving of chicken can kill you, but is it practical?

[stabman]

This could go round and round for a while... such as "not until I take it from him".

But I'll preempt all arguments and state that I'll simply remove the life-like mask that people believe is my face to reveal that I'm Chuck Norris, thereby winning all fights before they happen.

I'll just win all fights before they happen by staying at home.

[djjonny]

For alot of situations, that's true.
I still don't want to rush someone weilding one though.

Sword, spear, or shotgun, my response is the same:
"I'm so outta here!"

I'll just win all fights before they happen by staying at home.

That I'm sure we all do agree on. esp with the OP's mob/riot example