Ur literally thinking how I have since I was like 5 at a hardware store. But hammer u have a sharp end and blunt end u can draw blood and hopefully scare em.
I was just saying earlier, imagine if the shop assistant appeared and said “Is everything ok, can I help you at all?” *the pair of them in the middle of a clinch, or a leg takedown with hammers “No thanks we’re ok.” 😂😂
There was a book I read about trench warfare in WW I and the soldiers were in agreement that a shovel was a better weapon for close combat than the bayonet.
Field shovel is a well known weapon for ww1, soldiers even sharpened the edges and the shovel was able to cut of limbs or even heads very easily, and when it hit a person vertically between head and shoulder, the shovel would go like half a meter into the body nearly cutting the person in half. Terrifying weapon. Later the trench raiding units even switched to old school medieval weapons like clubs and maces in combination with pistols and grenades for the closequater combat.
I worked at an ACE for many years. I have examined the weapon potential of just about everything in there. Any hammer is good. I do like the ball-peen, though a big framing hammer is nothing to sneeze at, as it's claws tend to be straighter- it's basically an old footman's pick. A Deadblow hammer, if you're not looking to kill somebody, is a blackjack. That drywall hammer IS a tomahawk- and there's a number of close in options holding the head in various ways. (I prefer the shingling hatchet, or estwing riggers axe, if we're going hardware store tomahawk.) Pipe wrench (particularly in the 8" range is seriously underrated- it's a relatively innocent pocket mace. It has the most mass for size of anything else in there *that you could explain having, maybe*), any number of bolts once you get to about 10" long are in the same league as a baton. A large eyebolt gives you a knuckle and a solid poke, and several of the larger knuts make a fair knuckle. And you can't imagine the number of mad-max medieval weapons you can craft from black iron pipe fittings. A crowbar or wrecking bar one would Think would be good, but they're not. They're wierdly unwieldy. You can also make a self defense stinger whip, cheap and easy. They've nearly always got coated aircraft cable by the foot. I'd , make the handle out of 1/2" pipe, with a reducer coupling and an eyebolt in the end, and pack it in with epoxy putty. Then there's good old fashioned axe and hammer handles. Anybody who scoffs at that, hasn't been hit by one. Shovels- drain spade. better: floor scraper. Big scoop shovel is an excellent shield. Garden rake, but don't hit with the tines, use it like a hammer. lawn and guarden- Best, kaiser blade/brush axe. But Garden Weasel- it's not that effective, but Nobody wants to get hit with one. chain sucks- it's coming straight back at you. I avoid anything involving chain. Except a Load Binder- that's a nasty ass flail. As far as screwdriver- pretty much a stiletto (in the medieval sense), but it's limited for Defense. I mean yeah, you can whack somebody with the handle, you can do some kuboton things, but if that doesn't do it, Stabby is all you got. I put it in the same category as knife. It is an Offensive, not a Defensive weapon. (and philips does tend to penetrate better than flat-head) Hammer has more non lethal options to dissuade somebody- hit or block with handle, hook, choke up and "tap" them with it, incapacitate limbs, or, you know, bury it in their skull. Sorry to nerd out. It's how I passed the time, wandering thought the isles, pondering how I'd employ every single thing in there as a weapon. I have no shit considered how to use a double bowl stainless steel sink as a weapon. and a toilet flange. and a 4" PVC 90 elbow. I'm weird.
@@twatmunro- If it's what I'm thinking of, the long-handled pole arm called the naginata in Japan and the glaive in Europe were probably derived from it.
I like the way you think. I've spent an inordinate amount of time in hardware stores doing some of my best creative thinking, and it invariably gets sidelined when I see something that says "improvised weapon candidate!" 😆
Welders chipping hammer is light, quick, and sharp. Light enough to actually carry on you, fast enough recovery aint nobody grabbing hold of it, and good luck blocking even a half hearted blow without losing some blood. One end a chisel, the other a spike, take your pick... basically a compact tomahawk you can hide in plain sight.
I love the idea of using tools as a weapon just for that fact that companies spend a lot of time and money designing things to be ergonomic, economical and easy to use.
Most importantly: inexpensive. People will spend hundreds of dollars on a knife they know will probably never get used, thousands for a gun that will probably never see use outside a range. No one's going to pay that sort of money for a shovel that's going to be used, abused, maybe loaned to a neighbour and never seen again. Even something like a HiPoint is a couple of hundred dollars. Think how many screwdrivers, shovels and hammers you could have for that same money.
I love how a RUclips video about improvised weaponry for bloody mayhem actually revealed one of the most wholesome friendships I've ever seen....the REAL best improvised weapon was the friends we made along the way? Also, thank you for highlighting Clanton Combatives - absolutely placing an order soon.
😂😂 I love that! Sounds like something out of a film or something. Yeah it’s a shame what happened to Clanton’s shop, he seems to make some really good stuff!
I'm imagining someone breaking into his home only to see Mike standing menacingly down a hallway with a cone on his head and armed with half a hardware store
I’m an obsessed martial artist posing as a landscaper so this is pretty much what goes on in my head all day. Short handled edging shovel is what I settled on too.
I was out cycling many years ago and came up on a crime scene on a street where I saw a man sitting on the steps of the home holding a hammer that was sticking out of his skull. The worst part was the blunt end was the part that was in his skull. The paramedics were wrapping it to be able to transport him to the hospital. He lived.
As an Appalachian American I support being able to validate needing an upstairs and downstairs hammer, so for that I thank you. That Bruenor Battlehammer reference is so appreciated you have no idea. Gabriel as Drizzt and Seth as Wolfgar (and dont worry in my headcannon you are Deudermont, not Regis. But Regis is a badass)
Pretty surprising that Mike hasn't talked about push daggers on the channel yet. I think they'd fulfil all of his requirements for an effective self-defense weapon. Push daggers are: used one-handed, capable of dealing damage even when the opponent blocks, extremely easy to use (you're just punching with them), concealable, have great retention (hard2removefromyou), and they look cool. Would love to see a video on push daggers in the future.
I think he hasn't covered them bc there's not much to say. It would be better as a short. Mike: "so ... push daggers?" -Cut to montage of fruit and dummy punching.
When I was in the army for a short time we did have a class about military spade fighting (about the size of the smaller one You presented) . That thing is no joke.
For a good box cutter you want a folding one, with razor blades not breakaway blades. Most hand to hand skills transfer over to box cutter skills. Wield it underhanded, blade out.
