What's the perfect Anti-Zombie close combat weapon?

[Crono]

Longsword or katana.

Provided it's a good quality blade, you have a reliable, battle proven, and portable weapon.

Katana:
Longevity: 9/10 - Properly cleaned (wipe the blade before sheathing) and maintained (oiled every so often), it will last a long time
Effectiveness: 10/10 - A sharp, high carbon steel katana will slice through flesh and bone. Time tested over centuries.
Portability: 10/10 - You can carry it on your back or at your side - can be very light (a few lbs)
Messiness: 10/10 - Surgical steel quality blades for a less messy (than bullets or bludgeoning weapons, anyway) kill
Subtlety: 10/10 - Nearly silent
Utility: 7/10 - Pretty much a pure weapon, but it's light enough that you should be carrying around a knife, as well

Bigger swords depend more on blunt force, which requires more strength. Not to mention the added weight of lugging it everywhere. So I wouldn't recommend a broadsword unless you're light on other equipment. Long, two handed swords (or other weapons like axes or maces) make sense only if your opponent is armored.

 

[SilverThief]

18volt cordless egg beater
everybody knows this!

 

[bearxor]

My wife said a nice sharp Katana. i think I'd agree. Something that would slice zombie heads off fairly easily.

Still, if you're being overrun with zombies that close, you're probably a goner.

 

[Crono]

My wife said a nice sharp Katana. i think I'd agree. Something that would slice zombie heads off fairly easily.

You must have an awesome wife :thumbsup:

 

[janas19]

Absolutely awful idea, you fire your flamethrower at a pissed off zombie, then you've got a pissed off zombie coming at you... on fire.

Ummm no. The napalm would burn the flesh clean away, which is about 10x more effective than chopping it off with any sharp object.

Haven't you seen graphic pics of napalm victims?

 

[BladeVenom]

Longsword or katana.

I'd rather have something a little heavier duty than a Katana.
Broadsword vs. Katana

 

[Crono]

I'd rather have something a little heavier duty than a Katana.
Broadsword vs. Katana

A very sharp katana is a much more practical weapon.

Try lugging around a broadsword for very long.
A high quality Damascus steel katana on the other hand can decapitate with much less effort and a more manageable carrying weight.
Katanas are designed to be quick kill weapons, not for swordfighting against blades twice the weight or foe wearing plate armor.

That said, a good longsword/broadsword would be my second choice.

Comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxYvwEnKRjA

Another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDkoj932YFo&feature=related

In a sword fight, I would want the heavier European sword. A more massive sword would fare well against a katana.
But in a zombie apocalypse (yeah, I know zombies aren't real, but it's the thread topic) I would want a katana.

 

[Gothgar]

I'd say a morning star or spiked mace of some sort.

Easy to use, I don't have training in using a sword.

 

[BladeVenom]

A Katana is not the most durable. Great if you only have to kill one zombie, but how about cleaving through dozens of zombies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_KCqHgS0I&t=0m50s

 

[marvdmartian]

Light saber.

[/thread]

 

[janas19]

A Katana is not the most durable. Great if you only have to kill one zombie, but how about cleaving through dozens of zombies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_KCqHgS0I&t=0m50s

True and false.

A katana is very durable, because of the excellent metalworking used by the makers. But the sharper the edge, the quicker it tends to dull, which would probably happen in a zombie horde

 

[Crono]

A Katana is not the most durable. Great if you only have to kill one zombie, but how about cleaving through dozens of zombies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_KCqHgS0I&t=0m50s

That's a cheap modern blade, and probably wasn't designed for actual combat use in the first place.

 

[Crono]

True and false.

A katana is very durable, because of the excellent metalworking used by the makers. But the sharper the edge, the quicker it tends to dull, which would probably happen in a zombie horde

It definitely would need sharpening.

 

[Dessert Tears]

1. Small Chainsaw, triple-booked
2. Knife Gloves

 

[fralexandr]

hah the katana breaking reminds me of baldur's gate 1 with the poor metals used and the broken weapons

 

[ultimatebob]

My choice: Aluminium Baseball bat.

Not a good choice. It has no range, and is useless against groups of zombies.

I'm going for a crossbow myself... Good mid-range killing power, and the arrows are reusable. You can also make your own arrows in a pinch as well!

