shot or stabbed?

Sulako · Post by **Sulako** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:30 am

A friend went to a gun store shopping around and talked to the owner for a while. The owner was an older guy who was a retired cop and former military. Some how the old guy drifted the conversation to war wounds and made the statement, "I'd rather be shot than stabbed."

Which got us thinking. Which is better to be shot or stabbed? Needless to say we couldn't reach a conclusion so we decided to open it up to Avcanada to discuss. If you've been shot and stabbed please fill us in as to which you'd prefer. Comments from medics would also be appreciated, as would comments from our American friends who have much more experience with the former. We really want to get to the bottom of this debate.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:31 am

neither but I did take a Roman candle in the leg.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:46 am

If it's a serious stab wound (throat slit, etc), then you may actually go into shock and not really feel much. When I was very young, I was climbing a fence made out of wire (not quite barbed wire). When I reached the top, I tripped, and the wire punctured my leg pretty deep. I couldn't hold on, so I fell of the fence, and the wire tore my leg pretty good. I don't remember feeling any pain whatsoever, but there was a lot of blood. I was okay, but I now have a 5 inch scar on my leg in the shape of the nike swooch.

If I had the choice, I would want to be shot, perhaps in the head or heart. Something quick and easy!

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:51 am

heh, i had the same thing happen to me, except it left a very small scar. But same could be said about getting shot. Sometimes u are in such a shock you won't feel it. Like those kids that got shot in the school shooting i think it was in minnesota, they said they never felt anything.

Tango01 · Post by **Tango01** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:03 am

I'd rather get shot.

Here is another one: Alligator or shark attack?

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:33 am

I agree, being shot much better, but only if you think of it 1 bullet vs bowie knife for example..

But

"stabbed" with a swiss army knife and not repeatedly(just once) and "shot" with an rpg or 12 guage... Well I guess being stabbed wins in that circumstance.

I'd rather take the chance of 1 bullet wound over a stab wound any day.

You're banking on the fact that the bullet will miss the major arteries and organs, while the knife blade will mostly likely hit something.

But maybe I'm wrong in my probability assumption.

just another pilot · Post by **just another pilot** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:35 am

Hmmmm. Kinda hard not to find a pilot who hasn't been stabbed...in the back that is

bandaid · Post by **bandaid** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:49 am

I know that we are taught that knifes are a bigger threat to us than guns. A man with a knife can close the distance between you and him faster than you could pull a gun within 20' or so. I have had both pulled on me over the years. The gun could not penetrate the ambulance (22 caliber) but the knives were way to close for comfort (mind you the guy ate a lot of dirt and had a little dental surgery afterwards).

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:59 am

How about gun, knife or arrow. Those arrows are pretty quick and silent.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:33 pm

just another pilot wrote:Hmmmm. Kinda hard not to find a pilot who hasn't been stabbed...in the back that is

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:22 pm

Dont know the answer to that one. But was doing some paintballing and took a shot to the face peering around a corner.

makes you shit your pants when you feel the impact and your vision is all blurred Red.

Hot Fuel · Post by **Hot Fuel** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:51 pm

Well looks like I might be the only guy that can step up to the plate on this one. In the Mid 80's I worked a number of years keeping the peace at a fair sized watering hole. Their specialty was catering to large groups, football teams and such. That gig produced two holes in my carcass, a round hole in my right thigh and the other hole which is best described as a large keyhole is on my left front belly. Both hurt but I think location is the deciding factor when trying to determine which is better. The round hole was the by product of 38 caliber hand gun, while the keyhole shaped scar is the reminents of a fairly large folding knife. The hole in my leg hurt, it burned...it burned alot. Compared to the belly wound inflicted by a knife theres no contest, take the gun shot. The belly wound really hurts and theres a lot more blood and thats probably whats makes it even worse because your mind starts telling you that you are going to bleed out.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:09 pm

I'd rather be shot. I've seen stabbed first hand and it's terrible.

LH · Post by LH » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:48 pm

I have to "qualify" that question. I have scars from both kinds of weapons from wartime and a "blanket" question like this cannot be asked without stating more details about both weapons. One kind of bullet is designed to rip and tear flesh as it passes into the body. The other has great speed, small size and is designed to cause horrendous shock to the body systems from the high impact with flesh, bone or muscle. It usually exits quickly and when it does, it's exit wound is vastly more large than it;s entry point. One kind of knife is designed to slice and cut as it enters, but clears the flesh easily upon removal. The other is designed to tear sand slice going in and do even more damage while being pulled out. The pain is different in all those cases because the body is being shocked and wounded in a different way in all of the above incidents.

Cool Rythms! · Post by **Cool Rythms!** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:51 pm

Not that I would like to remember the experience, but being stabbed, depending where, can be extremely painful. During my early flying years (instructing of course), I used to work security in night clubs, to supplement my income. One particular club that I worked at in Montreal, had somewhat of a bad reputation. Working there as a doorman for about five years, I had to put up with a lot of BS. During my time at this club, I had one guy try to take a swing at me with a bar stool, I had a gun pulled on me twice and was stabbed in my side one night, after a huge fight broke out. Trust me, it's painful!! In the heat of the moment, when you're trying to break everything up, it doesn't feel as bad, because your adrenaline is pumping and all you're thinking about, is getting everything outside and making sure others don't get hurt in all the excitement. But afterwards, when it's all over, that's when the pain starts setting in. I had a little bit of trouble breathing and was fearful, that the knife might have grazed my lung. But the doctor told me that everything was fine. I still consider myself very lucky. I would'nt wish it on anyone. So I spent the night in emergency, then I was sent home about 10 hours later. So in response to the question......NEITHER!!

Respect to you Hot Fuel, you know what that kind of shitty job is like!

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:53 pm

It is said that a .22 wound is very bad because it produces a septic infection from the wax on the lead collecting feltch from the shooter's pocket. I'd rather be shot with a full bore rifle and have done with than any handgun calibre.

Remember the 21' rule when it comes to being cut with a blade.

peeelot · Post by **peeelot** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:12 am

That is a good question. I have been stabbed it the Leg wasen't fun stung like a Bi@#$. and it caused a lot of damage. So since I have experiance the stabbing I would like to mix it up next time and go for the gun shot wound.

TG · Post by TG » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:29 am

errr.......don't know about stabbing or bullet but a potato gun shot is pretty painfull too...

bandaid · Post by **bandaid** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:45 am

Funny that this topic should come out yesterday. Here's a picture of an incident involving a maintenance man and one of our lovely drug addicts.

That's a steak knife buried in his back. Never turn your back on a junky. If you want more on the story go to http://www.castanet.net