The back/base of the skull is often forgotten as a self-defense target because its banned in combat sports, but being able to do bash it with a hammer even when you're being clinched is a serious thing. I'd be happy with either, but I think I'd probably go hammer if given the option. Don't sleep on a gardening spade/trowel though. I think I'd take that over both the hammer and the screwdriver. There's tons of stories of soldiers doing deadly work with their entrenching tool.
Guys I love the video. Its starts all serious and after a while its like preppers that went shopping for the zombapocalypse ! Made my night nicer . Cheers
This was funny enough as it was, but I’d’ve laughed even harder if the shop assistant appeared and said “Is everything ok, can I help you at all?” *the pair of them in the middle of a clinch, or a leg takedown with hammers “No thanks we’re ok.” 😂😂
I'd go with the hammer as it's quite similar to mediaeval weapon warhammer so there is definitely precedent for it being useful and possibly some pre-existing doctrines in treatises concerning its use so you don't have to reinvent the wheel in familiarisation exercises
Screwdriver is the best all the way. I know this because I was a school custodian for 20 years, and you can very easily place a screwdriver in your back pocket. You can pull it out instantly if the handle is up, while a hammer takes some time to pull it out of the leather belt loop and hold it properly.
I think screwdriver, but not if you pick the one Icy Mike grabbed. I think you want a smaller flat head. The kind where the shaft is about the diameter of a Q-tip, the handle is about like a lip balm, and go for about 6 or 7 inches of shaft. Your thumb and index finger go on the shaft, the butt goes into the meat of your palm, and your other three fingers wrap the handle kinda like you're pointing with a wand. The reasons I like the small ones is that they have a much smaller contact area on the point so it takes less oomph to make it stab, its really lightweight and easy to carry, and when you hold it like I said the handle vanishes into your grip and it's hard to even tell you're holding a weapon. Plus the super narrow shaft makes it just about impossible for someone else to grip it and the handle is all yours. For an example of a historic dagger used this way look at stilettos. The 17th century stiletto made by Tod Cutler is the kind I'm thinking of.
@@bloodbased We also have the American prison system as a testament to the effectiveness of screwdriver-like weapons. If you search for pictures of confiscated shanks, a lot of them are basically a dull shaft of metal with tape/cloth/string/ plastic wrapped around one end to act as a handle. They look like screwdrivers.
Bruenor Battlehammer reference got my sub! i would always go bladed or spiked hammer probably 3 to 5 pounds nothing too long for ease of movement, over a screw driver in a self defense situation if i had the choice that is, the hammer allows you to stay father away from any blades they might have themselves plus can be used to break through even car doors or other obstacles used to hook opponent and lever weight against them in cases of trying to detain your opponent can be used to hook hands and legs to try to disarm plus can be used to hook ladders rungs or tree roots or what ever is around the terrain if needed to climb. a hammer can be easily swung around doors and in tight spaces it is extremally versatile in how you use it whether that be using as intended or as a tool to disable vehicles by puncturing tires or radiators or as an improvised battering ram or pry bar used to open a door weather car, house, or even elevator. as for if they manage to catch the hammer mid swing you definitely need to grab the head to gain leverage this is where a screw driver in your off hand pocket would come in handy let them think your grabbing for the head while you stab them lol. but if i bought this hammer with the intention of using as a self defense weapon I would beat the hell out of that metal to get as many sharp burs so grabbing the head wont be an option unless you have gloves plus a flat hammer gives glancing blows you want a rough up the surface to rip skin in regard to screw drivers I'd pick a T handle screw driver if i only had a screw driver set as my option to choose from the hard decision for me is Phillips or flat head if i had time to choose and not just have to reactionarily shove a hex through some ones eye simply because flat head is more versatile as a tool screwdrivers have a lot of plus sides to them but i think hammer way out beats the screw driver plus in a lot if not most or all states just carrying a screw driver is considered possession of burglary tools and a deadly weapon so a cop with a hair up his ass could try to detain you for just walking saying you are looking at cars to break in or walking around threatening people. I've also had multiple cops tell me if I ever shoot anyone trespassing or breaking in or whatever to make sure to put a screwdriver in their hand then kick it away and say the took it from your porch or whatever if they don't have a gun or other weapon to establish fear of life box cutter and long poles i would generally avoid box cutters lack of range and cutting edge you have to be right on a person essentially going for eyes groin or other soft vulnerable areas that don't have bone protecting plus modern boxcutters have safeties that you have to hold and they have ones that if they detect a hard surface the blade pops into the handle to not cut skin. as for long handled weapons are great if you have a height advantage but they are awkward and cumbersome in tight spaces like your home hallways unless you charge down at someone you probably wont be able to generate enough force consistently to cause much damage plus you open yourself up to having the weapon grabbed and if a person can violently and explosively push or pull on that long shovel handle no amount of training will prepare you for a life or death struggle like that they also have the option to dodge and get in close to trap your weapon to fight stab or beat you with whatever they have so you need a secondary weapon for these. the length of chain, strong rope, or cloth id say 3 to 6 feet long is probably the most under valued weapon it can be held firmly between both arms creating a very strong yet flexible defense that allows you to stop a swing that allows you to move forward and entangle them in the rope or it can be used as a solid edge to be used to brute force run into someone with a taught line it can be used to choke and grapple it can unbalance people in a multitude of ways form just swing it at legs to using as a snare you can set up or used by you to catch a foot or hand to yank them of balance it can be used with a blade or a weight whether a simple rock or scrap metal to a metal weight made for it to swing even though this presents a danger to yourself but can be used to keep your opponent at length from you. like with the hammer though i would want the weight to be pitted and jagged to cause the most damage as possible if i was using a rope or chain with a metal weight that was specifically for self defense that is but in a pinch a decent sized rock with a shirt or jacket tied to it should do the trick just fine
A 20oz straight claw framing hammer is likely amongst the most terrifying things you could ever be attacked with. In the hands of a framer this will turn basically any part of you into a fine red mist
There was a comment about getting something that you can spray. Wasp/Hornet killer sprays a pretty good distance and has a pretty strong stream and pesticides are very debilitating
I would ho with a hatchet. One handed with option for 2 hands. If you hit with the blunt side is like a hammer, but you also have the option to use the edge. Also intimidation factor. And possibly good to throw.
About 3 feet of rebar works kinda good you poke and jab with it to wreck and then blunt swing it to make enemy flinch. Its like a impromtu short spear which is a very dirty grappling weapon. Hammer is great for Shillelagh style fighting which is great in dirty grapple and recycling your force for spam attacks.
