I (21f) am 5'5" and skinny. I recently attended a self-defense class, and there I was tought how to use a pocket knife. And as I have some male friends 6'5"+ tall, I thought that that height actually makes their belly particularly vulnerable in case of a fight (compared to a short guy/girl):
- a short person's shoulder height is around the same level as the the tall person's belly making it easier to stab/hit;
- a tall guy's belly is proportionally a larger target.
And in general, if a 6'5"+ guy stands in front of me with his stomach released (even if he has just a bit of a belly) it feels like having an exposed, large and squishy punching/stabbing bag right in front of me, into which, if needed, I can easily harshly and deeply plunge anything straight away.
I also practice historical fencing (rapier) and most of the times I stab tall opponents into the belly - my favorite thrusts are ducking counterattacks when I duck while they attack, go low and impale a tall guy's unprotected belly right onto my rapier.
Fencing is an outmoded form of combat. You will never defend yourself with a rapier, against an assailant with a rapier. It’s completely irrelevant to a discussion about self-defense.
Knives are bad weapons for self-defense. Particularly for a smaller or weaker person. To use one, you first have to get within reach of your opponent. Pulling a knife can escalate a robbery or rape attempt into a murder attempt. Many fatal wounds are not immediately incapacitating, or particularly painful. Pepper spray, running away, or a gun, are far more effective.
You should not carry a knife for self-defense. They’re great to have for general utility, and if you find yourself already grappling with someone that you know is attempting to kill you, a knife could be useful as a weapon. But only then, as a last resort. Don’t make the mistake in believing a knife will protect you from a robber or a rapist. It will not.
What about a greatsword?
Well, you'll get arrested for carrying one in most places, since they're not exactly concealable, and getting the sheath off of one takes far more time than pulling a gun from concealment and doing a 'failure to stop', AKA Mozambique drill. Also, you have a limited effective range; if someone is inside about 3', you can't use the sword effectively, and would need to drop your sword and switch to your rondel.
They're really only effective if your opponent is riding a horse, or is a pike phalanx.
A lot of states simple require 'single edged'
Theres also an interesting trend of states knife regulations being ruled in violation of the 2A. With the current tests being Heller and Bruen - the ban must have historical precedence AND the banned knives must be both especially dangerous and unusual
For instance, Massachusetts had its ban on switchblades overturned ib 2024 as unconstitutional, with the state supreme court finding there was not historical support for the law, and they could not be considered uncommon because they aren't.
FWIW, merely waking around with a sheathed sword may very well be both perfectly legal and protected by your jurisdiction's personal liberty laws.
https://legalclarity.org/are-swords-illegal-to-own-or-carry-in-the-us/
https://legalclarity.org/is-it-legal-to-carry-a-sword-in-new-york/
I know someone who walked through the streets of an upstate NY city wearing a sheathed sword. They were entirely in their rights, same as if they were carrying an unconcealed rifle. But, also just as with the rifle, they couldn't take the bus and many stores refused entrance.
(And there's a whole set of criminal offenses that they were suddenly applicable because they were in clear possession of a weapon.)