>>762440Once, many years ago, I visited a place called the Ulster American folk park.
The park is not in America, it's actually located in northern Ireland, and is dedicated to the history of Ireland and early Irish settlers in America.
I recall our guide telling us about life on the frontier, mountain men and all that little house on the prairie stuff. Fascinating to my young Irish ears.
The part that really stuck with me was when he said the reason why people carried big, long bladed knives was in the event of a bear attack, they would hold the knife in both hands, point out, with the pommel against their breastbone, and when a bear attacked and 'bear hugged' the knife would pierce it's chest. The bear itself would provide the force to drive the knife deep.
He said the knives were always big because a large knife was needed to reach the heart, small knives were not enough to kill.
I believed this unreservedly as a child, now that I am older I am somewhat skeptical of this working exactly like that since bears are such massive and powerful animals, but if the bear hug is a bear's main attack, it's at least plausible.
I have never actually seen a bear attack anything so I can't be sure if bear hugging is really a thing or if they swipe with paws or bite first, can anyone clarify? How does a bear usually attack?