Man knows Breunor Battlehammer...Icy Mike knows D&D lore! I always have a claw hammer in my car....Stopped carrying a machete since police checks increased. No hassle hammers & WD 40 spray. I've been in a screwdriver fight myself....scary. A favourite in my country is folded power cables....
When they started discussing liquids/sprays they almost reached a subject I have wanted Icy Mike to tall about for so long. My wife and I carry bug/wasp spray in the car on road trips because its a 30 ft stream. I would love a more in depth liquid/spray home defense video.
Am not sure about sprays like bug spray or Glue or Paint remover spray. If somehow it blows back against the user that’s a BAD day. Even pepper spray can eventually wear off with water . Any spray from hardware store gets blown back in face you going E.R. But it will definitely stop attacker. Before U say it just be careful. You can’t control the wind. If person grab it use on you, if the spray breaks. If they choose spray WD 40 may be best option. Small can sometimes comes it small tube to put in . Not usually thought of as a weapon. And stops squeaks.
I nominate the Stanley FatMax FuBar III 55-120 5-in-1 Demolition Tool as "Best tool for self-defense". It has semi-sharp unpleasant poking/jabbing, it has smash bones into gravel, it has hook/trap limbs, it has reach and crowd control. I'd *love* to see what you think of that thing! (I'd insert a direct link to the product but youtube is iffy with links)
A friend of mine was a maintenance technician on a property that was in a very bad part of town. He wasn’t allowed to carry a “weapon” to defend himself, so he started carrying a sharpened sheetrock hammer. He was never challenged by managers or law enforcement.
Mike I would say the screwdriver, for a few reasons. One of you try to block it. A hole is going to be made in your body somewhere. Very high penetration with a screwdriver. Second, not much mass to grab by your opponent to take it away from you. Another thought I had was on the business end of the screwdriver if you polish that up with some really slick silicone lube or wax. If the opponent tries to grab her from you, it will slip out of their hand and that would be helpful to you.
The extremely sharp pull saws that have a grip that helps you retain control of the tool as it snags in clothing and flesh. The razor sharp teeth will slice and dice tendons and muscles making the attacker hesitate to move any more extremities into your circle of effective reach.
Small monkey wrench is pretty underrated. Obviously big ones for pipes are a classic weapon but one about a foot long is pretty good too. Also a socket wrench about 15" long would be good too. I think for any bludgeon having it fully made of metal is preferable because you get more mass for the size. If you look at anti-armor medieval weapons they trended towards more and more metal and less wood as they developed
Yeah. Monkey wrench is my go-to. My school was complicated. No guns, because not in America, but since we had a lot of drug trafficking, fights could break out and people could get seriously hurt. My dad once asked the handyman if the kids had ever tried to pull a fast one on him, and his answer was "well I always carry this with me" pointing at the holster for the monkey-wrench. That thing will absolutely break your arm and your head if it hits you.
Hi, I have some woodworking experience, honestly, the tool I don't want to mess with is the AWL. Of the two you mentioned, I'd take the screwdriver but a thin one, better with an I rather than an X point.
I want to take a moment to appreciate the amount of thoughts you put into weapons or tools. When i see 'best weapon for self defense X vs Y" i have just a reaction of "of course he did a video on that, who else would?! " 😂
Some tools even have a cool catch phrase you can throw out there. Hammer: “it’s hammer time!” Screwdriver: “you’re screwed now, buddy!” Shovel: “can you dig it?”
Good to know I’m not the only guy who thinks about this stuff at the hardware store lol Nail gun, crowbar, linoleum knife (personal fav) all would work
Fun fact: The director of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre got the idea for the movie while Christmas shopping. He was in the hardware section of a store trying to figure out a way to get out when he saw the chainsaws.
i did NOT expect mike to cite bruenor battlehammer, he could have said anything but he went for the heaviest, nerdiest citation ever, totally unexpected, made my day
i didn’t know i needed 20 minutes of content of grown men playing around in the lowes. Made my day today ❤️ stay safe you three, can’t forget the camera man!
I definitely would choose the hammer because I think you’re more likely to deal a fight ending blow than with the screwdriver since people often keep fighting after being stabbed with a knife, even if they bleed out later. It works well for me since I do a lot of handyman jobs and keep one at home so I usually have one on or near me, but if that wasn’t the case the screwdriver is definitely easier to carry around. I’d rather have that little thing in my pocket then have to walk around at the grocery story with my hammer on my belt even though I probably wouldn’t be stopped for either
Against maniacs on the street I would go for the screwdriver, mainly for concealment factor and speed factor. In case of zombie apocalypse though, I would definetely go for the hammer too, alongside the trash can cover as a buckler 😂
When I first started traditional martial arts my coach had a story he LOVED to tell newbies: Guy is sitting at a bar when someone grabs him and throws him at the ground and knocks him out. The attacker says “when he wakes up, tell him that was judo from Japan”. Next day, the guy is sitting back at the bar, still confused when the same guy chops him in the back of the neck and says “when he wakes up, tell him that was Karate from Okinawa”. This goes on for days, capoeira from Brazil, escrima from the Philippines, Kung Fu from China, Muay Thai from Thailand. After like a week - the attacker is sitting at the bar, all tired from messing the other dude up when everything goes black. The guy he’s been beating up all week is standing over his body and says when he wakes up, tell him that was the pick handle from back of my truck. Classic for a reason. Terrible self defence weapon by all of Mike’s rules - but every weapon is effective when the other person doesn’t know they’re fighting. And when a pick handle lands? The fight is probably over.
1) John Wick 5 needs to be filmed in Home Depot. 2) The play fight at 11:30 with the drywall hammer and trash can lid takes me back to my childhood! We'd use sticks for swords and metal trash can lids for shields and fight like Roman soldiers. That was epic! And it was before home computers or even every house having a color TV.
You should put together a Paul Harrell-style meat target to test the crosshead vs Phillips thing. Just stab a bunch of meat wrapped in t-shirts and see if one makes a better wound. I don't think it matters much, but it'd be fun.
Hammer, preferably a masons hammer or a nice straight claw framing hammer, in the dominant hand and the screwdriver in the off hand. Do not throw away your weapon.
I love how real you are about, "that shit was scary, I was terrified" type stuff. Cause yeah, fights freak you out especially when weapons get involved
A gambit is more of a strategy involving a sacrifice that provides a victory less of a gamble but still not the gamut which is all of the recognized musical notes. Great content never stop!
Your personal carry hammer with the blade like handle fulfils the "damage to blocking limbs" better than typical round handle as well. I'm getting an image of seeing that lodging in someone's forehead due to them moving into the strike and it's blade like geometry.
