Four people stabbed to death in separate attacks in London yesterday. Knives really are the weapons of choice for chavs, hoodlums and Dickensian ne’er-do-wells. Whereas, back in the day, a sword would often be a luxury item, knives are commonplace and cheap. Also, whereas a sword is large, very difficult to conceal (why the Immortals all go around in long trenchcoats on Highlander), a knife can be carried in a pocket, up one’s sleeve, and can easily be disposed of after the crime.
It would be foolish to leave the house without a weapon in Nu Labour’s Britain. i don’t place much trust in empty hand defences against knives – i’ve seen Systema video clips of knife disarming techniques, done in slow motion, and while i’m sure they work if the defender is absolutely precise, if he isn’t, he’s going to get a knife through his arm or hand. It’s also the case that, because a knife doesn’t need to be wielded with any force (its sharpness is its force), the attacker can adopt any number of styles, from jabs, slashes, to random deranged stabbing/slashing. i wouldn’t be surprised if even a Systema expert, who could defend himself from a classic stab to the gut or throat, would be taken off guard by random deranged stabbing and slashing.
So what weapons would be appropriate for a decent, peace-loving citizen in Gordon Brown’s Britain? A knife is a bad idea unless you actually want to kill people. If you’re looking to defend yourself against a knife, on the other hand, i would recommend an expandable baton.
Compact, they are usually about 7″ long, pretty hefty and heavy, but one could easily stash it in a bag or clip it under a long coat. They quickly open out to about 21″. You can order them on-line for about £35. If nothing else, you could use it to parry or block knife thrusts (a less painful method than using your bare hands), and, extended, it could strike the attacker’s arm (or head), thus dissuading him from further insolence. You’re also extremely unlikely to accidentally kill your attacker, whereas, trying to defend yourself from a knife with a knife is a recipe for homicide.
i imagine they’re illegal to carry about, though presumably not to own, since i had no difficulties buying one. However, in a country where 8 year old kids carry knives to school, and one could be beaten/stabbed half to death and one’s attackers walk free with a 6 month suspended sentence and mandatory ‘anger management’ sessions, the law is clearly…well, less than perfect. i am not, of course, saying that i carry an expandable baton about with me at all times, nor am i advocating my readers do so. i am simply pointing out that if one doesn’t, one will probably be stabbed to death by a 8 year old kid.
I’ve always wanted to own a sword stick disguised as a walking stick myself, but they’re sadly illegal in the UK (unless you buy an antique one apparently).
I own a cudgel I made that I keep around the house in case of intruders and also used to carry it in a holdall if I was knowingly going to be entering a particularly rough part of town.
I’d rather get done for assault than end up stabbed to death by some 14 year old orc.
Most practical self–defence weapons like batons and kubotan remain illegal to carry in Britain, so carry a customised heavy pen or torch as a part of your regular arsenal can easily take the place of such weapons. A quick rap on an attacker’s knuckles will cause them to drop the knife.
Of course, the best way of avoiding getting stabbed up and buried in the river mud of your choice consists of avoiding confrontations altogether. Most folks don’t run at you with knives. They pull them out seemingly from nowhere, mid–struggle.
I’ve always wanted to own a sword stick disguised as a walking stick myself
Me, too. Not only it would be aesthetically pleasing, but also very useful, especially when you are older. If I appear senile and eccentric enough, maybe I don’t have to worry that much about possible consequences, if I hack to pieces some thug who tries to rob me.
My love of sword canes can be attributed to seeing Anthony Quinn, playing Paul Gaugin, carrying one in the Van Gogh biopic, “Lust for Life”. They just look so stylish.
I suppose you could get away with carrying a shillelagh, with the handle loaded with lead it could give someone a hefty clout.
Yes, the baton you have bought is illegal to carry. So is pepper spray, I understand. It appears that those whose safety is protected by bodyguards and armoured limousines lift their petticoats in horror at the thought of ordinary people having access to anything more dangerous than harsh language to protect themselves.
These batons work wonderfully, even in untrained hands.