Let me say up front that I hate violence.
But I learned long ago the hard way that someone else may decide for you that you have to deal it.
There's been some very good advice offered here for you.
If I can add a couple considerations also:
- in fights there are things like pace, timing, distances, that all affect its outcome.
- any swinging weapon has to be pulled back before it can be swung again
- in that time you are pulling back you are off the offense and on the defense, and in the process likely creating openings that your opponent can take advantage of. I would rush in, changing the distance to my advantage while the attacker drew back his bat.
- most fights end up as very close range deals that often go the floor
- bats clubs, etc. are for a longer range and don't do well in close quarter combat
- clubs and the like were discarded for bladed weapons for some very good reasons, one example- my brother was attacked by a guy with a baseball bat who hit him very hard with it. My brother turned his back to the blow allowing the guy to initiate the fight and when my brother was driven to his knees by the blow- he reached up and pushed a knife into the guys gut.
It took months for my brother's bruise to heal, but the bat swinging attacker did his healing in a hospital, and was lucky to at that!
Someone posted about not seeing the knife until too late... very true! (like in my brother's case) Don't tip your hand by showing your weapon in advance.
Last, buy a gun legally, and take classes to learn to use it properly.
Buy a revolver, not the cool semi-automatic which can jam on you and leave you with something to throw at your attacker.
So, dont take a club to a knife fight; and don't take a knife or rock(semi-auto) to a gun fight IMHO.
Your local sheriff will tell you that a shotgun is best for home defense, mine did.
In the rush and chaos of that moment, a shotgun won't be nearly as likely to miss if not well aimed. And should you totally miss(unlikely in close quarters) its far more intimidating, being able to blow someone into pieces.
Don't buy new, buy a used one in good working condition; one that you won't mind losing to the police as evidence should the undesired event ever occur.
I hope this can be of some help to you.
- Rumi