 

[janas19]

Not a good choice. It has no range, and is useless against groups of zombies.

I'm going for a crossbow myself... Good mid-range killing power, and the arrows are reusable. You can also make your own arrows in a pinch as well!

Good point. I like that - reusable ammo.

Are there any specific rules for destroying zombies? Ie, like a vampire needs a stake through the heart

 

[ultimatebob]

Lightsaber

Longevity: No ammo required. 10/10
Effectiveness: Can efficiently cut heads or torsos off of the bodies. 10/10
Portability: Extremely easy to carry. 10/10
Messiness: Might get slightly messy but all close combat weapons would. 9/10
Subtlety: Gives off a quiet hum. 9/10
Utility: Can use it to open locked doors. 3/10

Perfect... A Sci-Fi fictional weapon for a Sci-Fi fictional enemy

Oh, and you're totally underestimating the utility! A lightsaber would be awesome for cutting wood or butchering an animal!

 

[KeithP]

What's the perfect Anti-Zombie close combat weapon?

If you find yourself up close and personal with Zombies frequently enough that limited ammo is a problem you will be dead anyway. You simply won't survive for any length of time. Eventually, one will get you.

A small caliber handgun will be fine. Noise is not an issue. Any zombie close enough to hear the gun shot AND be able to pin point your location can probably already see you. Besides, you could alway put some sort of noise surpresser on it.

Most of the other weapons simply won't work. Remember, you have to separate the brain stem from the spine or destroy the brain. I sincerely doubt most people could do that effectively with a blunt force weapon without taking multiple strikes. It would be tough to do even with a bladed weapon unless you get perfect position on the target which would seem unlikely to happen on a regular basis.

-KeithP

 

[davmat787]

The military was developing a automatic shotgun. Never know when you will be surrounded. There was a guy on one of the schwartzeneger movies who used a gatling gun.

Iron Man Pulse Weapon.

Here is everyone's favorite professional Russian demo'ing one, the lack of recoil is amazing. He even dual wields two of 'em with 50 round drum mags. :awe:

 

[boochi]

 

[WT]

I'm thinking of recommending this thing, the Urumi:

Longevity: Its light and razor sharp.
Effectiveness: Not sure how deadly it is, but 5 whips across the neck kills anything.
Portability: Ultraportable.
Messiness: No hand held weapon is going to offer a clean kill.
Subtlety: Dude, its used by NINJAS !!
Utility: Its also a belt (but it'll cut your belt loops in 5 seconds flat)

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2007/08/31/weird-asian-martial-arts-weapons/

 

[janas19]

I'm thinking of recommending this thing, the Urumi:

Longevity: Its light and razor sharp.
Effectiveness: Not sure how deadly it is, but 5 whips across the neck kills anything.
Portability: Ultraportable.
Messiness: No hand held weapon is going to offer a clean kill.
Subtlety: Dude, its used by NINJAS !!
Utility: Its also a belt (but it'll cut your belt loops in 5 seconds flat)

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2007/08/31/weird-asian-martial-arts-weapons/

Holy shit, that's bad ass

 

[Brigandier]

Longsword(or katana) and shield.

Longevity: 7/10, take care of it and it will take care of you. If you neglect it, it will still kill and protect.
Effectiveness: 10/10, Protection with the shield, killing with the sword. Also, the shield can bash and the sword can defend. Shove off the zombies with the shield and kill with the sword. If a zombie gets froggy, bash with shield point in face.
Portability: 4/10, strung across your back, you'll notice the shield more than the sword. The combo takes effort to move, but will help you get to your destination.
Messiness: 7/10, death is messy. Try to keep the shield up!
Subtlety: 10/10, the only sound is the sound of death; a fart, a gasp, everything quiet.
Utility: 1/10, a shield is almost an umbrella.

 

[Denly]

SOG Tactical Fasthawk

Longevity: 6/10, Should last forever if you use the pick to attack but it is made in China so who know.
Effectiveness: 10/10, easy to use, no traning require, you can swing it all day long without getting tired.
Portability: 10/10, 19oz, you can even carry 2 for a total of 3lb.
Messiness: 7/10, Should be fine, pin point attack.
Subtlety: 10/10, One swing and done.
Utility: 10/10, Very versatile