A Weapon Knife?

[MsNaughtyIrish]

So often I forget knives are "weapons." I carry my 11 on my purse and it was brought to my attention that...well it's a weapon and a tool. I honestly forgot.

So that had me thinking. I'm getting ready to move into a place with my son. I don't have any guns. (Please restrain yourself from pointing fingers and laughing...thanks) So what do you feel is the best "weapon" knife. Something I could keep next to my bed or just in some spots around the house incase some jackwagon tries to break in. Yes...I understand a gun is a much better idea, but I gotta wait till my son is a little bit older to take him the the range and really start teaching him the proper gun control.

Anything thoughts? Any suggestions?

Thank you

 

[Silverthorn]

Louisville Slugger, that is all.

Odds are you really dont want to defend yourself with a knife.
You dont want to know how or why I know. Just trust me.
Baseball bat for the win, buy 2 gloves and a ball and the cops cant even hassle you for having the bat.
"What? I play ball with my kid"

 

[KP]

There was long discussion on this over in the practical tactical forum, I think. Probably worth a look as it went on for a while. A lot of talk about machetes and the like but a lot of comments about the idea of hacking someone up in self defense. A baseball bat or baton, if it's legal in Alabama, might be a better choice but if you're set on getting a knife, the BK9 ain't a bad choice.

 

[MsNaughtyIrish]

Silverthorn....My God...I don't own a bat!!!! (crying in a corner) This is truely sad. Thank you though. Kinda nervous about being out on my own and home/self defense is important to me.

 

[K9-Handler]

Not that I'm an expert at knife fighting (nor are you, it seems!), but just logically thinking the largest, most intimidating knife THAT YOU CAN COMFORTABLY HANDLE would seem to be the ticket. That can range from a BK11 to a short sword -- or nothing!
And don't forget to keep your car remote at the bedside. Pressing the panic button at 2:00 AM would certainly raise some eyebrows in the neighborhood, and put panic in the hearts of any intruder.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Yeah you want to only use a knife for self defense if only absolutely necessary.

One good reason is it's very... messy... and blood and other body fluids can carry nasty pathogens such as HIV.

 

[MsNaughtyIrish]

bkoregon...Thank you. I will have to look into that. I kinda stay in this little corner of the world. It's scary out there. Do you think the BK9 is to big?

 

[Captain Airyca]

Without training I'd go with the baseball bat suggestions. A knife for home defense could get very ugly.

 

[MsNaughtyIrish]

Handler...I think that the panic button will be my friend. As long as the darn thing works. Lord knows I have to hit that button a million times for the freaking doors to open.

Wolf...Very good point. I just like the idea of having them stashed around the house. I pretty much know that I am just going to tick someone off more than kill them, but at least it might by me some time until I can get to better things. I need a gun...damnit.

 

[KP]

bkoregon...Thank you. I will have to look into that. I kinda stay in this little corner of the world. It's scary out there. Do you think the BK9 is to big?

I think the baseball bat is the best option. Youth sizes in aluminum are light and short enough to make great impact in confined spaces and can break fingers, hands, knees and faces. The 9 is just a great knife to have for other reasons and in this case, probably most effective as deterrence and not all that tactical, but like others have said, unless you're trained, a tactical knife is probably not going to do you much good.

 

[amflud]

I say get a gun. Keep it on you ALL THE TIME when you're at home, and keep it locked up when it's not on you. You can find a decent pistol for not a lot of money.

I think the bat idea is a good one. My wife also favors her taser if that's an option.

 

[Chameleonbear]

Even if you HAD a gun, I'd still suggest the baseball option as the best in home defense. At least until you get the classes under your belt for how to safely and effectively use a shotgun.

 

[Bladite]

crowbars are nice too :>

regardless, it's better to poke someone hard in the face with what ever you have, than swing wildly, esp in hallways and so on. so jab, retract quickly so they can't grab it. etc. coming through the window? bam! in the face, smash the hands, call 911.

i'd recommend a canister of bear spray if that's legal where you live. it's more goopy, and throws a lot farther.

have 911 on speed dial [that's a joke]

 

[Dad2E4]

If you are set on a knife, I would suggest a really big kitchen knife. Some chef knifes are huge, and no one would question why you had a big knife in your house.

