| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
| 3 | %% |
| 4 | %% Original image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1331574857064160100 |
| 5 | %% New image moved from GameBreaker per IP thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1522776080060443100 |
| 6 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | [[quoteright:230:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Gamebreaker4_3461.jpg]] |
| 9 | [[caption-width-right:230: Parry this, you foiling casual!]] |
| 10 | |
| 11 | ->''"Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't."'' |
| 12 | -->-- '''Joke''' |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Both a StockPhrase and a staple of the [[ActionAdventureTropes action genre]]. A character comes into the scene armed with what he thinks is sufficient, only to find out he is severely outclassed weapon-wise, because he brought the entirely wrong ''type'' of weapon (usually the superior weapon is revealed after the first person has committed to a fight). Could lead to a CurbStompBattle (which would make it a PreMortemOneLiner, or maybe a BondOneLiner if uttered after), or the character running for his life. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Literally taken, this phrase is also a popular way to point out that in the Future where ranged weapons are ubiquitous, people still prefer to do old-fashioned {{Sword Fight}}s (e.g. [[Franchise/StarWars lightsabers]]). |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Elmer Keith is the [[TropeNamers trope namer]]... he was a gunwriter and Idaho cowpuncher, and the phrase is sometimes called "Keith's First Law". |
| 19 | |
| 20 | SubTrope to CombatPragmatist. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | '''Inversions and subversions/aversions are different tropes: NeverBringAGunToAKnifeFight and NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight.''' |
| 23 | ---- |
| 24 | !!Examples: |
| 25 | |
| 26 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 27 | |
| 28 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 29 | * Parodied in a Geico ad series which compares switching to Geico to various stock phrases asked as rhetorical questions. In this particular sketch, "Is the pen mightier than the sword?", a ninja brandishes his sword. The camera changes to a guy signing for a package with a pen. He opens the package and removes a taser, which takes the ninja out instantly. |
| 30 | * One character in the ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' "Surprise!" ad fires off some missiles from his fighter plane, then quips: "Guess who brought a jet to a gunfight?" Bonus points: that's Creator/RobertDowneyJr. |
| 31 | [[/folder]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 34 | * Occurs in ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'' when, through sheer coincidence, several men in black, a guy in a white tuxedo, and Nick all try to hold up the same train car at the exact same time. The men in black have machine guns. The guy wearing white is DualWielding pistols. Nick has a knife. |
| 35 | -->'''Nick:''' ... Uh, sorry for the confusion. |
| 36 | * In ''Anime/BayonettaBloodyFate'' the titular witch attempts to fight off her rival's, Jeanne's, fours guns on her hands and feet with her demonic katana, and gets her ass handed to her. It's not until Rodin shows up with her own freshly-repaired and upgraded set of four guns that Bayonetta is able to turn the tables. |
| 37 | * In the ''Anime/TheBigO'' episode "The Greatest Villain", Beck has built a CombiningMecha megadeus and challenges Roger Smith's Big O. He starts the fight by showing off some fancy maneuvers with a giant boomerang-like weapon. Roger has the Big O shoot him with its ArmCannon, instantly winning the fight. |
| 38 | * In ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Hansel comes after Balalaika alone in a wide-open plaza, armed only with a pair of axes. [[spoiler: Balalaika is likely carrying a concealed pistol, but deals with the crazy kid to lethal effect by means of the sniper team she's set up some distance away.]] |
| 39 | * Big time in almost every fight in ''Manga/{{Gate}}''. The invading Empire is based off of Roman and medieval warfare, who arrogantly thought they could overrun and conquer the new world, only to instigate a retaliation from the JSDF. Their swords and spears were simply no match against guns and explosives. |
| 40 | * In ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', Gentle Chapman, the pilot of the John Bull Gundam, ended up winning three Gundam Fights with his British Gundam, because he ended up shooting Gundams in the head, putting them out of the Gundam Fight. If it wasn't for Master Asia kicking his ass in the 12th Gundam Fight, things would have turned nasty. |
| 41 | * Happens several times in ''Anime/{{Noir}}'': |
| 42 | ** First, the Belladonna Lily Woman is performing a MissionImpossibleCableDrop to take Mireille by surprise armed with a knife. She actually gets close enough to be almost within striking distance, but then a stray bit of light from a nearby gunfight reflects off the blade and alerts Mireille to her presence, giving her the chance to shoot the woman dead first. |
| 43 | ** During the final episode the showdown between [[spoiler:Chloe and Mireille]], with the former having the latter dead to rights, ends when Kirika shoots the knife away before it can make lethal contact. Bonus points for it being a much smaller knife than the first time she pulled this stunt in a previous episode. |
| 44 | * In ''Anime/OnePiece'' during the Skypiea arc, Zoro found himself fighting a Shandian warrior named Braham who specializes in using flash guns in battle. Zoro had a tough time fighting Braham due to the latter keeping his distance while Zoro was strictly a close-combat fighter due to being a swordsman. However, Zoro managed to use [[RazorWind flying slashes]] for the first time allowing him to strike down Braham from a distance and defeat him. |
| 45 | * During the "Fifth Moon" episode of the ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' anime, Rai-Dei the Blade pits his mechanized katana against Vash the Stampede's guns. He is unable to land a solid blow on Vash, even with the hero actively holding himself back. He only turns the tables by first launching the blade off its hilt, then by fitting the hilt back onto the empty scabbard and using the whole thing as a rifle. |
| 46 | ** In the manga, Rai-Dei fights with his sword proper, making Wolfwood wonder what he's thinking, since he should know his opponent can just hit him from afar. Turns out he wears [[RollerbladeGood propulsion rollerblades]] that let him [[FlashStep close the distance immediately]]. And when Vash eventually runs out of ammo, Rai-Dei [[GunsAreWorthless comments on it]]. |
| 47 | [[/folder]] |
| 48 | |
| 49 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 50 | * ''ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}'' does this ''[[CantBatheWithoutAWeapon in a tub]]'', in homage to the ''Film/TheUntouchables1987'' line. |
| 51 | * [[ComicBook/Robin1993 Tim]] is annoyed in ''Detective Comics #648'' when he realizes the criminals are better armed than he was hoping, though of course being a Bat means he never uses a gun in combat himself. |
| 52 | -->''"Hey. No fair bringing a gun to a discussion group."'' |
| 53 | * A frequent issue for ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}: as [[DoesNotLikeGuns he finds guns too noisy for his modus operandi]] he prefers using knives, that he's a master at throwing (to the point he once mortally wounded a man by throwing a ''paper knife'' at him)... And is completely outmatched by any competent gun user, especially if it's police officers (who routinely carry [[MoreDakka submachine guns]]). [[GenreSavvy Knowing that]], [[CombatPragmatist he uses all kinds of tricks and devices to kill or neutralize his opponents before they can just gun him down]]. That, or [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere he runs]], often using some device to cover his retreat. |
| 54 | * ''ComicBook/GodzillaTheHalfCenturyWar'' lampshades this when the kaiju defense squad needs to take on human villains for a change: |
| 55 | --> '''Ota''': "... Did anyone bring... a gun?" |
| 56 | --> '''Ken''': "... I never saw the point of bringing a gun to a Godzilla fight." |
| 57 | * ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Despite using the line frequently, Frank does always have a knife on him. It's usually spring-loaded, taking care of the range problem. |
| 58 | * In the end of ''[[ComicBook/TheMultiversity Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1]]'', ComicBook/LadyShiva is facing off against the Blackhawk Squadron, with them having pistols, and her having a SinisterScimitar. [[spoiler:They shoot her dead in a hail of gunfire while she is gloating about how she is going to kill them all.]] |
