Blades For Animal Defense?

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Wolfeye

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Apr 26, 2015
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Hey, guys. I've got a curiosity question: What blades would people use for defense against animals? Doesn't have to be blades, of course- but I'm wondering what people brought with them in Medieval times or whatever. I don't tend to think of animals as enemies or anything, but sometimes I worry about when people use them as weapons or if one's going after my dog (honestly would prefer a gun in mountain lion territory, but then I might hit my dog- same as when dealing with people).

I know they used something called a "volchatka" for defense against dogs or wolves while hunting in Russia, but I haven't seen demonstrations of how it was used for that. Not a blade, but sometimes that's not a bad thing.
 
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The only thing that comes to mind would be a boar spear, if that counts as a 'blade'.


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Spear, whip and long weapons in general are common choice to defend against animals
 
As has been said a spear would be good. Aside from that, I suppose any number of boar hunting knives or a 6 inch+ bladed fighter.

I saw where a hunter was being mauled by a buffalo in Africa and his son killed the animal with a Cold Steel OSS sub hilt dagger. It was on YouTube, he stabbed it a few times in the lungs but it had also been shot. Why he didn't use the big bore rifle he had, I don't know.
 
Wolfeye said:
Blades For Animal Defense?
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Depends on which kind of animal you want to defend;)

Just kidding.

You mention dogs and wolves. Like above, Id say, a stout spear would a good bet.

The handle/staff part of a spear could be used to dispense a solid whack to the head of your average neighborhood mutt in attack mode.
 
In the area where I live we have a traditional tool called nadžek. It is basically a long stick with the head of a small hatchet. It can be used as a walking stick but also for self defense.
 
Depending on the animal you're defending against, a spear without a blade might be enough. (A hiking stick!) A heavy cane, or shillelagh is usually effective against dogs.
 
likota said:
In the area where I live we have a traditional tool called nadžek. It is basically a long stick with the head of a small hatchet. It can be used as a walking stick but also for self defense.
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I like that. Like the Polish ciupaga and Hungarian fokos.
 
Personally, i do not wish harm to animals.
But i do understand fear of attack
And the need to keep distance from nasty creatures.
In an urban setting,
Anthing can be adapted to ward of unwelcomed beast...
Without creating too much attention with specifically designed tools.
Basically its the proverbial sticks and stones concept for me.
Its of course a different matter out in the boonies.
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I have known people who were successful with walking sticks and one guy who hit a bear with a club sized limb. Both worked well although everyone agreed a firearm would have been a better choice in the moment. I've read a few news reports of kitchen knives and Buck 110 style folders working but you have to be close and in the reports I read, the people suffered some degree of injury themselves. Distance weapons are your best bet.
 
Bear spray seems the most logical. I am majoring in wildlife science and conservation so I too do not wish to harm animals and would suggest using bear spray as a non lethal method for defense
 
I don't know which knife is best for animals in general, but I do recall a thread that had lots of excellent info on the "best knife for bear attacks". Search for that one...
 
Bill Siegle said:
I have known people who were successful with walking sticks and one guy who hit a bear with a club sized limb. Both worked well although everyone agreed a firearm would have been a better choice in the moment. I've read a few news reports of kitchen knives and Buck 110 style folders working but you have to be close and in the reports I read, the people suffered some degree of injury themselves. Distance weapons are your best bet.
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After my wife was attacked and bitten by a large dog (while walking ours) I asked animal control for recommendations. They suggested a long stick. After this, I carried a Phillipine Garrotte (practice sword carved out of lignum vitae), pepper spray, and a backup pocket knife. At night, I carried a 4D Maglite flashlight.

This was in Champign, IL. Now that I am in NC, I don't walk a dog, and it is rare to see dangerous dogs off a leash where I now live...but it does happen. I would be more concerned about people off a leash here.
 
My great grand father used lances in the German army in 1901 so I should be biased towards them. Actually I think it's rather silly against rifles of that era, but yeah.

While their range is great from a horse back it's also it's weakness when you are dismounted. Once the spear point is passed it becomes more or less useless.

Most predators will sneak close and then pounce on you, often from behind. Will that be spear distance or more knife range while wrestling for your life?
I know there's an aversion to get close and dirty but that's what will probably happen.

If the animal anounces itself ahead of time then you can use the spear's superior range for one or two pokes. If you miss those it's too close and you better have another weapon.

If the scenario is that the predator clinging to another victim and busy a spear might be actually a good option.

I'd go for prepper spray which works in medium and short range and with a fog cone which is easier to aim at a fast predator than a spear or knife point.

If that's ruled out for legal reason or whatever I'd use a Kukri which has a bit of a range but doesn't become worthless in a, more likely, close distance fight like a sword would.
 
I've got a walking stick with ice pick thingy on the end when the rubber boot is off. I would rather have it than a knife, but don't think I'll ever need either.

Your thread did cause me to think of Forum member Jason Hobbs.

A Spyderco Caly 3.5 helped him save his boy....
[video=youtube;wuXAAuyCKO8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXAAuyCKO8[/video]

He told his story on Spyderco Forum, and am pretty sure he did here, but couldn't find it.

He received the Knife Rights inaugural "Save a Life Award"....
http://www.ammoland.com/2012/06/jas...arry-a-knife-save-a-life-award/#ixzz4IuuPnoQG
 
My God Ken! I couldn't imagine being in that position.
Damn.
Joe
 
JDX said:
Bear spray seems the most logical. I am majoring in wildlife science and conservation so I too do not wish to harm animals and would suggest using bear spray as a non lethal method for defense
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I always carry several large blades and a walking stick with a club head when in the woods, but in bear country I won't leave home without the bear spray. Though I feel a club or large blade could be successful, using bear spray significantly reduces risk of injury to yourself (and frankly, the animal). I would only use it against an apex predator though for fear of overspray hitting me and exacerbating things.

Now as far as protecting your own dogs, obviously you dont want to pepper spray your pup, so I would go with the club or spear. Get some distance on it and still be able to avoid hurting your dogs. A good blow with a club will send most any animal you would encounter the other way, specifically what I consider the biggest threat to my dogs, wolves or coyotes. I don't have big cats where Im from and they rarely attack dogs of any kind unless cornered anyway. Wild or feral dogs, though, I worry my dogs will engage them more readily leading to a dangerous situation.
 
mycough said:
Glock 29 with 200gr hard cast. Be real people...
Russ
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I concur. Or a S&W 460 or 500 magnum. Bear spray is probably your best bet , followed by a medium to large sized fixed blade in the event you don't have time to draw your firearm or can't legally carry one.

The most "dangerous" wild animals around here are Coyotes.

The only time I've seen one was when I grilled it with my SUV 7 years ago.

Sent via pony express
 
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