baseball bat vs. knife....take your pick

[SSN Vet]

This from Foster's Daily Democrat

Thursday, September 28, 2006
Manchester store clerk swings into action to protect customer


MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Talk about customer service.

When a would-be robber pulled a knife on a customer in Yogi's Convenient Mart in Manchester and demanded money, the store clerk didn't reach for the cash register.

Instead, Richard Cote swung into action — he grabbed a baseball bat from behind the counter and whacked the attempted thief twice.

Cote said he just reacted spontaneously to protect his customer.

The attempted robbery yesterday and Cote's swift reaction were all recorded on a store surveillance video.

After getting hit by Cote's swinging bat, the man ran and dropped the knife outside the store.

Police arrested Christopher Johns, 36, in connection with the botched robbery.

 

[LanEvo`]

They've shown this on the TV news several times around here. Looks like Cote first struck the attacker's hand, then hit him in the head a couple of times. Good job

 

[Brother in Arms]

Id choose a bat, its got longer reach and is easier to use effectively without alot training. Also the entire bat is a weapon as it has not blade. People should never underestimate the power of blugeoning weapons.

Brother in Arms

 

[Biker]

My Louisville Slugger has never failed me. I'll take a bat over a knife anyday.

Biker

 

[Joe Demko]

WE Fairbairn hisownself, in Get Tough, seemed of the opinion that a man with a stick should beat a man with a knife in a confrontation.

 

[mike101]

Louisville Slugger. I prefer wood to aluminum.

 

[AJAX22]

If I don't have to hide it, a bat will win if competently wielded. Knives should be a defensive weapon for concelement upon ones person.

 

[Hemicuda]

A good Ash wood 32" Louisville Slugger... BATTER UP!

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I am suprised the guy is not dead. A blow to the head from a baseball bat can be deadly. I hope the clerk had all the proper permits and licensing on that bat so he does not end up getting sued.

 

[LexusNexus]

Are there any requirements for haivng a bat near business operation? What if the clerk just had the bat there and planned on going to batting cage after work?

 

[Axman]

Tap a few 2" common nails in and around the circumference of the business end and grind the heads down and you have an instant mace! Or something similar anyhow!

 

[TimboKhan]

I carry a knife when I can't carry a gun, but given the choice for a non-gun weapon, I would go for a bat. Just thinking about it from my own perspective, I would keep on fighting if I got slashed in the arm, but if I took a good whack in the arm, I really think I would be less inclined to continue the battle, and in fact I might not even be physically able to continue. A broken clavicle really slows you down. Clothing can guard against a slash to the point where you will recieve no injury, whereas getting whacked always hurts, even if it is cushioned. Plus, one good thing about a bat is that there are plenty of acceptable bat substitutes. Golf club, 2x4, crowbar, tire iron, big ol' stick, etc... The only good substitute for a knife is another knife, really. Even in the sense of actually getting stabbed, I think the bat is a little better. Getting stabbed sucks, no two ways about it, but getting clubbed in the melon also sucks, and both can kill you. The real advantage of the knife is that it is by any definition a good weapon, and it is substantially easier to carry a knife around than a bat.

As an aside, PlayboyPenguin, your current/desired gun list leads me to believe that you enjoy pain. All but the .45acp are too much for my bad shoulder, unless the LC is loaded light.m

 

[Kentucky]

Welllll... I kind of hate to go against the flow of this current, but I would rather have a knife. Fact of the matter is, if someone knows how to use a knife you are only gonna get one swing with the bat, and if you aim that one for the head you are gonna miss altogether. If someone is used to h2h combat, particularly with a knife, I just dont think you can be quick enough with a bat to defend yourself. JMO!

 

[Joe Demko]

Fact of the matter is also if you don't know how to use a knife and go against a guy who does know how to use a stick, you'll get one ineffectual thrust or slash with the knife in_likely missing entirely_ and then start receiving some really unpleasant blunt force trauma.

 

[Bruce333]

bat

I wouldn't aim for the head at first. A good solid hit anywhere on the body is going to give me time to aim the second blow better, the pain and shock are disorientating. IMO the chances that an attacker has been trained in knife fighting are really low. I feel the length of the bat gives the advantage here, as the knife weilder must get within arms length to use it effectively.

 

[chipp]

IMO it depends who is the better fighter. if someone is trying ti hit you like a home run ball, its not so difficult to beat him with the knife.
if he is very experienged and pokes at you with the bat...big trouble.
I have to pick the knife in most situations. in a car? in a bathroom stall,
after I've been tackled. anyway I'd learn how to use a knife before a bat.
The knife is always on me. still think it comes down do who has what. switch weapons and the same guy might still win.

 

[erict]

+1 on chipp's post. If a guy has zero skills with a bat, I'm sure a skilled knife user could easily win or visa versa.

If it came down to 2 equal fighters I'd have to pick the bat.

 

[chorlton]

bat or an axe handle

 

[torpid]

baseball bat vs. knife....take your pick

Hmmm, that's a tough one.

Well, I'd say if I'm trying to slice an apple, I'd have to go with the knife.
If I had to hit a baseball or softball though, the bat absolutely wins hands down.

.

 

[MT GUNNY]

BAT

Walk tall and carry a big stick,
Seen the movie SIGNS with mel gibson,
there is a good part when the alien gets whaked
buy a bat

 

[tellner]

Pick handle wrapped in two yards of barbed wire.

 

[Kentucky]

IMO it depends who is the better fighter. if someone is trying ti hit you like a home run ball, its not so difficult to beat him with the knife.
if he is very experienged and pokes at you with the bat...big trouble.
I have to pick the knife in most situations. in a car? in a bathroom stall,
after I've been tackled. anyway I'd learn how to use a knife before a bat.
The knife is always on me. still think it comes down do who has what. switch weapons and the same guy might still win.

You are right, better fighter will probably win no matter which weapon he has. The thing is, a knife is a much better in-close weapon, and it only takes one participant to decide to make it CQB.

A bat is a large weapon, but you cant use it in close, except to push. I would much rather have a pole or staff, you could move it much faster, and it would be easier to turn the butt end around and use also.

In either case, I'd rather have a some type of projectile weapon firing at 1500FPS

 

[CypherNinja]

::looks at shelves behind monitor::

What about a 16inch bayonet?

 

[tellner]

Then you're getting into sword vs. mace which is a whole different can of wombat chitlins.

 

[Socrates]

You can use a bat to control zones a bit better then a knife. In other words, you can determine the distance the conflict takes place at. Guy sticks the knife at you, nail his arm. Keep hitting extremedies until they are injured enough, that the person can be finished.

Rocky Marciano used to do this. Rather then target your body, or head, he would target the arms you used to coverup. After repeated blows, it becomes as painful to get hit in the arm, and it did the head or body. At that point, he'd knock you out, either to the body, or head. VERY effective. Dennis Alexio used to do that with leg kicks.

S