| 59 | * Almost a running gag in ''Marvel What-The...?!'', when they pair Wolverine (his claws should count equal to a knife) and Punisher for a fight again. |
| 60 | -->'''Wolveream:''' It's no fair, he's got a gun! |
| 61 | ** In the second round, The Pulverizer has only a knife too...BLOOEY BLOOEY BLOOEY! |
| 62 | --->'''Wolveream:''' Just my luck, he has a [[{{Pun}} Blooey Knife!]] |
| 63 | [[/folder]] |
| 64 | |
| 65 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 66 | * This is a theme repeated in a number of variations throughout the works of Creator/EyrieProductionsUnlimited. |
| 67 | ** It initially appears as "Overstreet's First Law of Tactics", from contributor Kris "Redneck" Overstreet's story ''The Quagmire Project'': |
| 68 | --->Take a stick to a fistfight.\ |
| 69 | Take a knife to a stickfight.\ |
| 70 | Take a gun to a knifefight.\ |
| 71 | Stay out of a gunfight. |
| 72 | ** Again, in ''Symphony of the Sword'': |
| 73 | ---> '''Percy "Techie" Mui:''' (to his son) To paraphrase Admiral Overstreet, bring a knife to a fistfight, a gun to a knife fight, grenades to a gunfight -- oh, hell, if you know where it's going to be beforehand, mine the area. If all else fails, there's your friend, the air strike. |
| 74 | ** Then, "Gryphon's Expansion of Overstreet's Law of Tactics": |
| 75 | --->Take a stick to a fistfight.\ |
| 76 | Take a knife to a stickfight.\ |
| 77 | Take a gun to a knifefight.\ |
| 78 | Take a 'Mech to a gunfight.\ |
| 79 | Bring a lance to a 'Mech fight. |
| 80 | ** Followed by "Matrix Dragon's Expansion of Gryphon's Expansion": |
| 81 | --->If all else fails, bomb the planet. |
| 82 | ** And finally, "Julzz' Commentary": |
| 83 | --->And if all else fails, bring your friendly neighbourhood God. |
| 84 | * ''FanFic/ForgedInFire'' has Brutus Bones say this exactly, after shooting a knife-wielding antagonist. |
| 85 | * ''Fanfic/TheGoodHunter'': The ending of Chapter 20 features Cyril being challenged by a KnightErrant to a DuelToTheDeath. After [[SpitefulSpit spitting]] to the side, he [[CombatPragmatist simply draws his pistol and shoots him]], in a way that pays homage to a certain famous scene in [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk an Indiana Jones film]]. |
| 86 | * ''Fanfic/HigherLearning'': Invoked in the prologue to chapter 48: |
| 87 | -->''Lesson 48: [Bring a bat to a fist fight. Bring a knife to a bat fight. Bring a gun to a knife fight. Run the hell away from a gun fight.]'' |
| 88 | * In ''Fanfic/{{Housemates}}'', during ''Brother's Keeper'', a guard tells this to Loki--[[spoiler:right before being stabbed in the neck.]] |
| 89 | -->'''Guard''': You know what they say about bringing a knife to a gunfight--\ |
| 90 | '''Loki''': [[spoiler:(Yanking the knife out of his neck]] No, I don't. You'll have to tell me sometime. |
| 91 | * Inverted in the ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing''[=/=]''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' crossover ''Fanfic/ThePiratesSoldier''. Heero Yuy manages to disable Mihoshi's Galaxy Police battle armor using his combat knife, ''twice''. Somewhat justified because, first, it's [[TheDitz Mihoshi]], and second, Heero later explains to Kiyone that the armor has a weak spot behind the neck, with exposed wiring that can easily be cut. |
| 92 | * In ''Fanfic/ThePrayerWarriors'', [[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians Annabeth]] and her opponent in the coliseum fight with clubs until the opponent kills her with a knife. Suddenly, the main character's wife, Mary, shows up and shoots the opponent dead with a gun before proceeding to do the same with John Lennon. |
| 93 | * In ''Fanfic/ProjectDelta'' when, during the battle for Mindoir, Jane encounters [[spoiler:a foe with implants close to her level]], she puts her sword away and blasts him into goo with her guns. |
| 94 | * Occurs in ''Fanfic/TheShockerLegit'': |
| 95 | -->I draw out my father's blue switchblade, and flick it open.\ |
| 96 | She pulls out her ''katana''.\ |
| 97 | I feel a little stupid. |
| 98 | * Inverted, yes ''inverted'' in ''Fanfic/WhiteDevilOfTheMoon''.[[spoiler: Hayate's forte is leveling city districts. Not so handy in one-on-one in close quarters combat. That was why Beryl quickly subdued her and stole the Jewel Seeds to revive Metallia. When listing this trope on the fic's page, someone compared it to 'bringing a cannon to a knife fight'.]] This is actually canon, as [[spoiler:Hayate points out that Caro, a C-rank mage who's the weakest of the forwards in close combat, could potentially defeat her in single combat]]. |
| 99 | [[/folder]] |
| 100 | |
| 101 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 102 | * Parodied in ''Film/ThirtyMinutesOrLess'' with "You just brought a gun to a bomb fight, officer!" |
| 103 | * Happens in ''Film/BarbWire'' when a thug tries to attack Barb with a knife, but she shoots him with her pistol. |
| 104 | * ''Film/BestSeller''. A hitman stabs a witness in the middle of the sweatshop gunfight, so he doesn't have his pistol in his hand (it's still tucked in his belt) when he runs into Cleve. |
| 105 | * In ''Film/BodyguardsAndAssassins'', the final assassin, a deadly HeroKiller martial artist, is killed by the NonActionGuy with a pistol. |
| 106 | * Averted for BlackComedy in ''Film/BossLevel''. Roy (armed with a pistol) reminds Guan Yin (armed with a sword) of that scene in ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''. She proceeds to kill him [[GroundhogDayLoop over two hundred times]], even when Roy arms himself with GunsAkimbo Uzi submachine guns, until Roy takes sword lessons and works up the skill to beat her in a SwordFight. |
| 107 | * Near the end of Thai martial arts movie ''Film/{{Chocolate}}'', a group of high ranking thugs grab katanas and rush at the Yakuza father of the protagonist. He promptly shoots the first one down, though the rest close in and it turns into a sword fight. |
| 108 | * In ''Film/ConfessionsOfAPsychoCat'', Virginia goads Rocco to come out of hiding and face her by [[NobodyCallsMechicken insulting his manhood]]. He turns up at her penthouse planning to kill her with his bare hands, but is immediately outclassed when she attacks him with a sword. |
| 109 | * ''Film/DDay'' has a Never Bring a Katana to a '''GrenadeLauncher''' fight. One of the villains' Japanese henchman tries intimidating the hero Ivan who's armed with a grenade launcher. Ivan simply pulls the trigger and walks away. |
| 110 | * Downplayed in ''Film/DeathWish''. On a couple of occasions Paul Kersey fatally surprises criminals armed with knives, but that doesn't stop him from getting injured himself, especially as his preferred tactic is acting as SchmuckBait for a mugging, which means letting them get close and brandishing their weapons before firing. |
| 111 | * ''Film/ElDorado''. A young James Caan plays a character named Mississippi who, in search of vengeance for his old mentor, has killed two men by throwing a knife before they can draw their guns and succeeds in killing the last man involved by doing the same before cutting out his heart. Of course John had to save his life an instant later when the trope is played straight as the friend of the murderer is now aware of the knife and preemptively draws his gun. |
| 112 | * In ''Film/ForcedVengeance'' one goon shows himself cleverer than most. He goes charging up making KungFoley sounds, only for Creator/ChuckNorris' character to produce a .45 from behind his cowboy hat -- [[KnowWhenToFoldThem goon quietly slinks off]]. Others [[TooDumbToLive play the trope straight]]. |
| 113 | * In ''Film/TheGentlemen'', Ray chases one of the kids on the estate, trying to get his phone. The kid runs to a gang to back him up, and which point Ray offers to buy the phone for a wad of cash. One of the gang pulls out a machete and says that they'll just take the cash ''and'' keep the phone. With a look of resignation, Ray pulls a sub machine-gun from under his coat and fires it in the air. The gang flees, while the kid throws Ray the phone and then bolts as well. |
| 114 | * The climatic massacre of ''Film/TheGuillotines'' ends with Musen, a competent swordswoman on her own right, charging with her drawn sword... at the Imperial army's riflemen squadron. She predictably gets [[MultipleGunshotDeath pumped with lead]] in a few seconds. |
| 115 | * In ''Film/{{Hoffa}}'', Danny [=DeVito=] pulls out a knife he uses for defense. Hoffa's goons pull out guns. After he joins with Hoffa's crew, one of Hoffa's cronies tells him, "Give me the knife. You wanna go around, go like a white man. Get a gun." |
| 116 | * ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' does this several times. For example... |
| 117 | ** In ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', the famous scene where Indy shoots the swordsman. As the story goes, there was to be an extended sword fight, but Harrison Ford (playing Indy) was sick with dysentery, and suggested that he just shoot the swordsman. They decided to go with it. |
