The White Shadow Dojo is a Martial Arts school run by Gwynne and David in western New York. This blog features information on our book "The Rhythm of One", our class offerings, a calendar of events, an edged weapons forum, articles on knife design, and a community space for the research and dissemination of Martial Arts. "Sometimes irreverant, often opinionated, always brutally honest."

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Never Take a Knife to a Gunfight

Never Take a Knife to a Gunfight:


"Never take a knife to a gunfight," how many times have you heard this sage advice? What is the contemporary wisdom concerning Knife vs Gun? Fact: a bullet, shot from any firearm, bores a tiny hole through the air. Less than a half inch in diameter, that hole may extend in a liner fashion for hundreds or thousands of yards. But, if it has missed you, by even the smallest of margins, it has missed you forever. It will not twist sideways or come flying at you from another direction (excluding a ricochet). Compare the bullet’s flight to a knife’s slash. The keen edge of a good fighting knife is infinitely thin but seldom does it travel in one nice straight line. A blade driven in as a thrust may suddenly cut sideways, disemboweling its victim. The blade may extend out in a long slash, and failing to reach you, stop in mid-flight to reverse its direction and stab you through the throat or heart. A knife is not a linear weapon in the same way a bullet is. A knife will cut a curving swath a foot wide and several feet long and then instantly and unexpectedly return along the same path or a completely different path. If you look real close at the photo you can find the bullet. Look at the bullet, look at the knife, and you decide. At 5 yards, seven yards, maybe 25 yards I'd start getting comfortable with the bullet but remember it only travels in a straight line and God help you if you miss. (By the way I’m still working on my trigger pull.)

The skilled knifer will use feints to draw you into his true attack. Try executing a feint with a bullet. Once released, your bullet cannot be redirected or recalled, nor can its impact energy be controlled. A bullet is a mindless killer. In the hands of a skilled practitioner a knife can merely prick or powerfully puncture, it can lightly touch or terminate, all at the discretion of the user. Within its circle of engagement the knife is unexcelled. The uneducated defender may assume that the knifer’s circle of engagement is only a few short feet, but an attacker possessing even moderate skills can quickly extend his reach to a dozen feet or more. That is what our upcoming book is all about, extending your fighting range and expanding your knowledge.

5 comments:

Albert Sjoberg said...

"The bullet is a mindless killer"
That one statement holds the essence of the problem. A youngster with a gun can cause irreparable harm without any training other than seeing some actor fire a gun on a TV show. To be truly effective in a knife or sword fight requires extensive training.
I do believe this is one of the themes in the Hollywood movie "The Last Samurai"
I enjoy your posts. Thank you.
Al Sjoberg http://samuraitoday.blogspot.com/

Enigma said...

I agree a Bullet is a mindless killer, but does kill.
With out proper training a knife is no match for a bullet.
Once fired the bullet is set in its destiny, as mentioned.
If it misses, that who holds the blade and mind of observing the next action of its target may take you down, before the next bullet is fired.
If hesitant, they, the bullet will prevail.

Gwynne said...

Both valuable comments from people who understand the complexity of conflict, thanks
dave decker white shadow dojo

David said...

While you may make some good points about the effectiveness of the bullet, make sure you take the shooter into consideration here. Note that according to Col. Grossman, one of the leading authorities on combat, even highly trained law enforcement officers miss with their first shot. And have you ever tried to not get cut by someone with a knife? Try this, give them a red sharpie and try to not get any red on you... oh, and good luck. Don't get me started on what happens when that gun is in a holster...

All that said, I carry a knife and a firearm everyday, both at my job as a combat duty service member and when I am off duty.

I have to respectfully disagree with the assessment that a knife is "no match" for a bullet.

knife-fighter said...

Thanks david for the comments. I obviously agree with you on this point. A knife is a very under-rated weapon by the majority. Like a heart attack it is a silent killer.
dave decker

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