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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 13:31:55 GMT
Hey OP, for what it is worth, You could just buy a shotgun and never buy any ammo. The pump action sound is often more than enough to send them packing.
Please do not do this. If you have a shotgun, be prepared to use it. Supposing the intruder has a gun, hearing this would motivate him to pull it/use it and result in a paranoid intruder ready to shoot.
I have to agree with birdshot. Very light pellets and most often unlethal. Also, salt shot. Force alone will knock the person loopy. Plus, it stings like a b%$!@.
Usually, a cheap shotgun costs about the same as these sabres you are looking at. And please get a semi-automatic. Much faster than a pump. Just keep it good and oiled up. Otherwise it might jam. (unlikely in shotguns)
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 13:56:15 GMT
The shotgun always wins.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 13:58:11 GMT
Ah Ha, I picked the right forum obviously! Thanks for all the info and advice. Plus some nice sword suggestions! Mostly out of my price range though which I forgot to mention. Having read the suggestions and advice I'm thinking of maybe going for a range of options. The one's I liked were: Baseball bat. Stun Gun. Empty shotgun pumped for effect - nice idea! Shield. Plus maybe the sabre, just in case as a last resort. I don't have to use it. I'm not sure on the law here as regards self defence but I think it's along the lines of being an appropriate response. I should try to find out as you pointed out. I'm not too keen on the idea of a shorter weapon like the gurkhar blades. Too up close, I'm used to dancing about at as great a distance as I can manage, I'm very fast and accurate but not particularly brave Might be a bit short for you but I believe Condor Tool and Knife is still making their "Brush Cutlass." www.condortk.com/productsdetail.php?prodid=1001 Since this is being sold as a woodsman's tool it might help with legalities. If you have say a wall mount display plaque for it, it could even be called a "weapon of opportunity." The MSRP is less than $70 US, so it qualifies as a poor man's blade. Other than that, my personal favorite home defense weapon is the 48" ash shovel handle I'm currently turning into a walking stick. I have an 1 1/8" cane tip for it and the refinishing (sanded off the varnish so I can do a bit of carving, add a leather or cord grip section, and then give it an oil finish). These additions and modifications keep it out of the weapon category as far as my local law is concerned. Also, since you are a skilled fencer you can target non-lethal spots on you opponents body ie hit him in the shin instead of the head, take out his knee not his throat.... A nice piece of hardwood like a shovel handle or an axe handle can be made to balance enough like a sword your fencing training can apply.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 15:33:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 15:52:55 GMT
I think Liam has a great idea, much better than a bat. If you want a bat then lemal has a good idea, to get a T-Ball bat, so you could move it faster than a regular bat. The pepper spray and Taser was a good non-lethal alternative. I was surprised nobody mentioned hatchets or Hudson Bay axes, those are tools, and you can move them much faster than a full size axe. Lemal, I agree with you that I would rather have a bat than no weapon, and I would take a bat over what a Friend of mine thought he would use, a nine iron! A golf club would probably fold up at the first strike, or if the perp blocked it. But before I picked up that bat, you would find me using 1. guns 2. crossbow or bow, 3. swords or large knives or machetes, 4 Polearms, 5. axes, hatchets, tomahawks, 6. warhammer or mace, 7. spear 8. Bo staff, hanbo, 9. Dual tonfa, 10, Dual sai, 11. dual Escrima sticks, 12. Dual kamas, 13. crowbar, 14 Fireplace poker, 15. Walking stick or cane, 16. large chef knife and cleaver, 17. dual framing hammers, 18. dual large screwdrivers, 19. dual large wrenches, 20. metal pipe, 21. cordless electric chainsaw (This is all stuff I actually own) then 22. Pepper spray and Taser 23. table leg, 24. baseball bat(Hopefully a smaller, faster one), 25. Broom or mop, 26. 2 x 4, 27. Golf club
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 15:54:55 GMT
This is what I keep by my bed for selfdefense
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 15:56:24 GMT
Seems like you got yourself a nice plan, Valentinesmith, I'm glad you will be equiped to deal with intruders, although I also hope you won't have to deal with 'em On a side-note. Mythos Equidae, I don't know in what part of Canada that you live, but your's is completely different to mine. I live near Montreal, in Quebec, I don't know anybody who owns a firearm and I know just one person who knows how to use them (he is in the army but doesn't own a firearm).
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 16:04:06 GMT
Ugh, just the thought is beyond gut-turning. Whatever you decide on, may you never have to use it. Avoidance, prevention, and deescalation are always the safest physically, psychologically, morally, and legally. I think a big can of pepper spray, a cell phone (to contact police), and if worse comes to worse, a big maglight (handy to keep just for the illumination, and useful in other situations such as power outages, etc.) sound about fine.