| 118 | ** ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' has a CallForward to the use of this trope in the first film in which Indy is confronted by ''two'' swordsmen. He reaches for his gun...[[WheresMyGun only to find an empty holster]], as he'd forgotten that his pistol was confiscated earlier in the movie. |
| 119 | ** In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', Indy warns Mutt about the dangers of bringing a knife to a gunfight (as he takes out his knife, but the Russians have pistols). |
| 120 | --->"Nice try, kid, but I think you just brought a knife... to a gunfight." |
| 121 | ** And again in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'', when Indy brandishes his whip at the auctiongoers at Hotel L'Atlantique. Nearly everyone in the room immediately draws a gun on Indy, who has a brief OhCrap reaction before diving for cover. |
| 122 | * In ''Film/TheIsland1980'', it is a case of "never bring your fists to a swordfight". A BadassBystander on the schooner the pirates boards is a martial artist, and wipes the deck with several of the pirates, who have presumably never encountered this style of fighting before. The other pirates watch on in amusement at their shipmates' discomfort until one of them decides that this is wasting time, draws his cutlass, and promptly guts the unfortunate martial artist. |
| 123 | * Used with realism in ''Film/JackReacher''. Before the final battle with the villains, Reacher calls for help from 'Gunny' Cash, the CoolOldGuy he met earlier who runs a gun range. Gunny turns up with a SniperRifle, only to hand Reacher a K-Bar knife, explaining that he's not going to entrust a rifle he owns to a stranger to help him kill a bunch of other strangers. As this means Reacher has to wait till the villains (one of whom is a master sniper) shoot at him first (to prove self defense), he's not happy. Then during the subsequent shootout, Reacher drops the knife and has to resort to using a rock against a man shooting at him with an assault rifle. |
| 124 | * ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. Subverted in a scene where Cassian tries to stab John Wick in a [[GunStruggle close struggle]] while Wick tries to shoot him with a pistol, but both {{Professional Killer}}s are too skilled to allow their opponent to land a fatal blow. The fight ends when both crash through a window into a TruceZone and have to stop fighting. |
| 125 | * As much as it is a love letter to the katana, ''Film/KillBill'' follows this rule. Nearly any time the Bride's Katana is pitted against a gun, the gun wins, such as when the Bride charges into Budd's trailer, he is able to subdue her with a shotgun. And when she invades Bill's home, she's got a pistol out as her primary weapon rather than the sword slung on her back. |
| 126 | * In ''Film/TheNightOfTheHunter'', Powell spends most of the movie as an almost inhumanly menacing force, with the threat of the switchblade in his pocket always present. In the film's climax, though, he has to face an old lady who happens to own a shotgun, and is twice sent running. |
| 127 | * ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' has this with kung-fu and rifles. Master 'Iron Robe' Yim is gunned down by American troops during his pursue of Wong Fey Hung. His last words are to Wong, who rushes to his aid: "Kung fu cannot beat bullets." |
| 128 | * ''Film/ThePunisher2004''. Frank Castle's car is rammed at a railway crossing by an assassin sent by the Mafia. Frank crawls out of it and brandishes a knife, only for the assassin to quote this trope and pull a gun. In a subversion, it turns out to be a ballistic knife, and the spring-launched blade hits the assassin in the throat. |
| 129 | * ''Film/TheRunningJumpingAndStandingStillFilm'': Parodied in one of the SurrealHumor gags that make up this odd short film. Two men are facing off in a duel. One has a rifle, and the judge gives the other a knife. They march off, turn at the signal in dueling style, and fire--shooting the judge. And the second man's knife somehow goes off like a gun. He stares at his smoking knife in astonishment. |
| 130 | * ''Film/Seven1979'': Ed has a kung fu battle with Mr. Chen that ends with him killing Chen by [[DestinationDefenestration throwing him through the penthouse window]]. He then unbars the door and confronts Chen's two bodyguards. The first one attacks him hand-to-hand and is quickly smacked down. The second one draws a sword and makes a series of flashy moves. Ed calmly draws a guns and shoots him. (While this scene is nearly identical to the more famous one in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', it predates ''Raiders'' by at least 2 years.) |
| 131 | * In ''Film/{{Super}}'', Rainn Wilson plays a rather deluded NonPoweredCostumedHero whose weapon of choice is a {{wrench|whack}}. At one point he sneaks into the BigBad's compound, only to discover that the drug dealer's henchmen are all armed with handguns -- and they [[PaperThinDisguise recognize him immediately]], mask or no mask. |
| 132 | * In the Disney adaptation of ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1993'', the musketeers are charging a ship of sailors. When one of the sailors demonstrates his martial arts abilities to Oliver Platt, Platt mimics him briefly before simply shooting him in the chest. |
| 133 | * In the ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers2011'', D'Artagnan learns this early in the movie, courtesy of Rochefort. Although in this case, he brought a sword and lots of attitude to a gunfight. |
| 134 | * In the BBC adaptation of ''Literature/TheHistoryOfTomJonesAFoundling'' (simply titled ''Tom Jones''), when Lord Fellamar's attempted rape of Sophia is interrupted by her father, he turns his sword on the older man, assuring him that his class and education have well prepared him for anything the squire can dish out. Squire Western pulls out a pistol and promptly shoots out one of Fellamar's knees. |
| 135 | * ''Film/TragedyGirls'': [[spoiler:During the final confrontation in the theatre, Lowell is advancing on Sadie with a machete when [=McKayla=] pulls a gun out of her purse. Lowell just looks confused (as he thinks [=McKayla=] is on his side) as she proceeds to shoot him several times.]] |
| 136 | * Referenced in-universe in ''Film/TheUntouchables1987'', as noted in the page quote above. Also a likely reference to one of Malone's earlier comments to Ness in the film ("if he pulls a knife, you pull a gun") - and partly a subversion, since [[spoiler:the man with the knife is actually there to lure the shotgun-carrying Malone out of his house and into Frank Nitti's fatal tommy-gun ambush]]. |
| 137 | * Inverted in ''Film/{{Utu}}''. Te Wheke tosses the preacher a loaded gun, knowing full well that his victim would hesitate to use it. This gives Te Wheke enough time to decapitate the minister with an axe. |
| 138 | -->"Would I give you a loaded gun? Of course I would!" |
| 139 | * ''Film/Vice2015'': The bar patron who attempts to rape Kelly after she escapes from the resort is confronted by the heavily armed sweeper team hunting for her. He attempts to attack them armed only with a knife and is immediately gunned down by the team's submachine guns. When Roy is examining the crime scene later he makes a comment about 'bringing a knife to a gunfight'. |
| 140 | * ''Film/WarHorse'' has a scene in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI where the British cavalry appears to have caught the German encampment flatfooted, only to find that the Germans were prepared with a hidden defensive line of machine guns to mow them down. As a German officer says afterward, "Did you think we'd have a camp on open ground without it being defended?" |
| 141 | * Averted in the climax of ''Film/TheWarriors''. Swan challenges Luthor to a duel, only for Luther to smugly draw the gun he used to kill Cyrus and announce that he's going to kill everyone. [[spoiler:Luther shoots, but Swan jumps to the side while simultaneously throwing his switchblade into Luther's wrist, disarming him.]] |
| 142 | * In ''Film/TheWarWagon'', Wes is so enraged at being robbed by the Indians, he pulls a knife and tries to attack the Indian who is holding a rifle on him. He gets shot. |
| 143 | * In ''Film/WeWereSoldiers'' a young North Vietnamese soldier charges from behind Colonel Hal Moore intending to kill him with a bayonet. At the last moment Moore turns around and shoots the North Vietnamese soldier with a pistol, who lands dead at his feet. |
| 144 | * Subverted in the finale of ''Film/WhosThatGirl'' where the embezzling father of the protagonist's fiancée is actually able to disarm two cops using a ''fencing foil''. (Yeah, it makes very little sense, but neither does most of the rest of the movie.) |
| 145 | [[/folder]] |
| 146 | |
| 147 | [[folder:Jokes]] |
