How important is balance to you in a FB?

U

Ultraman

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
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Not sure if covered before, but how important to you is the balance in a fixed blade? I'm asking because mine (F1, Mora 2000) does not appear to have good balance, yet an $8.00 Daiso Deba Hocho seems to have more weight in the blade and I kind of feel the forward weight makes it feel better. Probably is a subjective thing and depends on how the FB will be used, but I'm interested in hearing from anyone...
Thanks!
 
Balance is definitely a subjective thing, and many here would argue that not only does it vary according to the user of the knife, but also according to its purpose. It's entirely plausible that a blade heavy balance point would be quite advantageous on a large chopping knife, whereas you would want a balance point much further to the rear on a knife used for delicate slicing/carving work. Also, with different users come different techniques for knife handling and use, thus different preferences for balance point.

Me? I'm pretty forgiving/non-discriminatory when it comes to balance point - I'm much more interested/fussy about the feel and length of the handle and blade geometry, and as long as the knife isn't terribly blade heavy out of proportion given its intended use, I'm good to go if in the other aspects I'm really interested in, the knife is appropriate.
 
Ultraman said:
Not sure if covered before, but how important to you is the balance in a fixed blade? I'm asking because mine (F1, Mora 2000) does not appear to have good balance, yet an $8.00 Daiso Deba Hocho seems to have more weight in the blade and I kind of feel the forward weight makes it feel better. Probably is a subjective thing and depends on how the FB will be used, but I'm interested in hearing from anyone...
Thanks!
Click to expand...

With a large blade (I'm thinking over 6"), what's the point? To balance it you'd have to use Ti, or something, or weight the thing down in the handle so much that it would be just too heavy to use and carry comfortably.

I look for balance in smaller fixed blades, but it's not really essential for functional use or safety. They might cut some holes in the blade or even the tang to lighten and balance the thing. I don't own a Mora, but I imagine the handle is the culprit, there. Still, it's a classic design and a number of survival experts swear by them. I really need to get one... :)

The best thing you can do with a very large blade, which will no doubt feel unbalanced, is to use a lanyard. Really helps with finer duties and might just keep it from flying out of your hand while chopping.
 
It's not important to me unless I'm using a chopper. For ordinary use, such as slicing and the like, I like the handle to stay in my hand when I open my fingers.

Andy
 
Chuck, Halbie, and Andrew,

Just wanted to thanks you guys for your responses. They all make sense to me.
I started the question when I remembered Heinlein's novel, Tunnel in the Sky where a character talked about balance (in a knife that included throwing!), but as you all stated, it really depends on use and the importance lessens with blade length and use.

Thanks again!
 
You're right it generally depends use. It's more important for choppers, combat or throwing knives
 
Ultraman said:
Probably is a subjective thing and depends on how the FB will be used, ...
Click to expand...

*nods*

Sometimes I like the weight to be in the blade so that it pulls through the cuts, sometimes in the hand for snap-cuts, back-cuts, etc. Again, depends what you're doing, whether field work, fighting, etc., and even with fighting, depends on what style you're using.

This is one of those questions where everyone has an opinion, and my opinion is to play around and figure out what works best for you.
 
johnu2 said:
You're right it generally depends use. It's more important for choppers, combat or throwing knives
Click to expand...

Yeah, the throwing knife aspect is what influenced my perceptions when I was younger. Since I don't throw knives, my concern for this quality narrows :)
 
H2H907 said:
*nods*

Sometimes I like the weight to be in the blade so that it pulls through the cuts, sometimes in the hand for snap-cuts, back-cuts, etc. Again, depends what you're doing, whether field work, fighting, etc., and even with fighting, depends on what style you're using.

This is one of those questions where everyone has an opinion, and my opinion is to play around and figure out what works best for you.
Click to expand...

Thinking about it, I actually like the weight more in the blade, and - I was thinking about this a while back - if there was such a thing as a deba hocho folding knife, that would be cool to have. Such a style would have a dropped belly (my terminology is probably off), leaving space for the fingers when chopping kitchen knife-style. It should be possible since your old style barber shop folding razor has this feature.
 
johnu2 said:
You're right it generally depends use. It's more important for choppers, combat or throwing knives
Click to expand...

+1 I was just going to mention.Though it rarely (if ever) happens,I'd like to be able to throw a FB,should the need arise.Balance is very important in throwing.Also,as others have stated it's important in chopping too.

Overall I think balance is important in all my knives,but especially in a fixed blade.
 
I think the concerns for the balance of badminton racket (most of them weighing less than 100 g ) can also be applied to the balance of knifes you use. If you want quick response, its balance had better be in the middle. If you want good smashing effect then you want a knife which has balance center at the front.
 
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