Speaking of Model-T... an odd gravity issue...

x_ichthyic

x_ichthyic

Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
78
I just received my Model-T from the company store yesterday. I had been humming and hawing about it for a long time, and initially decided I didn't like the .200" thickness and 1/3 sabre grind. But then by the time I had come around and decided to order it, mainly due to the OAL and fantastic price, it had long dissappered off the company store inventory. Then just checking the company store randomly about two weeks ago, the old "updating company store" page came up, and when it finally reloaded, a Model-T magically appeared. I ordered it in probably less than 5 secs flat.

So like I said... I got it yesterday. And *YOWZA* I could hardly put it down all night. It fits my hand perfectly in all grip positions, wasn't quite *hair-popping* sharp but still shaves, and has a slightly uneven grind... but just overall a nicely built, SOLID knife! I also have an odd inclination to throw it at something. It'll totally complement my EDC folder for those hard-use chores (like batoning through hardwood http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=002953#000007) Maybe could use some thumb serrations on the top of the spine... but really, it just has a nice heft in the hand... and here's the weird thing...

I compared it in hand to my SRKW DS, which really feels GREAT, BTW -- the scales/tang are contoured just perfectly IMHO. And just hefting it in both hands, the Model-T feels heavier than the DS. I figured it was due to the increased thickness of the metal (.200" Model-T vs ~1/8"-3/16" DS) even though it's ~0.5" shorter in length. However, when I put it on the scale, I was suprised to find out that the Model-T is in fact 19.4g lighter than the DS! That's 184.9g vs 204.3g. I was quite astounded, and even knowing that it was lighter, it still feels heavier in both left and right hands!

How do I account for this phenomenon? Does INFI have some odd gravitational localization in-hand? (I have heard that Busses really do cause a specific black hole event... usually in certain folded-leather implements) Does the black crinkle coat cause a malfuction in the visual cognizance of the brain which disrupts the tactile sense? What is going on?!

Has anyone else experienced this?

- ichthyic
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Balance can and will make a knife feel lighter or heavier in the hand.
Welcome to the black hole. :)
 
Ah, INFI tis a logic defying metal my son, that it tis.

I'm still trying to figure out why, when I hold a piece of INFI in my hand, my wallet feels lighter. Just can't get it. Hangs me up... :p
 
turn your back on it for a few minutes and it'll really feel light....

that is if there's a HOG around ;)
 
Your Rat is D2 if I recall correctly and the D2 blades were amazingly light in heft and high on cutting power. If you were to put a bog dog in one hand and the DS in the other, you would find a bit more heft in the DS due to the micarta slabs. That is my take on it, also the thickness of the steel would also tip the scales one way or the other. INFI is amazing stuff and I wouldn't doubt it has some sort of greater gravitational pull that other steel :D.
 
Progunner -- heh, yes I've seen first-hand the gravitational effect INFI has had on many Hogs :)

Angelus1781 -- yeah, I think I snagged that last Model-T. I've seen one on eBay before, I think, so maybe you can pick one up on the secondary market... oooh, you've got an ARK? I've been looking for one of those (see "INFI gravitational effect", above).

AS FER balance, I did some very imprecise balance tests and the results are as follows:
DS - 3.5" / 9.375" (approximate)
MT - 3.75" / 8.75" (approximate)

These measurements are distance from butt to balance mid-point and OAL. This means that the Model-T is more center-balanced than the DS. I would think that this center-balance would make the MT actually feel lighter than the DS. So to counteract this factor, I hefted each blade from the rearmost hole... and I still seem to think that the Model-T feels heavier... although now I really wouldn't trust my judgement since I know that the DS is heavier, but my mind could really just be asserting itself from its initial impressions and refuting its own empirical evidence... stoopid mind!

This is driving me nuts.

Ah... now one last thing -- I just tested magnetism of the blades by picking up a metal staple. The D2 is magnetic and picked up the staple, but the INFI didn't. Hrmm...

Now then, I weighed the blades on a digital scale... and I'm not entirely sure how a digital scale works, but could the magnetism of the D2 affect the scale mechanism? I know, for example, that cell phones signals can interfere with the scale... but the magnetism on the D2 doesn't seem *that* strong...

Can anyone else independently weigh these two things on a mechanical scale? I'm curious if the DS really is heavier than the MT... and if it is, I must really go and re-evaluate my relationship with reality...

- ichthyic
 
When weighing knives of this sort with zero deviation or error you have two choices:
  1. weigh the blade either in virtually perfect (within 1/1000 MOA) alignment with the earth's magnetic field or alternatively in a Helmholz coil to negate the field's affect on the individual molecules of the metal in the blade.
  2. send the knife and $52.67 shipping and handling fee to me and I'll do the incredibly delicate procedure by hefting the knife repeatedly in my neuro-spasmodactically cosmetolgical adno-differentially adjusted left hand while injesting copious quantities of Johnny Walker Blue washed down by slugs of CBL with my right.


    No-no, don't thank me..... I'm just a giver. ;) :D

Actually, an interesting measurement is the balance point of the knife relative to the front of the scales. That gives a rough approximation of the b.p. from the position of your hand when holding the knife in a standard forward grip.
 
Take a 12" ruler, put it across a round object (fatty pencil for example) at the centre of the ruler.

Then, place each knife at each end of the ruler, perpendicular to the rulers length.

The heavier knife will be on the table, the lighter knife, in the air.

(found this out from many years for teeter-tottering...LOL)
 
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