Self defense Sword

T

thunderdome

Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
12
Hi,

I have recently moved to the UK, a country where firearms are heavily restricted. So the next best home defense weapon is of course a sword. I am looking for a no nonsense battle sword, that is razor sharp, and that easy to handle. It is not going to be a wall hanger, not does it have to be historically correct copy.

Can you please advise me on what to buy? Do you recommend a 1/1/2 hand sword or a two handed one? A katana or a medieval broad sword? Has any of you got experience with machete’s for self defense?

I had a custom Kukri knife made for me with 22 inch blade, but this thing is way unpractical and heavy. I am currently thinking of an Ontario BWS1 – Katana, or a Pavel Mock Howe sword.

Please advise me, but mind you that I am not looking for a water melon slicer or a wall hanger.

Thanks,

Fred.
 
A 3/4 estwing ax or a cold steel two handed machete will do the job of a sword and are tools.
From what I understand about the UK a dual use weapon is the way to go.
 
thunderdome said:
I have recently moved to the UK, a country where firearms are heavily restricted. So the next best home defense weapon is of course a sword.
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That depends on a variety of factors. In open areas nothing short of a machinegun is more deadly at its intended range than a good spear. If you don't have the time to learn how to use a sword often a simple knife or hatchet will serve you better.

I am looking for a no nonsense battle sword, that is razor sharp, and that is easy to handle. It is not going to be a wall hanger, not does it have to be historically correct
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That's a fair request. Perhaps the most well known three widely available large producers of good swords are Albion, Windlass, and Arms&Armor.

The greatest collection of sword reviews online that I'm aware of can be found at myarmoury.com. You should read through some of those reviews to get a better feel for what's available.

Can you please advise me on what to buy? Do you recommend a 1/1/2 hand sword or a two handed one? A katana or a medieval broad sword? Has any of you got experience with machete’s for self defense?
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What size/kind of sword you want depends on many factors. How big are you? How strong are your wrists? How open is your home? Do you plan on seeking formal instruction on the proper use of your sword? What instruction is available close to where you life? Are you more comfortable with the idea of chopping limbs off, skewering your victim, or slitting their throat and watching them flop around and bleed all over the room until they finally succumb to the comforting touch of the silent lord? (yes, I know any good sword can do all three) Has a sword recently been used to commit a crime close to where you live, and if so what type? Where are you planning on leaving the sword in the house? How good of depth perception do you have? What do you predict your chances of dealing with multiple assailants are? What size/age of villain can be expected in your area? How often do you have guests in the house? I could go on, but I think you get the idea. :)

Machetes are simple and effective.


I had a custom Kukri knife made for me with 22 inch blade, but this thing is way unpractical and heavy. I am currently thinking of an Ontario BWS1 – Katana, or a Pavel Mock Howe sword.
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I don't recommend the ontario sword. It looks too malicious and evil, which might work against you legally. I don't know enough about the British legal system to properly advise you other than to say if you used that to defend yourself here in America almost everyone would figure that you were looking to kill someone.

Pavel Moc is a very skilled swordsmith.
 
If you're talking about having something around the house... sure. Should you ever need to use it, but have to justify it afterwards, you'll definitely be better off with something that counts as a tool: a machete, say. However, you'd be even better off with a cricket bat or a hammer: they are more useful than a sword for self-defense, and they're much more excusable.

If, on the other hand, you're talking about personal self-defense outside the home: no police officer is going to say "oh, that's clearly a machete, a useful brush-clearing tool. you're free to go" if they search you. The same applies to a hammer, unless you're dressed like a workman and are coming from work. You'll only get away with a walking stick or a small non-locking folder.

(I should point out that I'm English, and I am very opposed to the UK's restrictive knife laws. It's a shame that "sorry, don't try it" is the best advice I can give. Check out the legal resources on britishblades if you want more.)
 
Kris Cutlery wakizashi.

Rob Criswell wakizashi.

Busse Ruck Kensei.

