imported post
rottman43055 wrote:
Forget the video & lets look at some real observations.[/size]
In a lot of situations a knife will beat a gun. Knife wounds are devastating, if you have any doubt google Contact Edged Weapons pdf and take a look for yourself. (very graphic)
Wounds even to areas that most consider non life threatening when cut, can become life threatening.
Knives are very concealable, anyone can pull a knife VERY quickly to thrust or slash.
They are silent, never jam, will not hit innocent bystanders.
Also, training with a knife is not required to mess someone up (training helps, but not needed). I have seen plenty of crime shows where someone has knifed someone to death & not recieved so much as a scratch in the process.
Also, look at the Tuller drill, 21ft in a couple seconds. Thats not much time to draw & fire if you see someone coming at you with a knife from that distance.
So, does a knife beat a gun? It depends, but it is very unwise to dismiss edged weapons because you think a gun is superior.
Of course knives are dangerous. If someone comes at me with a knife, I'm drawing and shooting. Unlike the dummy (the one that doesn't move) I'm going to move, look for cover or at least give the knife guy a smaller profile. Sure, a knife can beat a gun. If I'm facing North and not paying attention someone can sneak up from the South and hurt me. For defense, is a knife the best choice? Hell no.
"knife wounds are devastating" - No doubt, but so are gunshot wounds. Knives as ranged weapons are one shot, and you do have time to duck or at least get your vitals out of the way. You can't duck a gunshot. In melee range a knife could arguably have an advantage.
"knives are very concealable" - Depends on the knife. The knife in the video looks uncomfortable to conceal. In any case, concealing serious gun power isn't much of an issue.
"They are silent" - Not an issue for self defense.
"never jam" - A good point, but other issues outweigh this factor. This is mitigated by using a gun that you know, practice with, know the ammo inside and out, fed in 1000s of rounds, etc.
"will not hit innocent bystanders" - An absolute statement that isn't necessarily true. How many innocent bystanders have been hit by competent shooters trying to hit a bad guy? I don't know, but intuitively I think that's got to be an extremely small number.
"Also, training with a knife is not required to mess someone up" - Point and pull a trigger requires training? I disagree here, it takes much more training to use a knife in combat than a gun. Either method should have (not requires) lots and lots of practice.
"I have seen plenty of crime shows" - Mmmm, ok.
"Also, look at the Tuller drill, 21ft in a couple seconds. Thats not much time to draw & fire if you see someone coming at you with a knife from that distance." - Certainly true, but that implies the guy with the knife is the aggressor (BAD GUY). As a defensive weapon, the knife isn't going to take longer to draw than a handgun. If the other guy has a gun, already drawn, well whether you have a knife or handgun you have to hope he misses the first shot. If you have a knife, and you're not in close quarters, you have to throw it and the knife is gone. If you have a gun, well you just squeeze that trigger. Miss? Squeeze again.
No thanks, I'll stick to the handgun. But..nothing says you can't carry both.