| 148 | * In Germany, the topmost quote is told as punchline involving Turks and Russians, but of course, YMMV (your minority may vary). |
| 149 | [[/folder]] |
| 150 | |
| 151 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 152 | * In the second book of the ''Literature/WhiteTrashWarlock'' series, an elven prince challenges an opponent who assumes it will be a swordfight. Then said prince pulls out a gun and shoots the guy twice in the heart and once between the eyes. |
| 153 | * ''Literature/TheBlackIce'': Corvo the DEA guy tells Bosch a story in which Corvo was jumped by a Mexican {{Mook}} who slashed Corvo across the face with a knife before Corvo shot him to death. Bosch is not impressed. |
| 154 | --> "Corvo had found a way to make killing a man who brought a knife to a gunfight sound heroic." |
| 155 | * Creator/NealStephenson's ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}'': [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Some soldier]] interviews Bobby Shaftoe: |
| 156 | -->'''Reagan''': What advice do you have for any young Marines on their way to Guadalcanal? |
| 157 | -->The memories are still as fresh as last night's eleventh nightmare: ten plucky Nips in ''suicide charge!'' |
| 158 | -->'''Shaftoe''': Just kill the one with the sword first. |
| 159 | -->'''Reagan''': Ahh. ''Smarrrt''—you target them because they are the officers, right? |
| 160 | -->'''Shaftoe''': No, fuckhead! You kill 'em because they've got fucking swords! You ever had anyone running at you waving a ''fucking'' sword? |
| 161 | * Played straight several times over the course of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', mostly by supernatural forces. Most non-humans, and even some magical humans, eschew guns in favor of claws, swords, or other melee weaponry, or specifically think to counter someone's magic ability when they do consider long-range combat, neglecting to consider firearms. At least one very powerful practitioner thought she had Harry dead to rights after disarming him of his staff and blasting rod, only to learn a little too late that they should have taken his gun too. |
| 162 | * From ''[[Literature/TheEschatonSeries The Iron Sunrise]]'' by Creator/CharlesStross we have, "Never bring a tazer to an artillery duel". |
| 163 | * ''Literature/TheInterdependency'': John Scalzi brings us the following gem, after an assassin outassasins an assassin-wannabe: [[ItMakesSenseInContext "Never bring a spoon to a toothbrush fight."]] |
| 164 | * In Creator/MichaelFlynn's ''[[Literature/SpiralArm The January Dancer]]'', the owners of the ammunition factory try to avert this by burning it down and then parting for opposite sides of the civil war. This means that when an outside force intervenes, bringing a gun to the knife fight, she tramples all resistance. |
| 165 | * ''Literature/JohannesCabalTheDetective'': {{Defied|Trope}} by an assassin who explains to her boss that she has a knife and open ground, while Cabal has a gun and cover, so there's no point in her trying to kill him. |
| 166 | * In Creator/DavidWeber's ''Literature/OutOfTheDark'', the Shongairi come off as {{Insufficiently Advanced Alien}}s because their entire war doctrine revolves around conquering pre-industrial races. Guess what happens when troops trained and equipped to curb-stomp natives with pointy sticks comes up against modern military hardware? |
| 167 | * In ''Literature/ThePrinceOfThorns'' Jorg challenges someone to a duel, runs away, snatches a guard's crossbow, and shoots him with it. |
| 168 | ** In ''King of Thorns'' he spends every day for years practicing his swordplay, because he intends to challenge a renowned swordsman to a duel, and given his reputation he needs the guy to think he means it or he'd never accept the challenge. Then he invokes IAmNotLeftHanded and switches his sword to the other hand, [[spoiler: which is another misdirect; he needs his right hand for the scavenged gun]]. |
| 169 | * When terrorists with automatic weapons take Worldpark in ''Literature/RainbowSix'', a retired sergeant dressed as a Roman legionnaire attacks one of them with his spatha. He naturally loses the fight, but he does manage to close fast enough to wound his opponent. After Rainbow retakes the park, all of the troops shake the man's hand to honor his bravery. |
| 170 | * A fantasy equivalent is a major plot point in the light novel series ''Reign of the Seven Spellblades''. The students at a school for magic are all taught how to duel with their athames (long ritual knives) because wizards had learned the hard way that from a starting distance of sixteen feet or less, a man with a sword can plausibly kill a mage before he can get a spell off. |
| 171 | * ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': In this case, never bring massed cavalry to an artillery fight. (It happens ''twice'' in the series.) |
| 172 | * ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant'' features a hefty LampshadeHanging in the second book, in which the BigBad thinks he's about to sword fight the titular skeleton, only for Skulduggery to pull out a gun. |
| 173 | --> '''BigBad''': Only a heathen brings a gun to a sword fight. |
| 174 | --> '''Skuldugger''': Only a moron brings a sword to a gunfight. |
| 175 | * Hiro Protagonist's weapon-of-choice in ''Literature/SnowCrash'' is a katana. At one point, Hiro's use of the katana actually leads to a standoff when he's able to find cover that the gun-wielding mooks he's fighting with can't shoot through, but they're all too far away for him to attack. He actually taunts his adversaries that they can take as long as they like because "Katanas don't run out of bullets." |
| 176 | * ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': MasterSwordsman Jaime Lannister holds a particular disdain for archers. Given that they can threaten him without contending at all with his lifetime of sword mastery, it's easy to see why. At one point, he's held at bay by a simple innkeeper with a crossbow. |
| 177 | ** The humble ballista, in the form of the scorpion, is one of the few known mundane dangers a dragon can face. A bolt to the eye or another vulnerable spot? Dragon problem solved. In short, never fly your dragon through a hail of bolts, eh, Queen Rhaenys? |
| 178 | * The ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' example above was also in the book... albeit ''very'' different. In boot camp, a raw recruit is complaining about learning how to use knives when the Mobile Infantry have awesome weapons and the Navy has nuclear weapons. The sergeant then... carefully and thoroughly explains the purpose. The Navy is a hammer, the MI are a scalpel, intended to be walking death with anything and everything, but very, very precise. |
| 179 | * 'The Swordsmen of Varnis' by Clive Jackson is a one-page parody of the ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' series. A Martian princess and warrior together use their sword fighting skills against the guards of a mystical temple, and are almost victorious until the last guard says, 'Aw, the Hell with it!' and draws a proton gun, vaporizing the pair. |
| 180 | * In ''Teeth of the Tiger'', it's mentioned that a man with a knife who is no more than ten feet away is a credible threat to a man with a gun. An FBI agent exploits this by tricking a child killer into drawing a knife so he can justifiably shoot him. |
| 181 | [[/folder]] |
| 182 | |
| 183 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 184 | * In ''Series/ArrowVerse'' |
| 185 | ** One episode of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' has the League of Assassins send a group to attack the Arrow, Canary, and Detective Quentin Lance. One of the assassins mocks Quentin for using a gun, calling them a coward's weapon, since the League uses more traditional weaponry like bladed weapons and bows. Little does he know that Quentin was packing a backup gun; he shoots the Assassin point blank just as he was about to get killed. |
| 186 | ** A flashback scene shows Oliver Queen's first vigilante efforts were less than impressive. He shoots at a crack dealer with an arrow and misses, then has to make an undignified scramble for cover as the dealer empties his pistol at him; fortunately he's just as bad a shot as Oliver is. |
| 187 | ** In the season 4 Flash-Arrow crossover, "[[Recap/TheFlash2014S2E8LegendsOfToday Legends of Today]]", Oliver shoots an arrow on the ground, to which Damien Darkh mocks Team Arrow for bringing "arrows to a gun fight", only for Oliver to ask "what guns?". The TrickArrow he shot then magnetically pulls all of the guns the mooks are holding, leaving them unarmed. |
| 188 | * In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDsn-RRmDXU a sketch]] on ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', two men about to have a DuelToTheDeath are asked by a referee to choose their weapons: sword or pistol. Laurie's character selects the sword, which the referee hands him-- then ''hands Fry's character the pistol.'' Laurie's character protests that this was not what he meant, and [[HilarityEnsues silliness ensues]] as they try to figure out a way to make the fight fair since those are the only weapons they have. |
