OK. I am convinced. If I am by some freak chance, trapped in the three linear feet of my apartment where the kitchen/closet are closer than the door or window, I will grab a knife instead of a hammer. Actually, the knives would be more convenient, anyway.

something the weight of a two foot length of broom handle generates a lot more momentum with a wild swing than a knife does.

Are you sure you don't just get really overzealous with your hammer swings while pounding in nails?

I mean, there's some difference, but if we're talking about truely wild swings, hammer, knife or marlin are all probably equally as effective/ineffective if your opponent is remaining at all calm.

Now I see that you'd be more likely to swing wildly with a hammer, because you'd need the momentum to knock somebody out. A knife you'd be trying for precision, not power.

But still, my main takeaway from this discussion is as follows: Avoid being trapped in apartment with person intent on hurting me.

But still, my main takeaway from this discussion is as follows: Avoid being trapped in apartment with person intent on hurting me.

Now that's just crazy-talk.

if we're talking about truely wild swings, hammer, knife or marlin are all probably equally as effective/ineffective if your opponent is remaining at all calm.

The whole point of a weapon like a hammer is momentum, Sean. If you're not generating it, what's the point? You don't need momentum for a knife to be dangerous. Swinging attacks have certain characteristics, and stab/slash ones have a different set.

The whole point of a weapon like a hammer is momentum, Sean. If you're not generating it, what's the point?

Okay, when driving a nail, the whole point is generating as much momentum as possible too, yet there there's at least *some* emphasis placed on concurrent accuracy.

I mean you don't just swing wildly at the nail until it's in, why on Earth would you want to toss accuracy out the window just because you're trying to hit the much bigger target of your opponent's forehead?

JZ's black bruise under her left thumbnail.

Left pointer finger. t /picker of nits

Anyone want to volunteer to attack Sean with a knife and then a hammer? Well, better the other way round, in case I'm right. That should cover what I'm trying to explain.

Anyone want to volunteer to attack Sean with a knife and then a hammer?

Actually, the craziest part of your argument is that there is somehow less inherent wildness in the swing of a knife than there is in the swing of a hammer.

I mean, if you know what you're doing with both hammer and knife, it becomes a matter of personal preference. If you only know how to use one but not the other, you'd presumably be best off using your weapon of choice.

If you don't know what you're doing with either, than you don't know what you're doing. Your swing is likely to be just as ineffective, and throw you just as off balance if you swing poorly with a knife as it would with a hammer.

You're swinging the knife, Sean, not me. Which becomes your problem. I'm perfectly willing to believe you're as vulnerable using one as the other. However, that's all about you, and not about the ways in which you can use each to create damage.

It is also possible that you can hurt people with a hammer without swinging it. I will cop to the limitation of not being able to use a hammer practically without momentum. That's my problem.