knife bought for hiking personal protection

Generally I train and live in a wilderness setting with the same group or at least with one team member...we never have less than 25% on overwatch with a minimum of 50% in a potentially hostile environment 24/7/365 (2 or 4 legged threat situation/possibility). We have both human and mechanical perimeter alarms and other 2/4 legged & vehicle detection devices/processes. When moving we utilize small unit tactics, movement & communications - we generally don't go trudging through the woods on a "nature hike!"

But what the heck do I know?
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Just to get this straight, are you talking about 'wilderness' as in the back blocks of Iraq or Afghanistan, or 'wilderness' as in remote areas of North America?
 
I don't carry a knife specifically for defense, but I generally have a large Chiruwa Ang Khola much like this one, with me, and will do in a pinch ;)
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But being as I also tend to carry a firearm, that would be my first choice to defend myself with.
 
If I may answer for Quirt, he trains many professionals from all walks of service for a wide variety of scenarios. He was posting here in the context of this being a thread about a knife for protection, don't forget. I'm sure he enjoys a walk in the woods just like the rest of us, too. :p
 
Yeah, I have to admit, I do an awful lot of things my friends, coworkers and associates think are pretty ridiculous. I'm not really in any position to tell a guy he's acting weird!


In fact, if I told most people I know that somebody I talked to was explaining defensive group tactics for moving in the bush, they would probably ask if we were related!

The only real difference is that the bush up here is so empty that I can go there without worrying about dangerous people, so I save my paranoid survivalism for the urban centers - but believe me, I am definitely a paranoid survivalist, no kidding! You should see my zombie supply room. I make Quirt look well adjusted.
 
msiley said:
It is best not to fight with a bear but to give in and "play dead" if it is on top of you.
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That depends entirely on what type of bear it is. Thats true if its a brown bear but not true if its a black bear. With black bears fight back as hard as you can if attacked with whatever is at hand. That said, a shotgun is a good protection choice against any critter in N.America.
 
In regards to defending oneself after being attacked by an animal, the reading I've done led me to one, simple conclusion:
FIGHT BACK FEROCIOUSLY Here are a couple of examples:

I read in a Reader's Digest about a couple hiking in Glacier National Park. A grizzly bear rumbled up and the couple lay down, playing dead. The grizzly bear proceeded to maul the husband and drag him off into the woods! The man's wife let out a scream, jumped up, and gave chase. The bear turned around and stood to its full height over the woman. She took the camera in her hand and swung it from the lanyard looped around her wrist, hitting the bear in the nose as hard as she could. The woman continued to do this. The bear looked at her a moment, dropped down on all fours, and walked off into the woods. The woman had saved her husband, although he was air-evac'ed out and had to have a LOT of surgery. The bear had nearly pierced his carotid artery.

This story was printed in the Denver Post when I was going to school in Colorado. A man in Colorado eleven years back was attacked by a mountain lion while out on a solo hike. The man had the presence of mind to pull his knife and fight that cat. It ran off. Less than a mile down the trail, the mountain lion attacked him again! It had been waiting for him, seemingly. The man gouged his thumb into the lion's eye as hard as possible. This time, the cat ran off for good.

In both instances, and countless others, people survived attacks from predatory animals because the people fought back. I never want to test it out, but I don't believe that playing dead is ever the best option. I wouldn't smell rotting and decaying, causing an animal to pass me by as a meal. So, I choose to fight.
 
I dont know whether fighting or not is the best idea but I honestly dont think I could lay still while hanging out of a bears mouth. Whackin him/her with a stick or poking him with my knife might not be the best idea but it would sure make me feel better.
 
A Buck 119 is a pretty significant blade with guards. This is mainly a skinning/hunting knife but it is big enough I think for large animal penetration. I remember hearing that on more than one occasion a bear was successfuly fended off (died) with the person using a Buck 119.
 
Unless you are skilled in fighting with a knife, you're better off with a good walking stick, mace, or handgun. These require less skill. But if it makes you feel better, carry a knife for that purpose. Just remember, if you pull a knife out to defend yourself, be prepared for a fight for your life and if you are in the middle of no-where (woods), you both may bleed to death. Run if you can. Forget the male macho thing.
 
orrey45 said:
I dont know whether fighting or not is the best idea but I honestly dont think I could lay still while hanging out of a bears mouth. Whackin him/her with a stick or poking him with my knife might not be the best idea but it would sure make me feel better.
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RIGHT??!!! I have always wondered about that playing dead thing...who the hell came up with that BS??? There is not a chance in hell, that anyone, and I mean anyone..is gonna lay there and get eaten......"OH..AH..there goes my left calf..OH well....If I lay still it won't eat my right one.." NO way!!!
Like I said...I would never want to do it..but I think I would fight pretty hard, and I do believe that is the right thing to do. IMHO:thumbup:
 
In the areas where I hike (west/south germany and switzerland) I carry a kimber lifeact and a fixed blade of some kind from 3" to 6". The most "dangerous" (can knives be dangerous per se?) knife I carry is a Buck 119.

I'll have to admit though, the greatest danger by far in these areas is eating too much schnitzels with fries and drinking too much delicious beer.
Then comes nothing for a long time, and finally the only other threat: Crazy weirdos! Pepper spray or hitting them with a stick is the first choice. Looking like a lumberjack helps, too!
Of course there is a choice to face a serial killer. It's europe and our prisons are a joke IMO. However small the chance may be, if I could carry a gun, I would. It's simple logic to me.

When my brother asks "What do you carry the pepperspray for?" I (politely?) tell him to STFU. And he's the only one I explain myself to. :D:thumbup:
I also carry it to protect my dog from other dogs.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Rotting and decaying wouldn't stop a bear from eating you anyway. :p
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Y'know, I wondered when posting that if bears and cougars will scavenge carcasses. Yeah, if I was rotting and decaying, I wouldn't be concerned 'bout being eaten by a scavenger. Of course, the whole premise of this forum is to find ways to keep from rotting and decaying... :D
 
There are times to play dead and times not to do so. I'll post more in a little bit. Nothing is absolute. The best you can do is manage probabilities in animal encounters.

However, you can run if you are faster than your companion. You don't have to outrun the bear, just outrun your companion. :D
 
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