Swords and Spears

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06-17-2014, 16:36
Omicron

Swords and Spears

So the zombie apocalypse is into it's 4th year and you've run out of ammo. Now what? Of course you can go for your trusty compound bow when the zombies are at a distance, but what about when they surprise you and are up close and personal? We go to our blades. But zombies have zero hygiene and smell really, really bad, so you'd rather dispatch them with at least a little distance.

Enter the Cold Steel line of swords, and for that matter, spears. Super inexpensive for a "battle ready" class of sword (that's really what they're called in sword-talk, meaning you can actually use them, they're not just for display) $26-$50 or so, full tang construction, and reasonably good steel that'll take an edge. They'll also likely not be targeted by the libtards till they get all guns banned.

I've picked up a few of these and am quite impressed with them. Both are called “machete” but they’re really swords. I guess for that matter a machete is a form of sword too.

Cold Steel Gladius, $27: Patterned after the Roman gladiator short sword, that was an amazingly effective battle weapon. Cold Steel’s version is frighteningly sharp, double edged, with a wicked swing. Helluva close combat weapon.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-97G...dp/B004MMS0PE/

Cold Steel Cutlass, $24: Full length, also sharp, tons of power behind a swing due to the extra length. One of the most effective general purpose swords ever. Heavy and long enough to mean you need to practice a bit to get decent with it.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-97D...dp/B006YBY91K/

Cold Steel Kukri machete, $24: Odd looking, but weight toward the front of the blade means you get a lot more cutting power than a conventional machete. I tried it and it really does.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-97M...dp/B0017V19VK/

For reach, a sword beats a knife any day. But both are beaten by a spear, so check them out too. Cold Steel makes several models, but the one I have is this:

Cold Steel Asagai, $50: Crazy sharp, an intimidating weapon. Hell just the staff with no spear head can be an awesome weapon in it's own right, put that spear head on the end and wow. This thing is good quality and a ton of fun to play with too... but definitely not for kids!
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Ass...dp/B004YWK74E/

Anyone who’s into blades should have at least one of these. :)
06-17-2014, 16:57
SuperiorDG

1 Attachment(s)

The top two are my Cold Steel Zombie swords.
Attachment 46123
06-17-2014, 17:01
hurley842002

I've wanted a kukri for awhile now. May choose the cold steel offering.
06-17-2014, 18:53
rbeau30

I won't run out of ammo. But if I HAD to choose.

The Gladius is awesome!
06-17-2014, 20:00
Irving

I like the Gladius also. I "practice" with my machete occasionally when I do yard work. Today I "practiced" while trimming my tree, from IN the tree. Talk about nerve wracking.
06-17-2014, 20:03
Omicron

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbeau30

I won't run out of ammo. But if I HAD to choose.

The Gladius is awesome!

Ya me either. :)

But for $25 ya can't be it. Hell for less than $100 you can have 3 frighteningly effective swords, what's not to love about that?

My favorite is also the Gladius. "If I had to take just one" that'd be it.
06-17-2014, 20:16
rbeau30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omicron

Ya me either. :)

But for $25 ya can't be it. Hell for less than $100 you can have 3 frighteningly effective swords, what's not to love about that?

My favorite is also the Gladius. "If I had to take just one" that'd be it.

I guess it is all about layers of security. People say, "I don't want to get to the point of hand to hand." Well, what if it got there? You would be sorry you didn't think about that extra layer of security!

Most adversaries would have a combat knife or whatever. If you had a spear or a sword, you would have the advantage over the majority.

The Asagi, you could wrap with 550 and have more of a grip if you didn't have the pole.
06-17-2014, 22:08
ChunkyMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omicron

So the zombie apocalypse is into it's 4th year and you've run out of ammo. Now what?

Crap, you guys are scary. I am stocking up ammo for 8 years post apoc now.
06-17-2014, 22:11
rbeau30

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Crap, you guys are scary. I am stocking up ammo for 8 years post apoc now.

I'm beginning to think Ammo is almost as good as gold and silver as far as investments... plus it is a multitasker.
06-17-2014, 22:15
ChunkyMonkey

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbeau30

I'm beginning to think Ammo is almost as good as gold and silver as far as investments... plus it is a multitasker.