My notifications are now set to ‘all’ man. Starting following relatively recently and every video has been so entertaining and somehow thought-provoking.
I used to carry a gerber multitool (The multi-plier type, not butterfly open) on my hip as an every day tool. Because of the way it was designed it could be used like a palm stick very easily. Similar advantages to the screwdriver but with more mass and the ability to bite or clamp something.
the pog strat: throw the hammer to disrupt their ooda loop, then rush em with the screwdriver low light variant - screwdriver and flashlight: not throwing the flashlight, but one quick momentary ON/OFF flash to mix their nuts up before you rush em with the screwdriver suggestion: keep the screwdriver on your body, the flashlight in the center console of your car, and the hammer in your trunk staged with the handle partially sticking out of a tool bag with jumper cables and such that you should have in your car anyway bonus - how to make an IWB sheath for screwdriver: •materials -pvc vinyl hose (flexible, clear, small diameter, wide enough to accommodate the shaft 😉😉 but smaller than diameter of handle) -piece of string x2 •fully insert shaft into hos •bend the hos so that it fits the shaft without going too deep so the tip doesn’t poke anything •unfold the hos •tie a slipknot in piece of string 1 and loop that b around that spot where you folded the hos before (should be easy to find) •remove shaft •pull haaarrrd on that knot •fold the hos again •while maintaining tension and pressure (so important) complete a series of standard whippings around both sides of the folded hos toward where the tip will be eventually •check the friction fit of the shaft inside the sheath (should have adequate retention with enough whippings ) •run string trough natural hole formed at bottom of the sheath between the two folded sides, and finish by looping it around each side individually to make a few cow hitches •trim the excess tail finally, run piece of string 2 through the hole to use as a static line so it stays properly oriented inside your pants
I personally prefer a pair of wire plyers for close quarters. I use the handles for striking up the nose, into the ears, or neck punches as well as punching the arm, hands knees and ankles. I use the plyers end closed for temple and jaw strikes. I open the jaws for grabbing flesh, meat, nerves, stomach, groin, fingers, ears, nose and mouth. I developed my own system you can say while in Iraq. I modified the handles on one pair by grinding them into a point for stabbing,. I keep them in the front of my pants for easy access in the event I am grabbed from behind. Now disabled, with 27 years as LEO, 5 1/2 years in Iraq I will use anything at my disposal to use as an advantage. Besides who would think a simple pair of wire plyers as such an effective weapon. At my age (64) and disabilities I play as dirty as I have to. I love your channel. "Pray for peace but prepare for war".
Train with both. Having preferences is all well and good, but you have to be able to effectively use every tool at your disposal. After all, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, but you might be screwed.
Question for Viewers: Hammer or Screwdriver?
Before watching hammer
Same as the guy above me, before watching i would say hammer is great for home defense. Weird to carry around outside tho
Ur literally thinking how I have since I was like 5 at a hardware store. But hammer u have a sharp end and blunt end u can draw blood and hopefully scare em.
Without watching the video: Hammer. A screwdriver I feel like doesn't have stopping power.
screwdriver for everyone, hammer for thor type people (not weak)
This is the duo the world needs more of
I was just saying earlier, imagine if the shop assistant appeared and said “Is everything ok, can I help you at all?” *the pair of them in the middle of a clinch, or a leg takedown with hammers “No thanks we’re ok.” 😂😂
Like you and me…what…?….
Aaron is fun.
I apologize if him showing that rigid trainer gave you Vietnam like flashbacks.
@@hard2hurt like the most fun
There was a book I read about trench warfare in WW I and the soldiers were in agreement that a shovel was a better weapon for close combat than the bayonet.
Came here to say this. In the trenches the shovel filled and dug the graves.
Field shovel is a well known weapon for ww1, soldiers even sharpened the edges and the shovel was able to cut of limbs or even heads very easily, and when it hit a person vertically between head and shoulder, the shovel would go like half a meter into the body nearly cutting the person in half. Terrifying weapon.
Later the trench raiding units even switched to old school medieval weapons like clubs and maces in combination with pistols and grenades for the closequater combat.
Trench clubs are a whole new level of brutality
All quiet on the western front I'm guessing?
The Russian Spetsnaz special forces would agree ......their shovels are deadly in combat and thrown, I love my cold steel spetsnaz shovel
Who would’ve thought you two walking around a hardware store would be so entertaining 😂
Everyone.
Everyone would think that.
With Icey Mike I'd expect nothing less
I am sure many have enjoyed these discussions and thoughts. Great video though.
What? It's like adults' toy store
I worked at an ACE for many years. I have examined the weapon potential of just about everything in there.
Any hammer is good. I do like the ball-peen, though a big framing hammer is nothing to sneeze at, as it's claws tend to be straighter- it's basically an old footman's pick. A Deadblow hammer, if you're not looking to kill somebody, is a blackjack. That drywall hammer IS a tomahawk- and there's a number of close in options holding the head in various ways. (I prefer the shingling hatchet, or estwing riggers axe, if we're going hardware store tomahawk.)
Pipe wrench (particularly in the 8" range is seriously underrated- it's a relatively innocent pocket mace. It has the most mass for size of anything else in there *that you could explain having, maybe*),
any number of bolts once you get to about 10" long are in the same league as a baton.
A large eyebolt gives you a knuckle and a solid poke, and several of the larger knuts make a fair knuckle.
And you can't imagine the number of mad-max medieval weapons you can craft from black iron pipe fittings.
A crowbar or wrecking bar one would Think would be good, but they're not. They're wierdly unwieldy.
You can also make a self defense stinger whip, cheap and easy. They've nearly always got coated aircraft cable by the foot. I'd , make the handle out of 1/2" pipe, with a reducer coupling and an eyebolt in the end, and pack it in with epoxy putty.
Then there's good old fashioned axe and hammer handles. Anybody who scoffs at that, hasn't been hit by one.
Shovels- drain spade. better: floor scraper. Big scoop shovel is an excellent shield. Garden rake, but don't hit with the tines, use it like a hammer.
lawn and guarden- Best, kaiser blade/brush axe. But Garden Weasel- it's not that effective, but Nobody wants to get hit with one.
chain sucks- it's coming straight back at you. I avoid anything involving chain.
Except a Load Binder- that's a nasty ass flail.
As far as screwdriver- pretty much a stiletto (in the medieval sense), but it's limited for Defense. I mean yeah, you can whack somebody with the handle, you can do some kuboton things, but if that doesn't do it, Stabby is all you got. I put it in the same category as knife. It is an Offensive, not a Defensive weapon. (and philips does tend to penetrate better than flat-head)
Hammer has more non lethal options to dissuade somebody- hit or block with handle, hook, choke up and "tap" them with it, incapacitate limbs, or, you know, bury it in their skull.
