For non-gun bros: best weapon combination for self-defense?

[K Galt]

Concerning the knife: I think the most important part is how to hold it, while waiting for an attack.

The most important part is knowing how to use it...aka training. If you don't know how to really use a knife, you have no business carrying one for self defense. Furthermore, I've seen knife fighters use every position, stance, posture and grip shown in the pics in this thread. None of them are inherently good or bad, each has it's advantages and disadvantages.

We'll have to agree to disagree here. I believe what you have just described to be the perfect blueprint for getting yourself killed.

Agreed.

Never pull a weapon of any kind unless you're prepared to use it to it's full potential.

...in actual modern life in the West, you have to try your best not to seriously wound an opponent.

North, South, East or West, you don't pull a knife unless you are fully prepared to kill with it.

Better to be judged by 12 than carried out by 6.

 

[cascadecombo]

Concerning the knife: I think the most important part is how to hold it, while waiting for an attack.

The most important part is knowing how to use it...aka training. If you don't know how to really use a knife, you have no business carrying one for self defense. Furthermore, I've seen knife fighters use every position, stance, posture and grip shown in the pics in this thread. None of them are inherently good or bad, each has it's advantages and disadvantages.

We'll have to agree to disagree here. I believe what you have just described to be the perfect blueprint for getting yourself killed.

Agreed.

Never pull a weapon of any kind unless you're prepared to use it to it's full potential.

...in actual modern life in the West, you have to try your best not to seriously wound an opponent.

North, South, East or West, you don't pull a knife unless you are fully prepared to kill with it.

Better to be judged by 12 than carried out by 6.

That's one of the biggest things about this thread that seems to be getting avoided. Talking about stances and such seems pointless. If a gang of guys plans to jump you and you pull a knife then expect to have several knives pulled on you as well as having rocks thrown or anything.

In my idea of an imperfect world, if you are going to brandish a weapon you need to be using it within an instant else your opponents start figuring out a strategy against your threat. Otherwise you are trying to use it for scare value and might as well be holding a replica gun and hoping they shit their pants and run away.

 

[mickeyd]

Without the option of obtaining a gun, your only choice is ganging up in numbers and intimidation. After all isnt that what these migrants, with little resources and weaponry, are doing themselves? It seems very effective to me. You need like minded individuals when worst comes to worst.

 

[Geomann180]

Homogenous Society + Good Border Controls

G

 

[spokepoker]

How about a framing hammer, steel toe boots, and a carpet knife?

 

[MikeS]

Without the option of obtaining a gun, your only choice is ganging up in numbers and intimidation. After all isnt that what these migrants, with little resources and weaponry, are doing themselves? It seems very effective to me. You need like minded individuals when worst comes to worst.

The day I need to bring a pack of guys with me just to go about my usual business in safety is the day I'll know Western society has fallen so far that I'll consider moving to a cave in the forest.

 

[mickeyd]

Without the option of obtaining a gun, your only choice is ganging up in numbers and intimidation. After all isnt that what these migrants, with little resources and weaponry, are doing themselves? It seems very effective to me. You need like minded individuals when worst comes to worst.

The day I need to bring a pack of guys with me just to go about my usual business in safety is the day I'll know Western society has fallen so far that I'll consider moving to a cave in the forest.

I guess I should have elaborated more. I'm talking about a network. Eyes and ears open. Neighbors looking out for neighbors. The fabric of society thats completely lost in the anonymity of big cities. And of course, "ganging up" when you see a threat out in the open. Obviously you wouldn't rove around in a rat pack just to stop at a grocery store. But on a night like New Years Eve, you can pretty much assume some bad shit is going to go down somewhere, can't you? Not a time to be alone.

 

[Tytalus]

Question: Are Ice Picks a legal weapon to use for self defense? Or more of an assassins weapon?

 

[Ryre]

Question: Are Ice Picks a legal weapon to use for self defense? Or more of an assassins weapon?