Wally Hayes wakizashi or bolo
 
thunderdome said:
Has any of you got experience with machete’s for self defense?
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I don't. However:

Among other things, I own ten swords and a seven-dollar hardware-store machete with a thin 22" blade whose edge I reprofiled on a belt grinder. Of those, one I'd least like to see in the hands of an intruder is the machete. I occasionally use it to clear brush and know that it cuts very aggressively with little effort through a relatively small space.

I wouldn't want to take a machete to a swordfight, but that situation will never arise.
 
holygoat said:
(I should point out that I'm English, and I am very opposed to the UK's restrictive knife laws. It's a shame that "sorry, don't try it" is the best advice I can give. Check out the legal resources on britishblades if you want more.)
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Good advice, to check in at BritishBlades for local attitudes, even if you do go ahead with finding a sword you like.

We can tell you about the best swords and where to get them but they can help you fit that sword into the UK legal context.

thunderdome said:
So the next best home defense weapon is of course a sword.
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I prefer impact weapons. :)
 
Reprofile the machete into a chinese broadsword!
My son asked for a sword so we made a lil dad & lad project out of it. was quite fun and fairly easy to do on a bench grinder.

also I believe you can still have Air guns in England right, ever thought of a high caliber air rifle, or pistol they can have as much knock down as a .45 ACP.

http://www.basc.org.uk/content/airriflepractice

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/

http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Career_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_50_cal_p/shin-sung-career-dragon-50.htm
 
Thank you very much for your replies.

In the UK one can pretty much own all sorts of edged weapons, but you cannot carry them and self defence is of course a big no no.

I am a Dutch man, in Holland you own can pretty much any weapon, but defending yourself is not allowed by law. Please do get me wrong, I do everything to avoid confrontations, but there might come a time when there is no other way.

I am only interested in using the weapon for home defence. I live in an old Victorian style home, with spacious rooms. The weapon I am looking for needs to have a blade length of at least 20 inches, and should easily be manipulated with one hand.

I am 6.2 tall, slender build, have fenced for many years, and have a military back ground.

I am not interested in using an axe, hammer other DIY / kitchen tools. I know that a lot of people think that they can outsmart the law, by using ‘non weapons’ for self defence.

I already own an Excalibur crossbow, and lots of knives, but I would really to like be advised on a sword. I am familiar with the ‘my armory’ website, this website seems to attract collectors, I am more interested in a sword in the practical sense.

Please help me.

Thanks,

Fred.
 
thunderdome said:
Thank you very much for your replies.
I am not interested in using an axe, hammer other DIY / kitchen tools. I know that a lot of people think that they can outsmart the law, by using ‘non weapons’ for self defence.
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This is a good point. If you keep anything with the intention of using it for harm it is an offensive weapon and you are breaking the law in the UK.

I know a guy in Glasgow who had his house broken into, he heard a noise and went to investigate taking nothing with him down the stairs. As he turned the corner from his stairs to downstairs hall he saw someone coming towards him in the dark so he picked up the nearest thing and hit the intruder in the head with it. Turned out to be a golf club he'd been playing with earlier and left in the hall and the burgler was almost killed. Police had no problem with that only because he had acted in the moment and at no point had he been carying the club around the house with the intention of hitting the intruder with it.

I know another guy who was broken into. He has 2 kids and a wife who were all asleep upstairs so he gets a cricket bat and waits at the top of the stairs. The intruders emptied downstairs but didn't come up. If they had he would have hit them and the stupid thing is the law may have prosecuted for that! It drives me nuts that a homeowners rights have to be tested in court when it comes to tackling intruders - surely they should be seen to leave almost all their rights at the door when they break in somewhere!
 
thunderdome said:
The weapon I am looking for needs to have a blade length of at least 20 inches, and should easily be manipulated with one hand.
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The first ideas that come to mind are the cutlass and gladius. Both of these sword types have seen a great deal of historical success. They're not too visually impressive, but they're extremely fast and dangerous.I know Windlass has in the past made (and probably continues to make) a few good cutlasses. Albion makes a good selection of gladiuses.

If you want something a bit longer and meaner your best be would either be a saber such as was loved by cavalry in the 1800s, a classic viking sword, or a light arming sword depending on your strength and preferred style of use. My personal favorite style of sword for feel, speed, and lethality is the Oakeshott type XIV. Here's an example:
smsovereign.jpg



I personally think katanas are overrated, but I'm sure many people here would strongly disagree.
 
