Lots of Canadians in the WS&S forum. We can't carry handguns.We can own them but we can't carry them.
Also there are people here from outside the Americas as well.
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Knife for defence against wild critters ?
- Thread starter pitdog
- Start date
Also there are people here from outside the Americas as well.
Because some us living in places like Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, and a few other states, don't have the right to carry. Also in other countries you can't have that revolver you talk about. I seriouly doubt you can get on a plane and fly to Germany to hike in the black forrest, or Italy to go hikig in the Alps, or even go for a trip in the wilderness of Canada with a handgun.
Sometimes you have to use other tools.
The Roachbelly is one of my most favorite designs, I would think it would both stab and slash very well. My only concern might be the strength of the point............Does anyone have a link or know the name of the post back in Sep. I believe where I think it was Pitdog first asked if anyone else considered the Roach belly for a bushcraft blade? I have been looking for that post and can't seem to find it.
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Great looking knife, but if I may I'd also like to make a recommendation....I was looking at my Gossman Roach Belly today when I started to think how a bigger version would be a really useful blade for using against wild critters should the need arise !
Before anyone gets on their high horse I know a gun would be better still but for many of us a gun isn't an option.
A larger version of this knife would also make a great camp knife as well.
What d'ya think ?
Two words : Ghurka Khukuri
:thumbup:
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I think I prefer distance, like a walking stick with a Cold Steel Bushman afixed to it. Even if you survive the fight with a knife...you ain't coming out unscathed and may die walking out. I vote for impaleing with a spear and flight.
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I have to agree with that, and I'd recommend what i think they used to call a boar spear. I spear with a crossbar behind the spearhead so that not only could you impale a wild animal but you could pin it to the ground until it died. I haven't thought about one of those in awhile, now that my forge is going I may have to figure out how to make one. I actually do already have a spear-walking stick that i have used to spearfish carp, but it has no crossbar.
Well I'd prefer to keep a wild critter further away than contact distance. That is too close and the odds are now in their favor!
But if I could only carry an edged weapon or chose not to carry a longer ranged defensive tool such as a rifle/shotgun/handgun then I'd carry a knife that is specifically designed for fighting and that is a Bowie. Not the modern interpetation which has corrupted the integrity of the original design but something closer to what it was designed as. I believe the Bagwell Bowie is one of the few modern interpetations that closely accentuates the finest attributes of a defensive Bowie knife. The fighting Bowie was no less than 14" in length and had a semi sharpened back edge with a triangle point so one could perform both a front cut and back cut. The early Bowies were so effective as close quarter offensive and defensive tools that they were outlawed by name in three states!
I'd also carry something like Pitdog just got for extreme close quarters that I could transistion from both forward grip to reverse grip if it got into a grappling situation. This would be fine for extreme close quarters. The Bowie is more effective as a medium range (extended arm) as it has some mass (inertia) and greater sharpen surface area and the capacity to do back cuts if executed propertly.
The woodsman of old often carried their sidearm and a Bowie for just this purpose. For a really good read, buy Bill Bagwell's book which covers both the historical as well as defensive qualities of the Bowie. He is quite an avid outdoorsman and has been a primative black powder hunter for many-many years. He used to write for black powder magazines and hunt in a primative camp. I believe in one article he discusses camp knives and defensive knives for the woodsman in one chapter.
Again, I'd never want a two or four legged threat to get that close to me but
But if I could only carry an edged weapon or chose not to carry a longer ranged defensive tool such as a rifle/shotgun/handgun then I'd carry a knife that is specifically designed for fighting and that is a Bowie. Not the modern interpetation which has corrupted the integrity of the original design but something closer to what it was designed as. I believe the Bagwell Bowie is one of the few modern interpetations that closely accentuates the finest attributes of a defensive Bowie knife. The fighting Bowie was no less than 14" in length and had a semi sharpened back edge with a triangle point so one could perform both a front cut and back cut. The early Bowies were so effective as close quarter offensive and defensive tools that they were outlawed by name in three states!
I'd also carry something like Pitdog just got for extreme close quarters that I could transistion from both forward grip to reverse grip if it got into a grappling situation. This would be fine for extreme close quarters. The Bowie is more effective as a medium range (extended arm) as it has some mass (inertia) and greater sharpen surface area and the capacity to do back cuts if executed propertly.
The woodsman of old often carried their sidearm and a Bowie for just this purpose. For a really good read, buy Bill Bagwell's book which covers both the historical as well as defensive qualities of the Bowie. He is quite an avid outdoorsman and has been a primative black powder hunter for many-many years. He used to write for black powder magazines and hunt in a primative camp. I believe in one article he discusses camp knives and defensive knives for the woodsman in one chapter.
Again, I'd never want a two or four legged threat to get that close to me but
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I have no real problem with a spear- but where's you self defense knife?
