Who keeps a 'hawk by their beds. Anyone?

I don't think I want to convince the responding officers, the district attorney, and a jury of sheeple that I had no choice but to hack the deceased to death with a 'hatchet". Evan after you pass the physiological exam.
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The very fact that, on BladeForum, in a forum devoted to axe-maniancs, numerous people think that choosing axe over gun is unreasonable... should tip you off.

If an axe is your only weapon, it would seem reasonable to use it in self defense.

Passing over your Glock and 870 to pick up a sharpened piece of early Iron Age technology to go hand-to-hand -- not so reasonable.

Homeowners with legally-owned firearms shoot burglars from time-to-time. Most juries accept this, provided that said burglar was about to cause bodily harm to house occupants. Choosing an axe over a gun gives the whole situation a disturbing "I'll make it sporting, mwah-ha-ha-ha!" vibe.

If shooting someone would be excessive use of force, I fail to see how smacking them with sharp metal could be construed as de-escalation.

-MV
 
In my mind, one large supporter of a gun as the staple home defense is the simplicity of its demoralizing ability. If cycle a shotgun in the dark and an intruder hears it and DOESNT run, I'd say its pretty safe to assume your life is in danger. I would imagine 99% of situations like this would be resolved by simply chambering a round and waiting to hear their footsteps run from your home. I would rather lose some valuables and not kill someone than shoot first and maybe save my 300$ TV.
 
In my state if you shoot a man and he falls within the house its legal but if you shoot him and he falls out of a window etc. you can get charged, but youll still win the case its weird it happens on occasion and no ones ever been found guilty
 
Miles612 said:
In my state if you shoot a man and he falls within the house its legal but if you shoot him and he falls out of a window etc. you can get charged, but you'll still win the case its weird it happens on occasion and no ones ever been found guilty
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Are you by chance, in Mississippi?
 
My family has lost a member to a break in-murder, one of the more well known in Washington state from 1982. I have encountered more than a couple break-ins in my personal experience, in my own home and elsewhere. In Mississippi, I experienced many extremely hostile domestic encounters. One thing I can tell you for a fact, I couldn't give a crap about what any LEO is going to do, and how I'll be prosecuted for taking anyone in my home, with malicious intent, to a timely demise. I have, and always will use what is at hand. Some assailants will disregard the sound of a firearms action. So, stealth is often the best option, especially when I don't want my children to wake and be included in the event.

Don't get me wrong, this is not diregard for the law or lack of value in a human life. If someone is in my house with possible intent to harm, I enforce the law until a public appointed officer arrives and I give leave. As far as value of life, my children will always remain more valuable to me than some pathetic POS that has broken into my home to take what is not theirs. If I feel it warrants using a blade instead of another type of weapon, then so be it. Through the incidents I have mentioned, I have made friends and aquaintances with several judges, and LEO from the local sherriff's department on up to the DEA. My decisions and actions, when called to accountability, have never been questioned beyond my reasons given.

If you feel it is reasonable to use in the protection of family and home, it probably is.
 
mymindisamob said:
My family has lost a member to a break in-murder, one of the more well known in Washington state from 1982. I have encountered more than a couple break-ins in my personal experience, in my own home and elsewhere. In Mississippi, I experienced many extremely hostile domestic encounters. One thing I can tell you for a fact, I couldn't give a crap about what any LEO is going to do, and how I'll be prosecuted for taking anyone in my home, with malicious intent, to a timely demise. I have, and always will use what is at hand. Some assailants will disregard the sound of a firearms action. So, stealth is often the best option, especially when I don't want my children to wake and be included in the event.

Don't get me wrong, this is not diregard for the law or lack of value in a human life. If someone is in my house with possible intent to harm, I enforce the law until a public appointed officer arrives and I give leave. As far as value of life, my children will always remain more valuable to me than some pathetic POS that has broken into my home to take what is not theirs. If I feel it warrants using a blade instead of another type of weapon, then so be it. Through the incidents I have mentioned, I have made friends and aquaintances with several judges, and LEO from the local sherriff's department on up to the DEA. My decisions and actions, when called to accountability, have never been questioned beyond my reasons given.