I'll speak to this and the ice axe suggestion from earlier. In my jurisdiction in the states, there's not a hard and fast line between 'weapon' and 'not weapon.' Intent matters. Yes, even your intent in carrying the item. So if you are on your way back from a climbing trip, someone attacks you, and you pull your ice axe in self defense, you are in a different position from someone who picks up an ice axe and goes down the street to talk to the noisy neighbors. You can theoretically catch a weapons charge for a frying pan if you pick it up with the idea of cracking somebody's skull with it.

My jurisdiction has rules about the length of knife blades--sub 3" is generally legal. But if you carry a sub 3" blade as a weapon you can still be charged with a weapons crime. I have a 2 3/4" lockblade I carry sometimes, but if asked about it I would be sure to say I carry it because it is handy for sharpening pencils, opening packages, etc.

As with everything in this forum this post is for entertainment purposes only. I have been drinking whiskey and this should not be treated as legal advice.

 

[PainPositive]

A trained dog. Also wasp spray. It has a range farther than most mace and is cheaper/ more accessible. When it contacts the eyes it causes temporary blindness. You must go to the hospital for the antidote so finding and prosecuting your attacker would not be hard.

 

[Chauncey]

I've heard good things about tactical pens and expandable batons.

I have a friend who is a Deputy US Marshall and he says this is his favorite weapon to use on raids and round-ups.

 

[John Michael Kane]

Brass knuckle gloves. Look them up. They make some that are rather inconspicuous looking, especially in the cold European winters. If you make a habit of wearing them, you'll never be without a weapon, or I would suggest think of them as a secondary weapon should your baton, knife or other implement fail or get knocked away from you.

 

[Chauncey]

[img=640x640]https://theritesofspring.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/caprica-bomb-vest.jpg[/img]

I just wear one of these under my shirt. Anytime someone tries to fuck with me I lift my shirt up and they gtfo in a hurry.

(Seriously though, great thread, very informative)

 

[Grit]

If you are drawing a weapon my assumption is the situation is going to escalate until you are on the ground being stomped. If you aren't about to be stomped, leave.

If it's one on one, leave.

If a few guys are about to stomp you, you should be trying to leave, period.

Rule out pepper spray, baton, stun gun, or large knives. Any of these will be taken from you and , ahem, recycled.

My suggestion would be brass knuckles on your strong hand and on your weak hand, a small push knife with a middle finger hole.

Neither can be pried from a clenched fist easily. If you get hit and dazed, neither should come out of a loose grip. And also, you can still open your grasp and let them dangle if you need to grab something.

They can be carried in hand warmer pockets, taken off and put on discreetly with your hands inside the pockets. So if guys are following you, show your raised hands, turn to walk away, put your hands in your pockets as if to keep warm, and you have discreetly armed yourself.

 

[Deepdiver]

In the USA in all 50 states, no matter the situation - if you are in fear for your life you never give up the right to self defense - this also applies to military personnel when faced with contradictory rules of engagement in a war zone.

The fact that this may not be the case in the EU indicates that it is time for a revolution, to throw off the shackles of liberal Marxist Feminist insanity and return to laws based upon your human right to be safe and secure in your person and home and to defend yourself by all necessary means when you feel at risk of your life.

 

[Snowplow]

In all seriousness everywhere you go, there are weapons all around you. Make it a thought exercise that every time you are out, spot things to be used as weapons.

Last night I was at a mexican restaurant, within my reach I counted at least 4 items to be used in my defense as a weapon. The chair I was sitting on, the glass bottle of soda, a napkin dispenser, the hot sauce containers, and my coat. Now I had a pocket knife and belt that can also be used but those other items I mentioned are often overlooked.

The martial art I've trained in (systema) helps to make you think creatively about every day items. Hell even my hot cup of coffee can be used. Adapt, improvise and overcome!

Here's an example of what I've trained with. (In the very beginning he's using a pen which can be very unassuming and effective)

 

[Peregrine]

Stumbled across this thread and did a quick skim. Some good advice, and some horrible advice too.

Based on your criteria of...