Sorry to nerd out. It's how I passed the time, wandering thought the isles, pondering how I'd employ every single thing in there as a weapon. I have no shit considered how to use a double bowl stainless steel sink as a weapon. and a toilet flange. and a 4" PVC 90 elbow. I'm weird.
"Some people calls it a kaiser blade, I calls it a sling blade..."
@@twatmunro- If it's what I'm thinking of, the long-handled pole arm called the naginata in Japan and the glaive in Europe were probably derived from it.
I like the way you think. I've spent an inordinate amount of time in hardware stores doing some of my best creative thinking, and it invariably gets sidelined when I see something that says "improvised weapon candidate!" 😆
Welders chipping hammer is light, quick, and sharp. Light enough to actually carry on you, fast enough recovery aint nobody grabbing hold of it, and good luck blocking even a half hearted blow without losing some blood. One end a chisel, the other a spike, take your pick... basically a compact tomahawk you can hide in plain sight.
Never considered the pickaxe? I think it beats most of those except maybe the Kaiser blade
I never expected Mike to casually name drop Bruenor Battlehammer.
Me either, but I felt seen
I have found my people!
I love the idea of using tools as a weapon just for that fact that companies spend a lot of time and money designing things to be ergonomic, economical and easy to use.
And durable!
They have our best interests at heart ❤
@@Vlad_Tepes_III AMEN!!!
Most importantly: inexpensive. People will spend hundreds of dollars on a knife they know will probably never get used, thousands for a gun that will probably never see use outside a range. No one's going to pay that sort of money for a shovel that's going to be used, abused, maybe loaned to a neighbour and never seen again. Even something like a HiPoint is a couple of hundred dollars. Think how many screwdrivers, shovels and hammers you could have for that same money.
I love how a RUclips video about improvised weaponry for bloody mayhem actually revealed one of the most wholesome friendships I've ever seen....the REAL best improvised weapon was the friends we made along the way? Also, thank you for highlighting Clanton Combatives - absolutely placing an order soon.
😂😂 I love that! Sounds like something out of a film or something. Yeah it’s a shame what happened to Clanton’s shop, he seems to make some really good stuff!
I'm imagining someone breaking into his home only to see Mike standing menacingly down a hallway with a cone on his head and armed with half a hardware store
Icy Mike is like a field trip teacher 😂
Edit: Really hope Icy Mike does more videos with Aaron, they seem like an amazing duo.
Icy Mike dropping D&D references was not what I expected from this video.
I’m an obsessed martial artist posing as a landscaper so this is pretty much what goes on in my head all day. Short handled edging shovel is what I settled on too.
Mate I'm the same, i have a rotavator attachment for a stihl combi, it's medieval
Lol I can't even share thoughts like this w people around me unfortunately because it will immediately be misunderstood.
I was out cycling many years ago and came up on a crime scene on a street where I saw a man sitting on the steps of the home holding a hammer that was sticking out of his skull. The worst part was the blunt end was the part that was in his skull. The paramedics were wrapping it to be able to transport him to the hospital. He lived.
My mood gets incredibly improved whenever I see a new Mike video like this one and ESPECIALLY when it's a weapon one!
A small (6-8") breaker bar/nail puller is handy & surprisingly versatile.
Growing up with my brother, this was an ordinary trip to any store. In the fruit section of a grocery store: sugar cane vs coconut.
Disconsidering the moral questions, could one use a long stick wtih a small angry monkey at the end as a self defense weapon?
Damn dude thats highly immoral though. They gon make you a war criminal for that
dawg u might get kicked out of the country💀
Oh heck yeah! The bad guy might just laugh though and walk away while still laughing. 😂😂😂
Yeah I have practiced Southern Monkey Stick Style
No, cant cc it
Mike drops the Bruenor Battlehammer reference, Hell ya
As an Appalachian American I support being able to validate needing an upstairs and downstairs hammer, so for that I thank you. That Bruenor Battlehammer reference is so appreciated you have no idea. Gabriel as Drizzt and Seth as Wolfgar (and dont worry in my headcannon you are Deudermont, not Regis. But Regis is a badass)
I always identified with Cadderly Bonaduce... he carried a flashlight after all.
Bit of a deep cut. Haven't thought about that series in a long time.
@@hard2hurt there is an 80s/90s style slow clap going on over here.... I just want you to know that. Magnificent
OMG, the memories you just dredged up for me... wow.
Bruenor Battlehammer, Mike? I KNEW you were a D&D nerd at heart.
Pretty surprising that Mike hasn't talked about push daggers on the channel yet. I think they'd fulfil all of his requirements for an effective self-defense weapon. Push daggers are: used one-handed, capable of dealing damage even when the opponent blocks, extremely easy to use (you're just punching with them), concealable, have great retention (hard2removefromyou), and they look cool. Would love to see a video on push daggers in the future.
I think he hasn't covered them bc there's not much to say.
It would be better as a short.
Mike: "so ... push daggers?"
-Cut to montage of fruit and dummy punching.
For the more legal and practical tool version, an ulu knife, used for cooking.
When I was in the army for a short time we did have a class about military spade fighting (about the size of the smaller one You presented) . That thing is no joke.
You cannot convince me that both of them weren't absolutely blazed during this whole thing. Felt like an absolute fever dream. It was awesome.
For a good box cutter you want a folding one, with razor blades not breakaway blades.
Most hand to hand skills transfer over to box cutter skills. Wield it underhanded, blade out.
The back/base of the skull is often forgotten as a self-defense target because its banned in combat sports, but being able to do bash it with a hammer even when you're being clinched is a serious thing.
I'd be happy with either, but I think I'd probably go hammer if given the option.
Don't sleep on a gardening spade/trowel though. I think I'd take that over both the hammer and the screwdriver. There's tons of stories of soldiers doing deadly work with their entrenching tool.
Extra points for the Bruenor Battlehammer reference.
Guys I love the video. Its starts all serious and after a while its like preppers that went shopping for the zombapocalypse !
Made my night nicer . Cheers
This was funny enough as it was, but I’d’ve laughed even harder if the shop assistant appeared and said “Is everything ok, can I help you at all?” *the pair of them in the middle of a clinch, or a leg takedown with hammers “No thanks we’re ok.” 😂😂
best use of a hardware store I've seen in decades, surprised and pleased that you got to do it and weren't thrown out.