 

[mobilerd]

I would take measures to avoid the possibility of a "hand to hand" situation first. Door and window alarms are now cheap, accessable (Home Depot, Lowes, even Walmart) and you can install them. A loud shreiking alarm upon the opening of a window or door is a good start to being able to defend yourself. And as for centuries a dog is the best alarm ever. Arming yourself with any weapon requires thinking ahead, training and the risk of the weapon being used against you in the worst case. Lastly BE ALERT AND AWARE AT ALL TIMES OF POTENTIAL DANGERS.

 

[FAL'ER]

Without training I'd go with the baseball bat suggestions. A knife for home defense could get very ugly.

This. unless you really know what your doing. A bat, everybody knows how to swing one of those. And the blunt trauma they create, damn. Anything can be used to defend yourself, think of your mind as the weapon and all else as a tool. But do take a self defense class.

 

[daizee]

Keeping a bat for hitting intruders is hardly suspicious behavior.

It's legal to defend yourself with deadly force in most places, particularly in your own home. I don't think stashing or at least identifying potential blunt weapons around the house is questionable behavior. Anything from a bat to a lamp can be a weapon if you're desperate.

Cops can't charge you with a crime for keeping a bat without gloves, and any responsible single woman thinks about protecting herself and her kids - unless you come across as Sarah Connor, nobody will ever fault you for it. Most men will back you up on this. And the women that won't aren't worth knowing.

Guns are useful tools, but fraught with other complexities.

 

[Monofletch]

I ordered one of the Cold Steel Nightshade knives by mistake. It is a nice size tanto. It would be perfect if you are worried about your son getting hurt with a "sharp" knife. It is nylon, but will take a beating!!!

 

[CascadeSam]

Wow, some great ideas.

Are you willing, fast, and strong enough to use a bat or knife?Learn the laws that govern self-defense in your state and locality. If you are going to use a knife, gun, or spray get some professional training. Here are some thoughts in no particular order.

* Increase the security of your home's doors and windows. Add an alarm system.

* A regular bat or a smaller tire-thumper/fish smacker mini-bat. A full size bat might or not limit your leverage of it in close quarters.

* Knife: BK5 since it is light weight, fast, long, and doubles as a great kitchen knife.

* Pepper or some other spray.

* A dog or two.

* A gun. You can keep it secured away from your son. If seconds count and you cannot free the secured gun then you can move to a plan B. I personally prefer a revolver (not a semi-auto pistol or shotgun).

* Filipino fighting sticks.

* When all else fails, there is this monster to call upon:
http://traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/SawtoothIronwoodStick.html

Along the edges, sandwiched between the two wood exteriors, are hundreds of small metal shark teeth and the pommel has a sharpened crescent tail. The wood on the outside is extra hard and will cause damage even without the forged steel inner layer.

 

[thrillbilly]

If you go with the 7 like we discussed, it will more then suffice for a defense knife/weapon.

A gun is safer then a knife around children, IMO. I would bet more kids are accidentally cut then are accidentally shot every year.



But I would go with a bat or hickory sledgehammer handle (I prefer the handle to the bat myself) that you cut down so it's a reasonable length without sacrificing impact value. Try walking into a hallway and swinging a full-size bat. A well-placed jab or stab with a sledge handle is more effective in close quarters then a swing. I like to bevel the end down into a blunted point so it impacts harder.

The handles also are an elongated oval in cross section...I have no real proof....but I would think the smaller angled hit from a handle would cause more impact trauma and bone breakage then a larger diameter round bat would. I have done a lil testing of that....and thats my opinion.

about the only thing your lil dogs will do is wake u up and perhaps slow/distract any intruder....sometimes a barking dog is enough to make them leave, since they know the dogs will wake the household.
Pepper spray is a bad idea INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME! It will affect you as bad as the attacker...and would trigger an asthma attack in your son. A good stun gun is a very viable option tho...maybe your best option.

You need to talk your Dad into giving you the training with that Beretta. 15 rounds of hollowpoint 9mm is better then any knife or bat or pepper spray.