-Carry on your person all the time, so small and concealable.
-Easy to obtain and maintain
-Not technically illegal (overlap with above)
-Has decent fatality potential
-Has crowd control capability
-Fast and easily deployed
-Has decent range

The following are the best weapons, in descending order:

1. Situational awareness
2. Situational awareness
3. Situational awareness
4. Body language that projects "go fuck with someone else"
5. 300m dash time
6. Self defense training (I prefer krav)
7. Strong compact flashlight 200+ lumens, no "self defense" bezel necessary, carried in a way that can be deployed with minimal delay

That's it. If you have a car, baseball bat in the trunk.

I've heard good things about tactical pens and expandable batons.

I have an expendable baton. It's good and cause good damage, but one BIG drawback: since it has no cutting edge, opponents can catch it and try to wrestle it out of you. One on one is fine, but we tested it with my martial artists buddy, even against 2 un-trained but aggressive attackers its very easy to have it wrestled out of you.

Then the baton wielder isn't sufficiently proficient with it. I'm not sure how you "tested" this without breaking any bones or killing one of the two attackers.

 

[cascadecombo]

^I like your post buddy but I have one big change I think you would accept as well.

5.300 meter dash time

may be better as

5.Learn free running/parkour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7QNWEGcNI

flips aren't needed but I'd be darned if you cant run

 

[Fast Eddie]

In the USA in all 50 states, no matter the situation - if you are in fear for your life you never give up the right to self defense - this also applies to military personnel when faced with contradictory rules of engagement in a war zone.

Can you elaborate on what this means? Are you saying that if you are carrying an otherwise "illegal" weapon but are discovered due to having to use that weapon in self defense, you will not be penalized for illegal possession?

 

[Hannibal]

I'm pretty sure this has already been said in the thread, but I'll just reiterate.

These migrants roam around in packs. If you're talking about forming a gang, they already have the advantage of having nothing better to do with their time than group together and look for trouble. Our society is so compartmentalized you probably won't even have your gang around when you need them.

So what I recommend doing is, first off, develop a strong cardiovascular base. Interval training is a good way to go. Look up rosstraining.com for ideas on how to improve your cardio. Pushups, swings, burpees, sprints, sledgehammer swings, get it done. You can't fight if you have to catch your breath after thirty seconds, and more importantly, you can't run away.

Second off, it's fucking foolish to stand and fight if you have the option to run away. This is a given, don't be billy badass and get killed because you decided to pick a fight with Abdul and his three buddies come out of nowhere and smash your head in with a bottle. The migrants again have the advantage here, they don't care if they go to prison in Europe (it might as well be a three star hotel) and they're a lot harder to identify if there are few witnesses and you're dead.

Third, do not pull out your weapon (knife, baton, whatever) and simply brandish it. That won't scare them like a gun will, it will only escalate what might have been an unpleasant confrontation into a one way ticket to the hospital or a pine box.

Whatever pocket sized melee item you have is strongest when your opponent doesn't know you have it until it's too late. Someone earlier said that there are such a thing as brass knuckle gloves. I looked them up and found SAP gloves, they aren't quite the same but they do have lead shot in the knuckles and they definitely do not look like weapons. They also tend to be legal in most areas because they aren't as lethal. Although SAP gloves add weight to your punches, the impact is spread out (unlike brass knuckles, which are designed to concentrate impact).

As far as a self defense tool, this would be my list of pros and cons.

Pros
-They're gloves. They keep your hands warm.
-They don't look like weapons.
-You can use other weapons while wearing them, like a baton or yawara stick.
-If you can't buy them, you can make them. The internet is your friend.
-It's hard to wrestle a glove off someone's hand.
-The metal in them will protect your hands. These are popular with bouncers.
-As long as you have them on, you can use them. You won't need to wrestle shit out of your pocket or coat. Instant deployment if you get jumped. For this reason alone you might as well go out and buy a pair. I convinced myself to get them while writing this post.

Cons
-Only good at point blank, no extra reach
-You need to know how to throw a punch
-Looks out of place during certain times of the year
-Limits finger dexterity for most things, like calling the cops on your cell or using pepper spray. There are fingerless options though.


I'm sure there's more.