Knife for defence against wild critters ?

[sideways]

I do. I fight grizz in summer and Polar bears during the colder months. The black bears aren't actually worth unsheathing my knife so I just kick their a@@.

 

[halbschaf]

Jens Schuetz is a typical German name☺
Thanks for your ideas.
A friend of mine killed 4 bears with a knife during survival trips in Canada over a period of around 20 years, but these were blackies and he had to defend himself.
Unfortunately I cannot ask him, because I don't know were he is. As far as I remember he mostly used a bowie with a blade of around 8 1/2 inches, but I am not sure. For me it's only for just in case, I hate people shooting at animals to get a trophy.

 

[druid189]

Jens Schuetz is a typical German name☺
Thanks for your ideas.
A friend of mine killed 4 bears with a knife during survival trips in Canada over a period of around 20 years, but these were blackies and he had to defend himself.
Unfortunately I cannot ask him, because I don't know were he is. As far as I remember he mostly used a bowie with a blade of around 8 1/2 inches, but I am not sure. For me it's only for just in case, I hate people shooting at animals to get a trophy.

That's quite a feat...but I also carry a large blade in conjunction with a few smaller ones for certain tasks. The larger blades serve their tasks and [will] also serve as defense [if necessary].

I've never hunted "trophies," I eat everything I harvest.

 

[Codger_64]

Bear meat is good.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Bear meat is good.

Is it true that the paws taste the best? Can't imagine there is too much meat on them.

 

[Codger_64]

Is it true that the paws taste the best? Can't imagine there is too much meat on them.

A bear's paw is bigger than both of your hands together, so it is probable there is quite a bit of meat there. I don't know for sure though. But considering that a bear can weigh from a quarter to half ton, even devoid of hide, offal, fat and bone there is a lot of meat there. I'll let you know if I get the chance to try it.

 

[B34NS]

Expanded my bear horizons the week before last in Japan, in soup form although there were a few in the mountains where I was staying. Like smaller black bears, but leaner. The paw thing is more "ancient remedy" than delcious imho. I think the cheeks can be the "best" just depends bear to bear, diet, environment, etc. I've always been a huge fan of a hot shot of bear fat in the morning.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

A bear's paw is bigger than both of your hands together, so it is probable there is quite a bit of meat there. I don't know for sure though. But considering that a bear can weigh from a quarter to half ton, even devoid of hide, offal, fat and bone there is a lot of meat there. I'll let you know if I get the chance to try it.

Just did some reading, a 900 pound grizzly has an average of 15inch long hind paw. Mine is only 12 long and has no claws.
So yes plenty of meat that cool picture puts the whole knife vs bear into perspective
But yeah also shows that you better have something than nothing at all.

How long can a bear run at full speed? I caught cotton tail bunnies which were much faster than me only because the little fellows got exhausted after a while. Maybe that works for running away too if humans have less speed but more stamina and enough distance to begin with of course.

I couldnt find a clear video of how a bear attacks. Under bear attacks in Wikipedia it states that settlers often met natives which survived bears who had missing eyes, noses and scars. So guarding the head and having the knife on your chest close to your defensive arm position sounds like a good idea.
It also gives stats on bear caused injuries and deaths. Almost none for many years. Very surprisingly low.

Bein raped mugged and killed by two legged bears even in non urban environments seems much more likely.

 

[Woods Walker]

I think maybe he is on to something with the club. Greater reach than most knives and you don't have to worry about dulling an edge in the 5th or 6th bear of the day.

 

[B34NS]

Just did some reading, a 900 pound grizzly has an average of 15inch long hind paw. Mine is only 12 long and has no claws.
So yes plenty of meat that cool picture puts the whole knife vs bear into perspective
But yeah also shows that you better have something than nothing at all.

How long can a bear run at full speed? I caught cotton tail bunnies which were much faster than me only because the little fellows got exhausted after a while. Maybe that works for running away too if humans have less speed but more stamina and enough distance to begin with of course.

I couldnt find a clear video of how a bear attacks. Under bear attacks in Wikipedia it states that settlers often met natives which survived bears who had missing eyes, noses and scars. So guarding the head and having the knife on your chest close to your defensive arm position sounds like a good idea.
It also gives stats on bear caused injuries and deaths. Almost none for many years. Very surprisingly low.

Bein raped mugged and killed by two legged bears even in non urban environments seems much more likely.

I wouldn't worry so much, the black bears just east of you in the sierras are pretty easy to deal with, like so:
[video=youtube;Bkwy0scRXBU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkwy0scRXBU[/video]

 

[Phoynix]

Fun Quiz
Which has the greater Fatality Rate.

Humans attacked by bears?
OR
Bears attacking a human who uses a knife in defense?

 

[halbschaf]

Hi Phoynix
After having read these threads you are still asking, whether it's better to defend against a bear with a knife or with bare hands?
You like to state that it seems not to be a big difference and you are right.
Nevertheless, without a good knife I would stay at home.

 

[Hammer67]

There is a difference between situations in which people have used a knife to defend themselves against a bear because it's all they had on them, and planning to use one in such a situation.

