hypothetical best 'zombie hunter' blade

[Lynn LeFey]

So, I'm writing some fiction right now where a young adult female about 115lbs, keeps finding herself facing some pretty nasty supernatural creatures, essentially zombies. They feel no pain, but aren't supernaturally tough.

She has had basic combat training in a Maori mere...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere_(weapon)

She is fairly athletic, but not terribly strong. She wants a weapon she can take across international borders, and look like a general tool, not a weapon, what might reasonably be carried by someone going into remote wilds. So...

Cane Machete?
Kukri?
Hatchet/hawk?
Other?

[Agonistes]

i vote kukri.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Got to be the Kukri

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[enki_ck]

So she's gonna hunt Gareth and J-sews? What did they do?

Anyways. I'd go for something with a bit of reach and a \/ shaped blade that won't get stuck while fighting off a herd of zombies.

Maybe a billhook that she can attach a longer handle on when she goes hunting.

[Grant Lamontagne]

If I had the choice I'd go with a kukri, but I think the machete is more likely to be found almost anywhere she goes, and probably be just as effective.  Maori disciplines seem a bit of an odd choice for a 115 pound woman though as the Maori tended to be quite large didn't they?  Even so I would stick to a machete for the above reason and because the slightly lighter blade would better suit a lighter framed person.

Def

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[styx]

Now the Mere is a short heavy weapon. so I'd go with something that would at least feel familiar. Perhaps a smaller Itak bolo

[Grathr]

I was about to suggest a  small broad axe, like this one from Granfors Bruks.
http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/products/log-building-and-carpentry-tools/gransfors-broad-axe-model-1900/

But considering that she is trained in using the mere, i guess a  short and heavy machete/ kukri would be a more similar tool. 

[lister]

Crowbar and regular doses of anabolic steroids? 

I mean doping is allowed against supernatural forces right? 

[lister]

And if you need really feminine character you could introduce her to some fictional myostatin blocking drug.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin

[Steinar]

My first thought was simple a heavy blade suitable for improvising a glaive, but given her training I guess something like the earlier suggested bolo or golok is reasonable. Just to toss out something easily available, how about a firefighter's or a carpenter's ax? (I'm a Scandinavian, we like axes. )

[ducttapetech]

How about a LOBO from WWZ.

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[styx]

what about a smatchet?

[Syph007]

Didnt anyone else read world war z?  You need a lobo! (short for lobotimizer)

[ducttapetech]

Didnt anyone else read world war z?  You need a lobo! (short for lobotimizer)

(Image removed from quote.)

I did. Great read.

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[Syph007]

Didnt anyone else read world war z?  You need a lobo! (short for lobotimizer)

I did. Great read.

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Ah I skimmed too fast, missed your early mention of it.   

[ducttapetech]

Lol!


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[jerseydevil]

what about a smatchet?

That would be an excellent choice.



Still, my personal favorite is this:



Model 1917 Trench Gun.  8 shot 12 gauge without a trigger disconnect, 16" blade underneath..... Best of both worlds for zombie whuppin!

[ducttapetech]

Very nice piece.

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[ducttapetech]

But I prefer this.....


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[Lynn LeFey]

Smatchet was new to me. Cool.

And, while a shotgun or the gun from a A-10 WOULD be nice, I did sort of specify 'blade' here, so...

The guns she carries are a whole different topic, and yes, shotgun among them.

[styx]

smatchet isn't an overly popular tool since it's a bit heavy and it doesn't have a very long history like some of it's counterparts

[Zed]

Kukri for me lynn  good luck with your story 

[Lynn LeFey]

Thanks all for the input. I wanted to say, if it matters on the decision, don't feel stuck to weapon form just because the character has had some basic training with the mere. She's is not in any way stuck on tradition. I only mentioned it to say she has a very basic grasp of combat with a light blade.

Thanks all for your input. Looks like Kukri is pretty popular.

[enki_ck]

Thanks all for the input. I wanted to say, if it matters on the decision, don't feel stuck to weapon form just because the character has had some basic training with the mere. She's is not in any way stuck on tradition. I only mentioned it to say she has a very basic grasp of combat with a light blade.

Thanks all for your input. Looks like Kukri is pretty popular.

Well all of them saw Resident Evil Extinction I think.


And if I were you and writing a book with a female character fighting zombies, I wouldn't want someone saying I just copied the character from a popular franchise.

[Nhoj]

How about a combat fixed blade? I mean there's a reason they are used as weapons against people. Why not zombies too? That might be a little boring though.

[styx]

wait what is the method of dispatching the baddies? standard zombie rules or are you putting something modified?

[Grathr]

If you want to be a bit more original how about a war hammer?
http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/90WH/WAR_HAMMER.aspx

Or just a steel head mallet?

The best way to kill zombies is trauma to the head, according to most movies. A axe will easily get stuck in flesh and bone, and chopping off limbs wont stop them. They dont bleed to death either, so cutting is not really a big advantage. The way I see it, breaking the bones that holds the zombie up is more effective than chopping at flesh. The hammer will break bones, shatter spines and smash sculls without getting stuck.




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[Lynn LeFey]

Okay... keep in mind, I don't mean movie zombies. These aren't "Brains!" zombies. They're not bite-you-and-you-become-a-ombie zombies.

Just creatures that were once human, don't feel pain, and can still be hacked/bludgeoned by regular weapons.

Also-ALSO... remember she's got to get this thing through airports and security locations without looking like she's hoping to murder tons of people, so the more utilitarian it looks, the better.

That last stipulation is my only concern with the Kukri.

[Agonistes]

a kukri that fits in the brim of her hat.  they can metal-scan it and all, and she can just stroll by because they think it is the buckle.   

[styx]

this is why I asked what method. maybe blunt force trauma might be the ticket. something like a shilelagh since it used to be "hidden" as a walking cane