When is an axe better than a gun for Home Defense?

MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

Go Army, Beat Navy!
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Oct 6, 2004
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The discussion has been going off in tangents in the other thread, so I thought it would be more constructive to start a specific thread devoted to the topic.

Here's the question:

"Under what circumstances should an American choose an axe/'hawk rather than a legally-owned firearm for the purposes of home defense?"

-This is an either/or question, so "both" is not an answer within the purview of this thread.
-I say "American" not to disregard our other associates, but because that avoids specific Canada/France/Nepal/etc legal issues.
-We're assuming that the firearm is logical, legal, and appropriate to the task (not a .25ACP Lorcin, illegally-modified MAC-10, single-shot .22LR, etc)
-The scenario must be plausible for home defense within the daily life of an American (not against post-apocalyptic zombie bears, taking out VC sentries, etc)

I'm honestly open to someone making a logical argument about this, but I sincerely believe that a firearm is the better choice.

Those that choose a 'hawk over a Glock, I await your input.
 
Well, if you're in a location where you're allowed to keep a loaded handgun or shorty shotgun, I'd take the gun...especially if the guy breaking into your house is packing. If however (like me for instance) you're not allowed to keep your firearms loaded ( they're supposed to be locked in a safe with a trigger lock too ! ), then an axe is quick and handy.

Besides, an axe or 'hawk is still a pretty intimidating weapon.
 
If your opponent presented a knife and presuming you have swing room I believe a hawk would be effective in disarming (is that a pun?) the opponent. Depending on the opportunity of surprise you may be in a position to disarm an opponent with a rifle or handgun.
It would be interesting if a person had the dexterity to use a hawk in your left hand and a fighting knife in your right hand.
I think the cold steel trail hawk has very good "hand speed" and that makes it an agile weapon. Other hawks have a greater ability to hook a weapon because of the shape. You could throw the hawk and then attack with a knife too.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "Never", within the bounds of your question. I'm assuming by your "logical" stipulation, that you have taken into account over-penetration of bullets. If that's not taken into account, then perhaps an impact weapon would be better in some situations, but I would honestly choose something like a short baseball bat or fish billy over a 'hawk, just because I'd worry about the 'hawk getting caught on clothing, and I might want to hit the guy more than once.
 
1.) If you live in an apartment building and gunfire would present a danger to other tenants.

2.) If you are a "prohibited person" (felon, alien, history of mental illness or drug abuse, etc.) who is barred from lawful firearm ownership.

3.) If you don't want yer nosy neighbors to call the cops on you for busting off caps.
 
Realistically, given options I can't imagine choosing the hawk. Especially if you are in the confines of a small room or hallway.
If a home invasion occured it could come down to what came to hand quickly, your presence of mind and training.
 
No fair. An internet debate on weaponry is never valid unless it includes the possibility of post-apocalyptic zombies.
 
2.) If you are a "prohibited person" (felon, alien, history of mental illness or drug abuse, etc.) who is barred from lawful firearm ownership.
Click to expand...

Fits into the "legal" caveat above. I understand that felons, Canadians, and the like (just joshing the Cannucks) might have to fall back on inferior options due to legal issues, which is why I included the caveat.

3.) If you don't want yer nosy neighbors to call the cops on you for busting off caps.
Click to expand...

Under what plausible circumstance would a homeowner NOT want the cops to be called following a home invasion? If you're concerned that the cops will find your meth lab when they come into the house, you're life probably falls outside the realm of plausible scenarios for your average American.

1.) If you live in an apartment building and gunfire would present a danger to other tenants.
Click to expand...

This would be my devil's advocate argument for a 'hawk, though I would argue that "logical" would indicate that you choose your firearm and load based on the construction of the building that you are in. And note, again, that a firearm would only be discharged in a "I shoot now or I get killed" situation, where the 10% chance of hitting a neighbor might be a calculated risk.

-MV
 
MatthewVanitas said:
Under what plausible circumstance would a homeowner NOT want the cops to be called following a home invasion?
Click to expand...

