Big stick or big knife?

carrot said:
For one, it's not legal for all of us to own & carry firearms...
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Understood, and that's certainly true for you as a law abiding citizen in New York City. But even a walk in Central Park can be full of more dangers than a walk in a national forest. I know, that's beside the point.

I know there are young men here who would like to think that they could face off a bear or mountain lion, to protect their dog, with a knife or a stick or a spear. Maybe they could, I think most likely they can't. Very few of us are experienced in that area of self defense. Probably none of us.

Being an old man, If I'm going into bear or lion country with my dog, I'm going to load the odds as heavily as possible in my favor.

And here's another thing to consider, the dog can become an attractant to predatory animal behavior; a challenge to their territory. If I'm really concerned about my dog's safety, I'll leave her home. She'll be PO'd but she'll be safe.
 
Short of a firearm, I'd go with something pointy and sharp.

I once saw a video where a female LEO was on the wrong end of a pitbull. Repeated whacks with a nightstick did little to loosen the dog's jaws on the officer.

I seriously doubt the results would have been the same with a big knife.
 
I'd take the big knife.
But I'd rather that the animal DIDN'T attack me.:)
 
sicily02 said:
Both here is what I carry.
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Man, you and I have a lot in common it seems.
If I'm out with a spear it's the slightly stouter boar spear. Around here wild pigs are considered pest animals and can be hunted year-round. Spear hunting is kind of a big thing. My woods walking pal is an old beagle-black lab mix (she'll be 16 this June). I don't think she'd survive an attack, but I'd sure as hell make her attackers pay dearly.

To answer the question, I'd rather have a spear. Realistically, if I'm spear hunting, I'll have a magnum sidearm with me. If I'm not spear hunting I'll have a rifle, either a Persian Mauser (with a 29" barrel) or a Mosin Nagant (28" barrel), so I guess, even then, I'd have a spear.....;)
 
Ok, very interesting thread. I have to point out a few things. A staff or Spear will be too big in this scenario. A cougar that is stalking you and your dog will be on you before you know what is happening. If you have your wits about you a blade will be best. Anything from 4 inches to 10 inches in blade length will suffice if you can get a stab in from the side about halfway down and a few inches behind his shoulder. That is the heart and lung area. A still will not help when this beast hits you hard. A knife may not even work if your dog decides to run off. But if you have a brave dog, ie. Terrier or bull breed or hunting breed, then you stand a chance.

When I was a kid my uncles would hunt and fish in some of the tributaries of the amazon river one being el tigre. The locals had many runins with cougars and a few with Jaguars. Their tactic was to carry their butcher blades and usually had skin or cloth wrapped around one arm to sacrifice. Actually the fish my uncles would catch were scarrier than the land animals, they looked like pirahna/eel crosses and about 7 ft long.

In most places cougars are still afraid of humans. But attacks in the southwest are more common these days.
 
Don't have a camera.
She looks just like yours, but is coal black, except for her muzzle which is white, and the tip of her tail.
 
m_calingo said:
Short of a firearm, I'd go with something pointy and sharp.

I once saw a video where a female LEO was on the wrong end of a pitbull. Repeated whacks with a nightstick did little to loosen the dog's jaws on the officer.

I seriously doubt the results would have been the same with a big knife.
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And this is why they should always carry a decent EDC one handed opening or switch blade knife of some sorts. I would of not hesitated in using my edc for cutting it's throat.
 
There is no question, the big stick would always win. If you can keep your opponent at about a 5-6 foot distance, that's pretty advantageous.
 
racer944 said:
There is no question, the big stick would always win. If you can keep your opponent at about a 5-6 foot distance, that's pretty advantageous.
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tghat will never happen with a cat that is stalking you. That big stick will be useless when you are rolling around the ground with the cat:D
 
Yep, have a fixed blade in an easy to access spot.
As I said before, a thin sharp blade will penetrate a lot easier.
 
Point well taken. But then again I live in Alabama. Last I checked, I don't have many leopards/mountain lions prowling around.

Also, unless my SA is really keen, I don't think I'd know what hit me until it was too late anyways, so it would be rather irrelevant. From what I hear, most of the big cats actually eat because they are terrific stalkers and their prey rarely hears them coming. I doubt I could outdo prey whose life depends on their ability to detect attacks.

Also, the reason why the Greeks always fought with spears was because of the theory that if you can attack from a little more distance, you should be safer. That was the basis for my answer. That and I usually carry a KaBar with me when out hiking.
 
racer944 said:
Point well taken. But then again I live in Alabama. Last I checked, I don't have many leopards/mountain lions prowling around.

Also, unless my SA is really keen, I don't think I'd know what hit me until it was too late anyways, so it would be rather irrelevant. From what I hear, most of the big cats actually eat because they are terrific stalkers and their prey rarely hears them coming. I doubt I could outdo prey whose life depends on their ability to detect attacks.

Also, the reason why the Greeks always fought with spears was because of the theory that if you can attack from a little more distance, you should be safer. That was the basis for my answer. That and I usually carry a KaBar with me when out hiking.
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The greeks were in attack mode not surprise. The short sword and daggers were there for a reason, when the fighting got close in spears were usless.

As for being jumped and not having a chance there have been many cases of grown lions, leopards and cougars attacking grown men in which the grown man was able to fight off the attacking animal with a small knife.

One case in particular that I remember reading was a hunter sitting in a camp fire near a bush and being snatched from behind by a male lion and being dragged off. As he was being dragged off he had enough wits about him to pull out a small fixed blade and stuck the lion several times in the side, he was lucky that one of those hits was the lions heart. The lion dropped him and ran off and in the morning was found not 200 yards from were he was stabbed.
 
Who here thinks that a stab wound (well placed) from a 3-4 inch blade would be enough to make a big cat like a cougar stop attacking? possibly even cause it to lose interest and retreat?
 
not me, an animal that comes equipped with several knives itself can probably take a stab or two.
 
Since apparently the only response I'm getting is that I'm wrong, let me assert my position with background thought.

As I re-read the question, I notice that it is not necessarily just a question of mountain lion/cougar of death. Possibility of feral dogs, bears, and wild kitties. While I agree 100% that in a surprise attack position, the small sharpened peice of metal would be ideal, this is not the only part to the question. If the goal is to defend both mutt and owner, then of course (as always) the answer is both. An attack that you see coming would lead to use of the staff, and a surprise attack being pounced and dragged away by the male lion would lead to the ideal stabbing kitties knife.


So let's look at an individual scenario by scenario approach.

1. Feral Dogs Large group of smaller assailants. Focus on taking out large chunks of attackers. Large swings of a staff would be effective. Dueling with individuals or perfectly stabbing them in the heart would be very difficult. You could wrap an arm in a towel or something so that you can sacrifice it and go for the throat, but still very difficult. I choose keeping my range with a sturdy wooden staff.

2. Wild Cats Solitary agile, silent predators. You're screwed. Unless after their initial attack, you can manage to stab them enough times to get them to drop you. So yeah, go with a staff then.

3. Bears (any kind) Very large predators. Again, you're screwed. Hopefully you're not a Boy Scout tenderfoot walking in unknowingly. Focus on trying to keep them at bay. If they get close enough to swat you, start praying. If you feel the need to go in with a stab to the chest with a bear, check with a doctor beforehand to make sure you're sane. Staff, preferably a magnum of some sort, but given staff or knife? Staff.

2 of 3 in my book.
 
In the absence of firearms, a big knife every time.

Also, all you guys who said "stick," had better go edit your posts or Spark is gonna rename this place stickforums.com.

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