| 189 | -->"Well it's just that when you said sword or pistol, I sort of assumed that we would both have the same one, if you know what I mean..." |
| 190 | ** ''Sketch History'' has done a similar joke, but [[DeathAsComedy darker]]: The guy who picks a gun instantly shoots his opponent dead, and the referee commends him for his choice. |
| 191 | * In an episode of ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', Chuck and Sarah are attacked by three henchmen. One of them pulls out a knife, but [[spoiler:they are saved by Chuck's mom, who shoots them dead]]. |
| 192 | * ''Series/CriminalMinds'': {{Inverted}} by John Blackwolf, an Apache police officer, who considers knives to be the more humane option. He insists that, within 21 feet, a man with a knife has an advantage (assuming the gunman has to unholster his weapon), and outside 21 feet, he has the option to flee. |
| 193 | * ''Series/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'': Subverted. Dirk hasn't heard the full version of the phrase "bring a knife to a gunfight," and thinks it means you're ''supposed'' to bring a knife to a gunfight. He has an OhCrap moment when he realizes there isn't some secret way that he can use his knife to defeat a gunman. |
| 194 | * ''Series/GameOfThrones'': |
| 195 | ** Harren the Black (the founder of Harrenhal) should have known better than to spend decades building the world's largest castle when his neighbors had ''dragons''. In his defense, the Valyrian Dragon Riders had showed absolutely no interest in his continent until around the time he finished it. |
| 196 | ** Pyat Pree thought he could keep Daenerys and her dragons chained up for eternity. Bad idea. |
| 197 | * ''Series/TheGoodies''. In "The Movies", the Goodies comes to blows over which movie they want to make. Graham (who wants to make TheWestern) is shown advancing with his gang of cowboys against Tim who's making a biblical epic and so only has Roman centurions with swords. Graham shoots, then Tim raises his sword and [[RuleOfFunny fires a shot from it as well.]] |
| 198 | * Parodied in a sketch from ''Series/InLivingColor'' where the street gang from the musical ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' runs into a modern urban street gang. The leader of the ''West Side Story'' gang pulls a switchblade, and the leader of the modern urban street gang responds by pulling a handgun and shooting a member of the ''West Side Story'' gang. Naturally, this causes the ''West Side Story'' gang to beat a hasty retreat. |
| 199 | * In ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' episode "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot'', Mac tries to demonstrate how to kill a school shooter with a katana by awkwardly moving leaning sideways as he runs forward. Charlie proceeds to repeatedly demonstrate with an unloaded revolver that all the shooter has to do is to aim slightly to the side, citing Indiana Jones as an example. |
| 200 | * In an episode of ''Series/{{JAG}}'' an ambitious lieutenant sneaks aboard an enemy ship. His request for a firearm was denied, so he only has a pipe on hand. He meets Col. Mackenzie who asks him, "Who brings a pipe to a gunfight?" |
| 201 | ** In the pilot episode, the squadron commander uses the knife and gun as a metaphor for the weapons systems on his F-18 versus the one on the bad guy's plane; the bad guys using a knife (gun cannon) to his gun (sidewinder missile). |
| 202 | * Discussed in ''Series/{{Justified}}'': One of the bad guys out to get Marshal Raylan Givens is a YoungGun obsessed with the "21-feet rule" (the combat theory that within 21 feet of each other, a person with a knife has a very good chance of getting close and killing someone with a gun before they can draw) and who does everything in his power to pick a fight with Givens and see if it's true, even ruining the reason he arrived to the county to begin with. The goon's partner, fed up with the kid's stupidity, [[InTheBack blows him away]]. |
| 203 | * In the ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' episode "Burned," a man accused of setting his wife on fire pulls out a butcher knife during a standoff with several cops. When he starts to lunge toward them, Benson shoots him in the chest - using plastic bullets to bring him down without killing him. |
| 204 | * ''Series/{{Lucifer}}''. The trope is lampshaded right before Maze uses her throwing knife to take out a hitwoman with a submachine gun ''[[OffhandBackhand while hiding behind a table]]''. |
| 205 | * In an adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' starring Creator/PatrickStewart and set in the 1930s, Young Siward charges Macbeth with a knife, only for Macbeth to draw a pistol and shoot him. |
| 206 | * [[JustForFun/TropesExaminedByTheMythbusters Examined]] on ''Series/MythBusters'' (Ep. 188, aired June 10 2012) in two ways, one with a guy throwing a knife, and one with a guy charging with the knife. They found that while a moderately-trained knife thrower could throw one before getting hit by the shooter, the shot is quicker and the shooter can dodge the knife; on the other hand, they found that charging from a distance of 16 feet, you could stab someone shooting at you without getting hit. Long story short: Busted. But just barely. |
| 207 | * ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' |
| 208 | ** In "Allegiance", Reese's opponent realizes that he can't beat him hand-to-hand, so he pulls out a knife. Reese promptly draws his gun and kneecaps him. |
| 209 | ** Lampshaded in "A More Perfect Union". Reese says they're going to have to start kicking serious ass whereupon Root (who's [[MasterOfDisguise disguised as a caterer]]), produces a kitchen knife and says, "Silly me. I brought a knife to a gunfight." Being Root, it suffices. |
| 210 | * Parodied on ''Series/{{Psych}}'' where the "weapons" are just what the two men are holding before they start their WimpFight. |
| 211 | -->'''Shawn:''': That's your problem, Gus. You brought a funeral program to a knife fight. |
| 212 | * Happens a couple of times in ''Series/RedDwarf''. |
| 213 | ** In [[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIVJustice Justice]] Lister and a simulant go to "parley". The simulant pulls out a knife. Lister pulls out a pipe. The simulant pulls out a gun. |
| 214 | --> '''Lister:''' I didn't think of that. |
| 215 | ** In [[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVIIStokeMeAClipper Stoke Me A Clipper]], Rimmer in the guise of [[spoiler:Ace]] has a [[CurbStompBattle sword fight]] with a medieval knight that escaped the AR machine. It ends when Rimmer grabs a [[{{BFG}} Bazookoid]] and shoots the knight down. [[spoiler:As it turns out, the knight was in fact Lister and he had loaded the Bazookoid with blanks, the fight was a [[ConfidenceBuildingScheme Confidence Building Scheme]] for Rimmer.]] |
| 216 | * Colourfully invoked in ''Series/SiliconValley'' when Erlich tells a troublesome neighbourhood kid that he "just brought piss to a shit fight" before [[WouldHurtAChild slapping him across the face]]. |
| 217 | * [=McKay=] in ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' is cornered by the Genii into finding the location of all the pieces of a device to reveal a Zero-Point Module. Upon finding it on a wall-sized map, he asks for a knife, which the Genii are reluctant to give. |
| 218 | --> '''[=McKay=]:''' You all have ''guns.'' Someone give me a knife. |
| 219 | * ''Series/StargateSG1'' played this straight in an early episode where Carter gets roped into what she thinks is a ritualistic hand-to-hand fight, until her opponent pulls out a huge sword. She equips her combat knife and manages to kick the guy's butt anyway. |
| 220 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. |
| 221 | ** Two skinwalkers are facing off in "All Dogs Go To Heaven". One shapeshifts into his canine form, but the other just draws a revolver with {{silver bullet}}s and shoots him. "Did you think this was going to be a dog fight?" |
| 222 | ** In "Hunteri Heroici", the VillainOfTheWeek has used a RealityWarper to create ToonPhysics. When Dean tries to shoot the man, his .45 pistol turns into a BangFlagGun. The villain then mocks him for "bringing a gun to a gag fight". |
| 223 | * Stated on ''Series/TeenWolf'' by Chris Argent as "Never bring claws to a gunfight." The fight ends with Boyd getting shot. |
| 224 | [[/folder]] |
| 225 | |
| 226 | [[folder:Manhua]] |
| 227 | * ''Manhua/OldMasterQ'' have this joke coming up periodically: |
| 228 | ** One strip have Master Q challenging another guy to a fight. They both draw swords, Master Q starts running towards his opponent... and promptly backs off when his opponent draws a gun. |
