Comic books
Guys who use knives are either psychos or pros. You have to be real crazy or real good to use a knife. This guy's real good. He only makes one mistake. He brings a knife to a gunfight.
— Frank Castle, The Punisher War Zone #10
Fan Works
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.]
— Higher Learning, chapter 48
Film — Live Action
"Isn't that just like a wop? Brings a knife to a gun fight."
— Malone, The Untouchables
KGB agent: We don't ask again, come now—
Mutt: Or what? [whips out switchblade]
Indy: Nice try, kid, but I think you just brought a knife...[KGB agents pull out their guns]...to a gunfight.
Mutt: Or what? [whips out switchblade]
Indy: Nice try, kid, but I think you just brought a knife...[KGB agents pull out their guns]...to a gunfight.
Jubei: I intend to find you. I intend to see you dead.
Gauche: I get impression that until today you've never seen a man killed by one of 'these'. (Quick Draw's his revolver)
Jubei: Gun. Sword. We all die the same way.
— Red Sun
Live-Action TV
Todd: This is a bad idea.
Dirk: Nonsense, this is the perfect opportunity to get some answers.
Todd: The man shot at us! What if he just pulls a gun?
Dirk: Aha! That's why I brought... this. (pulls out a Swiss army knife)
Todd: What's that supposed to do?
Dirk: Well, you know what they say about bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Todd: That it's... bad?
Dirk: Oh, bloody hell, is that what that means?
Dirk: Nonsense, this is the perfect opportunity to get some answers.
Todd: The man shot at us! What if he just pulls a gun?
Dirk: Aha! That's why I brought... this. (pulls out a Swiss army knife)
Todd: What's that supposed to do?
Dirk: Well, you know what they say about bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Todd: That it's... bad?
Dirk: Oh, bloody hell, is that what that means?
Music
Tricks wanna step to Cube and then they get played,
'Cause they bitch made,
Pullin' out a switchblade
That's kinda trifle
'Cause that's a knife, ho
AK-47, assault rifle!
'Cause they bitch made,
Pullin' out a switchblade
That's kinda trifle
'Cause that's a knife, ho
AK-47, assault rifle!
— Ice Cube, "Check Yo' Self"
Video Games
Kazuo Akuji: Did you really think you could match my skill?
Playa: No... (takes out a gun and shoots Akuji in the chest) I'm gonna cheat.
Playa: No... (takes out a gun and shoots Akuji in the chest) I'm gonna cheat.
Kenshi: Care to test me?
Erron Black: Never bring a sword to a gunfight.
Kenshi: I bring much more.
"Last thing I expected to see in a castle was a cowboy... Rather not go up against a gun."
Western Animation
Nobleman: Thousands of men guard the Shogun's castle.
Abagail Fowler: Ten thousand, twenty; it doesn't matter. They guard it with knives. No one makes a better blade than your people. No one invents better ways to kill people... (opens a wooden case to reveal a gleaming musket) than mine. A gun will never be as beautiful as a sword. But with a gun, you can take any sword you want.
