Wakizashi for Home Defence


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Wakizashi for Home Defence

by clint
(Petaluma, CA, USA)

QUESTION: I was considering purchasing a Wakizashi for home defense, as I'm opposed to guns. I'd love something that's both ornamental/display worthy, and something that's fully functional. I really like the look of the Hanwei Bushido Wakizashi, but I'm not quite sure how to tell how functional it is. I see that it's listed as being "folded" and "forged." I'm not planning on using it for backyard hack and slashing, but I'd like to have faith that it'd stand up well to a home invasion, and that it's balanced for use. Please let me know if you think it's not really a practical blade, and if my money would be better spent on the PK series.

Thanks
Clint

QUESTION: Hi Clint,

This is a tricky question to answer, and there are actually quite a few reasons (both legal and practical) why it would NOT be a good idea to select a Wakizashi over a gun as a home defence weapon...

But, if we treat this as a hypothetical - I wouldn't trust my life on this particular product... Personally, I wouldn't even use a Wakizashi but rather a Ko Katana/Chisa Katana.

Because of the inherent problems associated with fighting indoors (lack of room, adrenalin included swings hitting walls, etc) you would want something extremely strong yet with powerful cutting abilities. As such, I would have to say that the Cold Steel Chisa Katana or the Cheness 9260 Spring Steel Ko-Katana would be your best bet...

Both of these are very tough swords (the Cheness Ko Katana, being made from 9260 Spring Steel is a bit stronger and more impact resistant) and the two handed grip means that there is minimal risk of a sweaty hand losing hold of the tsuka.

Ultimately though, I think that for home defence, the best choice is a baseball bat for driving off an attacker - or a shotgun if lethal force is called for...

Unless you are a trained killer, facing off against another human being with a sword can cause a moment of hesitation, while with a bat - you can go to town on them. And a shotgun, well - that one is pretty self expanitory.

I could go on, but must keep the Q&A short. But feel free to extrapolate in the comments! :-)

Kind Regards,

- Paul

Comments for
Wakizashi for Home Defence

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Dec 08, 2011

for Home Defence NEW
by: Adam Pendragon

You guy are way too macho for me. I think my "boys" just fell off!

Seriously though, you're all making a very good point here, although I doubt any of you are aware of it. That point being: Other than spending vast hours playing computer games and watching Kill Bill (parts 1 - 16) I really doubt many, if any, of us have any ACTUAL martial training. And it's this super-macho attitude that always gets us in to trouble--or dead.

Allow me to tell you this true story: Several years ago, 3 men forced their way into my appartment and held me hostage for about half an hour. Being my girlfriends relatives, they were trying to kidnap her. I called 911, but they pulled the phone out of the wall. While two of them were holding me against the wall and screeming "I'm going to kill you, mother f___er!" over and over, I was looking around the place for anything that I might use for a weapon, if need be. I knew, of course, that if they really wanted to hurt me they would have already done so. There was a fork next to me on the table, a really sharp butcher knife on the counter, but out of reach, etc. And then, all my swords, an axe, and a spear were in my bedroom closet. When they turned their attention away from me and to my girlfriend, I attempted to get to my room, but was stopped by them. My girlfriend thought they really were going to kill me, and broke an emptly bottle over her step-dad's head, knocking him out cold. I shouted "That's enough!" and convinced them to let me plug the phone back in and call an ambulance--by now he was bleeding all over my floor. Fortunately, they were not the brightest bunch, and actually let me do it. I called 911 and told the operator to send the cops, NOW! The knocked-out guy recovered and told the others to run for it, and they did.

The cops showed-up in record time thanks to the 911 operator--she erroneously told them she thought she heard gun shots (but she didn't really). Good girl. Anyway, the three were held at shotgun point by five cops and arrested for Breaking and Entering, Assult, Attempted Kidnaping, and a few other things I can't remember.

The point is, I really have been in many dangerous situations, and although it might not seem so, I was the one in control of this situation, not they! I remained calm while others around me were losing their heads; if I had thought for a moment that they were really going to hurt me, I was aware of every possible weapon in the appartment, they were not. I have also used edged-weapons in REAL fights, more than once. I have been cut and stabbed, and I have cut and stabbed others. HONESTLY, how many of you can say the same?