Regarding short shovels there is always the classic Cold Steel Spetsnaz shovel with the sharpened sides
The ultimate hiking defense tool :-p
I have one of these, and will concur that they're absolutely brutal. Pretty handy for actually digging, too
Garden claw cultivator comes to mind.
Don't write off the boxcutter - they also have hooked carpet blades.
Return of the Stinger tactical whip?
I'd go with the hammer as it's quite similar to mediaeval weapon warhammer so there is definitely precedent for it being useful and possibly some pre-existing doctrines in treatises concerning its use so you don't have to reinvent the wheel in familiarisation exercises
Bruenor Battlehammer though Mike? Top notch reference 👌
Screwdriver is the best all the way. I know this because I was a school custodian for 20 years, and you can very easily place a screwdriver in your back pocket.
You can pull it out instantly if the handle is up, while a hammer takes some time to pull it out of the leather belt loop and hold it properly.
I trust this Janitor
I think screwdriver, but not if you pick the one Icy Mike grabbed. I think you want a smaller flat head. The kind where the shaft is about the diameter of a Q-tip, the handle is about like a lip balm, and go for about 6 or 7 inches of shaft. Your thumb and index finger go on the shaft, the butt goes into the meat of your palm, and your other three fingers wrap the handle kinda like you're pointing with a wand. The reasons I like the small ones is that they have a much smaller contact area on the point so it takes less oomph to make it stab, its really lightweight and easy to carry, and when you hold it like I said the handle vanishes into your grip and it's hard to even tell you're holding a weapon. Plus the super narrow shaft makes it just about impossible for someone else to grip it and the handle is all yours.
For an example of a historic dagger used this way look at stilettos. The 17th century stiletto made by Tod Cutler is the kind I'm thinking of.
@@jamiewarren2307 Very valid point.
@@bloodbased We also have the American prison system as a testament to the effectiveness of screwdriver-like weapons. If you search for pictures of confiscated shanks, a lot of them are basically a dull shaft of metal with tape/cloth/string/ plastic wrapped around one end to act as a handle. They look like screwdrivers.
Ive been saying the trench shovel is so underrated
CROWBAR!!! I believe the dense hexagon bar with double ended edges and one hook works with what is typically trained in place of foam stick.
I watched this for the Bruenor Battlehammer reference. I left with an intelligence ability score improvement.
Bruenor Battlehammer reference got my sub! i would always go bladed or spiked hammer probably 3 to 5 pounds nothing too long for ease of movement, over a screw driver in a self defense situation if i had the choice that is, the hammer allows you to stay father away from any blades they might have themselves plus can be used to break through even car doors or other obstacles used to hook opponent and lever weight against them in cases of trying to detain your opponent can be used to hook hands and legs to try to disarm plus can be used to hook ladders rungs or tree roots or what ever is around the terrain if needed to climb. a hammer can be easily swung around doors and in tight spaces it is extremally versatile in how you use it whether that be using as intended or as a tool to disable vehicles by puncturing tires or radiators or as an improvised battering ram or pry bar used to open a door weather car, house, or even elevator. as for if they manage to catch the hammer mid swing you definitely need to grab the head to gain leverage this is where a screw driver in your off hand pocket would come in handy let them think your grabbing for the head while you stab them lol. but if i bought this hammer with the intention of using as a self defense weapon I would beat the hell out of that metal to get as many sharp burs so grabbing the head wont be an option unless you have gloves plus a flat hammer gives glancing blows you want a rough up the surface to rip skin
in regard to screw drivers I'd pick a T handle screw driver if i only had a screw driver set as my option to choose from the hard decision for me is Phillips or flat head if i had time to choose and not just have to reactionarily shove a hex through some ones eye simply because flat head is more versatile as a tool screwdrivers have a lot of plus sides to them but i think hammer way out beats the screw driver plus in a lot if not most or all states just carrying a screw driver is considered possession of burglary tools and a deadly weapon so a cop with a hair up his ass could try to detain you for just walking saying you are looking at cars to break in or walking around threatening people. I've also had multiple cops tell me if I ever shoot anyone trespassing or breaking in or whatever to make sure to put a screwdriver in their hand then kick it away and say the took it from your porch or whatever if they don't have a gun or other weapon to establish fear of life
box cutter and long poles i would generally avoid box cutters lack of range and cutting edge you have to be right on a person essentially going for eyes groin or other soft vulnerable areas that don't have bone protecting plus modern boxcutters have safeties that you have to hold and they have ones that if they detect a hard surface the blade pops into the handle to not cut skin.
as for long handled weapons are great if you have a height advantage but they are awkward and cumbersome in tight spaces like your home hallways unless you charge down at someone you probably wont be able to generate enough force consistently to cause much damage plus you open yourself up to having the weapon grabbed and if a person can violently and explosively push or pull on that long shovel handle no amount of training will prepare you for a life or death struggle like that they also have the option to dodge and get in close to trap your weapon to fight stab or beat you with whatever they have so you need a secondary weapon for these.
the length of chain, strong rope, or cloth id say 3 to 6 feet long is probably the most under valued weapon it can be held firmly between both arms creating a very strong yet flexible defense that allows you to stop a swing that allows you to move forward and entangle them in the rope or it can be used as a solid edge to be used to brute force run into someone with a taught line it can be used to choke and grapple it can unbalance people in a multitude of ways form just swing it at legs to using as a snare you can set up or used by you to catch a foot or hand to yank them of balance it can be used with a blade or a weight whether a simple rock or scrap metal to a metal weight made for it to swing even though this presents a danger to yourself but can be used to keep your opponent at length from you. like with the hammer though i would want the weight to be pitted and jagged to cause the most damage as possible if i was using a rope or chain with a metal weight that was specifically for self defense that is but in a pinch a decent sized rock with a shirt or jacket tied to it should do the trick just fine
A 20oz straight claw framing hammer is likely amongst the most terrifying things you could ever be attacked with. In the hands of a framer this will turn basically any part of you into a fine red mist
My precise preference! The 22oz is not as fast because of the weight. The balance of the 20oz Estwing steel framing hammer is exquisite.
There was a comment about getting something that you can spray. Wasp/Hornet killer sprays a pretty good distance and has a pretty strong stream and pesticides are very debilitating
I would ho with a hatchet.
One handed with option for 2 hands. If you hit with the blunt side is like a hammer, but you also have the option to use the edge.
Also intimidation factor. And possibly good to throw.
