Pig Stickers !!!

[Bufford]

For domestic hogs a blade 5 inches is enough, with knowledge of their annatomy, but for wild boar bigger is better as they are very unpredictable.

 

[the possum]

I think I'm gonna add some more musings, in regards to comments like those posted by rctk1.

Now like I mentioned, we don't have hogs here, but I've been passionate about eliminating smaller local varmints in the past. I've used swords, to slip joint folders, to just slip-on shoes. I've used air rifles, to 7mm mag and 3 1/2" mag loads of buckshot from a 10 gauge. So far I've managed to produce the same result with all of them: a dead varmint. (Before any do-gooders have a coronary, I'll mention that a nuisance permit opens up nearly any option legally.) So far no rocket launchers or flame throwers, but Dad has been talking about getting a cannon for a long time now...

I could use these experiences to belittle about anything another person uses. "I don't know why you need a .22. A pocket knife has worked fine for me." Or how about, "I don't know why you need a .22. A 10 gauge has worked fine for me." I try to move past that (sometimes unsuccessfully) and just nod, realizing the other guy has found something he likes, has worked for him and his unique situation, and is comfortable with its level of reliability in performing the task he asks of it. I have settled on my own choices, and can provide what I consider good reasons to justify them. Yet I recognize others may have different priorities that lead to other choices. FWIW.

 

[crossada]

Possum, to a fan of the bowie i consider your design to be famous in that you put some thought into it rather than just going for X amount of blade length with handle. not many large knives today have any thought towards weight and balance points.

even though i don't know much about historical swords from a user standpoint, from what i have read they were designed in much the same way to make it more effective. i have read some swords feel tip heavy when pointed down but when you raise it into a fighting stance the weight disappears into the counter weights in the pommel. this way it increases power without losing speed.

i will be interested in future designs you make.:thumbup:

 

[the possum]

Possum, to a fan of the bowie i consider your design to be famous in that you put some thought into it rather than just going for X amount of blade length with handle. not many large knives today have any thought towards weight and balance points.

Thanks. (And thanks to Brian for his comments too.) But I think a good number of the hand forged crowd at least, do pay attention to balance- they just seem to go about it in other ways for the most part.

Even though i don't know much about historical swords from a user standpoint, from what i have read they were designed in much the same way to make it more effective. i have read some swords feel tip heavy when pointed down but when you raise it into a fighting stance the weight disappears into the counter weights in the pommel. this way it increases power without losing speed.

Actually, my study of swords is where I first learned of these principles in a concrete fashion. Most of the "balance" work is done in the blade, but can be tuned quite a bit for good or ill with a pommel. The goal is to make a more efficient design by moving the mass around to a location where it's easier for you to get it moving, yet harder for the object you hit to push it back. Thus you can make the sword faster and easier to move, while increasing cutting power at the same time. :thumbup:

I was fortunate to find an instructor within driving distance last year, and so have been studying/practicing German Longsword in the Liechtenauer tradition since then. It's cool to see these principles put to work. The blade may feel a little heavier when just holding it still in your hand, but once it's in motion feels much more fluid and lively. I've actually been working on a blunt longsword trainer for a while now, for use in class. Hope to have it done & post about it in the sword section here within a month or 2.

Cheers.
-the possum