| 229 | ** Another one inexplicably set in {{wuxia}} times have Master Q fighting an opponent and getting knocked to the floor... before Master Q randomly pulls a pistol from out of nowhere on the other guy. Part of the AnachronismStew RuleOfFunny the comic frequently uses. |
| 230 | [[/folder]] |
| 231 | |
| 232 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 233 | * It doesn't get much blunter than "Gunfight" by Music/SickPuppies: |
| 234 | -->Don't bring a knife to a gunfight - you'll lose! |
| 235 | * In the Russian song ''In the Cape Town Port", a bar brawl breaks between English and French sailors on shore leave. The French pull out their hangers, but turns out it's the Browning which decides the fight. |
| 236 | [[/folder]] |
| 237 | |
| 238 | [[folder:Opera]] |
| 239 | * In one production of ''Theatre/DonGiovanni'', at the end of the first act Don Giovanni, confronted by his pursuers, draws his sword -- only to find that Don Ottavio brought a pistol. Giovanni decides it's a good time to be elsewhere. |
| 240 | * In Act III of Tchaikovsky's 1884 opera, ''Mazeppa'' (or ''Mazepa''), a very dark opera, anti-hero Mazeppa has managed to accidentally destroy everything Andrei cares about, including driving the woman he loves to insanity, killing her father, and destroying the thriving manor house we saw in Act I. Andrei challenges Mazeppa to a duel, and, when he tries to refuse, runs at him with a sabre. [[http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?customid=131 Mazeppa shoots him.]] That makes this one OlderThanRadio. |
| 241 | [[/folder]] |
| 242 | |
| 243 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 244 | * ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': |
| 245 | ** Firearms are just generally better than melee weapons. A single bust from a rifle-caliber weapon will do much more damage than most melee weapons, on top of being a mostly UnblockableAttack unless one has SuperReflexes. However, in close combat, [[NeverBringAGunToAKnifeFight melee weapons tend to be better]] thanks to the fact that you can't aim properly. Of course, the problem is getting there... |
| 246 | ** Across TechLevels, melee weapons go through three stages of viability. |
| 247 | *** While primitive firearms are introduced in [[TheMiddleAges TL3]], melee weapons remain supreme until [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen late TL4]], when pistols and early rifles come into play. |
| 248 | *** At [[UsefulNotes/IndustrialRevolution mature TL5]], melee weapons are almost entirely phased out in favor of firearms. While they do see niche uses in [[TheSixties TL7]] and [[ThePresentDay TL8]], nine times out of ten a [[ShortRangeShotgun]] will do exactly what a sword can, but better. |
| 249 | *** This changes at [[TheFuture TL10]], where advances in materials technology allow for weapons SharpenedToASingleAtom, [[RocketPoweredWeapon Rocket-Powered Weapons]], and so on, while SuperReflexes are made possible thanks to improvements in cybernetics. The introduction of DeflectorShields and [[LaserBlade Laser Blades]] at [[HigherTechSpecies TL11]] helps make melee weapons able to stand their own against firearms. |
| 250 | [[/folder]] |
| 251 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 252 | * ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfSquare'' has Knife jerks, and they are one of the weakest enemies. The protagonist even says this phrase when he killed them. |
| 253 | * In ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'', one of the possible bosses is "Championchik", a DumbMuscle Olympic boxing champion turned ''bratva'' who only uses his fists. Gunning him down is the easy way to win, and Mike will say a variation of the line if you go this route. Alternatively, if Brayko is present he'll casually murder Championchik offscreen. |
| 254 | * ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed series'': |
| 255 | ** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'': you're likely to get your arse kicked trying to punch out armed enemies unless it's one-on-one as Altair can't disarm them. |
| 256 | ** Ezio's hidden gun lets him shoot up melee-armed mooks with ease. |
| 257 | ** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'': The sword-wielding Officers and Jagers ''will'' cut Connor up if he tries to punch them while they're still armed. It's an automatic counter too. Fortunately, it works to your benefit too; Jagers and Grenadiers/Highlanders that would easily counter Connor to death if going weapon-to-weapon are much easier targets once Connor's the only one with a weapon. |
| 258 | ** During Cross's final confrontation with Desmond, despite just going through dozens of Abstergo {{Mook}}s armed with batons and guns with nothing but hidden blades (although Desmond can pick up guns and use them), the cutscene has Desmond dive for cover as soon as Cross shows up and starts firing his gun. Cross then walks slowly to Desmond's cover while mocking the Assassins' tendency to stick to their traditional weapons instead of "upgrading". In fact, Desmond would most likely be dead had Cross not suddenly had a bad case of the "bleeding effect" and started spouting in Russian of his long-dead ancestor. |
| 259 | * In the [=TurboGraphix-16=] game ''VideoGame/BloodyWolf'', there's a sub-boss on the fifth level who uses a knife, who you have to fight with your own knife despite carrying a machine gun. You encounter him again in level eight, when you can simply shoot him, causing him to go down in one hit. |
| 260 | * Much like ''Kill Bill'' above, ''VideoGame/BushidoBlade'' doesn't pussyfoot around with how dangerous guns are compared to swords. The game emphasizes realistic weapon combat, so there aren't any anime-ish stunts like deflecting bullets or dodging them with graceful footwork here; [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome a gun wielding opponent can very easily kill you well before you're able to get in close to attack]]. The only thing that makes it fair for the player is that they take a long time to reload, and are a sitting duck while they do it. |
| 261 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'', civs with military technology an entire era behind yours will sometimes declare war on you and be easily destroyed. Of course, there are also aversions where Spearman Beats Tank. |
| 262 | * In ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans'', a cop will randomly say, in thought, "What would Eliot Ness do? Never carry a knife to a gunfight? No, that's not it..." |
| 263 | * In ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon'''s setting, melee weapons and the like are considered heretical. While nothing is ''stopping'' you from bringing a sword or baseball bat to a gunfight, it's enforced somewhat by many such weapons being cursed. |
| 264 | * ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' |
| 265 | ** Guns have much greater range than melee or fist weapons, and are often more damaging as well. In theory, this is balanced by guns having finite ammo. In practice, while you might run out for a ''particular'' gun, you almost always accumulate ammo faster than you spend it (often without even going to merchants). Often the player character can only manage with melee weapons because of [[ArmorOfInvincibility very powerful armor]] and/or spamming [[HealingPotion Stimpaks]] making you practically invulnerable anyway. The PowerFist was actually added to the original ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' late in development when playtesting showed completing the game with an Unarmed build was nearly impossible. |
| 266 | ** The FinalBoss of the ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' DLC ''Operation: Anchorage'' wields only an electrified sword, and the {{Mooks}} fighting around you will never attack you. Fighting him on a Guns, Energy Weapons, or Explosives build isn't a sure thing, but you have a good chance of winning by constantly attacking while backing away from him. On a Melee Weapons or Unarmed build, your best bet is SaveScumming until you pass the Speech check to bypass the battle. |
| 267 | ** ''VideoGame/Fallout4's'' Survival mode, [[RocketTagGameplay enemies and the player alike are extremely frail]], making the use of melee/unarmed weapon nigh-impossible in this mode without heavy use of stealth. Even ''animals'', which are normally limited to melee combat, ''still'' discourage the player from fighting up-close and personal because their attacks transmit debilitating diseases. |
| 268 | * Gilgamesh plays with this in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''. He enters the fight with an arsenal of rocket launchers and handguns to fight the main heroes, who use a sword and a bow-sword. However, as a SpiritedCompetitor he finds that using the guns isn't giving him a satisfying battle, so he tosses them away during the fight and grabs an arsenal of various swords instead. |
