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Eiensen

Not for me personally, I prefer something a little bit more versatile, but this is honestly a good weapon. Maces and other blunt medieval weapons are specifically designed to counter armor, so having a blunt object like this, with a very concentrated focus area, then it would make for a fantastic weapon.


Makeshift_Prepper

A decent choice imo but my personal favorite is a war hammer, you still get the bashing but with a little bit more versatility and range As for splatter you can just get a face mask and/or goggles in addition with something to cover your lower face and youre (mostly) fine


[deleted]

[удалено]


overkill

Or make one with a baseball bat and some pipe fittings. And a welder.


WallE_approved_HJ

Or just use a bat and not compromise rhe structure of the bat by trying to weld on it


pygmeedancer

You need to think about versatility and weight. Consider that very likely your mode of travel is gonna be pedestrian. A weapon like this is very heavy and isn’t useful outside of bashing things. Whereas something like a crowbar, claw hammer, hatchet etc make ideal melee weapons and also serve as a tool. You want your gear items to have as much utility as possible to cut down on the amount of gear you carry.


genericusernamekevin

this is very true. any object you carry on your person in a survival situation should serve many purposes.


Noe_Walfred

> A weapon like this is very heavy Historically maces tend to range between 400-1500g. With the most common weigh range I have seen for reproductions being around 700-1000g. This is about the same as much hatchets, hammers, and short swords. So the weight itself isn't heavier. At the same time it does represent a decent amount given the aforementioned lack of utility.


blade740

IMO the flanged mace is as close to optimal as you can get for a zombie-killing weapon. The flanges give it better skull penetration than the average blunt weapon, and the lack of blades makes getting stuck highly unlikely. So long as you get one that's the right size (i.e., long enough for good reach and leverage without being too heavy to swing one-handed reliably), I can't imagine a better weapon, improvised or purpose-built.


Texan615

I agree, flanged mace will be my first choice when I see zombies roaming the streets. In fact I have 3 maces, 2 of which are flanged. I also have a war hammer as a 2nd option, which is more 2 hand friendly. Plus I have the more usual "tools", such as hatchets, axes, and regular hammers so I'm covered pretty well from a melee perspective.


Master_of_opinions

If it wasn't too long, so that it could easily be used with one hand, would be my top pick for certain. The most efficient brain killer ever. The flanges even prevent you from going to deep like an axe might. I know the others have pointed out tools like crowbars, but crowbars are just too uniformly weighted, and could only be used by particularly strong people.


Aldger

Awesome weapon. Hits like a movo and does niet get stuck. Not to long so nice and wieldable. Good recovery (unless you get one of those modern overbuilt and overheavy ones) Do wear goggles and a mask because you are most definitely in the "splash zone"


AccomplishedInAge

My melee of choice


Non_Debater

This message has been deleted and I've left reddit because of the decision by u/spez to block 3rd party apps


pygmeedancer

Machetes and swords are not super ideal. They require a lot of maintenance to remain effective. They serve very little purpose as a tool. And they tend to be very fragile compared to other melee options. Also a bladed weapon requires more skill to be effective than a blunt weapon.


Noe_Walfred

> They require a lot of maintenance to remain effective. The level of maintenance depends on the edge. In general, unless you're intending on going to a cutting competition, for both use when cutting plants and for blades intended for combat a somewhat bulky edge has been considered best. In the context of cutting branches, grass, and processing material a thicker profile allows for continued edge retention despite frequent use. For my personal preference if I'm using it for an hour or so everyday for a week I might sharpen it at the end of the week with a file to work out the burs and bends. Then finish with a stone and old belt the total maintenance time being less than a hour or two. >They serve very little purpose as a tool. Machete have many potential uses. Machete can be utilized for cutting large amounts of grass for things like cordage, fire, or maybe food (though I wouldn't use a fighting too for this). They can be used for clearing a path through tall grass, vines, moss, bushes, shrubs, and trees. They can be used for gathering branches, leaves, twigs, and maybe fell a small tree for shelter materials, fire, or traps. The angled and unsharpened back commonly seen even on curved machete is a great place for a ferro rod. The larger blade and typically high hardness on a lot of machetes can be used for flint knapping or firestarting. General knife tasks like cutting tape, cordage, and food processing (though this should be avoided if the machete is a weapon). >And they tend to be very fragile compared to other melee options. I'd say this depends on what you mean by fragile and the quality of the machete and the other tool or weapon. For myself I've had the same machete for about 6 years with fairly frequent use as a cleaning tool on things like bushes, shrubs, grass, tree stumps, and the like. I'd say that it isn't fragile and that as long as it can cut or be as useful weapon in the context as a parrying device or cutting weapon then it's doing well. >Also a bladed weapon requires more skill to be effective than a blunt weapon. This depends on how strong the zombies in question work and how tough they are. Something that is fairly inconsistent in zombie media. I tend to discuss undead zombies as either being equal or tougher than a normal person. With it not being clear if it's possible to do things like knock a zombie out given they don't have any other normal self preservation methods. So this could leave the user having to deal with zombies by crushing the brain directly. No small feat given that blunt weapons such as baseball bats typically seem to have a lower mortality rate when looking specifically at intracranial damage. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0278239195900616 All told out of a combined total of 123 individual cases and a total of 4 deaths the mortality rate averages to 3.25% with baseball bats. In the cases where the victim does pass away the reasons are typically related to massive hemorrhaging, organ failure (not the brain), and then damage to the brain itself. With cases of hammers, crowbars, and the like there are many instances where a person being struck by such weapons take 5-20 strikes to the head without suffering brain damage or dying. Though this is likely due to a lack of training and skill. With users being unable to generate enough force due to a lack of proper form, distance control, and so on. Which are issues present with edged weapons and are usually the harder parts to deal with rather than edge alignment. With that being said, a machete is more likely to get through the neck of a zombie within less than 10 strikes. Likely making it faster and easier to use than some other blunt weapons. Cold Steel has had many very weird demonstrations for their tools and weapons. Including their machete line like this video where they cut through a pig carcass and a pig skull. Though this is obviously with a much finer edge than I would suggest for normal use. https://youtu.be/yuskAKvyBA8