Having associated with criminologists, statistics show that the best deterrent for home invasion is GETTING A DOG. I'm told that a small, loud dog is just as powerful a deterrent as a large dog. I grew up with a German Shepherd/Collie mix that was the sweetest, most passive critter you could ever imagine, but anyone coming to the house for the first time found him terribly intimidating. My wife and I have a big, goofy German Shepherd girl now. She's our good buddy, but woe betide the fool who even gets near the house! Dogs are not only great security, I think they are great companions and are lots of fun.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 16:50:54 GMT
stizzorm, you reminded me of my two big mag lites. I did once use one to clobber a snake that I suddenly noticed on top of a hay manger in a barn at night. I would use those before a bat too, you could blind with one, and clobber with the other
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 17:00:12 GMT
You do bring up a good point with flashlights. Can't say I'm a big fan of maglites though. Not enough illumination and easy to kill the wiring, or so it's been in my experience. A nice LED flashlight with a push button tailcap is easy to operate when you need it and bright enough to blind a guy momentarily for whatever you need to do, whether you plan on picking up a weapon, running away, or getting your family safely into the next room.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 19:02:02 GMT
You need my Father's advice. Don't ever bring a knife to a Gun fight.
No matter how good you are with a sword- what are the chances an invader will come in to your home with a knife or sword. No You're right, they will most likely be armed with a gun, as you too should be. If that is not an option, Pepper spray or a proper taser may do for you. A sword is a horrible home defense weapon.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 19:58:38 GMT
If someone isn't comfortable with a firearm in their home, I totally respect that. Because really, a gun in the hands of an untrained person in an emotionally charged situation like a burglary scares me! A lot.
Then again, what would I do to protect my family from intruders?
Good thread- I've taken a good 2nd look at my house and it's hallways, rooms, exits, etc. Being prepared. Even if it's just having a place to hide and make a call. Be safe everybody.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 20:57:19 GMT
"I was in fear for my (or other's) life. I had no other option. I only remember pulling the trigger once. I'd like to talk to a lawyer."
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 21:05:49 GMT
"I was in fear for my (or other's) life. I had no other option. I only remember pulling the trigger once. I'd like to talk to a lawyer." Important words to remember indeed. Although I´d leave out the ¨I only remember pulling the trigger once¨ part, as being unneccessary and giving a little more for the gorram lawyer prosecutor to work with and twist against a citizen. The rest should be quite sufficient to begin with until one has seen their own lawyer.
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Post by YlliwCir on May 25, 2010 21:10:18 GMT
I usually go right to the lawyer thing.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 21:20:43 GMT
Possibly even better. The KISS principal definitely has it´s advantages in these dangerous situations. The first two statements said with conviction is good to have in the investigating LEO´s report. But the ¨I wanna see ma lawyer¨ is really, really importamt for citizen survival.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 2:52:28 GMT
"I just don't want to get killed for lack of shooting back" "better to be judged by twelve than carried by six"
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 5:49:16 GMT
Secure house and big dog, yeah best of ideas really, ooooo westringa vines, really thorny but very pretty creeping vine bush/vine. You gotta keep them under control once or twice a year but they are so much worse then rose thorns, pretty but you wont feel dissapointed if they get wrecked.
Bars on windows.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 7:01:40 GMT
I have to say that I think prevention is the better option. If you want a weapon for backyard cutting or whatever then that is cool but a better option is to take what money you were going to spend and make sure that your house is secure, good locks, reinforced door frame if you think it is necessary, good, loud alarm system, there are few things more disconcerting for a robber or home invader than a squealing alarm because if the alarm has the right decibel setting it will warn people around you and it will disorient. If at all possible I agree with the dog option, it doesn't need to be a particularly large dog just a well trained one, though if you want what I call the s**t factor then something like a rhodesian ridgeback or one of those big powerful looking dogs but they have to be trained properly.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 8:22:12 GMT
I agree with the alarm, dog, and other house and neighborhood comments. Unless you have reason to believe someone is specifically out to get YOU. In that case, the other stuff is still important, but a weapon will give you a last shot at staying alive after he bashes your door in and kills your dog.
If someone specifically wants to hurt or kill you, they'll come up with a plan to deal with your security- which probably means attacking you while you aren't home.
Personally, I'm more scared of legal systems than I am the guy coming to kill me. There's nothing that terrifies like a huge, faceless, machine of people that can suddenly turn on you like a wild animal you trusted and thought to be tame. The first time you stare a detective in the eyes while he presents you with evidence and accuses you of doing something you know darned well you didn't do, in a way that's so convincing it makes you question yourself to make sure you're sure you didn't do it, it'll forever change the way you see yourself in relation to government/legal systems. They're fallible, dangerous things that almost everyone assumes they'll never be attacked by because they "aren't doing anything wrong."
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