I like the blade shape, especially the point and sharpened swedge. Looks like it aught be pretty adequate for stickin', and the belly might help on cuts. I also like the way the edge goes basically all the way to the hilt with no place to get hung up.
Looks like the guard should do its job quite well, though I personally prefer more security at the butt as well. Are you concerned that the guard might hinder draws, or be uncomfortable if you fell on it or something?
Since you mentioned it, I'll just throw this into the mix. I really doubt that the balance you describe is optimal for a "fighter" that's made like that. I.E., the use of lots of mass in the tang and handle to pull the balance point so far back. By doing it this way, not only do you give up cutting power near the tip, (and also awareness of where the tip is in thrusts) but you actually make it harder to manuever the knife dynamically. I'd expect the second rotational node to be right around the guard. But then again, on a knife this size, it probably won't matter all that much anyway, (though it can't be ignored once you move up into the short sword range) and all this is pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things compared to everything else that may happen in a defensive situation.
At any rate, congratulations on taking part in the process, and having such a nice knife to show for it. :thumbup:
