Steven's fighter

Steven makes a great comment about weight/balance. This cannot be photographed. But I do remember walking with Nick two years ago in Reno over to Harvey Dean's table. I wanted him to pick up a bowie that appeared massive but "disappeared" in the hand. This was not to teach Nick, but to compliment him as the only other maker in the room to achieve that sort of effect.

John
 
Okay, you guys are making my fat head swell up ;)

Seriously.

HAHAHA :D It does feel really good though to get something back up on this board.

I actually have a lot of knives real close to being completed so hopefully this isn't a one time sort of thing :p

Thanks again everybody! :D :cool:
 
John Frankl said:
Steven makes a great comment about weight/balance. This cannot be photographed. But I do remember walking with Nick two years ago in Reno over to Harvey Dean's table. I wanted him to pick up a bowie that appeared massive but "disappeared" in the hand. This was not to teach Nick, but to compliment him as the only other maker in the room to achieve that sort of effect.

John
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Ya know, the subject of balance (especially on large bowies) has been a topic of great interest to me for a couple years now. Would you mind sharing some more thoughts on this? Are you talking about just feeling light when ya pick it up and hold it in your hand? Are you talking about it being faster in dynamic moves/maneuvers? How was this "disappearing" effect achieved? (tapers, mass distribution, static & dynamic balance points, etc.?)
 
A fighters balance is achieved by being a little bit heavier in the handle than in the blade. This makes the knife feel nimble, and because the largest percentage of the weight is in your hand rather than out in front of your hand, which is where it would be if the knife was blade heavy, it feels like the knife disappears. A fighter that balances right at the guard will feel pretty light and nimble as well.
 
what a superb piece!

as far as i know steven picked up a couple of beauties by another talented fellow. but doesn't post pictures... c'mon steven :)

hans
 
:thumbup: Nice work Nick!
Great snag STeven... Almost as nice as mine!!!! LOL!!!!! :D

And I hear ya on the feel - same thing with mine - it balances at, or just behind the guard for a feeling of quickness...
 
brightred said:
what a superb piece!

as far as i know steven picked up a couple of beauties by another talented fellow. but doesn't post pictures... c'mon steven :)

hans
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Ummmmm...(thinking, thinking...) ahhhh, NO!

Hans, if you ever get to the States, and we can meet, I will try to bring some of the better pieces. Other than that, no pix!;)

For those, you need to look at PTG's, Win Heger's, or Murray White's albums.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
the possum said:
Ya know, the subject of balance (especially on large bowies) has been a topic of great interest to me for a couple years now. Would you mind sharing some more thoughts on this? Are you talking about just feeling light when ya pick it up and hold it in your hand? Are you talking about it being faster in dynamic moves/maneuvers? How was this "disappearing" effect achieved? (tapers, mass distribution, static & dynamic balance points, etc.?)
Click to expand...

Nick uses distil taper to an extreme. The cross section of the tip is VERY thin, and the edge is extremely fine, can't remember if he does a secondary bevel or not, but it is very thin as well.

He is not afraid to grind the knife to an uncommonly thin profile, am sure that he has confidence in his heat treat, and there is no warping in the finished product that he presents.

Part of it is overall weight, I would be surprised if this knife is over 10 oz.

It is faster, than a like-configured knife, due to the grinds, taper and weight. It is not necessarily balanced to favor one type of cut or hold over another, say a snap cut. Not what the knife is about.

If Nick gets a chance to chime in, that would be better, as he makes them, and is holding this piece, AFAIK.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

STEven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Hans, if you ever get to the States, and we can meet, I will try to bring some of the better pieces.
Click to expand...

steven, in fact, i am planning (actually it's more dreaming than planning right now) to go to one of the main shows, probably blade. this will be rather later than sooner, however, holding some of your nicer pieces - like that wheeler-fighter - in my hand (if you'd allow me to touch them!) would be one more reason to cross the ocean.

thanks,
hans
 
I sure thank you guys for the kind words about balance/feel. It's definitely something that's on my mind from the first time I hit the steel with a hammer until the knife is done.

I think STeven hit the nail on the head... tapers and reducing unneeded bulk. :)

STeven, you made me so curiuos I had to take it out of the USPS box to check something... lmao :D

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In case you can't see that, it's 8.1 oz. :)
 
Only 8.1 ounces for a knife that size? Wow, I have a folder that is half that size that weighs more. That is impressive.
 
John Frankl said:
Steven makes a great comment about weight/balance. This cannot be photographed. But I do remember walking with Nick two years ago in Reno over to Harvey Dean's table. I wanted him to pick up a bowie that appeared massive but "disappeared" in the hand. This was not to teach Nick, but to compliment him as the only other maker in the room to achieve that sort of effect.

John
Click to expand...

Know what you mean about Harvey's fighters (weigh/balance). The El Diablo Fighter I picked up from him at Reno in January is 14"aol and 9" blade, yet feels like a hunter in hand.

Nice acquisition STeven. :thumbup:
 
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