Big stick or big knife?

W

WVHILLS

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The thread about cougar vs. dog got me thinking. I personally wouldn't want to leave my dog behind and I know that many others around the forum wouldn't either. So if it were you and your dog out on a hike and you were confronted by a cougar, pack of wild dogs or worst case scenario a mother grizz or black bear, would you want a large knife or a sturdy walking staff to defend you AND your dog? Sorry guns not an option:D
 
A stick would be better to try and deter an attack, but if youre being attacked you'd need the knife.
 
A sharp stick is a spear and putting some room between you and the attacker (two or four-legged) strikes me as a better idea. If you're wrasslin' an attacking animal (or human), you'll need the knife or handgun. My goal is to be aware enough that the second scenario doesn't happen.
 
The "gun not an option" thing doesn't work for me. I ALWAYS carry. Although, I think that if I were in that situation and somehow all of the guns in the world had been magically disappeared and I hadn't been able to find a protection spell for them in time (I know it's unlikely, but so is me not having a gun) then I suppose I would take either one. Something tells me that you will have equal chance either way and it's going to be more up to God and the angels of animals getting tired quickly as to the outcome. If you have a stick, you can't cut the animal and you will only be able to rely on the animal not wanting to mess with you after the first whack or two, but if you have a knife I will asume you can do more damage, but you'd have to wait until it was on top of you before you could give it insentive to stop biting your face off.
 
One doesn't cut to kill, one stabs. A sharp stick (spear) is your best of the two. It's like a rifle over a handgun.
 
I'd like to have both. A sturdy fixed blade with excellent grip retention and a sharp stick. The hope is that I could keep it away from me in the first place, with the blade being backup. A pack of wild dogs, well, you'd better have something good up your sleeves. I think CS spray could be invaluable here, too.
 
I carry both, but if I had to pick I would go with a large FB. I would have to make sure I can still access it quickly enough when the time comes. Then I can make a staff or spear if I felt that I needed it. I will always carry a switch blade for quick one handed deployment. I would think that a big cat attack, would be so quick and unexpected. You could never react in time unless you can see it coming. Even then, you still have to wait to get a clear shot on a moving target. By then it's almost on top of you. That when you are going to need a medium to large fix blade for CQC.
 
How about a big gun? If it's a cougar or a caucasian mountain beast I want my FAL. Fight a bear with a stick? A grizzley? I'll pass.
 
Both of course, but for the sake of argument, Potential cat attack, go with the knife.( they seem to attack from behind) Dog attack, stick. Bear attack, gun. You did mention having a dog with you, but even so, I think I would go with those choices.
 
For keeping the attacker at a distance it is better to have a stick/baton. If the attack however takes place in very closed distances, then you definitely need the knife.

Also, you may want to consider carrying a long knife that will help you keep the distance and yet be able to deliver devastating cuts or stabs if need be. When I go to the woods where no people are around, I usually carry a custom made 16" bowie knife. It is capable of loping off a goat's head in a single swipe! Still though, I consider it unwieldy for very close distance defensive applications. There, I would like something with a blade between 5"~6".

I also think that you may want to consider purchasing one of the Cold Steel spears. The only problem that I see with that option though, is how you would go about justifying carrying it.
 
"It is capable of loping off a goat's head in a single swipe!"

You have experience doing this??
 
How about i dont need a stick or a knife.... As long as i got someone fater and slower then me im o.k. If it comes down to it as was mentioned before i rather not get into hand to paw fight.... Im not as fast as they are. What ever anyone thinks none of us is as strong as a wild animal. Even if i win im still dead unless the ER is across the street. Waving a stick and yelling and a good whack on the head to keep them away is a better idea then COMBAT. About that nice sweet bear.....Its your choice if you want him to use the stick or that fancy knife on you know what and you know where ..... I came twice on a bear too close and i got a pics to prove one of them, too close for comfort.. They sure do look much bigger in person heck must be 20ft tall when they are on the back legs looking at you and all i got is a walking stick... Lucky me he must have been afraid of me as i were of him... A friend said he had never ever seen anyone run that fast up a steep hill before. Aye im a big tough man lol .....

Sasha
 
Watch a show called Maneaters on the history channel, very informative special, the resident guide was saying that the only people who make it out of a lion attack are those who have knives in hand before the attack. Sticks weren't mentioned. I would tend to agree with that fella.
 
its obviuos that if you had a large pointed stick you must have had a knife to cut it! i would have a large stick in one hand and the knife in the other:D
 
rctk1 said:
its obviuos that if you had a large pointed stick you must have had a knife to cut it! i would have a large stick in one hand and the knife in the other:D
Click to expand...

I said a sturdy walking staff, everybody else added the sharp part.
 
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