Best Melee (aka hand-to-hand) weapons

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Regarding melee weapons, this video popped up in my recommended videos list on YouTube and it's pretty neat.

Dude makes a medieval style war hammer out of some plumbing pipe and a wooden dowel.


https://youtu.be/xQde1xCw7yM

That's pretty cool.  I don't think I would use a dowel rod as the handle, they are prone to breaking, unless you can find a good hardwood one.  IIRC most dowels are pine.

I'd probably use something else than a dowel rod too.

It'd weigh more, but I'd think another length of plumbing pipe might work better than a dowel rod.

[Nyte]

Regarding melee weapons, this video popped up in my recommended videos list on YouTube and it's pretty neat.

Dude makes a medieval style war hammer out of some plumbing pipe and a wooden dowel.


https://youtu.be/xQde1xCw7yM

That's pretty cool.  I don't think I would use a dowel rod as the handle, they are prone to breaking, unless you can find a good hardwood one.  IIRC most dowels are pine.

I'd probably use something else than a dowel rod too.

It'd weigh more, but I'd think another length of plumbing pipe might work better than a dowel rod.

The problem with another length of pipe wouldn't be the weight, but the vibration.  Anytime you hit something, it would jar and vibrate right through your hand and arm.  It'd cost more, but I'd probably get a hardwood Jo staff or Escrima stick and use that for the handle.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Yeah, I didn't even think of the vibration issue with using another length of pipe for the handle.

But something like an Escrima stick or Jo staff would work a lot better than the pipe or the dowel.

[EBuff75]

I got myself a Corona folding saw recently and while I was unpacking it, I realized that it would make a nasty improvised weapon.  The teeth on the saw are razor sharp and if you swung it like a machete, it could really do some damage, particularly if you hit someone in the face or neck.

[Lodewijk]

I got myself a Corona folding saw recently and while I was unpacking it, I realized that it would make a nasty improvised weapon.  The teeth on the saw are razor sharp and if you swung it like a machete, it could really do some damage, particularly if you hit someone in the face or neck.

Isn't that sort of the general idea behind the Spyderco Civilian? Sounds nasty.

[EBuff75]

I got myself a Corona folding saw recently and while I was unpacking it, I realized that it would make a nasty improvised weapon.  The teeth on the saw are razor sharp and if you swung it like a machete, it could really do some damage, particularly if you hit someone in the face or neck.

Isn't that sort of the general idea behind the Spyderco Civilian? Sounds nasty.

Basically.  Except this is 10-inches long, with a full hand (or double-hand) grip.  It doesn't have the point/hook on the end though!

[Mr. E. Monkey]

I got myself a Corona folding saw recently and while I was unpacking it, I realized that it would make a nasty improvised weapon.  The teeth on the saw are razor sharp and if you swung it like a machete, it could really do some damage, particularly if you hit someone in the face or neck.

Isn't that sort of the general idea behind the Spyderco Civilian? Sounds nasty.

Damn...now that is a mean looking knife.  

[Red Tamarillo]

The most important aspects are availability (which includes legal aspects- swords are not legal in a lot of places), reach (knife or hammer or tomahawk/hatchet not enough), and speed (a lot of things are heavy and slower i.e. hatchet).

Some heavier, shorter options may have more damage power, but won't get there in time, and are shorter. And realistically once that first hit gets in and shocks, it doesn't have to be one hit one kill to be effective. It's not a Zombie headstrike you need to be planning for.

If you don't want to be too destructive- the Cold Steel sjambok with a knife as backup (sjambok = speed plus reach, targeting head and hands).

Or there's also a spear. Often legal (because of original inhabitants in colonised countries- traditional weapons etc...), as long as you don't walk down the street with it.

https://condortk.com/products?type=3

Awesome reach, and very quick if you let it slip through your front hand.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I was at the local auto parts store this morning with my oldest nephew and while perusing the aisles, I found a pick and finishing hammer in the dent repair section.