In the shipyards, when striking, I’ve seen people use the balls of ball bearings and slings against policemen… that shut is scary
I used to be so paranoid I kept a hammer right beside the bottom of my bed
About 3 feet of rebar works kinda good you poke and jab with it to wreck and then blunt swing it to make enemy flinch. Its like a impromtu short spear which is a very dirty grappling weapon.
Hammer is great for Shillelagh style fighting which is great in dirty grapple and recycling your force for spam attacks.
A good metal pen. Ball bearings for throwing. Allan wrench for kind of punch dagger. The lock on a handkerchief. Steel toed shoes.
I feel like I'm going through a self defense weaponry class for the common people from countries that weapons are illegal
Never thought I'd hear a reference to Bruenor Battlehammer here
This is incredibly entertaining. One of the best videos you’ve made!
Bruenor Battlehammer is a name I haven't heard in decades.. lol now for Drizzt and Wulfgar
What about a wrench ? It could be both used as a blunt weapon and also pretty stabby.
Man knows Breunor Battlehammer...Icy Mike knows D&D lore! I always have a claw hammer in my car....Stopped carrying a machete since police checks increased. No hassle hammers & WD 40 spray. I've been in a screwdriver fight myself....scary. A favourite in my country is folded power cables....
I know this would sound like a lie, but i have seen a guy scaring almost 30 person with just hammer and acting crazy
Hammer is wayyyy more intimidating than a screwdriver.
Man, there’s nothing I love more than your vids with Aaron. Would love many more of those!
I agree with the "I like the hammer better" part. I just think it's cooler and I don't think I need any other reason if it's not awful (it's not)
I just realized that Clanton Combatives is just down the road from me. Wow, I had no idea.
When they started discussing liquids/sprays they almost reached a subject I have wanted Icy Mike to tall about for so long. My wife and I carry bug/wasp spray in the car on road trips because its a 30 ft stream. I would love a more in depth liquid/spray home defense video.
Am not sure about sprays like bug spray or Glue or Paint remover spray. If somehow it blows back against the user that’s a BAD day. Even pepper spray can eventually wear off with water . Any spray from hardware store gets blown back in face you going E.R. But it will definitely stop attacker. Before U say it just be careful. You can’t control the wind. If person grab it use on you, if the spray breaks. If they choose spray WD 40 may be best option. Small can sometimes comes it small tube to put in . Not usually thought of as a weapon. And stops squeaks.
this is the moment Mike became Icy Mikesenberg
I nominate the Stanley FatMax FuBar III 55-120 5-in-1 Demolition Tool as "Best tool for self-defense". It has semi-sharp unpleasant poking/jabbing, it has smash bones into gravel, it has hook/trap limbs, it has reach and crowd control. I'd *love* to see what you think of that thing! (I'd insert a direct link to the product but youtube is iffy with links)
I have a Gorilla bar of similar dimensions and it feels lethal in almost every way.
A friend of mine was a maintenance technician on a property that was in a very bad part of town. He wasn’t allowed to carry a “weapon” to defend himself, so he started carrying a sharpened sheetrock hammer. He was never challenged by managers or law enforcement.
Mike I would say the screwdriver, for a few reasons. One of you try to block it. A hole is going to be made in your body somewhere. Very high penetration with a screwdriver. Second, not much mass to grab by your opponent to take it away from you. Another thought I had was on the business end of the screwdriver if you polish that up with some really slick silicone lube or wax. If the opponent tries to grab her from you, it will slip out of their hand and that would be helpful to you.
The extremely sharp pull saws that have a grip that helps you retain control of the tool as it snags in clothing and flesh. The razor sharp teeth will slice and dice tendons and muscles making the attacker hesitate to move any more extremities into your circle of effective reach.
Small monkey wrench is pretty underrated. Obviously big ones for pipes are a classic weapon but one about a foot long is pretty good too. Also a socket wrench about 15" long would be good too.
I think for any bludgeon having it fully made of metal is preferable because you get more mass for the size. If you look at anti-armor medieval weapons they trended towards more and more metal and less wood as they developed
Yeah. Monkey wrench is my go-to.
My school was complicated. No guns, because not in America, but since we had a lot of drug trafficking, fights could break out and people could get seriously hurt. My dad once asked the handyman if the kids had ever tried to pull a fast one on him, and his answer was "well I always carry this with me" pointing at the holster for the monkey-wrench.
That thing will absolutely break your arm and your head if it hits you.
Hi, I have some woodworking experience, honestly, the tool I don't want to mess with is the AWL. Of the two you mentioned, I'd take the screwdriver but a thin one, better with an I rather than an X point.
I want to take a moment to appreciate the amount of thoughts you put into weapons or tools.
When i see 'best weapon for self defense X vs Y" i have just a reaction of "of course he did a video on that, who else would?! " 😂
we need more of this. go to a office supply store.
I've heard the old biker gangs used to carry ball peen hammers in a loop on their vest. "No officer, it's not a weapon, it's for fixing the bike!"
Some tools even have a cool catch phrase you can throw out there.
Hammer: “it’s hammer time!”
Screwdriver: “you’re screwed now, buddy!”
Shovel: “can you dig it?”
I feel like this is how kobudo originally was created. Defense with tools, that means Mike needs to create his own kobudo style with modern tools.
Good to know I’m not the only guy who thinks about this stuff at the hardware store lol
Nail gun, crowbar, linoleum knife (personal fav) all would work
Fun fact: The director of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre got the idea for the movie while Christmas shopping. He was in the hardware section of a store trying to figure out a way to get out when he saw the chainsaws.
"you mean self defense tools?"
"no im talking about self defense tools."
"but not about us self defense tools!"
love it :D
i did NOT expect mike to cite bruenor battlehammer, he could have said anything but he went for the heaviest, nerdiest citation ever, totally unexpected, made my day
"Intimidational Factors"
*Puts traffic cone on his head*
Never change Mike lmao.
it works you don't know what level spells the cone mage has could be sparkle from the fingertips, or could be summon tiny human minions
i didn’t know i needed 20 minutes of content of grown men playing around in the lowes. Made my day today ❤️ stay safe you three, can’t forget the camera man!
I definitely would choose the hammer because I think you’re more likely to deal a fight ending blow than with the screwdriver since people often keep fighting after being stabbed with a knife, even if they bleed out later. It works well for me since I do a lot of handyman jobs and keep one at home so I usually have one on or near me, but if that wasn’t the case the screwdriver is definitely easier to carry around. I’d rather have that little thing in my pocket then have to walk around at the grocery story with my hammer on my belt even though I probably wouldn’t be stopped for either
Against maniacs on the street I would go for the screwdriver, mainly for concealment factor and speed factor. In case of zombie apocalypse though, I would definetely go for the hammer too, alongside the trash can cover as a buckler 😂
@@alphamorion4314 Mike would have been unbeatable with a hammer and buckler in the zombie part of ultimate self defense championship 😂
@@jonahfussman9371 I can picture the unfortunate fate of that little non-bitten girl, if that were the case...
