Have you thought about a katana as part of your SHTF gear?

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Mac11FA

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I bought my dad a woodsman's pal several years ago and he loves it! It is a great tool for many tasks. You can cut down small trees if you need to.

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TattooedGunner

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Mar 31, 2015
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I think machetes would be ideal.

Cheap(compared to a real sword), useful for much more than killing people, easier to maintain. Plus they are handy to have around before SHTF. If you get a sword it's just going to sit in a closet or in your safe until something happens, and then not until you are out of ammo/arrows etc.
 

Hayata

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I'll just leave this little gem right here...



 

ImADad

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Aug 19, 2015
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Thats the reason I try to stock a stupid amount of .22lr.
if the world did get cataclysmic, mad max, total SHTF, black swan,

I bet after most of the bullets ran out that a .22lr pistol and rifle would be about the best things you could have. Just a brick of 500rds would be a goldmine.
I have machetes, military shovels, long knives, and the such. no swords. Most of the sword reviews i have seen on youtube are actually pretty eye opening. Most of them are just cheap show pieces and when actually used, they shatter or break, often times cutting the user. Thats what scares me the most about them.

I think if it came to it I would feel better with a high quality knife zip tied/duct taped/lashed to a broom handle. haha
 
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sewerman68

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Jul 28, 2015
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I have a thick hickory walking stick with about 10" of a mosin bayonet sticking out the end of it. Its good for keeping large animals back a bit.
 

DTW762

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Jul 28, 2015
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No katana here, but I do have one thing to say

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I keep a crowbar in every vehicle I own.
SHTF, sharpen the flat point, kickass urban get home multi tool. And I can duct tape a flashlight and scope to keep it operator as shit if need be
 
Aug 12, 2015
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A long blade of some sort is probably worth having in the arsenal. I'd probably go for something more multi-purpose like a machete, but the reasoning is still sound. Another tool in the toolbox. I wouldn't buy one until I had most other bases covered, but it definitely couldn't hurt.
 

AirOpsMgr

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Don't get me wrong, I have several different multi-tasking tools already; A machete (not sure of the brand as I bought it over 20 yrs ago and would have to go look at the stamp), a light weight camping hatchet and a hooked bush knife. Overall, I was just curious if anyone had looked into a quality katana (not the display type, but an actual mid-grade cutting katana) like the Hanwei practicals and such.
 
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Patryn

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Just curious if anyone has thought about having a good quality katana as part of their SHTF gear.

I know, I know, it's one of those typical zombie apocalypse scenario items, but curious anyway. Personally, I'd opt for a bow after the bullets run out, but if that wasn't an option, I'd suspect the next thing I'd want is a long blade.

I've seen some of the basic Hanwei katanas with high carbon / differentially tempered blades going for $300-$450, anybody else thought of this as an option?

If not, you can point an laugh at me, I'm used to it :)


I don't have one for the scenario mentioned but I have been waiting a long time on my custom katana order and tanto to go with it.

Culturally speaking....I admire and love studying Japanese and Chinese weapons.
 

AirOpsMgr

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I don't have one for the scenario mentioned but I have been waiting a long time on my custom katana order and tanto to go with it.

Culturally speaking....I admire and love studying Japanese and Chinese weapons.
I know nothing more than the few reviews I've read online; but I've always wondered what the "collectors and testers" thought of the different options offered. Personally, I'd buy another bow and some more arrows before I thought about dropping that kind of green for a blade, but I'm really interested to hear what others are doing.
 
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