| 269 | * ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''. No matter how many guns the player has when invading Madd Dogg's mansion for the first time, he ends up with just a knife. The player is not even allowed to pick up dropped weapons until half way through. A much later mission ends with a helicopter crash leaving the water-treading protagonist outside of the ship he has to infiltrate. All his weapons (sob) are at the bottom of the drink except his knife. However, here, a quick swim to shore and knowledge of respawning weapon locations makes the ship much easier to overcome. |
| 270 | * In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', if [[BareFistedMonk Masaru]] is not chosen as the protagonist of the Final Chapter then he'll only join the party after [[DefeatEqualsFriendship challenging them to a fight]]. If the chosen protagonist is [[TheGunslinger The Sundown Kid]] however, Masaru will state that [[KnowWhenToFoldEm he'd rather not fight a guy with a gun]] and will offer to join up on the spot. |
| 271 | * ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'': Garrus mentions this trope by name when fighting Cerberus Phantoms, finding the whole concept silly. As Garrus is a sniper, the amusement is justifiable. But God help you if they get into melee range...(then DLC gave ''us'' sword-wielding characters to use in multiplayer). |
| 272 | * ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' has Blade Man, whose fight {{zig|zagging Trope}}-zags on this. Blade Man himself inverts the trope since contact damage with him or his Triple Blade deals higher damage than the Mega Buster. However, his [[LogicalWeakness weakness]], the [[StuffBlowingUp Commando Bomb]], plays this trope straight again since it's a more advanced weapon than not only the Mega Buster, but Blade Man's Triple Blade, too. |
| 273 | * ''VideoGame/MetalShinobiAssassin'' is a RunAndGun game where you're a CyberNinja with firearms battling enemy soldiers armed with spears, katana and arrows. Against common mooks the battle is as one-sided as it sounds. |
| 274 | * Referenced by [[Franchise/EvilDead Ash Williams]] in ''VideoGame/PokerNight2'': |
| 275 | -->"Never bring a knife to a chainsaw fight, kids!" |
| 276 | * ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours'': In the "Freedomtown Redux" mission, Tony ends up disarmed and having to flee from armed foes until you can finally find a lone machete-wielder and beat him down for his weapon, which then leads to more running from men with guns until you manage to locate a lone gunman to get a piece off. Only then does Tony stand a chance. |
| 277 | * In the final battle of ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'', the FinalBoss brings out a good old-fashioned flintlock pistol... that shoots as fast and has as much capacity as a current-day Glock in the final phase of a boss fight primarily using swords. |
| 278 | * Portrayed rather realistically in ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' with the bayonet specialists. The player can gun them down easily enough (although they're fast and move/roll around erratically), but if they ''do'' manage to get within arm's reach, they'll probably win, particularly on higher difficulties. |
| 279 | * In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', you get an achievement for the Spy by fatally knifing another Spy who has his gun out. |
| 280 | ** The Scout plays this straight with his domination line "Don't bring a wrench to a gun fight." |
| 281 | * Everywhere in ''VideoGame/TimeCommando''. Any weapon, even a dinky dagger, is almost always preferable to unarmed combat. Certainly, your enemies will not hold back. |
| 282 | * ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'': While several instances of the reverse exist across the series, foes with guns are universally the biggest threat both in gameplay and story. In fact, you outright can't block guns or most weapons without the right equipment. Fortunately, Kiryu and the other player characters also benefit from this; a tough many-on-one battle can be made much easier by getting ahold of a weapon {{Improvised| Weapon}} or deliberate, and a gun of your own can make short work of many bosses who would be a terror in melee. |
| 283 | [[/folder]] |
| 284 | |
| 285 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 286 | * In ''VisualNovel/SteamPrison'', the heroine Cyrus comes from a society where guns are still all but unknown and swords are used by the police force she works for. She continues to use a sword when she takes a bodyguard job in the Depths, where firearms are widespread; on the occasions when she ends up fighting opponents with guns she's usually at a disadvantage thanks to their range and speed of use as compared to her sword. Guns aren't a guaranteed win, however - in the "My Queen" ending, the HOUNDS are able to suppress several groups of firearm-toting enemies thanks to being overall better-trained and organized, making use of the fact that they're fighting in an urban area to force their quarry into close quarters where they can't make effective use of their weapons' advantages. |
| 287 | * In one possible ending of ''VisualNovel/YoJinBo'', the main characters -- who are mostly samurai and armed with swords -- are attacked by ninja with guns. The heroes die very quickly. |
| 288 | [[/folder]] |
| 289 | |
| 290 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 291 | * ''[[WebAnimation/ASDFMovie asdfmovie4]]'': "Banana fight!" "NO!" BoomHeadshot! |
| 292 | * ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': The D.H.O.R.K.S. agents attempt to fight I.M.P. with a katanas, ninja stars, and nunchucks. Blitzo and Moxxie fight back with a '''ton''' of guns. Needless to say, the carnage is very one-sided. |
| 293 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y95H2vvnjcs This .gif animation]] called "Martial Arts vs. Modern Arts". The martial artist uses an IntimidationDemonstration to try to intimidate the other guy... [[CombatPragmatist who promptly takes out a gun and shoots him in the head]]. |
| 294 | [[/folder]] |
| 295 | |
| 296 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 297 | * ''Webcomic/BugMartini'' plays with it [[http://www.bugmartini.com/comic/its-up-for-stabs/ here]], bringing "stupid to a knife fight". |
| 298 | * ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101011 here]], with extra SteamPunk goodness: |
| 299 | -->'''Zola:''' "Bringing a knife to a gun fight doesn't seem very smart, now does it?"" |
| 300 | -->'''Agatha:''' "Well, I suppose it isn't that much worse than bringing a gun to a clank fight." |
| 301 | ** And again, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110713 a while later]], Agatha's opponent chides her for bringing a wrench to a knife fight. [[spoiler: "It's harder to [[ExactlyWhatIAimedAt break]] [[RestrainingBolt things]] with a knife."]] |
| 302 | * ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'' have played with the trope a couple of times: |
| 303 | ** One strip has a man show up to what he ''thinks'' is a knife fight, only for his opponent to pull out a gun. His reaction is to pull out a bigger gun and turn the fight into a LensmanArmsRace. |
| 304 | --->"I brought a ''leg'' to your arms race!" [''cue karate kick''] |
| 305 | ** Another strip plays with it in that the man with the knife isn't actually taking part in the gun fight. He's just there to cut the cake. |
| 306 | * ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' had it [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-09-12 given as a tip]] and once had a mobster who realized that he had brought a [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-07-30 prybar to a gunfight.]] |
| 307 | * ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'': In "Dangerous Days Ahead", Torg tries to justify his taking his CoolSword (before he learnt to use it properly, mind you) to a gunfight by applying [[Film/ANewHope Obi-Wan Kenobi's comment about lightsabers]] being more elegant than firearms to swords. He shortly runs back out for a gun. |
| 308 | * A mugger finds himself on the wrong end of this trope in [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/02242005/ this]] ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'' strip. |
| 309 | * Explored and expanded by ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' in [[https://xkcd.com/1890/ this comic]]. |
| 310 | [[/folder]] |
| 311 | |
| 312 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 313 | * [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/08/08/the-line-it-is-drawn-201-comic-book-crossover-battles/ Crossover Battles.]] "That's what happens when you bring a sword, sais, nunchucks, and a big stick to a gun fight!" You can already guess who got stomped by [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014 Rocket Raccoon...]] |