First thought in my head was "I wonder how well or how poorly this would work as a melee weapon."

[NT2C]

My melee weapon of choice after my cane.

[Red Tamarillo]

I was at the local auto parts store this morning with my oldest nephew and while perusing the aisles, I found a pick and finishing hammer in the dent repair section.

First thought in my head was "I wonder how well or how poorly this would work as a melee weapon."

Well you're thoroughly desensitized/looking out for such things.
How would it compare with the Estwing rockpick? was my first thought.
A lot of these hatchets/hammers/tomahawks etc.. It's all about your biceps/steroids, the length of the handle (you can saw wooden handles to make them shorter) and the weight of the head. Reach vs speed vs damage/weight.

[Red Tamarillo]

NT2C- why are you letting me track your jeep? You're being too trustworthy.

I could be a porch pirate and getting your cool stuff whilst you're away (unless your granny is sitting on your porch in a rocking chair with the shotgun). I know about glitter bombs.

(I'm 16,000km/10,000miles away so you don't need to worry).

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I was at the local auto parts store this morning with my oldest nephew and while perusing the aisles, I found a pick and finishing hammer in the dent repair section.

First thought in my head was "I wonder how well or how poorly this would work as a melee weapon."

Well you're thoroughly desensitized/looking out for such things.
How would it compare with the Estwing rockpick? was my first thought.
A lot of these hatchets/hammers/tomahawks etc.. It's all about your biceps/steroids, the length of the handle (you can saw wooden handles to make them shorter) and the weight of the head. Reach vs speed vs damage/weight.

I'm halfway tempted to go back to the store I found the hammer/pick in and buy it so I can do some testing with it.

Only Estwing things I have are a tanto fixed blade and a tomahawk I bought from the local heavy equipment rental shop.

I could probably do a comparison with the spike on the tomahawk vs. the one on the dent hammer.

[NT2C]

NT2C- why are you letting me track your jeep? You're being too trustworthy.

I could be a porch pirate and getting your cool stuff whilst you're away (unless your granny is sitting on your porch in a rocking chair with the shotgun). I know about glitter bombs.

(I'm 16,000km/10,000miles away so you don't need to worry).

If someone wants to try getting packages off my porch or cause a ruckus at my place, I hope they've made their peace with their deity of choice.  I'll just point out:

• My wife is a Fed
• My best friend is a retired USMC Armed and Unarmed Combat instructor and now a Fed LEO
• There's like a gazillion cameras covering every approach to my house, some visible, a lot hidden
• My neighbor to the South is a retired USMC Master Gunnery Sgt. who now works for a company building military robots... that he can take home for field testing
• My neighbor to the East is a retired USMC Colonel and the boss of my neighbor to the south.
• My neighbor to the West is a retired USMC sniper
• My neighbor to the North was the neighbor to the West's spotter
• I am well-liked by my neighbors because my military time was served on amphibs carrying guys like these around
• One of my other good friends is a retired FBI pilot who now teaches military pilots how to fly Blackhawks from the local airfield. He uses my flagpole as a nav marker and likes to pass by just above treetop height.

In short, your best option is to live 10,000 miles away, or tunnel in.  Good luck getting through that Virginia clay. 

[Red Tamarillo]

That's an impressive tally of neighbours.

[NT2C]

That's an impressive tally of neighbours.

Fun guys to hang with, and their wives are equally impressive.

My best friend's wife is a retired Army Combat Medic, for example.

Edit: County sheriff used to live about 8 houses up from me but he passed away a few years back.  The grandfather of the county clerk lives 4 houses down though, and the new County sheriff is one block over, next door to a state trooper.

This really is a great neighborhood during an "interesting time".

Edit 2: The county treasurer dropped by last night just to shoot the shit at the end of my driveway while his wife walked their new puppies, then he helped me bring my trash cans back up to the house.  They're also neighbors.