Who would win in a fight between Silver and Bigwig

[florapaw]

(god ive been here for less than a week and im probably already obnoxious)

I'm curious. Who would be most likely to win? I originally thought Bigwig, because he's pretty strong and all. But after rereading the novel and scouting the wiki pages, I can safely say Silver would be able to hold his own.
But
Bigwig's got game and he's no coward, but Silver seems to be able to use his head a lot better. He's got confidence, but he's not cocky.
I mean, it would be a pretty boring fight because they're of equal strength, but I'm placing my bet on Silver.

[Chipster-roo]

Don't worry, you're not obnoxious

I think this is interesting to think about.  You make several valid points.

I think Silver probably has more of a chance than one would assume at first.  Bigwig is larger, but he isn't as strong as he used to be after the fight with Woundwort.

However, Bigwig doesn't always rush into a fight, sometimes he can plan ahead, like he did with the General, so he might still have a chance.

I guess in the end, the fight would go on until one or the other would be too tired to continue.

[CockatielPony]

I would saw bigwig

[Acacia Heartstrings]

Bigwig, because he has a bundle of hair that protects him a little from the attacks. You can say that it is your greatest advantage and pride. For that reason all the Owsla rabbits want him as a soldier.  

[Vesper]

Bigwig for even though Silver best tool is his head, Bigwig has experience. Though I would like for both to win.

[Rabscuttle]

I would have to go with Bigwig. He had to earn his way into the Owsla. As much as I like Silver, wasnt part of the reason he was in the Owsla was because he was the Thearahs (sp?) nephew?

[florapaw]

I would have to go with Bigwig. He had to earn his way into the Owsla. As much as I like Silver, wasnt part of the reason he was in the Owsla was because he was the Thearahs (sp?) nephew?

feeling obliged to defend my boy silver here

thats not entirely true. since im too lazy to get my copy of the book right now, i have to rely on my own knowledge so i apologise if im wrong
im pretty sure the book says that it was the owsla who were teasing silver that he only got the position because he was the threarahs nephew, not based on actual fact. on multiple accounts, he is shown to be as powerful as bigwig but lacks the confidence that bigwig has. if i remember correctly, i think silver was invited to join them because bigwig thought hed be able to help out in a pinch. and then according to the wiki:

"Silver is also very tough and strong like all the other Owsla officers were. He is a great fighter as shown, when he and Captain Holly went to Efrafa to take the does back to Watership Down, when he came back as the only one who wasn't wounded or ill."

tl;dr - silver was a competent member of the owsla and wasnt just given a pity vote

[Chipster-roo]

Florapaw appears to be mostly right about this.

This was Silver, a nephew of the Threarah, who was serving his first month in the owsla.
Hazel could not help feeling relieved that Bigwig had brought only Silver - a quiet, straightforward fellow who had not yet really found his feet among the veterans.
[...]
"You know Silver, don't you? asked Bigwig, breaking in on his thoughts.  "Apparently some of the younger fellows in the Owsla have been giving him a thin time - teasing him about his fur, you know, and saying he only got his place because of the Threarah. [...]

Even then, it's only "some of the younger fellows in the Owsla".  Holly, upon arriving at Watership Down, says he is glad to see Silver there.

Silver in the book proves his worth on several occasions.  Just before the rabbits go into the bean-field he is (apart from Hazel) the only rabbit awake in case of danger.  Bigwig asks him to fight Strawberry when he is too weak due to having been caught in the snare (although fortunately no fight happens, and Strawberry joins them).  Silver also helped in the rat fight and, like Flora said, he is the only rabbit of Holly's group to make it out of Efrafa all right

In the film, however, he seems...different.  He complains quite a bit, and as far as I can remember, all mentions of him being in the Sandleford owsla and being the Threarah's nephew are omitted.

[florapaw]

i completely agree with you. movie silver isnt the best character. while i love this movie, i do like to pretend that some of their character interpretations never happened (on top of silver, pipkin really annoyed me for some reason. and cowslip was a huge ass and his book counterpart was so much better and layered with all this emotion and he felt so real and raw!)

i really hope the miniseries keeps most of the characters in line with their original personalities!

[MeadowRabbit]

I'd say Bigwig. He's just got that bit more in him, as shown with his fight with Woundwort.

[Vesper]

Indeed.    

[Tien]

Personally I will have to say Bigwig would win.

More so in the novel then anywhere else Bigwig is shown with more skills having took on a snake and a cat on his own while the others stayed back or ran. He's not only strong but more tactful. His cunning is what will allow him the ed e. At least how I see it.

[StoryMing]

It would depend.
In general my money would be on Bigwig; he is both stronger and more experienced. But if you caught him on the wrong day— for instance while he was recovering from the snare, or from the fight with Woundwort— then Silver would have the advantage.

[Varjokani]

Silver was a "newbie" when he joined to Owsla and he learned most that he knows from Bigwig. So I would say Bigwig would win. Just because he has more experience on the field. Then again if Bigwig, being hotheated and impulsive would make some great error Silver would have a change of winning. But other than that Bigwig would be totally op against Silver.
..
Also also 10 years old kid inside me keeps yelling: "How dare you question the powers of my fave super-hero bunnyy. He would rekt everyone." ^^*

[snowy fawn]

I think I might be with Flora on this one. Though, there’s no denying it would be an incredibly close fight either way. But, I think Silver might have the cool confidence that Bigeig generally lacks, and that could be enough to put him over the edge. Bigwig is just more impulsive and could probably be tainted or baited, where Silver is less likely to fall for those tricks. And, of course, Silver is a very strong fighter in his own right, even if Bigwig is regarded as being physically stronger.

Though, I love Silver, so I might be a bit biased