| 314 | * ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets''. In Entry #50, we see that Jay starts to carry a pocket-knife with him whenever he goes somewhere with Alex in case he tries to pull anything. In Entry #52, we discover that it doesn't actually help as [[spoiler: Alex had a gun the whole time and attempted to kill Jay with it]]. |
| 315 | * Played with a twist in ''[[WebVideo/ShockTroopers2011 Shock Troopers]]'': never bring a knife to a ''defibrillator fight''. At least two enemy soldiers attempt to take out the protagonists with knives, but neither succeed. |
| 316 | * PlayedWith in ''[[{{Literature/Takotsubo}} Takotsubo: The story of a superhero.]]'' In the prologue, Cord Cai and his fiance Roland Fujii are getting carjacked by Harry Lamont... but Cord and Roland are ''[[MuggingTheMonster former gangsters.]]'' Roland laughs in Lamont's face, refuses to give up his car, and basically taunts Lamont into shooting. After he ''does'' get shot, he cuts Lamont and scares him into running away. Lamont might have killed Roland, but he was clearly outclassed and he failed his actual goal of taking their car. Later on, the devastated Cord tracks Lamont down and [[BestServedCold shoots him execution-style.]] As noted below, having a gun doesn't mean anything if you're not prepared to ''actually shoot someone.'' |
| 317 | * ''Website/NotAlwaysRight'' has [[https://notalwaysright.com/literally-brought-a-knife-to-a-you-know-the-rest/140081/ this aptly-titled story]] of a man who tried to [[StupidCrooks stick up a sporting/hunting store with their own display knife]], only to get a ClickHello from the clerk. |
| 318 | [[/folder]] |
| 319 | |
| 320 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 321 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Parodied in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS17E13TheSeeminglyNeverEndingStory The Seemingly Never-Ending Story]]" when Moe arrives at the Mexican standoff over the gold. |
| 322 | -->'''Moe:''' [''emerges from the shadows carrying a baseball bat''] You'll take the gold... and then you'll give it to ''me'' if you know what's good for ya!\ |
| 323 | [''Mr. Burns, Rich Texan, and Snake all turn and aim their guns at Moe'']\ |
| 324 | '''Moe:''' You guys have ''guns?'' Well, uhh... so do I! [''retreats into the shadows and unconvincingly mimes pumping a shotgun''] Eh? Eh? |
| 325 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekLowerDecksS1E03TemporalEdict Temporal Edict]]", three Gelrakians have Ensign Brad Boimler at spearpoint, but he easily gets himself out of danger by stunning them with his phaser. |
| 326 | -->'''Gelrakian''': Don't move, human. We have you surrounded.\ |
| 327 | '''Boimler''': Yeah, but I have a phaser. ''(fires at his would-be captors)'' These guys are lightweights. |
| 328 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': While blasters are often worse than ineffective against force users with lightsabers, in [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E10LairOfGrievous "Lair of Grievous"]] Nahdar Vebb is killed when Grievous goes CombatPragmatist and shoots him with a blaster after getting him into a blade-lock. |
| 329 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'', in the past a boxing-themed villain named Turnbuckle tried to kidnap Rusty as a kid just for a shot at Jonas Venture. Instead, Jonas' bodyguard [[PsychoForHire Action Man]] simply pistol-whipped the hell out of him before executing him with a bullet through the head. This incident led to the creation of the "Equally Matched Aggression" ranking system so that villains don't find themselves put in another one-sided fight. |
| 330 | [[/folder]] |
| 331 | |
| 332 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 333 | * Creator/BruceLee said this about martial arts against guns, but the idea is still the same. |
| 334 | * The famous [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tueller_Drill Tueller Drill]] is a drill that investigated the use of firearms against assailants armed with a hand-held weapon. It came to the conclusion that if a physically fit individual who is holding a hand weapon charges a reasonably well-trained shooter with a hip-holstered handgun across open ground, in the approximately 1.5 seconds it takes to draw and shoot, the charging individual covers approximately 21 feet. This establishes a 21-foot "danger zone." This is often erroneously thought of as the knife "winning" within 21 feet when the likely outcome is mutual wounding or a MutualKill. |
| 335 | * The Battle of Cerignola, happened in 1503 during the UsefulNotes/ItalianWars, was probably the point in European warfare where the true power of the arquebus over any kind of ancient weapon was demonstrated. During its course, Spanish general UsefulNotes/GonzaloFernandezDeCordoba occupied Cerignola and, knowing the French army's fondness for old-fashioned heavy cavalry charges, built a defensive ditch filled with pikemen and ''arcabuceros'' before goading the French to attack it. The overconfident French accepted the challenge and assaulted the position, only to be met with fulminant gunfire until ultimately breaking down and routing, after which Córdoba ordered a salty and crushed the remnants of the French. The Spaniards reportedly fired over 4,000 shots during the battle, three of them killing the French general himself, Louis d'Armagnac. |
| 336 | * The 1575 Battle of Nagashino went into history as the first time arquebuses were decisively implemented in the wars of feudal Japan, with UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga and UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu making good usage of their firearms and entrenchments to crush Takeda Katsuyori's cavalry in a way virtually identical to the aforementioned Córdoba. At least, this is the traditional version: the battle became mythologized and embellished over generations, with claims that Nobunaga even employed organized volley fire to maximize his advantage (a tactic already in usage by the Spanish and Italians at the time, but probably not in Japan yet), but conversely, modern research has implied firearms were much less relevant to the outcome than previously thought, noting that both armies had sizable amounts of arquebuses and that Nobunaga's side won by simply outnumbering the Takeda army by a ridiculous margin and enjoying much better logistics. |
| 337 | * During UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution at the [[https://www.ncpedia.org/moores-creek-bridge-battle Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge]], a Loyalist militia unit mostly composed of settlers recruited from the Scottish Highlands found themselves across a creek from a Patriot unit they had been chasing through the North Carolina swamps. Assuming their enemies were fleeing because of the abandoned camp they had found on the west bank of the creek, at daybreak [[BraveScot a group of 500 Loyalists armed with broadswords and dirks attempted to storm the other side]]. They quickly found out that the only bridge had its planks removed and its railings greased, and the well-entrenched Patriot forces had targeted the east bank with muskets and two artillery pieces. As another Patriot commander said while explaining to a newspaper why his forces were late to the fight, [[CurbStompBattle "The battle lasted three minutes."]] |
| 338 | * While WWI trench-fighting usually consisted of savage hand-to-hand combat with knives, axes, shovels, and other improvised hand weapons, the American Winchester M1897 shotgun, known as the "Trench Sweeper," proved to be the ultimate weapon. Featuring no trigger disconnect and 6 rounds, two shotgunners working in tandem could clear an entire trench in minutes when it would previously take hours. These weapons were actually so effective that the German government issued a diplomatic protest against their use, although nothing came of it. The aristocratic German officers saw shotguns as being only for hunting and threatened to kill anyone captured with shotguns or shells for treating them like animals. The Americans told them to get bent and that if they made good on the threat, every German prisoner would be immediately executed. The Germans quickly dropped the issue. |
| 339 | * After speaking to several WWII vets, the phrase they were always terrified to hear was "fix bayonets" |
| 340 | * During an infamous incident in 2007, outlaw country singer Billy Joe Shaver got into a fight with a man at a local dive bar. Taking it outside, the man brought out a knife. Billy Joe brought out his Derringer and popped him, as described by Shaver himself, "Right between the mother and the fucker". AKA, through the cheek. The man with the knife quickly gave up. |
| 341 | [[/folder]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / NeverBringAKnifeToAGunfight
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
