Large boar knife?

[Denis]

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to one of the foremost driven boar-hunts in Germany. Wohoo!

However, a forester friend has warned me that the boar there are known for being particularly agressive towards humans, and that I should definitely arm myself with a large, stout blade, in addition to my rifle.

So, what would you all recommend?

The traditional German weapon for this purpose would be a "Saufeder" - a sort of broad-bladed spear (once wielded from horseback). Cold Steel sells a modern reproduction boar spear.

Or perhaps a "Hunting Trousse", another traditional option. Vinland Kindred sells a reproduction by Windlass. Any good, or just for play-acting?

Ever popular with German hunters is the "Waidblatt" - a big ol' knife with a heavy curved blade. There are two classic versions. The more common one (Frevert's design) is made by Puma, and the very rare Lippertsches Waidblatt is now available as a limited edition reproduction. Both cost lots of euros...

Since I already have one, I'm thinking of bringing along the Model 1918 bayonet from my Swiss K31 rifle, which is long, strong and pointy, but not sharpened along the sides. I have a few Sturmgewehr '57 bayonets which are similar, but shorter, and I think my StGw'90 bayonet is too short.

What would you all choose? Any other ideas?

[Precision]

I would definitely go with something on a POLE over something in my hand.

Around here they do boar hunts with Pit Bulls (dog driven and dog captured) then the boar is dispatched using a knife to slit it's throat. Even with 4-8 dogs locked onto it, I would be using a pole spear.

Others (crazy people) actively hunt boars with pole spears. Those guys use spears with 10+ inch blades and a 8+ inch steel cross bar behind the blade. Sometimes the stabbed boars continue running up the spear to try and get at you and the cross bar "prevents" that.

[SeekHer]

They are being chased to you, nicht var...

Find tree stand and forget about the knife heroics...

I had one of the Cold Steel Boar Spears that I sold to an online member a couple of years ago...not bad steel, fairly robust but a 300 kg boar would bend it in no time once struck and stuck...

The Puma Waidblatt (Wide Blade) is a beauty...saw one here but NOT very overpriced for what you’re getting...

Since you mentioned Windlass, why not get a Roman Gladius from them or any of the other Indian made Arms & Armour Companies, Museum Replicas has one for $195.00 but they also carry a lovely little Gladiator Blade for $145.00--$163.00 sharpened...Overall: 23-1⁄2", Blade: 17" long, 2-1⁄2" wide, 3⁄16" thick, Wt: 2 lbs/4 oz

[Denis]

Find tree stand and forget about the knife heroics...

Haha.

Hmm, a gladius. My long-suffering Latin teacher would approve.

[blackeagle603]

Yes. A stout thrusting blade would be my choice over a curved slashing blade.

Could you manage a spear and a long gun? Not sure how that would all be juggled.

[chrisb]

I saw this crazy guy on TV hunt boars with a knife. Can't remember his name. He is a Yankee guy with a huge ego, that always tries some strange feat on his show. Anyway, he said nothing ever scared him more than hunting pigs with a knife.

Edit: Tred Barta is who I was thinking of. The man deserves his large ego.

[First Shirt]

I do enjoy hunting feral hogs, but the notion of tackling one with a knife, no matter how big/sharp/effective just strikes me as having "bad idea" written all over it, in big black letters. That's why I carry a .30-06, or (if we're hunting really heavy cover) a carbine-length lever action in .45 Colt, and I have a large-caliber revolver as a sidearm. If it gets to knife-length contact, things have gotten totally out-of-hand.

[Whirlibird]

I'm afraid that if the critter is aggressive towards me, it's just going to get shot again. Repeatedly.

The time it takes to draw a pig-sticker is time I could be reloading another round. And when flustered or running, I've got more practice reloading.

And it would also say something bad about my marksmanship and weapon choice, I've shot a handful of 'hogs' over the years and only one required a second shot. I'm afraid that my choice normally falls to the .45-70 and WFN style bullets loaded very hot.

Were I forced to pick a large blade, the Cold Steel Trailmaster would be it.

[Bob K]

Having hunted more than a few wild hogs in my life (mostly in TN) if it comes down to using a blade, it just means you don't know what you're doing.

Minimum caliber: .30-06 with 180 or 220 grain bullets.

Best caliber: .45-70 with a hefty handload or 12 gauge with Brenneke slugs. Either are good for a 1 shot kill. If you need more, in close quarters, a heavily loaded .44 Magnum always worked for me.

Blades? Now you're fighting on the pigs terms instead of yours.

[Aglifter]

Well, I plan on doing this myself, but in Argentina... (Law school will be done by next Dec, so then I'll have time and money.)

According to the guide in Argentina: Spears are considerably more difficult to use -- he wouldn't allow a first-time hunter to use a spear.

In his opinion, the ideal blade is about 12", double-sided - less than 14", more than 10"
Less than 10, and it can be difficult to hit the heart, too long, and it gets too awkward. The knife should be double-sided so that it can slide to cut the heart sideways.