short sword

X

xman

Joined
Jun 3, 2000
Messages
239
Im thinking of getting a short sword for home defense, approx 19 inch blade. Too long and it will be like trying to swing a baseball bat in a car " if you know what i mean".
Has any owned, used or handled one before.

Where i come from, its illegal to own guns and those who do its either mome made single shot and probably has got them well hidden away.

Ive seen one made by MADDOG knives, nasty piece of gear with a price to match.
Any one making similar item with a price tag for us commoner.....
Ive got a Busse SH E on order, welllll its only a back up knife.


 
You might wish to try the URL below. They make what is reputed to be the best Roman gladius (shortsword) for the money. If you go to either www.swordforum.com or to www.netsword.com there have been various people who have tested the gladii on the market and they all say that the Kris Cutlery blade is the best buy for the dollar. Do understand that any good sword is a forged item, not a stock removal product, so you are paying for a good bit of labor in the making of it. Also, please understand that the movie, Gladiator, has piqued interest in Roman weaponry so youmy expect a wait for delivery.

I am talking about the gladius as it is the best known shortsword and, in my opinion, one of the most lethal as well as one of the most historical, not a factor to be ignored if you ever have to use it or if you are ever questioned about it by the police. "Why, officer, I just had this reproduction of an ancient Roman legionary's sword hung up on my wall and I grabbed it when the punk broke in!"
http://www.invis.com/kriscutlery/

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
I would stay away from buying a sword..Personaly If I didnt or could not own firearms I would get a BIG A** DOG..If you still insist on using a blade for primary home defense invest in a good fighter and learn how to use it..If you end up grappling with a intruder a sword will be almost useless. A smaller blade is more manuverable at contact distance and can inflict massive damage.Trust me ive been there..Not fun,not proud,but I learned alot.

------------------
:: Trade wanted::
::Nealy Aikuchi::5" ATS-34::Mircata Handles::
::Looking for a Civilian /Metal handle,plain edge::

http://holezone.homestead.com/Blades.html
 
Are you looking for a modern interpretation or an historical reproduction? If the "old" designs will do, try looking over at Swordforum International. They have links to custom and production swordmakers - eastern and western sword types. There is a huge variation in styles and prices. You might also take a look a several kukri designs from HI and GH. They have several models I would call a short sword. If you go for the "modern" rethink design priorities. A sword is not a just a big knife. The sword will endure greater stresses and needs to be tough and impact resistant. A sword doesn't need to have a razor edge to do it's job either. I'd love to see more knife makers try their hands at functional short swords. Something you could carry in the bush or use for home defense.
 
FullerH tankyou for the link, i will most certainly look into this.

Endura Duck, to be exact i have 2 rottweilers. i keep them out back where the baddies used to intrude. Since i have my little ones in the house its dangerous to keep dogs especially these particular breed.

So, now i have a situation where the back i secure and the front is only covered by lights with off the shelf/garden motion detector switch.

I had an incident once where my dad stumbled upon an intruder trying to carry the TV out the main. Chased him outside only to find him carrying a machetti... wha can you do but turn tail and run inside to call the cops.
Whiched turned up 20 minutse later. Needless to say if the robber was a druggie or a nut he could have just hacked his way inside.
 
Also consider a good wakizashi from one of the good Japanese style bladesmiths.

Harry
 
If you want a big blade in case of home invasion, why you save money and get a machete from Ontario or some other company. They make sturdy, inexpensive blades that are also useful as tools around the yard. Furthermore, machetes are clearly tools and in case you had to use it, the burglar's lawyer would have a harder time portraying you as some one waiting for an opportunity to engage in some sort or sword and socery fantasy. Additionally, you might consider a baseball bat, either aluminum or wood. These can provide substantial blunt trauma that can incapacitate an intruder without causing him to bleed to death like a large blade would. Finally, install a good alarm system; that might scare away an intruder and make a life or death struggle unnecessary.
 
Consider the Cold Steel Assegai with the short handle. 13"s of edge.The short handle is great for control. I used a wood burning set to put primitive designs into it for a better grip. One hand on the butt and the other on the socket gives me control and reach. It can even be thrown accarately over short distances with great penitration, altho I'd rather not throw away my weapon.
If you get the assegai make sure you get the sheath too. That's 26"s of cutting edge you've got there.

------------------
~~TOM~~
 
Might I suggest a quality Machette. It'll be just as effective and easier to explain afterwards.

I have a Wicked Knife Company RCM that would fit your needs and wouldn't look out of place in any rural setting.

"See what happens when you rely on someone elses pictures!"
View


John Hollister

[This message has been edited by John Hollister (edited 06-23-2000).]
 
If you want an inexpensive short sword,
Ontario Knife has a nice selection of basic
swords. Made from 1095 Steel if my memory serves me properly. They are black epoxy type paint coated, paracord wrapped handles and fitted kydex sheaths. Basicly a good low priced selection of swords.
If you are willing to pay a higher dollar, Dawson USA made some great swords for real world use back around when Desert Storm was happening. I do not know if they are still in buisness, but their stuff was reputed to be quite good, at the time. I also wanted the same thing some years ago. I finally made a matched set for my brother and I. 18" blade of 5160, 57 RC. 11" handle with titanium guard and butcap,artificial ivory handle slabs with traditional japanese wrap, then soaked in clear epoxy. They turned out quite nicely.
It helps to work in a high end machine shop full of exotic materials to work with. Hope you have luck in your search. Personally I use my SigP220 for first line home defense. But steel is a sweet backup.
 