If you feel it is reasonable to use in the protection of family and home, it probably is.
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Couldnt have stated anything better or more clear. I agree tenfold. I am just suprised that people keep posting to this thread...
 
The whole topic of "What is at hand" is fascinating. I remember 30 years ago when I had moved into a dismal room in a decaying rooming house in a large, nasty, southern back-water city. It had a chifferobe and a hot-plate on a table. The previous occupant had left a few seeds in a baggie in a drawer. I was poor as a Church Mouse and very much alone in a dark and frightening place. Their was blood and gauze on the sidewalks and breaking glass at night. When I bought my bologna I also bought a 7-Inch Old Hickory Ham Sclicer. It stuck nicely in the slightly open drawer of the musty bed side stand. I found that I could rouse from sleep and find it well enough. Several years later I had another place, same city, never any air-conditioning understand. Same old rotting victorian housing, I slept with all the doors and windows open, and my S & W MOD 10 HB .38 SPCL (148 Gr HP +P) under a hanky on the mantel over the old coal grate. I could come up from a deep sleep and find it nicely. One hot Summer I trained my self to sleep on my back with the Mod 10 laying next to me. Let somebody slam a car door at 3 Am and I would bolt upright with Mr. Smith & Mr. Wesson at hand. A buddy of mine from KY rode his bike down and slept on the floor. He was worried about leaving his bike parked on my front walk. Which made me worry; which made me start up at a sound from sleep and go into a crouch before the front door (and the brightly lit motor cycle under the porch light). Problem is, I stumbled over my guest and nearly scared him to death. made me feel foolish. After that I chilled. Never a "hawk in sight, but always knives around.
 
Got the yapping dog - - & light mounted 12 gauge & light mounted hi-cap .45, plus other various G&A - - never thought about a hawk. - - - I heard guys can't carry sidearms in some of the compounds over in Iraq - is that so ? WTF is that all about ?
 
David Schott said:
In my mind, one large supporter of a gun as the staple home defense is the simplicity of its demoralizing ability. If cycle a shotgun in the dark and an intruder hears it and DOESNT run, I'd say its pretty safe to assume your life is in danger.
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I would respectfully submit that it may not be in your best interest to pay too much attention to what you see from Hollywood or on t.v. - - If faced with a potentially lethal encounter its better to have one already in the chamber & ready. Its a personal pet peeve when I see them cycle a pump gun right in front of the 'bad guy' for dramatic effect on t.v. :rolleyes: Sorry if off topic -
 
If faced with a potentially lethal encounter its better to have one already in the chamber & ready. Its a personal pet peeve when I see them cycle a pump gun right in front of the 'bad guy' for dramatic effect on t.v
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I thought I was the only one who thought this. If there in my house, in the dark, they are already more ...(brave, foolish, desperate???) than me. All I want to do is safety off and pull the trigger.

A gun is for shooting things, not scaring them off. Ill save the 'John Wane' for impressing the girls, not protecting my family.
 
I keep a small battle axe close by, but it's secondary to a firearm with appropiate ammunition.
 
I guess when you live in an apartment, everything is pretty close to your bed, isnt it???? So, in that case, I have my Vtac and all my firearms within close distances of my bed.
 
I used to keep a craftsman hatchet sized "camp axe" next to the bed. I replaced it with a Dexter-Russell meat cleaver.
 
I got a few hawks and knifes lying around my bed, not really for defense or anything just happen to leave em their sometime tho I suppose it would come in handy in an emergency.
 
I can't believe this thread is still running and I can't believe I am also posting to it!
At my wife's request, all of our axes and hatchets are locked up in the attached garage or in my basement. This is because of an incident with a homeless vagrant that strayed into our part of the rural heartland and took a liking to my barn a few years ago. She has a valid concern (no need to arm him) and I can keep the tools sharp and protected from rust.
If I am reduced to close quarters fighting with a blade of any kind, I am in serious deep stuff. The invading hoard has obviously conquered 2 big dogs, my hardened home security, and several reliable firearms in experienced hands.
...And that's not even to mention the treatment they could expect from my wife if they track dirt in!
In home defense, blades are next to last on the list of options- right above teeth and fingernails.
 
I can't believe this thread is still running and I can't believe I am also posting to it!
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The thread keeps running because some people, for reasons still not understood by me, think that a sharp piece of metal is a better weapon than a Glock.

Some folks keep twisting the thread to turn "you should use something other than an axe" into ---> "give burglars cookies and milk."

If I feel it warrants using a blade instead of another type of weapon, then so be it.
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Nothing personal, but this is why the thread is dragged out. _IF_ a blade is better in the circumstance, sure. However, most of us here have ZERO clue why an axe would be better in the first place. In all honesty, I tend to assume that anyone advocating axe over gun is either 1) playing devil's advocate 2) a thirteen year old 3) has some issues.

Maybe a separate thread on "when is an axe a better weapon than a gun"?

I see some chest-thumping, and I hear one or two references too "lots of soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan use tomahawks", but not much actual content. I would be very interested to hear of any documented case where soldiers are using axes rather than M16s, but no solid info so far.

*shrugs*

-MV
 
Or we could start another thread for those who do not understand how, why, or when to use an edged tool as a form of defense. It takes no massive intellect, nor high I.Q. to pull a trigger or swing a blade. The same cannot be said for knowing how, why or when. At least it takes some real life experience and a touch of education.
If I really need to give a drawn out scenario, with unknown/better armed, multiple and possible threats or assailants, limited firepower and the potential need for stealth. Well, if the need is there, maybe a good CQC course or a reputable home defense instructor is in order.
In the same tone I used previously, If I feel the need to use anything (Axe, knife, gun, vehicle or a piece of someone else's anatomy) as a weapon, then so be it.
Where I've been and what I've done is not always for public display, but rest assured, I've used much in force of defense, and sad to say, offense. A gun is not the only answer, nor is any other single tool or weapon. If you feel no need to be prepared in any other fashion than the familiar, I salute you. For you are much more gifted than I, or possibly just obtuse enough to discount the one simple way to save you or your loved ones lives.

*shrug*
 
The same cannot be said for knowing how, why or when. At least it takes some real life experience and a touch of education.
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Certainly. I'd say we're all in agreement on that issue. Equally, 90% of us or more agree that it is appropriate to use potentially lethal force in self-defense if necessary.


If I really need to give a drawn out scenario, with unknown/better armed, multiple and possible threats or assailants, limited firepower and the potential need for stealth. Well, if the need is there, maybe a good CQC course or a reputable home defense instructor is in order.
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In all seriousness, that topic would be worth starting a new thread for, as mentioned above: "When is an axe better than a gun for Home Defense?"

Most of the situations you mention above ("unknown/better armed, multiple and possible threats or assailants) recommend a gun rather than an axe. "Limited firepower" = use a large mag or carry more ammo. "Stealth"? I fail to see how this is a consideration in home defense: I want it to sound like the frickin' 1812 Overture if criminal elements are entering my house.

I submit that I cannot think of a plausible scenario in which an American homeowner would be well-advised to choose an axe over a gun when defending his house from a home-invader(s).

If you feel that such scenarios are plausible enough to warrant grabbing an axe rather than a gun when you hear a "bump in the night", I would very happily read your new thread on the subject.

Until then, I remain unconvinced.

-MV
 
Back in the days of single-shot blackpowder firearms, it was more of a necessity than it is today.

l can understand it as a good option today when many people are living under Communist rule and cannot own or discharge firearms in their city.


But l live out in the country. l keep a 44 mag by the bed.
 
Speaking to the OP original question. If all you have is a hawk, then that's what you have to work with. Having knives and bludgeons and swords and spears and even axes along with handgus, rifles and shotguns I don't see how anyone would pass up the gun in favor of a hawk to protect their home and the lives of their loved ones. If you have options, then you pick the one most assured to stop the threat. If you would have made it a poll, it looks like the vast majority of posters would be lined up with the GF. I'd be with them for all the obvious and logical reasons already given.
 
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