Would this kill a zombie?

[MercenaryCanary]

Okay the way that we kill zombies is by destroying the brain.
So we started talking about weapons that would be most effective against this type of zombie.
I brought up a sword made entirely out of diamonds considering that diamonds are the hardest known material and most likely could easily destroy a skull.
Brandon however said that it was brittle and could not do such a thing and that a hammer would serve better.
So how was right? Me or Brandon?
Which weapon would actually not suck?

 

[WFUBassist]

It depends on the hammer.

 

[Datalord]

how would you get a diamond big enough?
it would be brittle if you used a bunch of little diamonds, but a hammer wouldn't break bone unless you swung REALLY hard, like an acceleration of 3m/s^2.
but you would want something with an edge, so if you could get one large diamond for a sword, that would work, but a bunch of little diamonds making a sword is not as good as a hammer, unless you shoot the sword out if a gun barrel

 

[EXPLICITasian]

Ummm, diamond can't really... what's that word? Um BREAK... that's why they need diamond cutters instead of smashing it against the ground. The diamond molecule is very stable with very long connected (strands? forget the scientific word)... any way the bond is too great to break.


Of course theres always the thing that diamond is very heavy so swinging it would be hard, and finding one big enough for a hammer would be very hard... so you know, you're both wrong in a way

 

[Starnerf]

A diamond sword that's thin enough to cut would likely shatter on the first hit or two, assuming the zombie has a typical adult strength skull. A hammer would probably be a better weapon as long as it's heavy enough to do the damage and long enough to keep you far enough away. A sledgehammer would be ideal if there's only one zombie.

 

[Yaky]

I'm pretty sure a hammer would work better at crushing skulls.

 

[Datalord]

but the idea isn't to crush the skull, its to damage the brain, so it would probably be better to pierce the skull at one point with a stab, or a slash, if you crush the entire skull, you're just wasting energy, besides a diamond anything, with its double carbon bonds and polymer chain, could withstad more force that pretty much any other material, except maybe tungeston carbide

 

[Falconus]

Why waste time with diamond?. An ordinary steel weapon would work just as well.

 

[rottenbutter]

While it is better kill a zombie from as far away a physically possible, I have to go with the hammer. A diamond sword would be either be too heavy, or too weak to do sufficient damage. A hammer would be much more effective (though a lot more dangerous).

 

[joystickjunki3]

I think that a sword of made of diamond would be too brittle. Maybe a diamond coated steel blade.

 

[Aardvark]

When the zombie apocalypse comes, are you really going to have a diamond sword just sitting around, waiting to be used? No, you're not. A hammer is a stupid choice as well. Too slow and clumsy. So both of you have just been eaten by zombies. Suck it.

Machetes, hatchets, crowbars, spikes and the old Shaolin Spade are the superior zombie-slaying implements if you're foolish enough to get close to them.

 

[CoverYourHead]

Depends on what we're talking about, like a war hammer? Or a little hammer used for nails and such. And hows the sword? One big diamond? If so, it's much better, if not, then a war hammer is 2nd best, and a little hammer comes in third, followed by a sword made of tiny diamonds.

 

[LewsTherin]

Hammers are generally more unwieldy, but a diamond-edged sword would be very difficult to obtain.

Both would work to an extent, depending on the kind of Zombie.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

Depends, how big a hammer we talking here, and is the sword made up of small diamonds or one big one that has been cut down? But I would go with the hammer for more fun.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

For breaking skulls you really want a crushy weapon that focus' force to a point, pretty much any design of mace, warhammer or pick.

PS AFAIK diamond isn't very flexible, it's very hard, but doesn't bend too well, I imagine it would snap if made into a sword as a single piece.

 

[Marbas]

A standard carpentry hammer could probably inflict sufficient brain damage to put a zombie down for the count if you swung it hard. I mean, if all we're doing is impairing vital function instead of destroying the brain or removing the head.

 

[PirateKing]

Well a sword made of diamond is pretty cool. A hammer would probably work better for crushing a skull, but a sword made of diamond is practically indestructible. You could slice off their heads, that's just as good as crushing the head...usually...at least then the body wouldn't move around.

 

[superbleeder12]

Giant meat tenderizer tipped with diamonds anyone?

 

[Healey]

Main problem with a hammer (assuming you're using a regular carpenter's hammer) is it's short reach. A zombie could fairly easily grab/bite you in the time it takes to swing and connect. On that basis, the sword would be best, and also has the advantage of being able to either decapitate or just destroy the brain. Though, as other people have stated, there's an issue of weight.