[Catfish Prepper]

I personally dont think a sword would be completely useless if you have training in sword fighting. I have a Smith & Wesson tactical folder for edc, i also have a Sog seal pup elite i carry everywhere i go, and a Kabar becker bk9 attach to my bob.

 

[SAR-1L]

So most of my my special weapons training consisted almost exclusively of various types of melee weaponry. Blades are my best friend.

I often carry two knives, a fixed blade (3 7/8") full tang skinner, which has openings in the handle which allow it to be fixed to a baton or pole to be utilized as a spear. I also have a pocket folder, just cause it feels better to have two knives than one, as I have lost knives and had to rely on my backup before.

In my pack I have a modified Ontario razor back 18" ( pack mounted. ) with several items fixed to the sheath, one of those items being 2 throwing knifes, which can also usable as spear heads if attached to a baton or pole.

If hiking I have a Gerber Asek LMF which is calf mounted, when out in more remote areas... I recently acquired this blade and love it.

I also have an Estwing hip holster axe as well for camping.

So on a remote outing I will be carrying roughly 7+ blades, because the importance and utility of a reliable blade to me equals that of fire.
I would rely on a hand full of trusty knives of a variety of lengths and sizes before ever relying on a single sword or machete blade.

Additional Note: I do a calf, thigh, hip + hip setup, cause I have been in situations where you may not have range of motion to reach one thing or another. if you fall, or find yourself under debris you may only be able to reach your calf, and not your hip pocket, or your thigh and not your calf or hip. I am also strongly considering mounting another knife to shoulder strap of my pack in case I am unable to access anything below my torso.

 

[Lazerus2000]

My EDC knife is a CRKT M16-14LE with the Tanto point. This is just about the best pocket knife I have ever seen. The only time it was ever used in anger was near where I worked, on my way to the parking lot. The CRKT was used to back off a BIG Pit Bull that had alerted on a young black lab pup. The owner of the PIT [ a dope head with wife beater T shirt/wrap around sunglasses/tats/studded collar to match the Pit's collar ] was eagerly urging his dog on, and I was between the the Pit and the Lab, with the Pit eyeballing my testicles. The CRKT came out entirely by instinct, and I told the guy that if his dog came any further towards me I would cut off his head to send it in for a Rabies test.] The Pit got pulled back, I had to listen to some profanity and remarks about my man hood, and when I pulled out my cell phone to call it in to 911, the dog and the dope head went on their way.
Glad I had my EDC that day.
Other than that one episode, the CRKT is used as a TOOL almost every day, for everything from slicing cheese, to cutting up old computer cables that were no longer reliable.

If I could have ONLY one knife for general duty, I would probably pick a 4" - 5"blade rigid model in a belt sheath.

And if I could have only one knife for Wilderrness Suirvival,
I would pick one of my larger Kukri style beasties.

PS: to give you a sense of scale, that is a full sized M14 rifle in the picture, not a MINI 14

I no longer have any Katanas, much as i love them just to fondle and drool over,
but I did keep one Wakazashi.

I know a Little Old Lady who actually chased a home invader out of her house with a Wakazashi, and the cops caught the guy by following the blood trail. The cops would NOT come in the house till the highly adrenalised little ol' lady handed them her Wak ... hilt first.
Quite sensible of them.
A Wakazashi or a Katana, even in the hands of a LOL, can be a very intimidating thing indeed.
[;{)
LAZ 1

 

[PalmettoTree]

Have or carry? I can see no upside to carrying a sword. If traveling through the bush a machete of some form is a must. Most circumstances might call for a multi-tool knife and concealed small hand to hand knife might be in order.

The evolution of war has regulated the sword to ceremonies.

 

[roy]

Never bring a knife to a gun fight. Folks only use machetes to walk through the bush in old Tarzan movies.

 

[retired guard]

A knife can be a good tool. A tool can be an improvised knife or axe. I have no sword training. I'll use teeth if I need to but plan on using a gun for most conflicts not resolved through discussion.

 

[PalmettoTree]

Never bring a knife to a gun fight. Folks only use machetes to walk through the bush in old Tarzan movies.

I do not think anyone is proposing only carrying a machete. The point is it is a necessary tool in some cases depending on how quiet you need to move.

 

[SAR-1L]

This weekend I was super glad to have my machete while out camping. Once in a while you goof and you forget a couple things, you check, but some where between getting off work and have a slim two days for camping you get in a rush and forget something. I managed to forget eating utensils and a cast iron skillet. So I unfolded the emergency compact stove across the propane grill for my cooking surface and flipped the burgers with my machete... lol winning.

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

Big knife for me, and a small blade at the same time. Neither would be used for fighting unless really necessary.

For a big knife I would be carrying something like an ESEE 5 or my Tops Anaconda, (ok, I'd really be carrying my Busse Combat ASH1, but good luck trying to find one of those! )

Small knife would be something like a ESEE Izula.

They are tools, not weapons.

 

[roy]

I aways think of the Indiana Jones movie with the sword whielding Arab coming after Harrison Ford.

 

[Fallon]

Always bring a knife to a gunfight.

However you also bring a gun, a spare gun, a friend with a gun & a friend of his with a gun.

If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, you were way under prepared. Always have a plan B, and at least a notion for plan C.

 

[The Tourist]

I would choose the "knife" but with one very important element. That being, "Get a few months of education from a professional."

I got lucky, I fumbled into the classes taught by two real-deal sword trainers, one was in the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the other was a trainer who came to the Menomonee Falls High School. Looking back, these were probably the most learned and ideal men I could have ever met. Heck, it even saved my bacon--I found out (the hard way) that a folding knife uses "the same fingers."

BTW, there's a supposedly an old joke that a dueler once asked, "Have I been cut?" Yeah, it's a funny story supposedly.

My wife and I still live about 8 miles from Madison and their campus. However, in this day and age, where mommies-boys cannot play with sharp tools, I doubt those students will ever see the knives and epees I was trained on.

Don't tell anyone, but a knife is quieter than a gun. Shhhhh--don't tell anyone. In a "quiet" alley you can tip-toe away. Try THAT with a loaded pistol...

 

[bigwheel]

I'm thinking of carrying both. One on my tactical vest hung upside down and a katana strapped over my back. Of course I'll be carrying my AR as well.

Having a big knife can come in handy if the bad guy dont have a weapon you can always loan him the knife ex post facto after the gun fight. Smart thinning.

 

[The Tourist]

Despite being a blade-head, I think an edged weapon is a better defense than a firearm. For one thing, I've seen my buddies do a "fast draw and fire" only to see a four foot section four feet away and nowhere near the "bad guy" target.

Sure, you will have to learn how to finely polish a knife edge--after all, it might have slice through numerous examples of clothing you've never seen. But isn't this the purpose of forums like this? Do most of you guys remember that bizarre, large caliber handgun that hit the streets about twenty years ago? A buddy of mine had one, used it once at the local Deerfield Range.

As you guys know, I carry a stainless, six-plus-one .380 automatic. And even with that option I'd guess "arm's length" would put that round right through the villain. Still, I sure do like to debate the options, it's how I find stuff that works!