There are any number of reasons to carry a spear, and any number of reasons why one won't be able to be used in a given situation (like trying to poke the cat that's on your face might be a bit difficult with a 7 foot pole arm)
So- just as with the gun argument, it's great to have a spear, but what about your wilderness SD knife?
I personally prefer the mediterranean/spanish dirk design over most of the traditional classic Bowies (and to say there's a OneTrue Bowie is almost ludicrous).
All that said, this thread has me working on not one, but two short hunting swords.
There are any number of reasons to carry a spear, and any number of reasons why one won't be able to be used in a given situation (like trying to poke the cat that's on your face might be a bit difficult with a 7 foot pole arm)
So- just as with the gun argument, it's great to have a spear, but what about your wilderness SD knife?
I personally prefer the mediterranean/spanish dirk design over most of the traditional classic Bowies (and to say there's a OneTrue Bowie is almost ludicrous).
All that said, this thread has me working on not one, but two short hunting swords.
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I think you might have the same problem wielding a big bowie type knife or short sword as you would the spear if the critter got inside the effective range of the spear. If you have a big cat, bear, hog, or any of the African type game making physical contact with your body, you are most likley on the ground grappleing. I believe they would strike and more then likely bring you to the ground. You then IMO not be able to effectively wield a long bladed knife, short sword or any of the like due to lack of leverage and angles of attack. You would probably be better off with at most a 4" knife that could pierce and or slash, and hope the animal calls off the attack to preserve it's life.
With the small knife the animal will make contact and will cause damage, I would just hope to prevent contact with the pole arm. I bet most aboriginies use a spear as the deffensive weopon against large predators. Just a thought.
AI
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While having a machete-esque slashing blade may sound attractive, it just plain doesn't work when dealing with a large mass of fur, muscle, and (pointy) bone. Whoever was talking about spine chopping, I can't speak on other animals, but I can tell you from experience that this isn't effective on boar. If I'm tangling with large game (and can't have a firearm), give me a 5-6" blade with a swedge, a strong point, a single guard, and a non-slip handle material (rubber or cord). It's been said already by others, but I'll reiterate. Slashing thick fur/hair is depressingly ineffective and a lesson I wish I hadn't learned on my own.
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Every time I skin even something with skin as thin as a rabbit or squirrel I am gobsmacked by how well hair/fur resists a cut. Amazing for what it is.
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This is my spear/knife
Where did you get that? Have any more pics? Loks like a more refined and beefed up Bushman.
:thumbup::thumbup:
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I think that 7" is the absolute minimum for a good survival knife. I think along the same lines as Koyote, hence-
If I am going to be outdoors for a long period of time, the weight is worth it to me. A long knife can do everything a short knife can and obviously more.
I can only see having a spear on me if I intend to use it for hunting. I don't believe that a spear would work for self defense 'cause that bear or cat is not going to telegraph its intentions. I seriously doubt that one would get the spear up in time. And if that animal gets inside of that spear head yer in deep shit. Long ass knife and a good gun.
If I am going to be outdoors for a long period of time, the weight is worth it to me. A long knife can do everything a short knife can and obviously more.
I can only see having a spear on me if I intend to use it for hunting. I don't believe that a spear would work for self defense 'cause that bear or cat is not going to telegraph its intentions. I seriously doubt that one would get the spear up in time. And if that animal gets inside of that spear head yer in deep shit. Long ass knife and a good gun.
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I think that 7" is the absolute minimum for a good survival knife. I think along the same lines as Koyote, hence-
If I am going to be outdoors for a long period of time, the weight is worth it to me. A long knife can do everything a short knife can and obviously more.
I can only see having a spear on me if I intend to use it for hunting. I don't believe that a spear would work for self defense 'cause that bear or cat is not going to telegraph its intentions. I seriously doubt that one would get the spear up in time. And if that animal gets inside of that spear head yer in deep shit. Long ass knife and a good gun.
There's a few of that style out here in NorCal specifically for that reason.
I'm certainly not arguing against a spear as a spear, but as something in place of a knife.
I think a 4 inch blade is too little for large animals in general, though I can see a decent argument for having something easier to deploy than a 12-16 inch blade.
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First, there are techniques for using a spear at close quarters. You don't just poke things with it. You can swing it, use the part of the spear that's between your hands to strike with, and you can use the butt of the spear. Also, I don't think I would make a seven foot spear for use in the wild, unless I was hunting boar. Five feet should be sufficient for self defense.
So, be smart. Use your $800 custom knife to upgrade to a free five foot sharpened stick.
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I am aware- I've honestly done some training with spears. I really don't want to turn this into a binary argument with an either spear OR knife, never both. But people seem to be wanting to go that way. Striking from a full clench with the middle of the haft may prove a bit more difficult than from 18 inches away. A butt strike to incapacitate an animal may prove a bit less useful at ranges inside your comfortable slashing and stabbing range.
I haven't made an $800 custom knife, btw. Not sure what that's in aid of.