What Size Knife?

jermicah said:
Any suggestions for a good size and/or make knife for giving me a fighting chance against a mountain lion? I hike areas where attacks are not common but have happened and firearms are prohibited.
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I have, unfortunately, been quite near a mountain lion.

Fortunately, with a large bore rifle.

My opinion? Never bring a knife ... heck, you know the rest.

You'd have to be awfully 'manly' to even try a mountain lion with a knife. Here are the odds: You -- 1 knife, human level strength; M. Lion -- 12 large knives (just counting the two canines and those nasty claws!), around five times human level strength. Those just aren't good odds.

Perhaps...don't hike there?
 
I appreciate all the great advice. Here are my conclusions:
1.) Yes, I will continue to hike there since it is my backyard.
2.) No, I won't stop hiking there and go to a gym instead.
3.) Yes, I carry a walking stick and day back
4.) No, dog and firearms are not allowed 'cuz it's a national park
5.) Yes, I'll be alert especially when going under ledges (no big trees, this is desert)
6.) I will start carrying bear pepper spray
7) I think a fixed blade with an 8-10 inch blade and firm handle should help my sense of well-being, if nothing else.
8) My home is at the foot of Panther Peak, where over 90 huge mountain lions were shot during three years in the early 90's before a ban on hunting them. There are only three known left and they seem to be happy with the mule deer in the area. However one just attacked a border patrol agent a few days ago!
9) I just don't want to take chances but not so much so that I'll stop hiking in this most incredible spot on earth!

Thanks for all your help ... you guys are great!
 
One thing about a long blade is that if you are in a crunched possition while trying to draw it, you might have trouble getting it out of it's sheath. A 3-4" blade would be enough knife to kill the lion and if not kill, put a serious hurt on it, but it's best feature is that you can draw it with minimal space and time.
 
Here in Calif., someone fought off a lion which had hold of another hiker, by poking it in the eyes with a pen!
 
OldPhysics said:
Perhaps...don't hike there?
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Where is "there"?

In the West, things are a-changin.
Cougars have been seen in every environment that one might
enjoy hiking. They have been filmed prowling suburban
streets.

The 2 strikes rule for bears or cats is way too liberal.

Gonna be some kids or women killed. Guys, can be taken
also; a male jogger was killed some 10 years ago, in the
mountains west of Denver, Colorado.
 
this might be an out of place comment, but i wont consider a knife a real weapon anyway

if used to kill, it is just to kill

not fight

knife murders arent fights at all
 
nephildevil said:
i remember from another thread a story of an old lady fighting and surviving a mountain lion with an umbrella :D
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Ya, something like a chair sounds better to me than a knife.
For me, it might just be, "Lord, please make it quick."
I think I would die of fright, anyway.

Tell Dad to join the YMCA.
 
Hey, the ultimate knife would naturally be the Fallkniven MC1 :)
No fancy crap, just a really great knife.
http://www.fallkniven.se/a1f1/mc1.html
It has all the good things the other Fallknivens have, you can use it to cut loafs of bread lengthwise, you can kill off roadkill and wave off the occasional wild cat. I guess the MC1 will make some nasty cuts if necessary. It is quite ok prized as well.
 
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