1.) The headline screaming: LOCAL MAN KILLS INTRUDER WITH AXE will do wonders for your social life, as well as your career.

2.) Po-lice say: "Hey! We've been looking for you!"

3.) Po-lice go: sniff sniff "I do believe I smell that evil weed! You jes hold still while I wake up da judge for a telephonic warrant."

4.) Your buddies would kick you out of your motorcycle club for being a pussy who calls the po-lice.

5.) Dog food is expensive.

:D
 
1.) The headline screaming: LOCAL MAN KILLS INTRUDER WITH AXE will do wonders for your social life, as well as your career.
Click to expand...

Whoa, we're getting into cosmic paradoxes here: the neighbors called the cops because they heard gunshots, right? So that means you didn't use the axe. Or you _did_ use the axe and he screamed bloody murder, thus negating the whole "stealth" aspect.

2.) Po-lice say: "Hey! We've been looking for you!"
Click to expand...

Not your run-of-the-mill American scenario, leastwise not in my crowd.

3.) Po-lice go: sniff sniff "I do believe I smell that evil weed! You jes hold still while I wake up da judge for a telephonic warrant."
Click to expand...

"Gee officer, not only did he break into my house, but he brought his foul ganja along with him!"

4.) Your buddies would kick you out of your motorcycle club for being a pussy who calls the po-lice.
Click to expand...

Wait, wait, I thought it was the neighbors who called the police!

Will you biker buddies still respect you if you explain: "I just called the cops 'cause I didn't feel like hauling him away myself, let them deal with the cartage."?

-MV
 
Why do people start these threads?????? Gah......... Axe for home defense? Seriously man, THINK about it.....
 
l have a large wolfish dog. He sleeps next to the bed. Sometimes in the bed.

l wouldn't keep a sharp bare blade like that near where he might accidentally cut himself on it. For a tomahawk to be ready for instant home defense, you'd need to keep it with the blade uncovered.

lntruders?

Reckon if my 44 mag don't stop em, nothing will.
 
BRASMAN said:
When you have no ammo for your firearm.

Why not have both. :D
Click to expand...

That would be the only time I choose an axe over a firearm.

But if you think about certain situations like:

you keep your firearm under lock and key or in a safe. wouldn't you go for the axe first until you could free up your glock.

or you wake up with an invader (zombie or not) standing over you. unless you sleep with a loaded gun under your pillow.
 
Because of the Castle doctrine you have the right to defend yourself in the event of a home invasion. If you did this with an axe or hammer etc. you'd better hope that it was over quick because if you get into a drawn out h2h where numerous blows are required to subdue the attacker, a lawyer in your inevitable civil suit, will be able to paint you to the jury as an aggressor who was no longer defending yourself but rather attacking with brutallity, his unfortunate client. Use a gun.
 
"If you are a "prohibited person" (felon, alien, history of mental illness or drug abuse, etc.) who is barred from lawful firearm ownership"

Not to hijack the thread or go off on a tangent, but I have wondered about this for a while and never researched it, so I'll ask; if a person is a convicted felon and not able to own/possess or otherwise be around a gun, wouldn't they also be prohibited from having anything that could be construed as a weapon, like say a hawk?
 
Given a choice I would not pick an axe or a hatchet style weapon for use inside a residence. It is too easy to end up too close to your opponent by surprise and have that closeness or walls or ceilings or doorways interfere with getting a good swing. That long handle can be too easy to block under those circumstances. Under some circumstances I might like a 12 to 18 inch short sword. I have often said that a razor sharp barong would be pretty good for home defense. If there are others in the house it is best to do your searching with your point up out of line (so you don't poke the dog or a child). A sharp curved blade can still quickly do an effective slash without providing something safe to block. If the blade is moderate in length it is less likely to hang up on a wall or the ceiling.

Barong2.JPG


If I was going to use a gun in an apartment or condo I would opt for a short .410 loaded with #9 shot. You really need a short gun if you have to work in the confined spaces of a home.
 
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