99.99 percent of the time you don't need any weapon, Clint, just your brain. If you're really so concerned, perhaps you should consider moving to a safer neighborhood.

Aug 10, 2011

sword for home defence
by: kublai

This is an interesting argument from my point of view as I am in England. Over here hand guns are banned and there are very stringent rules for owning shotguns and small rifles ie, .22lr. I personally keep a Katana and a longsword, and a variety of knives and bows. from my point of view a sword is THE best weapon available to me for home defence, as most of the burglars will be unarmed, or at most have knives on them, if you have training in the use of swords as i do, i would feel confident against any burglar on my property. I would use the longsword over the Katana because it is a better thrusting weapon in limited spaces, and it can cut with both edges with very little movement, it also has the length advatage. Practice round your house, finding out the best angles for defense and attack, practice the strokes needed at these points. 35 inches of razorsharp steel can be a hell of a detterant!!!

Aug 10, 2011

Apr 26, 2011

Use most effective weapon at hand to protect lives.
by: Dan

An edged weapon would be my last resort in a life or death situation, I would get the most effective weapon at hand, in my home that would be one of 3 firearms, living room= Glock 21 .45ACP, kitchen= Ruger P9045 .45ACP, bedroom= Mossberg 500 12gauge x2, loaded with #4 buckshot (wife has 1 on her side) then 1911 Kimber, now I also have knives & sword/machetes in several rooms & of course large part of collection is in our office. Let me say that I-we would use whatever is at hand & with as much ferocity needed to neutralise the threat, lastly we would call 911 for medical help for the intruders as we are not savages.

Feb 03, 2011

You've gotta be kidding...
by: Anonymous

Quite personally, someone who is too much of a wimped-out liberal to own or use a gun should either learn how to escape and evade, or sit back and let the b/g have his way.

My own choice - and some might think I'm crazy - is a muzzle-loading, 20 gauge howdah pistol, loaded with buckshot. A nice, legal alternative to a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun - a hand-held claymore mine, as it were. Musket caps, for more reliable ignition. Pull the loads and reload with fresh powder every so often to insure reliability. Use real black powder instead of the hygroscopic "noncorrosive" substitutes. It's just as powerful as a modern 20-gauge shotgun, just smokier and slower to reload. If I need more than two shots, I've got bigger problems anyway...THEN it's time for the sword! :D

Jan 08, 2011

baseball bat ????
by: Anonymous

If there is not enough room to swing a Wakizashi there is not enough room to swing a bat.I would go with a sword over a bat because it also has piercing and cutting abilities.

Sep 01, 2009

Weapons are just tools
by: Anonymous

I find the poster's premise delusional: You're willing to kill someone with violent and bloody slashes but unwilling to use a modern weapon that gives you ability to control an area up to 25 yards away?

A weapon is a weapon, regardless of the technology involved.

The man and his mindset are the important parts. The mind wields the tool.

"Ultimately though, I think that for home defence, the best choice is a baseball bat for driving off an attacker - or a shotgun if lethal force is called for...

Unless you are a trained killer, facing off against another human being with a sword can cause a moment of hesitation, while with a bat - you can go to town on them. And a shotgun, well - that one is pretty self expanitory."

I am sorry to say this advice is terribly misinformed.

Anyone can hesitate at the moment of truth. The body will revert to training. The subconscious will have a running dialog with you while you're wondering who is shooting your weapon. This is why training is important: under the pressure of the fight and adrenaline. (Citation: Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights by Jim Cirillo).

A baseball bat constitutes the use of lethal force.

It requires a full swing and room is in short supply indoors. At the very least, in the confines of a close quarters fight, it can be very difficult to use.

If lethal force is justified according to state law, at least a sword gives you the option to thrust and slash.

Of course, a legally owned handgun is probably the most useful modern weapon because it can be pulled into the body for retention. It only requires one hand to use; this may be important if you have to control children or hold some sort of object. Most importantly

Shotguns are excellent weapons. However, they have different issues.

Any of the weapons mentioned require training. Be sure to follow local laws; any quality class will outline the justifications for each level of force. Failure to abide by the rules will cost you financially, emotionally and in prison time.

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