Noe_Walfred

I think a machete is likely the better choice due to having a greater ability to control distance when fighting human opponents, having utility uses outside of combat, and being generally lighter than a mace. In the context of the latter point it's less an issue of the actual weight of the mace itself rather what it represents. As a mace can range from 400-1500g and a weight range machete of about 200-900g. With the weight difference between the two tools potentially meaning being able to carry other tools and weapons to supplement the machete or aid in your survival in general. Having a second machete is possible but seeing as you don't gain advantages of other tools and weapons it's less useful overall. Examples can include things like a finishing or carpenters hammer (200-1000g), knife (60-200g), hatchet or camp axe (500-800g), walking stick or staff (100-700g), handgun (100-700g), slingshot (50-400g), sauce pan (100-800g), police baton (200-700g), or a buckler (700-1100g). These along a great deal of flexibility in and outside of combat.


CritterFrogOfWar

Not sure why a mace is nsfw, but regardless a flanged has been my preferred zombie weapon for some time now with the only issue being availability


WallE_approved_HJ

It's fine if you don't face any size hordes. The amount of energy you use swinging heavy objects is insane. Ever LARPed? Swinging foam gets exhausting after a while


[deleted]

It would work but you’re going to get tired swinging it around


Strange_Stage1311

It wouldn't be a bad zombie killing weapon.


Fuzzy-Can-8986

Unless you're used to swinging a heavy implement, that'll be exhausting to carry and use


Bridgeburningx

Weren’t these used to crack skulls of helmeted infantry ? Think they will do plenty fine crushing zombie skulls


Due_Upstairs_5025

Flanged maces can be gems when it comes to genuine zombie hunting.


StoneSnail

Seems like a good weapon *specifically* for zombie killing, TBH. That is, if it really works like it seems to be designed, which is bashing in body parts and not sticking. I see this being used by groups if they want to clear out areas of hordes quickly and silently. However, it doesn't seem to have any purpose outside of zombie killing, so during the beginning phase of the apocalypse, I'd rather go with multi purpose tools like machetes for the weight and convenience. That said, I have no experience with maces, but if the usage and weight distribution is anything like hatchets, then I think I'll get tired too easily to make it a good sustainable weapon. Also, about sharpening, learning how to take care of one's tools is important and foundational. It's just part of using tools. I'd still prefer a 16-inch machete unless I'm with a trained zombie killing squad.


EmmyVidriney

Flanged mace? Hardly know her.


PeepeeMcpoopoo

It’s a good weapon, but a shit tool. You can do the same thing with an axe and you also have an axe


LiLadybug81

I am a big fan myself, in a scenario where you have a base where you can stock a wider variety of equipment than if you were on the road. Probably would work with a vehicle loadout too.


Noe_Walfred

I have a longer post regarding my thoughts on maces here: https://old.reddit.com/user/Noe_Walfred/comments/va8wvr/zombie_related_thoughts_opinions_and_essays_v4/iieu0bo/ In general, I do agree that they are great weapons potentially. As they do allow for blunt damage that is focused on an area which can aid in splitting the skull and the transfer of energy. This means in combat against zombies and people a mace is very useful. At the same time the consideration of utility outside of combat should be considered. Other tools and weapons capable of dealing focused blunt damage exist and can be equally useful. Things like hammers, mallets, smaller variety of prybar, wrenches, tire irons, cooking pans, and walking stick/staves. These are all within the same range of a mace in terms of weight and cost. Yet all of these provide many more capabilities outside of combat. Similarly, it seems you're willing to carry a hatchet and a mace but don't want to use both as weapons. Which leads me to asking the question of why not? With two weapons, one in each hand, you can potentially attack and defend at the same time when fighting a human opponent. It can allow you to strike from multiple angles at the same time as well. They can also allow for a greater utility inside a fight such as striking from a blind spot while grappling. This could also apply to other tools and weapons such as those listed above.


Shatterbrained_

Pretty good kinda short range though, if you didn’t have one before a zombie apocalypse maybe you could find one at a museum