| Toaster | 24 Oct 2011 10:51 p.m. PST |
A friend recently returned from Afghanistan and told me an interesting story.
Seems you had to have a weapon on you at all times even in camp but he was tired of lugging his rifle while inside the wire so he walked around for up to a week with no more than a large knife strapped to his leg, not only was he not called on it he was given more personal space. Outside the wire he carried his rifle but he said the locals were pretty relaxed about long arms (they got twitcy around pistols because the Taliban used to use pistols for executions), anyhow a local was getting worked up towards him so he pushed his slung rifle back out of the way and undid the clip on the knife sheath and what do you know no more agitated local.
It appears that the concept of a knife at a gunfight has some worth. |
| Streitax | 25 Oct 2011 1:32 a.m. PST |
There is something very personal and visceral about a blade. |
| CPT Jake | 25 Oct 2011 1:50 a.m. PST |
they got twitcy around pistols because the Taliban used to use pistols for executions), anyhow a local was getting worked up towards him so he pushed his slung rifle back out of the way and undid the clip on the knife sheath and what do you know no more agitated local Well, just as pistols are used by the Talibs for execution, big knives are used to disfigure faces and cut off heads. It was not the 'knife at a gunfight' but the implied torture and beheading that made the local back off. |
Wyatt the Odd  | 25 Oct 2011 7:26 a.m. PST |
Are you saying that we should start issuing swords? Wyatt |
 Saber6  | 25 Oct 2011 7:39 a.m. PST |
There is a reason Bayonets have been issued. Of course somewhere along the line it was forgotten |
| Terrement | 25 Oct 2011 8:10 a.m. PST |
Are you saying that we should start issuing swords? Just make sure they are the "larger than surfboards" types we see so often on fantasy figures! JJ |
| Ed Mohrmann | 25 Oct 2011 8:14 a.m. PST |
Certain indigenous folk in the Phillipines were not
impressed with firearms, but seemed cowed by
machetes… |
| Gattamalata | 25 Oct 2011 8:55 a.m. PST |
Are you saying that we should start issuing swords? Sword bayonets would be an economical option. I'd suggest also a laminated gauntlet of composite materials for the left hand that would allow for parry and won't interfere with firearm use. |
| Who asked this joker | 25 Oct 2011 9:47 a.m. PST |
There have been instances in Iraq where the locals and (possibly) insurgents showed more fear of the fixed bayonet than just a rifle. I guess they figure they have a better chance to dodge a bullet than a bayonet. |
| altfritz | 25 Oct 2011 9:50 a.m. PST |
Well, everyone knows "Guns don't kill people"! |
| Klebert L Hall | 26 Oct 2011 4:24 a.m. PST |
It appears that the concept of a knife at a gunfight has some worth. Not really, but it appears that the concept of "a knife before a potential gunfight" might have some.
-Kle. |
| John Treadaway | 26 Oct 2011 9:09 a.m. PST |
There have been instances in Iraq where the locals and (possibly) insurgents showed more fear of the fixed bayonet than just a rifle. I guess they figure they have a better chance to dodge a bullet than a bayonet. "They don't like it up em!" etc etc (Corporal Jones, Dad's Army) John T |
| solosam | 31 Dec 2013 11:53 a.m. PST |
I heard similar things in Iraq about handguns. In their country, it was cheaper and easier to acquire an AK than a handgun. The handgun had acquired the reputation of being the weapon of an assassin. Funny. I've got one major complaint about knives, though: Back in 2008ish I was learning Army combatives (grappling). The instructor told us that the vast majority of knife wounds were caused when a Soldier introduced a knife to a fight (such as by strapping it to his vest) and the enemy took it from him. I can't remember the exact statistic he cited, but it was appallingly high. If brandishing a knife works out for you, that's great. But I keep mine concealed. |
| Tyler326 | 24 Sep 2014 10:21 a.m. PST |
The thought of having a cold piece of steel pushed into your body is frightening to the human psyche. |
| Weasel | 17 Oct 2014 5:04 p.m. PST |
There's been successfull bayonet charges in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's definitely psychology. A person sitting behind a rock and firing at you might be the enemy but he's normal.
The guy who gets out of cover and runs at you, screaming in scottish gibberish while brandishing a pointed stick is a loon and you don't want to be around when he gets there :) |
