What about a sword?

Just curious, as someone living in the UK and thus difficult (though not impossible, legally or illegally) to acquire a firearm, my bug out kit features a crossbow of decent power, an air rifle for small game, a throwing hatchet and a hand axe. But I am quite proficient with a sword (only been fighting and training with them for 31 years, so room for improvement, lol), so I wondered...

Do any of you have, are considering or have considered having a sharp, real sword in among your kit? I have a hand forged, sharp as hell, Norse 3 lobed sword, the balance is pretty perfect and swings like an extension of my arm. It would be a shame to leave her behind if TS ever HTF.

Look forward to responses...

a reply to: djz3ro
Always handy I guess.
That being said, however, existing criminal gangs will already have firearms at present, these would be the first to "acquire" supplies in order to corner the market as it were, obviously this would be more prevellant in major cities (I don't know where you're based) I'm nearly at the end of the country in Cornwall so "organised" crime isn't really a issue, aside from a drug issue in St Austell and parts of penzance.
There's plenty of armed farmers around here to perhaps deter any looting from fields etc.
How long can you realistically fight with a sword before your arm gets knackered?
I have an air sabre, a crossbow and an air rifle all set aside for a shtf scenario

originally posted by: djz3ro
Just curious, as someone living in the UK and thus difficult (though not impossible, legally or illegally) to acquire a firearm, my bug out kit features a crossbow of decent power, an air rifle for small game, a throwing hatchet and a hand axe. But I am quite proficient with a sword (only been fighting and training with them for 31 years, so room for improvement, lol), so I wondered...

Do any of you have, are considering or have considered having a sharp, real sword in among your kit? I have a hand forged, sharp as hell, Norse 3 lobed sword, the balance is pretty perfect and swings like an extension of my arm. It would be a shame to leave her behind if TS ever HTF.

Look forward to responses...

I mean; in a setting where your opponent doesn't have a better weapon -- sure, a sword.

It a real world scenario where you're defending yourself from Tyranny....

Swords ain't cutting it. This isn't the 1600's.

Swords have little to no practical use, are heavy, and hard to carry compared to options you could machine or 3D Print yourself.

What are we attempting to protect from? I don't think you're going to fight a bear with a sword.

As a survival tool; swords are pretty low ranked. Axe's have much more function. Try to split a log with a sword, or cut down a tree....

As a defense weapon, swords aren't much more dangerous than axes. Still -- it's 2023, defense by bladed arms is always going to be low tier.

a reply to: djz3ro

never bring just a knife to a gun fight even a big one, they don't work real well at a distance. a cross bow and even some .177 at 1000 fps at the muzzle, or .22 at 700 fps at the muzzle air rifle can kill a human. at the very least put your eye out.
plus there are lager caliber air rifles that can definitely kill you.

a reply to: shinzaun

I had a laugh thinking of the number of medieval reenactment groups and able sword fighters there are here in the UK and then worldwide in the SCA, once the bullets ran out, the new Medieval Period would begin.

You're right about gangs but again, where I am there's one "Young Team" which was actually quite brutal in my Dad's youth but now only seem to exist in the odd graffiti tag. Aberdeen and Dundee have gangs but there are miles between us and them.

Getting plans for a. 3D print have crossed my mind but ammo is the main issue. They'd be locked in a box in my bugout bag and only used in a SHTF scenario. I think it's insane that we even need a license for a bloomin' air rifle these days. As much as I think we're too strict, I certainly wouldn't want a concealed carry society over here, I think that would lead the # strait to the fan, lol.

a reply to: BernnieJGato

Hahaha I knew this was coming, congratulations, it was you and I was asking for it, well played Bernnie

a reply to: djz3ro

Hahaha I knew this was coming, congratulations, it was you and I was asking for it, well played Bernnie

i was surprised no one beat me to it.

a reply to: SRPrime

I'm in the UK and not near enough to any zoo to worry about Bears.

The most common weapon in the UK is a blade, through Tactical Edge training in my early door days they don't worry me too much. But if gangs are my biggest threat, the gangs round here maybe have a gun or two between them, most will choose blades, bats etc. I am trained in Florentine (a weapon in each hand), I'd say a sword in my striking hand and a decent blade in my offhand would give me a decent chance against maybe 4 or 5 gang members with bats and knives. I'm no ninja, just quite good at protecting me and mine.

Btw, I think a sword against a bear could be rather effective against a bear, especially one kept really sharp

originally posted by: djz3ro
a reply to: SRPrime

I'm in the UK and not near enough to any zoo to worry about Bears.

