[at-l] Self Defense on the Trail - The Viking Battle Ax

[nealb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (William Neal)]

In a few states it would ensure a nice long vacation care of the state.
Also, it would ensure that a few good ol' boys and girls would reach for
their shotgun or rifle or 357 Mags.  And of course there are those boys and
girls in white coats with nets... ;-)

Seriously, I voted for running, and if you can not run, a sock of rocks or
change.

Also, I have carried a spray can or bottle of an irritating chemical.  Not
something "illegal-in-some-jurisdictions" like Mace or pepper spray
(although a friend or two have given me a can to carry).  Just something
that I can say "Why officer, I carry it just in case I need to fix up my
hair to go into town." Or, "I have it for rubbing on sore muscles."  Or,
"Gee, I found it in the shelter back that way.  I thought it belonged to
F.... and did not know it would have such a devasting effect."

And if you are willing to go to a martial arts school, get some directions
on using a staff (as in hiking staff).  Little John's quarterstaff made a
good weapon and a good thing to lean on and is not illegal to carry.

Then you could always carry a dog.  Though personally I do not favor
carrying dogs on the trail.  I'd make them walk.

William, The "Tuck my head in my shell and hunker down" Turtle

-----Original Message-----
From: McDermott [mailto:mcdermot@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 1:00 PM
To: AT-L
Subject: [at-l] Self Defense on the Trail - The Viking Battle Ax


A good weapon of choice for a thru hike would be the Viking Battle Ax.
 Nobody seeing you with this weapon would ever think of messing with you.
 Even crazy people would steer clear of you.  You could carry it on the
pretext
 of using it to cut fire wood. I think it would be legal in all states.
 I bet you could even attach it to the Ax loop on your backpack
 when you needed both hands for more peaceful purposes.  After all, it
is an ax.
I think it would look real good hanging there.

 I have heard historians say that a person could be cut in half at the
waist with
 one of these things.  It would be nothing to lop off an arm or leg of
an attacker.
 I do not think you would need any training or practice to become
proficient with this weapon
 since most people are already familiar with the conventional ax.  And,
also because
 no matter where or how you hit an attacker with one of these things, it
would really smart.

 Also, the battle Ax comes in a variety of sizes.  Smaller ones for the
minimalists and larger ones for
 those not so concerned by weight. If all hikers carried a Viking battle
Ax, word would soon get
 around to the general public not to mess
 with any thru-hiker.  The crime rate would actually go down. Hikers
would be safe.

 To complete the image, you could get one of those pointed Viking
helmets with the horns
 coming out of either side.

 Other good things the battle ax could be used for:
 You could also use it to rid the shelters
 of those pesky mice that run all around the place all night  Especially
the ones that
 run across your face at night.  I would not feel a bit sorry if they
were given a rude
 introduction  to the battle ax.  You could cleave one
 of those pesky little things right in half with a single whack.  I
think it would be a very
 reassuring sound to hear in the middle of the night, to hear one of
those annoying mice
 meeting their end.

 Also, Porcupines  and other critters that gnaw on the shelters at night
could be put to the Ax.

 Panzer