fixed blade or folder for home defense

For home defense I definately suggest a fixed blade. There is no need to conceal the knife the way you would need to in the open. A large folder like a CUDA MAXX would be good too though. Either way you want something with a longer blade to keep the bad guy at a distance. If you e-mail me I can recommend a deal for you.
 
thanks. i was considering the CUDA MAXX because i can also carry it with me when i go out. I've looked into the 5.5 inch version and the 7 inch version. It's tough making a choice with all the different knife manufacturers out there.
 
For home defense I would reccomend a fixed blade, perhaps a small machete. It would be a lot more effective than any folder.
 
Why take a chance with a small knife for SD? For home defense, I'd personally recommend a Wakazashi if possible, you have much better reach with a short sword like that.
Posted at same time as Kamkazmoto, and I agree with him. Machetes also tend to be reletively inexpensive.
 
My first thought is that a knife is a very poor choice for home self defense. Anyhow, if that's about all your going to need it for, you don't have to spend a whole lot for something. Anything that's pointy, and can take even a decent edge will work for you. Even something like a very large kitchen knife or meat cleaver.

Personally, I'd get an aluminum baseball bat or a 36" garden mattock handle instead of a knife. Why? Because you can stay at a safer distance away from an attacker. It is far more effective against someone else who is using a knife or unarmed. You can probably swing a bat or mattock handle more effectively than fight with a knife. For a few bucks at a thrift store or used sporting supply store you could get a bat, a glove and a ball. That way, no lawer can say you "pre-meditated" your actions. All you have to say is that's your sports equipment which happened to be handy. You could use that defense for a large kitchen knife or meat cleaver as well, just your kitchen stuff no pre-meditation of anything. Since your in the politically correct republic of Kalifornia, that's something to consider.
 
No....hitting people with sticks is not effective. Look at a hockey game if you don't believe me. Most of them walk away. :D :D :D

Seriously, a large attacker can close and grab your baseball bat away from you.....but it's hard to grab a sharp blade.

Definitely a short sword, and something with a nasty point is even better than a machete.

Cold steel has a lot of good big blades that will clear a room in a trice.

Even if a gang manages to get you.....they'll leave a lot of blood and body parts as evidence that will tie them to the crime.

:)
 
The other issue with bats is that you have to get a full swing on them, and that's a little harder in a hallway, for example. All the same, I'd have one. And a golf club, too. As far as knives go, I'd stick with a fixed blade of some sort.

Frankly, my choice would be a riot shotgun and a handgun or revolver.
 
Do you have to be 21 for a long gun? I'm not familiar with CA law but almost anywhere else is 18. So a shotgun could be an option.
 
OK, assuming you can't get a gun (like the prior poster, I'd suggest a shotgun; you can get a Remington 870 for cheap -- less than $300) and you need a knife, I'd go with the biggest fixed blade you can get. If you're not into knife collection and just need it only for HD, it can be inexpensive.

A large bowie, a khukuri or bolo would do the job. Myself, I have an Ontario Bagwell Hell's Belle bowie (16.75" total length), HI Kobra khukuri (19" but I'll be buying a 25" other kind of khukuri soon) and assorted other long khukuris. However, those are relatively pricier than what you need. (The Bagwell retails at $350 although you can get it on the net for $200, and the HI khukuri goes over $100.)

You can get a solid khukuri with a 15" blade from Khukuri House for less than $100 easy, or one of the less expensive offerings from Cold Steel. Ontario has cheaper long bowies that are affordable.

For HD, no need to fool around with a small folder. A folder is an option for SD away from home where concealment and portability are the priority. For HD, you want range and quick man-stopping capability. One swipe of a long, heavy khukuri can end a fight -- and it doesn't have to be too well-placed.
 
Get a sword off of ebay. Something from the hanwei forge. Get, like, a banshee or something. $160 on their website.
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Otherwise, I would strongly recomend a Cold Steel Large filet knife! It's long. It's Carbon V, so it takes and holds a keen edge. It flexes, but it's not really flexible. Also, nobody will question your having a filet knife in the house.
 
I recommend neither.

I have a 28 inch billy club. It's about 1.5 inches in diameter and you can swing it hard and fast. It's made of hard maple or something and stained a nice dark brown.

I also have found that a piece of 1 inch or 1 1/4 inch thickwall PVC pipe about 2 feet long will do the trick. Thickwall PVC is hard as heck, lighter than steel, and tough to break.
 
You can rule out the folder straight away, theres really no point. Go to your local walmart and get a cheap fixed blade (20-30$). You dont need premium steel or anything.

I would also suggest an alternative, since you cant have a gun yet, try something like a ASP baton, or a nice long pipe. Or you could even get a dog. There are many options.
 
Cattle prod in one hand with mace in the other. Should be able to subdue a small gang with that! :D
 
Some sort of big fixed blade - bang for the buck, a big machete or cheap short sword. You aren't talking about a tool, so edgeholding really doesn't matter. Get something in carbon steel - even cheap carbon won't break (like cheap bad stainless swords are prone to.) The only thing I'd actively avoid in carbon are those mild steel tourist wallhangers with the bad etched designs - the blade would actually work, but the rat tail tangs won't.

It sounds goofy, but look at the Cold Steel two handed machete.

However, legally you are in much better shape - even in your own house - of you whack the fucker with an aluminum baseball bat. But a blade is a much more effective burglar scarer - and hopefully that is all it will ever have to be.

If you want something more expensive than a machete, go out and get some training so you can be effective, then get what you're good with after you develop some skills.

I'm a 20ga, #4 shot man, personally.
 
I would use a shotgun. Why in the world would anyone use a knife for home defense? I would even get a bow over a knife. You could get a short compound bow on the secondary market probably pretty cheap. Put some lighted pins on it, sight it in and get arrows spined for it and shoot it till your accurate enough and put it where you can get your hands on it. Even a cross bow would be better than a knife, and I hate crossbows being a traditional bowhunter. After these choices I would use a spear on a short shaft and maybe a nice fixed blade for back up on your person, but definetly not even close to being my first choices.

Distance is what you want to keep between you and the bad guy(s). Closing with them into hand to hand range is not best option for anyone. keepem sharp
 
The Camillus Maxx is a great choice for carry. Like everyone else, I would recommend a fixed blade for home defense, but the Maxx will do the job there too if you can only afford the one knife right now.

If you can legally own a firearm that would be the best option. I recommend an inpensive pump-action shotgun in either 20-gauge or 12-gauge. A Remington 870 Express HD model in 12-gauge is my primary home defense weapon.

If you can't get a firearm...it gets tricky. Longer weapons are better if you have the room and the skill to use them, but if you don't they can become a liability. At any given size a sharp weapon is usually more effective than an impact weapon. Weapons that can both cut and thrust are more versatile than weapons that can only do one or the other.

If you have trained with a sword that may be your best choice. If not I would suggest a long knife instead.

An 8" to 12" chef's knife would be a good choice. Even better would be a fighting bowie in the same size range. I would suggest Bill Bagwell's Gambler or Fortress models from Ontario. The advantage of a big bowie is that it's short enough to maneuver effectively almost anywhere but big enough to do serious damage quickly.

Prepare for conflict and hope for peace.

--Bob Q
 
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