@@alphamorion4314 Oh No 😂
The oilcheck and his reaction was hilarious!!
An ice pick wins out. Sharp, small enough to conceal, quick to deploy. Doesnt require a lot of power, because it's pointed.
If you grind the edge blunt, the Axe turns into a Splitting Wedge.
Nothing Breaks a Bone more easily.
"in and spin" for the twist tiller killed me. This was fun.
This is pretty much what goes on in my head when I walk around at Home Depot or Lowes, lol. Not all the time, but often enough.
When I first started traditional martial arts my coach had a story he LOVED to tell newbies:
Guy is sitting at a bar when someone grabs him and throws him at the ground and knocks him out. The attacker says “when he wakes up, tell him that was judo from Japan”.
Next day, the guy is sitting back at the bar, still confused when the same guy chops him in the back of the neck and says “when he wakes up, tell him that was Karate from Okinawa”.
This goes on for days, capoeira from Brazil, escrima
from the Philippines, Kung Fu from China, Muay Thai from Thailand. After like a week - the attacker is sitting at the bar, all tired from messing the other dude up when everything goes black. The guy he’s been beating up all week is standing over his body and says when he wakes up, tell him that was the pick handle from back of my truck.
Classic for a reason. Terrible self defence weapon by all of Mike’s rules - but every weapon is effective when the other person doesn’t know they’re fighting. And when a pick handle lands? The fight is probably over.
Bruenor Battlehammer, the ultimate short king
Pipe wrench might work or a tree pruner. But then again I always carry a pistol and at least one knife.
A variant on the screwdriver would be a woodworking chisel. Gardening hand cultivator (rake). Maybe a foldable pruning saw?
The Bruenor Battlehammer reference!
Plus, screwdrivers under 7” are TSA approved for carry-on. Ya never know when you might need to tighten a screw mid-flight.
Woahh Did he Say Bruner Battlehammer !!??. Dude !!
11:42 love the RA Salvatore reference. Love the Drizzt Do’Urden Books
1) John Wick 5 needs to be filmed in Home Depot. 2) The play fight at 11:30 with the drywall hammer and trash can lid takes me back to my childhood! We'd use sticks for swords and metal trash can lids for shields and fight like Roman soldiers. That was epic! And it was before home computers or even every house having a color TV.
You should put together a Paul Harrell-style meat target to test the crosshead vs Phillips thing. Just stab a bunch of meat wrapped in t-shirts and see if one makes a better wound. I don't think it matters much, but it'd be fun.
Hammer, preferably a masons hammer or a nice straight claw framing hammer, in the dominant hand and the screwdriver in the off hand. Do not throw away your weapon.
Its not about what weapon you use, Its what weapon you can get to the fastest before they get you.
..Ive been studying martial arts for like 12 years
I love how real you are about, "that shit was scary, I was terrified" type stuff. Cause yeah, fights freak you out especially when weapons get involved
The "You know what the best screwdriver is? Fat handle less than seven inches", "Holes is holes" and "I got all kind of ass to put. I know" sent me
A gambit is more of a strategy involving a sacrifice that provides a victory less of a gamble but still not the gamut which is all of the recognized musical notes. Great content never stop!
I wouldn't gamble on running the gamut of gambits on these old gams.
Your personal carry hammer with the blade like handle fulfils the "damage to blocking limbs" better than typical round handle as well. I'm getting an image of seeing that lodging in someone's forehead due to them moving into the strike and it's blade like geometry.
My notifications are now set to ‘all’ man. Starting following relatively recently and every video has been so entertaining and somehow thought-provoking.
"Whoever gets the head first, WINS" 😂😂. Good video Icy Mike!
I used to carry a gerber multitool (The multi-plier type, not butterfly open) on my hip as an every day tool. Because of the way it was designed it could be used like a palm stick very easily.
Similar advantages to the screwdriver but with more mass and the ability to bite or clamp something.
the pog strat: throw the hammer to disrupt their ooda loop, then rush em with the screwdriver
low light variant - screwdriver and flashlight: not throwing the flashlight, but one quick momentary ON/OFF flash to mix their nuts up before you rush em with the screwdriver
suggestion: keep the screwdriver on your body, the flashlight in the center console of your car, and the hammer in your trunk staged with the handle partially sticking out of a tool bag with jumper cables and such that you should have in your car anyway
bonus - how to make an IWB sheath for screwdriver:
•materials
-pvc vinyl hose (flexible, clear, small diameter, wide enough to accommodate the shaft 😉😉 but smaller than diameter of handle)
-piece of string x2
•fully insert shaft into hos
•bend the hos so that it fits the shaft without going too deep so the tip doesn’t poke anything
•unfold the hos
•tie a slipknot in piece of string 1 and loop that b around that spot where you folded the hos before (should be easy to find)
•remove shaft
•pull haaarrrd on that knot
•fold the hos again
•while maintaining tension and pressure (so important) complete a series of standard whippings around both sides of the folded hos toward where the tip will be eventually
•check the friction fit of the shaft inside the sheath (should have adequate retention with enough whippings )
•run string trough natural hole formed at bottom of the sheath between the two folded sides, and finish by looping it around each side individually to make a few cow hitches
•trim the excess tail
finally, run piece of string 2 through the hole to use as a static line so it stays properly oriented inside your pants
I personally prefer a pair of wire plyers for close quarters. I use the handles for striking up the nose, into the ears, or neck punches as well as punching the arm, hands knees and ankles. I use the plyers end closed for temple and jaw strikes. I open the jaws for grabbing flesh, meat, nerves, stomach, groin, fingers, ears, nose and mouth. I developed my own system you can say while in Iraq. I modified the handles on one pair by grinding them into a point for stabbing,. I keep them in the front of my pants for easy access in the event I am grabbed from behind. Now disabled, with 27 years as LEO, 5 1/2 years in Iraq I will use anything at my disposal to use as an advantage. Besides who would think a simple pair of wire plyers as such an effective weapon. At my age (64) and disabilities I play as dirty as I have to. I love your channel. "Pray for peace but prepare for war".
Train with both.
Having preferences is all well and good, but you have to be able to effectively use every tool at your disposal.
After all, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, but you might be screwed.