>Well I certainly hope you never find yourself up against two or three 'Maori sick' individuals armed with these weapons.
>
> You might just change your opinion as to the utility of a handgun.
Two or three crazies armed with taiahas intent on bloodshed and skilled in the ways of the martial art that goes with a taiaha's proper use? A fast motorbike going in the opposite direction would be my first choice.
For those who'd prefer an armed response to showing a clean pair of heels, a crate of Mills Bombs and a Thompson Submachinegun (both used from cover) might work better than an handgun. (None of the above armaments are easily legally available in NZ: whereas you can make a tiaha in a few evenings).
However armed it would be easy to get surrounded and chopped to bits -- and unpleasant. The taiaha, used by skilled hands, is a truly frightening weapon: perfectly balanced, with an incredible reach and speed: 25 feet just wouldn't leave enough space.
Used in group combat (as Maori warriors tended to fight) with perfect teamwork... I shudder to think. Remember, in its heyday during the 1800's the taiaha was considered and often proved superior to and decisive over a rifle-bayonet combination as a hand-to-hand infantry weapon. Absolutely fit-for-purpose.
Not a bad accomplishment for what was essentially a stone-age and savage culture (Maori never discovered metal or even the wheel, and never learned to cultivate cattle, and never used any form of transportation save only by foot and by dugout canoe prior to introduction to Western society).
Here in the US we teach LE and armed civvie types the '21 foot rule'.
Briefly it states that an assailant armed with an edged weapon who is within 21 feet of someone with a holstered firearm will kill that person every single time.
There's just no way one can draw a firearm and bring it to bear before the assailant splits you from 'the nave to the chops'.
I've seen it demonstrated time and again and it never fails to open the eyes of someone who hasn't seen it demonstrated.
Not a bad accomplishment for what was essentially a stone-age and savage culture
People often mistake 'primitive' for 'stupid' when there's absolutely no correlation between the two. Simply because they lacked technology doesn't mean they couldn't use other means to overcome their environment.
Or come up with some truly wickedly effective weapons.
L