Is this a possibility, about 20" and as many oz. in weight, available in A2 or CPM-3V? The Millennium Espada

img32.jpg


or perhaps, also 20"... The Millennium Machete

img23.jpg


or maybe, 21"... The Millennium Saber

img6.jpg


All sizes are flexible as is the choice between single and hand-and-a-half handles. Other styles are in development.

------------------
Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Originally posted by cut finger:
get a machete from Ontario or some other company. ... also useful as tools around the yard... machetes are clearly tools and in case you had to use it, the burglar's lawyer would have a harder time portraying you as some one waiting for an opportunity to engage in some sort or sword and sorcery fantasy ... consider a baseball bat... substantial blunt trauma that can incapacitate an intruder without causing him to bleed to death like a large blade would. .
Click to expand...

Interesting and wise advice by cut finger. You may make it through criminal court after defending yourself with a big sword if you were defending you and family in your home.

Civil court is an entirely different ballgame, where the greezy lawyers would indeed have a field day with a sword "murder" and compensatory damages that would ruin your life.

I know you asked for sword advice. Hossum's stuff looks amazing. Out of 3V? Awesome.

But I honestly believe an 18" legal barrel length shotgun with #3 (20 ga) or #4 buck (12 ga) is your best primary home defense weapon. I wouldn't argue with any ammo choice that says "buck" in front of the shot size. Mine carries a single front tritium bead. You can miss with a shotgun at close range if you don't aim. No pattern spread. Muzzle velocity of 20ga and 12ga are nearly identical. My wife handles the 20 ga much better, so be it. Sold. Splitting hairs about pellet count and caliber in 12 vs 20 is moot ... the perp won't know the difference.

2nd to a shotgun, a large caliber pistol that you know how to use, and that is totally reliable. My preference runs to 1911 styled Kimber's with night sights and 230gr Hydrashoks, and a couple "one round down" Wilson magazines. I wouldn't argue about 185 gr CorBons either.

3rd: the second 1911.
4th: big blade. Several in various spots around the house, but only if I can't get to shotgun and 1911's (plural).

The machete can be something more defense oriented than say the big bellied machete's we are used to seeing, like my Ontario D-Guard by Blackie Collins (which at 18" is a bit much for my ceilings in this house), and yet still totally utilitarian. I.e., it can have a pointy point and still be a normal working machete.

Check out these ATS-34 machete's by Ross Aki. One has a rather pointy tip version (clip point machete), the other is of thicker stock called Parang. Either in a 12" to 14" could be useable indoors, and 99.99% more likely, outdoors in the yard or woods as well. And far more defensible in civil court. Ross will make them to your desired length: www.macheteman.com

Automobile AND house: the big Mag Light flashlights are the most legal of clubs/batons I can think of, and totally defensible. And short, easily swung and controlled. I ended up at the 5 cell in "C" cell size as the most deployable for me (the 6 cell in "D" is pretty heavy and slow). No sense in risking an illegal police baton or other martial weapon of questionable intent (lawyers again).

And if you win the lottery, Scott Slobodian for swords. Art work meets total functionality.

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 06-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 06-23-2000).]
 
Mr. Ishida-san, I have one of those in the works as well. This is the profiled blade in A2 steel. As you can see it will have the hand-and-a-half handle. 20" blade.

img6.jpg


------------------
Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
See, I told ya Jerry Hossom has some rather neat short swords! and CPM3V none the less.

Might be out of your reach $ wise, but you never know.

Nice Jerry, I'll have to email you about that top one! But with a straight handle maybe.

G2
 
Here's a solution: get the Millenium Machete! You can think of it as a sword, but it's quite clearly called a machete, so you can take cut finger's legal advice. Just make sure you stand around outside near some bushes with it, and get someone to take you picture, and you'll be set
wink.gif


--JB

------------------
e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Well, I concur that for an in-house defensive weapon, the short sword isn't the greatest...but it would cause a bag guy to at least pause
smile.gif
I had Ernie Mayor, send me one of his "Szabo-designed Bush Swords"...it is a singe-edged, with a 6" sharpened false edge, 17" bladed (excellently heat-treated, ATS34), two handed design. More of a "fun" blade to assist in clearing thick underbursh, I've used it a few times while visiting Flordia and boating thru some thickly vegetated areas.

I wouldn't normally opt for an ATS-34 blade, but his heat-treatment/cryo-quenching is outstanding! I've accidently bounce the blade off a couple of rocks...no chipping! I've flexed the blade at least 30 degrees while jammed in a tree knot...always back to true!

A great tool first/weapon second...not great in any specific area, but works okay in a lot of different areas. However, I would probably look at a shorter blade geared mainly towards fighting/defensive use and practice with it thoroughly...IF your using it for a primary house-defensive weapon.

Just my humble 2 Cents worth
wink.gif


Dave
 
Speaking for swords.... in Baltimore MD last week, two guy got into a fight outside a bar in some part of the city. After some scuffling, apparently one guy pulled what the media called a "two foot sword" and cut the other guy's arm off. Completely. At the time of the story, the "victim" was undergoing his second or third surgery to attempt re-attachment.
Seeing the area where this happened, I'm pretty certain that the "2 ft sword" was probably more likely a cheap United Cutlery POS. Geez, can you imagine what a Hossom could have done?!
eek.gif
Probably wouldn't have stopped until it went through the guys spine!

Oops, sorry... that just slipped out. Suffice it to say, if I lived in a area where firearms were outlawed/confiscated, I would ante up the $$$ for a Hossom.
wink.gif


------------------
iktomi

[This message has been edited by rockspyder (edited 06-26-2000).]
 
Jerry, why the large choil/ricasso on the wakizashi-type blade? I noticed you have it on some, but not all of your other large blades. Is it for balance or something?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top