Current Events > Bat vs. Knife

(+) Yeah! (+)

You're in a fight to the death with another man equal to your size. You're offered either an aluminum baseball bat or a 6" non-serrated knife. Knowing the other weapon you don't choose goes to your opponent, which would you choose?

---

Id take the bat, but only because im no expert at throwing the knife. I think if you were good, you could kill the guy with one well aimed knife throw

---

I've practice eskrima so either weapon is fine

---

Why does it matter if the knife is serrated?

Ah the classic debate, you been listening to old Giant Bomb content?

---

Bat needs to land a one-shot knockout to win against an aggressive knife fighter. Once the knife fighter is in range they can inflict hideous damage in half a second.

---

Realistically speaking, the knife wins.

Bats need a certain degree of force to cause damage. You just can't touch someone with the bat, you need to swing it and generate speed. If you miss your swing you're wide open to retaliation.

Knives can cause lethal damage without exerting force or needing a lot of space: think about how easy it is to slice a tomato or a piece of steak.

Any idiot swinging wildly with a knife can kill. Swinging wildly with a baseball bat can have consequences for the swinger.

Pogo_Marimo posted...

Bat needs to land a one-shot knockout to win against an aggressive knife fighter. Once the knife fighter is in range they can inflict hideous damage in half a second.

pongo is right

solosnake posted...

Id take the back, but only because im no expert at throwing the knife. I think if you were good, you could kill the guy with one well aimed knife throw

No. Throwing knifes aren't an effective thing. Stop thinking Hollywood is real.

---

Knife I think.

---

3khc posted...

I've practice eskrima so either weapon is fine

not sure if serious, but kali sticks are very, very different from a baseball bat. They're weighted too differently.

Knives don't need to be thrown. Some knives aren't meant to be thrown.

Knives require quickness to actually get a hit in, while a bat just needs a big thwack on the head.

Bat wins.

---

Coastal_elite posted...

not sure if serious, but kali sticks are very, very different from a baseball bat. They're weighted too differently.

Yeah, the bat has an unfortunate balance for unarmored fighting. It can inflict great damage, but it's relatively slow and takes a relatively high amount of effort to bring it back under control after a missed swing.

---

bat has the range, and even if you don't kill the dude with a blow to the head, he's not holding onto the knife anymore if you smack his hand. his fingers might not even work anymore

---

Coastal_elite posted...

not sure if serious, but kali sticks are very, very different from a baseball bat. They're weighted too differently.

Just because a boxer uses gloves doesn't mean they can't fight without them.

---

Hard choice. I feel like bat is better though, easier to handle and longer range. One good hit and you can disable the attacker. Knife only has a chance if they get a good lunge to start off with.

I need all the range I can get with how short I am

---

ClunkerSlim posted...

You get one shot with a bat.
If you miss then youre dead.

i don't get where this belief that bats are hard to control after swinging is coming from. is it slower than a knife? sure, but it's not like a giant warhammer

---

Coastal_elite posted...

Realistically speaking, the knife wins.

Bats need a certain degree of force to cause damage. You just can't touch someone with the bat, you need to swing it and generate speed. If you miss your swing you're wide open to retaliation.

Knives can cause lethal damage without exerting force or needing a lot of space: think about how easy it is to slice a tomato or a piece of steak.

Any idiot swinging wildly with a knife can kill. Swinging wildly with a baseball bat can have consequences for the swinger.

I mean if you aim for the body sure. If you aim for the head, a bat is devastating even without a full powered swing. Though the knife wielder if smart, can sacrifice an arm to take the blow and then get into knife range...

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

i don't get where this belief that bats are hard to control after swinging is coming from. is it slower than a knife? sure, but it's not like a giant warhammer

Go to the batting cage then come back here

---

Knife.

I feel if need be I can even tank a bat hit on my arms, potentially grab it, and still stab.

The range isn't that much more on a bat, and it's telegraphed, and the recovery isn't great, and it needs strength. If my opponent is weaker, I can give them a bat and laugh during the whole fight.
---

3khc posted...

Just because a boxer uses gloves doesn't mean they can't fight without them.

Agreed.

Now, if the boxer's hands got very heavy without the gloves and his forearms became much lighter, screwing up his balance and punching technique, I'd say that it'd change things too.

Your typical kali stick strike doesn't swing the same way with a bat

id rather fight a guy with a knife than a guy with a bat i think...

as far as for me wielding i would say its even. so slight edge to the bat.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-m4_0q9Ftg

---

3khc posted...

Go to the batting cage then come back here

big difference between professional batting form and etiquette and just wailing away on someone's dome. you're definitely exaggerating it

---

LightHawKnight posted...

I mean if you aim for the body sure. If you aim for the head, a bat is devastating even without a full powered swing. Though the knife wielder if smart, can sacrifice an arm to take the blow and then get into knife range...

Yeah there's just too much defense against the bat. You can get an arm up to dull the blow and still use the other hand to lunge in for a stab. Plus my head is gonna be bobbing and weaving, so you're gonna have to get lucky with that swing.

Gotta go knife.

---

Knife.

---

GameGodOfAll posted...

You can get an arm up to dull the blow and still use the other hand to lunge in for a stab.

lmao ok superman, guess the average ceman can tank direct blows to their bones with metal baseball bats and still have the wherewithall to even hold onto a knife, let alone still try to attack with it

---

I'll take the knife. I can sacrifice an arm against the bat to get the knife in. Hell, I've had to block a bat before, surprised my arm didn't break.