The most common weapon in the UK is a blade, through Tactical Edge training in my early door days they don't worry me too much. But if gangs are my biggest threat, the gangs round here maybe have a gun or two between them, most will choose blades, bats etc. I am trained in Florentine (a weapon in each hand), I'd say a sword in my striking hand and a decent blade in my offhand would give me a decent chance against maybe 4 or 5 gang members with bats and knives. I'm no ninja, just quite good at protecting me and mine.

Btw, I think a sword against a bear could be rather effective against a bear, especially one kept really sharp

There is always that delusional person. Sorry man; you're not defeating 5 people. Even Ninja's aren't defeating 5 people.

That bear will also eat you. You need to get some help.

Rule number one for bladed combat, is no matter how well trained you, you're getting stabbed. Now 5 opponents; you're dead even if they are untrained. Bladed combat isn't fancy, it's grab the leverage arm and stab stab stab.

In real life you get stabbed 20 times in a few seconds. I know man, everybody thinks they can handle their own, but... everybody is over confident, you will die 1v5.

No maybe, certainly.

a reply to: djz3ro

Considered it for a while but never came across one in real life, I mean a real handmade one. And if I wanted to have one, I would want to know the story behind it. A hard to get combination. Not for the bling but I do think that the rare swords should be kept in honor.

I collect knifes from all countries and times and three of them, a double set small dagger + Bowie with survival hollow handle, and a single one, were requisites in movies and have a cool background story. That's where my interest comes from and a sword would fit great. Currently I store them in drawers because I lack the room but maybe in a few years and then I will really want to have one

A hatchet would be more practical, because it's a multi purpose tool more easy than a sword, that is long and purpose made. Then maybe a smaller Bowie (but with the hand guard!) and a pocket knife, possibly a Schweizer Taschenmesser and you are set IMHO. You can defend and get through vegetation and even use it as an axe, with the hatchet, slaughtering, crafting, defending with the Bowie and fine work with the pocket knife.

originally posted by: djz3ro
I think it's insane that we even need a license for a bloomin' air rifle these days.

When I said that the United States was the last bastion of freedom left in the world, in a recent thread, somebody had to correct me and say that the United Kingdom was free, too. Your statement is exactly what I was talking about. If the citizens of the U.K. think they're really free, I think they need to think again. Don't you even have to get permission to use a television?

That said, I will stick with a gun for defense. They've been around for a long time; they're tried and true technology and they're easy to use and to learn how to use. And if you're proficient, they're economical to shoot. Just learn how to aim better and you can save a lot of extra bullets.


TCB

a reply to: djz3ro

" Never Bring a Sword to a Gun Fight in the Woods "

Daniel Boone

a reply to: djz3ro

Sure, they can be handy in the right situation. I have a short sword, a machete, and a combat knife.

Just make sure you're using the right tool for the job, and don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

Shouldnt be too difficult to make a couple of flintloicks and you can always make the ammo for them.
carry 3 or 4 like a pirate then you can pull out your blade once you have fired them all off.

Wouldn't be bad to have a katana or something. Ammo runs out, after all, and would best be spent for hunting. I have throwing knives... I can't see many scenarios where they'd be useful, but I know how to use em... *Shrug*

If someone is trying to get your gear with a bat and you pull out a sword, I'm sure it'd be an effective deterrent.

a reply to: sine.nomine

Rock, paper scissors?

If some one has a gun you can not win.
even if You have a gun.
if they shoot first you die!

Yes a Sword is a very good wepon!
it some one bad is coming to you.
a crossbow will keep them away.

some one walk up to you looking freindly then attack you!
or ambush you a big knife or sword can win the fight for you.
You Must be able to take it out very quickly!
No more that two feet long.

A cross bow and a air rifle?
a air rifle is to much weight.
and all the Lead pellets!

What you need is Stealth!

a reply to: djz3ro

Ammo runs out.

Keep your sword.

Many of you are suggesting an axe for chopping wood. Never chop wood in a real situation needing you to bugout. It just announced your presence and advertises where you are and you have stuff others need. You can hear chopping for miles. Get a good quality folding saw and a pocket chain saw. The two can be used to deal with any needed wood work and cannot be heard for more than a short distance. As a weapon, an axe is good but the design is different. A tomahawk design is much better as a weapon.

The same goes for running a generator. You are inviting the public to your survival party to play with your stuff.

American here, and very proficient with a broadsword!