If it's the only defense I had at the time? Of course I would use a knife. But I would never go into serious bear country (as I do pretty much every time I go for a hike around where I live) with a knife as my intended defense. But to each his own - it helps keep the gene pool healthy.

 

[halbschaf]

For me as a German I'm confused, might be my English isn't good enough. I cannot believe that someone thinks a man will go into the wilderness with the intention to fight a bear with a knife. As far as I understand the question here only is, which kind of knife may be a good one in case you will come into a situation, where you cannot avoid a confrontation, regardless of which other kind of weapon might be more effective.

 

[druid189]

For me as a German I'm confused, might be my English isn't good enough. I cannot believe that someone thinks a man will go into the wilderness with the intention to fight a bear with a knife. As far as I understand the question here only is, which kind of knife may be a good one in case you will come into a situation, where you cannot avoid a confrontation, regardless of which other kind of weapon might be more effective.

I think your command of English is fine.

In early American history, there are stories of some Native tribesmen who sometimes battled bears with knives or tomahawks [or some other type of hand weapon] to prove themselves worthy of being a warrior. There also exist - stories of Daniel Boone, Wild Bill Hickok and other early frontiersmen doing battle with bears in hand-to-paw combat. I'm not saying they did or didn't but the stories exist and at best, can be "plausible." the bear population in the 1600's to 1700's was probably considerable compared to today's numbers. I can imagine not being able to take a crap without running into at least one. Back then they used flintlock rifles, some may have had a "Henry repeating rifle" or revolvers...but if someone uses this historical 'romanticism' as a guide for their wilderness lifestyles, then they are better men [or women] than I am because there's no way in Hell I'm going to try it.

I personally know the power of a +/- 600 lb PA Black bear [about 272 Kilograms for my EU friend ] by watching it flip over a 2/3 rds full dumpster at a campground. If at all possible, I am going to avoid any bear in the woods. If I can't and the only thing I happen to have on my body is a blade, then that's all I have to work with. This is one [of several] reasons I carry a very large blade on my belt. I generally carry a handgun - but not everyone does, some are not allowed to.

 

[abbydaddy]

It is possible to kill a bear with a knife, it is just not a good thing to bet on. When the topic of killing bears with things other than guns comes up, I like to tell a story from when my dad was a boy in Barrow, AK:

An old Eskimo lady was out tom-codding (ice fishing on the ocean without the cabin for those of you from warmer climes) when a polar bear attacked her. Just to provide some atmosphere, remember, Barrow is a place that is very dark in the winter, that is why they set the comic/movie 40 days of night there. I would probably just poop myself and die if a polar bear came out of the dark and attacked me, but not this old Eskimo lady with nothing but her clothes and a stick. She had thick seal-skin mittens, and she shoved her arm down the bear's throat and choked it to death. She of course lost her arm.

So the moral of the story is, if you are as much of a BAMF as that old Eskimo lady, you can kill a bear with a mitten.

 

[abbydaddy]

Bear meat is good.

Yes it is, though I haven't had it since I was a kid. There were two times my dad had to kill a bear. I remember absolutely loving the meat. My dad would send it out to be cured. He was never that crazy about it, but I loved it.

 

[halbschaf]

Thanks again for your very interesting answers. I personally only have heard about one guy, whose intention always had been to kill a bear with a knife, but finally never did it. This job Ben Lilly did for him, his guide. I'm talking about Teddy The Bear Roosevelt.
Hi druid 189, what's the long blade knife you prefer to have on your belt?

 

[Phoynix]

No actually I'm not saying that at all...
People suggested using a knife is silly... I was pointing out the only other option is bare hands and that is a far less effective option.
Problem is people have been implying and twisting the threads purpose to suggest people WANT or INTEND to only use a knife.

1/5 bear attacks on humans are fatal in NA.
1/3 of bear attacks on humans that were fatal for the human and a knife was used in defense are also fatal for the bear.

That said very small sample size so no real conclusions can be drawn.

Hi Phoynix
After having read these threads you are still asking, whether it's better to defend against a bear with a knife or with bare hands?
You like to state that it seems not to be a big difference and you are right.
Nevertheless, without a good knife I would stay at home.

 

[druid189]

Hi druid 189, what's the long blade knife you prefer to have on your belt?

the smallest I'll carry is my KABAR fighter but I also had a TrailMaster Bowie I was immensely fond of. I carried it for years. My daughter claimed it though, it now serves her in her forest romps. Here's the link to Cold Steel:

http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/39L16CT/TRAIL_MASTER_O-1_High_Carbon.aspx

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 1/2"
Overall Length: 14 1/2"
Steel: O-1 High Carbon
Weight: 16.7 oz
Blade Thickness: 5/16"
Handle: 5" Long Kray-Ex™
Sheath: Secure-Ex® Sheath

--------------------

After surrendering that blade to my daughter, I've carry my small bolo-machete in its stead.

I'm looking at replacing it with another TM Bowie from Cold Steel...the bolo has no point and sucks for stabbing. It does, however, have awesome swing and balance. not only does it cut brush, it batons through wood like nothing. Mine is made by Case: