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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 12:12:53 GMT
Hi all, I'm a newbie to the forum. I'm looking for a sword to use (well hopefully not) for home self defense and would value your opinions. Here's some background...I want something around the house for self defense should it ever be required. Guns are out of the question as I have kids and too much red tape. I'm an experienced sports fencer (Portugal), current top 20 national epee and national teams champion sabre at least for a few more weeks So a sword makes sense for me. However I want one that's useable for self defense not something blunt and bendy. I want something functional that handles similar to my sports weapons in terms of weight and balance and for this purpose I'm looking for a light weight and relatively straight sabre. It won't be on display but should have a scabbard to keep it clean/rust free while it lives under the bed. I want a single handed weapon and I'm left handed. My sport epee and sabre blades are 35 inches. I don't want a Japanese style sword. One that's caught my eye is the US army sabre from Cold Steel. Any thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 12:16:17 GMT
swords = bad home defense weapon
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 13:01:52 GMT
Hi all, Guns are out of the question as I have kids and too much red tape. I'm an experienced sports fencer (Portugal), current top 20 national epee and national teams champion sabre at least for a few more weeks So a sword makes sense for me. However I want one that's useable for self defense not something blunt and bendy. Welcome Valentine.... First off, understand that I am no expert. But, based on your high skill level with the sport sabre, I would think that the Cold Steel U.S. Army saber, with a good edge, would do nicely. But I have seen no reviews on this sword, so have no info as to it´s quality. I have a modified version of the Indian P1908. It is not too large or heavy. I have shortened the blade length to 31 1/2 inches and the edge is now very sharp. While the sword is not a ¨cleaver¨ by any description, it should do fairly well with cuts, and the point is very, very pointy. I would think that, with your training and it´s similarity to the sport sabre, it could fit your stated requirements. Edit: Here is a link to a discussion here at SBG on the CS Indian Calvary Saber /index.cgi?board=military&action=display&thread=11003 Another possibility, again considering your training and high skill level, might be a smallsword. The Cold Steel Colichemarde Sword 88CLMS looks attractive to me, although again I have seen no reviews.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 13:36:14 GMT
I would steer you completely away from cold steel, maybe look at arms and armour small sword, something light and fast that you know how to use but I still stand by my comment that swords do not a home defense weapon make
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 13:59:13 GMT
For home defense a baseball bat, a war hammer or a mace work better. If I was goig to use an edged weapon it would probably be a kukri, they are nasty close quarters weapons.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 15:52:41 GMT
I would steer you completely away from cold steel, maybe look at arms and armour small sword, something light and fast that you know how to use but I still stand by my comment that swords do not a home defense weapon make BW has something here.... check your local laws on self defense. in some places no weapon is allowed... in other places a sword would be viewed as premeditation. in very few places this would be ok. however, should you decide to get a sword for such a thing, a shorter blade would be in order for being able to maneuver. also something in cut and thrust, not hack and slash. edit: this subject will bring a varied amount of opinions you may or may not want to hear. be prepared. the subject of home defense is very sensitive, especially regarding swords.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:04:10 GMT
also forgot to mention... my local police dept knows i have swords, and martial arts skills. they also know that i am willing to use them for home invasion prevention. what they require is a phone call before hand. that goes even if i go empty hand. self defense is hard to prove, usually because every one that hurts someone, pleas self defense even when it wasnt. self defense is just that defense.. equal to or slightly greater force, than your opponent is using. deadly force being necessitated is a fine line. i would study rules of confrontation, deadly force authorization, even a concealed pistol class would teach you these things, even if you do not carry a gun. the rules are still the same. there are very few places on earth where someone invades your home you can simply dispatch them without first proving that you have retreated and fully tried to diffuse the situation first. then, and only then can you put them out of your misery. and yet and still that is limited to local law. then there is a matter of why they came into your home... was it provoked, was there illegal activity on your part, etc. all of that is in texas that allows home defense... BW can clarify what it is like in a place where guns are banned. in austrailia and new zealand, even police are limited about what they can do. in the 80"s new zealand police were limited to simply a baton no greater than 12 inches long.
A legal dilemma, nonetheless.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:12:47 GMT
I was looking forward to seeing some responses that address the OP´s question, which he has clearly stated. Still do.
Really do not see where the other extraneous opinions can help him with his question. He has apparently thought through his needs and has asked a pretty specific question. If he asked about defense related law, I think that maybe folk from Portugal could better address that.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:14:47 GMT
Got to go w/ Sirtre on this, be sure you understand the legal issues surrounding home defense / self defense where you live. That being said, weapons of opportunity are a safer bet, eg baseball bat. If I had to chose something specifically meant as a weapon, hypothetically, I would go war hammer or mace. As for swords, something short, thrust and cut type, Roman sword, seax,...something like that. It has to be effective in tight quarters, it would likely be dark,...
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:16:50 GMT
Sword are a very dangerous option for self-defense... Try explaining that you were just defending yourself, when the police finds the bad guy in a big pool of his own blood. Unless it is absolutely certain and clear to the law that you were in a struggle of life or death and that you weren't the one who striked first, you will very likely get into a whole lots of trouble (which may be better than beeing dead, but I doubt many people will illegaly enter your house just to kill you ...).
In the end, I think that a baseball would be a much safer self-defense weapon.
Edit : Earncynn, although the OP clearly stated that he wanted suggestions for a self-defense sword, I think he should be informed, first, of the dangers of using a sword in self-defense.
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Dom T.
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Post by Dom T. on May 24, 2010 16:18:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:28:41 GMT
Edit : Earncynn, although the OP clearly stated that he wanted suggestions for a self-defense sword, I think he should be informed, first, of the dangers of using a sword in self-defense. He did not ask that question. His Profile states that he is 41 years old. Who are you or others presume to tell him what he should do to protect his family, especially as he didn´t ask? Am I to presume to tell others how they should use the English language when posting, especially if they have not posed that question? His question was very specific.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:43:17 GMT
Although I am certain he is smart enough to know what to do or not, it is my right to give whatever suggestion I think might help him stay out of trouble. Taking my suggestion into account, or not, is his personnal choice and I respect that, whatever his choice might be.
And yes, I have answered a question that he didn't ask and I still stand by my answer. Chill out man, I haven't broken any forum rules, I just stepped on your personnal opinion, I guess...
To answer the OP written question ; if you want a bladed self-defense weapon, I suggest something very ''tool-like''. Examples ; machetes, outdoor knives, kukri ... These could easily pass for a working tool, used commonly in the wild, and not look like a purely fighting/killing weapon. (Having scratches and other signs of wear and use might help too ... Hard to prove your kukri is for backyard work when its blade is still shiny...)
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:48:38 GMT
I think before responding to questions like the OP's we have a right and responsibility to cover the liabilities involved.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:49:42 GMT
Look into Baltimore Knife and Sword.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:51:34 GMT
Hanwei Banshee or cold steel sjlambok
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 17:05:20 GMT
I think before responding to questions like the OP's we have a right and responsibility to cover the liabilities involved. I never intended to tell you what your right is or what sebastian´s right is. I was expressing my opinion that the OP wanted responses to a specific question and had hoped that his thread would not become cluttered up like so many before. He did not ask what one should/could do legally to protect himself. A response from a person who knows the self-defense laws in Portugal may have given him some useful information, but he didn´t ask that. What goes in Texas, Canada or anywhere outside of Portugal seems to be a waste of a thread. Speaking of wasting your thread Valentine, I have done so myself. I did not intend to use your thread to presume to tell others what their rights are. I was only trying to get to your question. I see that you have been online several times recently and I apologize for me wasting your thread.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 17:18:42 GMT
Apologies for any unintended offense. I did answer the OP's original question, I just like to be careful about discussing such serious business without some clarification. A lot of people read this stuff, some very impressionable. Peace.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 17:36:45 GMT
Well, not to jump on the band-wagon but.... (takes a quick hop) Baseball bat. If you're fixed on a sword, I'd say go for a small, light, quick sword. Something that wouldn't be a hindrance in a hallway, like a gladius or a seax. Your training in footwork and especially the lunge will serve you well to keep the combat in your favor at long arms distance, but the weapon itself should be short enough to still be of service if you don't have time to react quickly. And actually, I'd say, do display it. That way, it's just a display piece that you grabbed at last resort, rather than a weapon. I feel like it'd be a lot easier to simply say you panicked and grabbed this display piece than say you had the thing waiting under your bed... If you do want a long blade, I'd say, smallsword. The shorter blade won't get quite as cumbersome indoors as a rapier or straight saber, but the form is pretty much the same for the thrust. One thing to consider though is that a neat puncture may not stop a determined attacker. that's why I would recommend a blunt weapon, in that it has more stopping power and brute trauma force. If you really want the best opinion, talk to the officers of the law that frequent this sight. They have the experience with both the potential ugliness of the situation (they know what works and what doesn't) and they can offer sound advice from the other side of the law's perspective. Best of luck w/ your decision!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 18:17:13 GMT
Since you don't want anything Japanese, and others have posted some good suggestions for blades, here's mine, a Poignard kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=401726nice and stabby, but still capable of cuts. I think bats are last resort weapons, too slow and easy to grab or take away. I would use a crowbar before a bat, you can stab and hook with them, and they can do so much more damage than a bat. also, what about a crossbow
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