If you are looking for a user japanease type sword (ie Katana or Wakaziki) you better buy one soon. I heard that England is banning all import, sale or possession of any cheaper (ie non collector value $20,000 + types).

I can't believe that any court, even in england would convict some on of a crime using a weapon where it was used against some one breaking into their house. even if they slept with the weapon for 20 years just waiting for some one to break in. That is just crazy talk. What ever happened to the "castle" doctrine.

A sharp sword is definitely a lethal home defense weapon, that would be quite effective (especially in the hands of some one with actual fencing training). I can't think of anything that would be more effectual (other than guns of course).
 
My advice, go with the Cold Steel short Assegi. It can chop, cut, and stab better than 90% of the swords on the open market. And you can get one for around $30 US on some sites. And if you have military training, you could easily apply your bayonet knowledge to it and have most of your training already out of the way.

However, you seem a bit stubborn in that you really want a sword.

Very well.

www.kriscutlery.com

There are many swords there that fit the description of what you’ve ask for. All of them are very well priced for the quality of the sword. I own several of their products, and could not be more pleased with them, especially for what I paid for them. Supposedly, the best model they have is their celtic sword. I have seen several reviews of it online, all of them saying it’s outstanding, and the people who own it just don’t seem to shut up about it.

Anyway, that is just my advice. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck.
 
Go with the Cold Steel 1917 cutlass.

http://www.1sks.com/store/cold-steel-88cs-1917-cutlass.html

It's a great little infantry saber - short, stout, basket hilt to protect the hand (and act as an armored fist, if necessary), full tang that's integral to the blade. I've got five of them, and I love them. Granted, I've never taxed them to their maximum extent (failure?); but they've got a good rep on swordforum, and from what I've read they are one of Cold Steel's better swords. I'm not an expert, but based on my experience with them and on what I've read, they're a classic "can't go wrong" sword.

Of course, I would also second the motion on a good gladius, if you'd prefer a straight sword to a curved one. I've got the Albion Allectus, which is a beautiful Maintz pattern; but I've heard wonderful things about the Kris gladius (and the Celtic sword, if you'd prefer a leaf blade).

The Cold Steel Cutlass and the Kris Gladius would be good, relatively low cost defensive swords, depending on which style of blade you'd prefer. You could pair it with a small buckler on your other hand:

http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/AH2263.jpg

As for long swords, I don't have a lot of experience with them, but I've heard that they have a higher training requirement. You said you had fencing experience, so you may be comfortable handling them. Based on what I've read, with a longer sword you'll have more versatility with one that you can handle either one or two handed. A katana style if you prefer a curved blade, or a bastard (hand and a half) if you prefer a straight blade.

Good luck!
 
I so disagree with the premise that a good sword is the next best thing to a gun! A good heavy claw hammer is in my observation quite deadly and requires little training. They are available in several configurations and I suspect the framer variation with the fairly straight claw is pretty much guaranteed to ruin the day of any skull owner who meets that claw.
 
I can't see how a hammer can compete with a sword when the sword gives so much better reach. Especially in dealing with multiple attackers, allowing the first one within arms reach before being able to strike him seems unnecessarily hazardous.

I would say the cutlass and the Celtic sword were developed for exactly this sort of confrontation. The gladius was primarily used in conjunction with the scutum and as part of a disciplined battle line.
 
I'd rather use machete, not single, but double. About 10 yrs ago there're huge riot down here, and I got a pair of Tramontina. They're light, easy to manipulate, about 50cm (blade), springy so won't fracture easily, but sure to lob off arm if used.

That's because I prefer slash/chop than thrust. Easier to do against multiple attacker, and if both hand used, even faster.

Lastly, having machete will be perceived more as tool than weapon, given such a strict law (see the golf club example).
 
thunderdome said:
I have recently moved to the UK, a country where firearms are heavily restricted. . .
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Your first mistake. . .

Not only are weapons restricted, but your rights are as well. . . Self defense is a big no no. (even home defense or defense of your family)
 
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