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

lmao ok superman, guess the average ceman can tank direct blows to their bones with metal baseball bats and still have the wherewithall to even hold onto a knife, let alone still try to attack with it

The "disabled from pain" thing isn't gonna happen when you're hopped up on adrenaline. That's mostly for fiction, maybe exhausted people.

---

Guide posted...

The "disabled from pain" thing isn't gonna happen when you're hopped up on adrenaline. That's mostly for fiction, maybe exhausted people.

When we say sacrifice an arm, we mean it breaks. A bat can easily break your arm, but you don't need two arms to wield a knife. Taking a broken arm to get into knife range is well worth it if you want to survive.

---

LightHawKnight posted...

When we say sacrifice an arm, we mean it breaks. A bat can easily break your arm, but you don't need two arms to wield a knife. Taking a broken arm to get into knife range is well worth it if you want to survive.

No yeah, I'm in agreement there.

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

lmao ok superman, guess the average ceman can tank direct blows to their bones with metal baseball bats and still have the wherewithall to even hold onto a knife, let alone still try to attack with it

It all depends on the force of the blow. You don't need a home run swing, but you still need a wind up. If I'm rushing you like a mad man, you're probably not gonna get a power swing with much accuracy, or you're gonna go just to connect and probably not hard enough to stop the momentum.

If the bat gets a good clean hard shot in, it's over, but anything less and the bat is done for. All I gotta do is poke ya with the knife or make a slice and if I get in there I'm probably gonna be able to do multiple stabs.

---

does sacrificing your skull work the same way? just putting a lot of faith in X factors when the simple answer is that blow for blow, aimed at the right places, the bat's going to get the job done from further away, unless the knife guy goes modern warfare 2 and throws it, lol

---

Guide posted...

The "disabled from pain" thing isn't gonna happen when you're hopped up on adrenaline. That's mostly for fiction, maybe exhausted people.

It's just circumstantial. If you absolutely obliterate someone's collar bone or rib cage, they'll probably collapse from shock. If you just fracture someone's forearm from a clean hit, there's a distinct chance they can keep fighting.

Bat has a good chance of winning, it's just not the best chance. If you're not taking very stiff swings the knife wield can grab the bat with their free hand long enough to close in (As someone who has done some recreational weapon sparring this is very realistic move). If you're using heavy enough swings you can be off-balanced enough by the backstroke on a miss or glancing blow for the knife wielder to close in. Once in knife range the knife wielder has a MASSIVE advantage, can deal lethal damage in a second, then run away while you bleed out.

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

does sacrificing your skull work the same way? just putting a lot of faith in X factors when the simple answer is that blow for blow, aimed at the right places, the bat's going to get the job done from further away, unless the knife guy goes modern warfare 2 and throws it, lol

Aimed at the right places, it's still really easy to put an arm in the path of a baseball swing, and it's not like you can feint a swing.

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

does sacrificing your skull work the same way? just putting a lot of faith in X factors when the simple answer is that blow for blow, aimed at the right places, the bat's going to get the job done from further away, unless the knife guy goes modern warfare 2 and throws it, lol

I think connecting with a headshot with the bat in this standoff is just highly unlikely, especially if the knife guy is putting any thought whatsoever into the charge. Running straight ahead and yeah fucking bat's got a good shot, but starting and stopping, faking out, ducking, bobbing and weaving just sounds really effective.

---

Reminds me of this hilarious topic from ten years ago.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/574706-joe-blade/51370824

---

Guide posted...

Aimed at the right places, it's still really easy to put an arm in the path of a baseball swing, and it's not like you can feint a swing.

i'm talking about without X factors like grandiose delusions of blocking and parrying clubs like we live in dark souls

---

Pogo_Marimo posted...

It's just circumstantial. If you absolutely obliterate someone's collar boneor rib cage, they'll probably collapse from shock. If you just fracture someone's forearm from a clean hit, there's a distinct chance they can keep fighting.

Bat has a good chance of winning, it's just not the best chance. If you're not taking very stiff swings the knife wield can grab the bat with their free hand long enough to close in (As someone who has done some recreational weapon sparring this is very realistic move). If you're using heavy enough swings you can be off-balanced enough by the backstroke on a miss or glancing blow for the knife wielder to close in. Once in knife range the knife wielder has a MASSIVE advantage, can deal lethal damage in a second, then run away while you bleed out.

That's true, even weak punches to the collar feel so much worse than a swing to the forearm. Something about nerves in the collar? I don't know.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NUOeXV5Kyg

Bruhhhh!

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

i'm talking about without X factors like grandiose delusions of blocking and parrying clubs like we live in dark souls

Exactly what is delusional about taking a hit with your arm?

---

Guide posted...

Exactly what is delusional about taking a hit with your arm?

doing anything else afterward

---

viewmaster_pi posted...

doing anything else afterward

Guide posted...

The "disabled from pain" thing isn't gonna happen when you're hopped up on adrenaline. That's mostly for fiction, maybe exhausted people.

---

SrRd_RacinG posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NUOeXV5Kyg

Bruhhhh!

Some things we can actually observe from this:

1. For starters the knife guy had no interest in fighting, which is pretty common in a physical altercation. The biggest deciding factor in most physical altercations is the actual will to inflict gruesome bodily harm on your opponent. The person who's capable of sudden, immediate violence will probably win.

2. After being struck with the bat multiple times, the knife wielder is still far from incapacitated. He's able to flee from the building without any real difficulty.

---

Aluminum bat.

Guide posted...

The "disabled from pain" thing isn't gonna happen when you're hopped up on adrenaline. That's mostly for fiction, maybe exhausted people.

i'm not saying you'll crumple to your knees, i'm saying you're not going to strike any meaningful blow as you take one

---