Fixed Blade Balance

S

switched

Joined
Feb 7, 2003
Messages
303
Say with something like what might be considered 'standard' - 4-5" blade length. Where the primary concern would be cutting and slicing - chopping very much in the shade. A generalist - not with some highly specific purpose in mind.

Surprisingly to me, it seems some makers aren't concerned about this, at least not overly.

My own preference is for something like a 'neutral' balance, where the balance point would be at the junction of grip and blade. If pressed though, I don't think I could explain why - just what I'm used to I think. If I recall correctly, Buzzbait for example seems to be inclined to something more along the handle heavy line.

What are your own preferences in this respect and your rationales for them?
 
It tends of course on use. For somethign I'm going to use for fine work, I prefer it to be balanced at guard or handle, as then blade isn't trying to do more work than I want.

But for fighter/camp/survival/etc, I prefer something a little blade heavy. Esp. if for heavy chopping. Saves me work.
 
Blade heavy gives you more power on the swing but generates more fatigue in precision cutting. Handle heavy greatly reduces power on a swing to almost nothing, but the blade is very secure in hand and cuts with little fatigue. Neutral is simply between the two. What is optimal depends on the major areas of use.

-Cliff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top