Replace the word investment with 'insurance' then you are gold!
06-17-2014, 22:17
rbeau30

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Replace the word investment with 'insurance' then you are gold!

+1 you are right. I wish I could invest in more insurance.
06-18-2014, 07:54
Wulf202

Dont forget the cold steel bushman
06-18-2014, 08:16
rbeau30

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulf202

Dont forget the cold steel bushman

Now that is really cool. I like the multitasker aspect of it. I wonder if the handle is slippery at all?
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-95B...+steel+bushman

Attachment 46149
06-18-2014, 11:34
Wulf202

Yes. It needs a solid paracord wrap
06-18-2014, 11:45
Scogin

After doing a bunch of research I ended up going with the Ka Bar machete. A buddy of mine went with the Cold Steel. Neither of us were impressed with the Cold Steel. The metal was soft and didn't seem to take abuse as well as the Ka Bar. http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-2-1248-...=kabar+machete The Ka Bar is a workhorse. I use it to trim branches, chop down small trees, split firewood, and flip burgers.
06-18-2014, 11:47
Irving

My Gator machete is all bent to hell, but I can still get it to hold an edge and do what I want for yard work. For serious work, a bit thicker might be nice. I figured out that you bend it when you don't pull it out of a branch perfectly straight.
06-18-2014, 12:23
SamuraiCO

I read an article from a kendo practitioner and he concluded his choice would be the spear over his preferred weapon the katana. His reasoning was sound because of the multitude of uses and keeps enemy that much farther outside your circle of influence. I still have both just to make sure.

I prefer the Practical Plus from Hanwei or Dana Abbott from Century. Nothing flashy. Modern smithing that gives the two different steel hardness. Very good cutting swords.
06-19-2014, 06:40
Omicron

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbeau30

I guess it is all about layers of security. People say, "I don't want to get to the point of hand to hand." Well, what if it got there? You would be sorry you didn't think about that extra layer of security!

Most adversaries would have a combat knife or whatever. If you had a spear or a sword, you would have the advantage over the majority.

Exactly right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbeau30

The Asagi, you could wrap with 550 and have more of a grip if you didn't have the pole.

Damn good idea.
06-19-2014, 07:39
Omicron

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamuraiCO

I read an article from a kendo practitioner and he concluded his choice would be the spear over his preferred weapon the katana. His reasoning was sound because of the multitude of uses and keeps enemy that much farther outside your circle of influence. I still have both just to make sure.

As rbeau says, it's all about layers. I'm covering all bases. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamuraiCO

I prefer the Practical Plus from Hanwei or Dana Abbott from Century. Nothing flashy. Modern smithing that gives the two different steel hardness. Very good cutting swords.

I'll have to look into these.
06-19-2014, 07:40
Omicron

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Crap, you guys are scary. I am stocking up ammo for 8 years post apoc now.

Should I have said 12 years into the apocalypse? [ROFL1]
08-02-2014, 00:31
Dr.Rob

The bushman gets really slippery in your hand without a paracord or leather lacing wrap. Really tough one piece knife though.

Ever try a Cold Steel spetsnatz shovel? Scary sharp, tough and an excellent all around tool.. dig a hole, split logs, cut brush, decap a zed, whatever. Would be made better with a handle as long as the old WW2 era folding shovel.
08-02-2014, 08:01
Omicron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Rob

The bushman gets really slippery in your hand without a paracord or leather lacing wrap. Really tough one piece knife though.

Ever try a Cold Steel spetsnatz shovel? Scary sharp, tough and an excellent all around tool.. dig a hole, split logs, cut brush, decap a zed, whatever. Would be made better with a handle as long as the old WW2 era folding shovel.

Very cool. I've added this to my wishlist

Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel $16: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Spe.../dp/B00169V99K
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...dL._SY355_.jpg

And a couple of others that I think are cool too.

Cold Steel Smatchet $28: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-97S.../dp/B00BD53IYG
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...9L._SY355_.jpg

Cold Steel Trench Hawk Ax $34: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Tre.../dp/B0030DBHGU
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NEWkXH4tL.jpg