Saved by sgian dubh?

[Panache]

Streetcar made a very valid point here:

Good on ya! Vermin prefer victims that won't fight back.

I believe a lot of Self Defense classes stress the importance of not looking like a victim. People that show confidence instead of fear are less likely to be victimized. Thugs want an easy target.

It was also mentioned early in this thread the importance of being aware of one's surroundings. Attackers want the element of surprise or at least isolation.

I have a suspicion that these two factors were as much responsible for the punks leaving NewKilt as the knife.

I have a couple of sgian dubhs and a couple of "sgian don'ts" and I wear one or the other based on what I happen to be doing and where I am going. So I am aware of the responsibility one must have when carrying a weapon.

(Side note: I was at a school fair at my son's elementary school and was approached by a police officer. She had her hands at a ready position and asked me to step aside and wanted to question me about what was in my sock. Carrying a knife at school would be illegal so this time it was a comb. I explained what it was and asked her if I could show it to her. Only after she said yes did I pull it out slowly. Had I acted foolishly or belligerently I probably could have gotten myself shot.)

The act of drawing a weapon on others offers a choice to those people. Do they stand down or do they escalate things to the next level? It is something that shouldn't be done lightly. If you pull a knife it does offer the possibility of them drawing a weapon in response. Or perhaps taking your knife away and using it on you.

I'm not a pacifist. As an adult human being I am going to assume that any physical assault on me or mine is done with serious intent and I will respond with equal deadly focus. I think if you draw a weapon on another human being it is because you absolutely have to and you are fully intent on using it. I don't see a place for bravado here.

For the record when I go out walking in the foothills I carry a stout walking stick or hiking staff because we have Mountain Lions in the Santa Cruz Moutains and Los Gatos foothills. It also gives me a bit of peace of mind in case of two legged predators. But having a walking stick handy is very different than actively drawing a knife.

In an age where there are far too many incidents of casual violence I think we need to be careful. We need to not be victims, but we also need to make sure we aren't throwing down gauntlets either.


I am happy that NewKilt came out of this incident safe. My only point for posting on his thread was to offer the point that this could have turned out very differently. The five men he encountered could have taken the act of drawing his sgian dubh and presenting it in a threatening gesture as an invitation to take things to the "next level".

Respectfully

Jamie

[Streetcar]

I am happy that NewKilt came out of this incident safe. My only point for posting on his thread was to offer the point that this could have turned out very differently. The five men he encountered could have taken the act of drawing his sgian dubh and presenting it in a threatening gesture as an invitation to take things to the "next level"....

Panache (rightly) brings up very real concerns that anyone who carries a weapon should keep in mind - be it a sgian, walking stick, pepper spray or something more martial.

Know your skills, abilities and your own willingness in an encounter.

Here's some other food for thought:
Police departments across the country (including mine) have seen a rise in injury to officers during confrontations. Post incident studies have shown that many officers are so concerned about possibly being sued later, that they are not using appropriate levels of force to defend themselves.

The old axiom "Better be judged by nine, than carried by six," is a bit hackneyed, but I believe the sentiment behind it is still valid.

When the "hammer falls," there's really no time to think through all the possible outcomes of what to do next. You go by your instincts and any training you may have.

In this case, it was more than enough for NewKilt to "show his teeth," to get these weasels to slink away.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Panache (rightly) brings up very real concerns that anyone who carries a weapon should keep in mind - be it a sgian, walking stick, pepper spray or something more martial.

Know your skills, abilities and your own willingness in an encounter.

Here's some other food for thought:
Police departments across the country (including mine) have seen a rise in injury to officers during confrontations. Post incident studies have shown that many officers are so concerned about possibly being sued later, that they are not using appropriate levels of force to defend themselves.

The old axiom "Better be judged by nine, than carried by six," is a bit hackneyed, but I believe the sentiment behind it is still valid.

When the "hammer falls," there's really no time to think through all the possible outcomes of what to do next. You go by your instincts and any training you may have.

In this case, it was more than enough for NewKilt to "show his teeth," to get these weasels to slink away.

Another thing to keep in mind is the legistlation of your country regarding fire arms. Guns are'nt allowed in Europe. I UK , "Bobbies" do not even bear them.
Times and circumstances...

Showing teeth is universal.... and a good thing.


Best,

Robert

[michaelbeeman]

I am very glad to hear it worked out well, and that you are OK. Yep, most bullies have no use for someone bold enough to stand up to them.

[Arlen]

Glad that standing up to them showed them you are not to be troubled.

Good for you.

[Big Homestead]

The best *** kicking comes when you don't have to throw a single solitary punch, and still win. Good on ya!

I'm really glad to hear your ok, and very impressed you handled yourself so well.

[EBlackall]

Better to be one of the sheepdogs than one of the sheep...

Why I became a cop in the first place, to help protect those unwilling or unable to protect themselves.

[James MacMillan]

One bit of advise that is often given to older people (and I am one ) who find that they must walk in a dangerous area is to keep a hand balled up in a pocket. You know that you don't have a piece in your hand, but nobody else is ever really sure.

Good show!

[EBlackall]

One bit of advise that is often given to older people (and I am one ) who find that they must walk in a dangerous area is to keep a hand balled up in a pocket. You know that you don't have a piece in your hand, but nobody else is ever really sure.

Good show!

Even better advice, from experience, is to always observe your surroundings. Be aware. Look for escape routes. See the danger before it sees you and you can easily avoid it.

Predators (the wolves) are always looking for the easy prey (the sheep) that are busy trying to be invisible and usually looking at the ground in front of them. Once that easy prey is spotted, the stalking begins. Once at a place of the wolf's choosing, the attack is made.

Especially when the wolf is in his pack.

Show your teeth and the pack/wolf will often times retreat...

[Arizona Scot]

Good on you sir, so often evil exists only because good men do nothing.