swords

[Almtnman]

Yep, and I started carrying a 45acp back about 1960 and been carrying one ever since and see no need to carry a sword after all those years. But I have no objections to anyone that wants to carry a sword, but my 45acp has a longer reach than a sword. I do have a Ontario Knife Works Kukri that I could use in case I ran out of ammo, but I use it mostly to hack out trails to my hunting area and it works like a charm for that kind of stuff. I sure wouldn't want to rely on my Kukri for self defense and take a chance on some bloke pulling a 45 on me and making the odds uneven.

[Elijah Gunn]

I've heard Bowie knives described as being short swords, and I would like to have one in a survival situation.

[Yankee1]

Hi All
    I dont know about a sword but if I had a rifle with a bayonet
I still remember my vertical and horizontal butstroke series.
They are ingrained into my head.
                                     Yankee1

[teamnelson]

What makes the green grass grow ?

[billy_56081]

BLOOD!

Ya know I will never forget bayonet training.

[Elijah Gunn]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it here yet but, phalanx has a pretty good post about swords over in the knives forum here. It's at the top of page 2.

[Hodr]

I thought bayonet training with an M 14 was a total waste back in the 1960 s.  The new battle rifles are rather short and lightweight.  Over the years i learned the usefulness of single stick, quarter staff, and cane fighting as a necessity.  If you are in a gunfight you really need a gun.  If you are in a knife or swordfight an m14 will give you a massive edge.  Once started let muscle memory take over and remember the DI screaming in your ear, "STICK IT IN"

blindhari

Sgt. Ranger
Like my father before me

[billy_56081]

Blindhari, what makes the grass grow. Bayonet training was fun.

[hesco]

have several machetes, ontario, tramontina,several homemade, use them for brush clearing, over a million people have been killed in the african genocides with mechetes, anyway the tramontina has a 26"blade i think, really sings going thru brush, small limbs and saplings best one i have every used only about 7 dollars made in brazil, and yes someone would be in deep sheet if i had to use it as a defense tool have had one in my hands since old enough to walk.

[Hooker]

In a survival situation a sword would not be my first choice, but it's not a bad choice.
As already mentioned if they get that close somebody made a grave mistake. But as they say "no sense cryin over spilt milk" if you find yourself in this predicament you better have something to fight with.
For survival equipment something that can pull multiple duties is always the better option.
These are my top choices.
Machete it's a tool and a weapon it makes a fair sword but a sword makes a poor machete.
Hatchet again a tool and a weapon not the best weapon as they are easier to defend against than a sword or machete.
Probably better if it is used in conjunction with another weapon.{ Knife, another hatchet , preferably a handgun }
Spear tool and weapon has length to keep some distance between you and your assailant .
The big problem with all edged weapons is they lack the ability to instantly stop a fight. So if you get down to cutting hacking good luck to you. But the odds are that if you survive the fight you will be wounded and that puts you in very bad way in a survival situation.

Pat