What are you guys doing with the big knives?

[Jabrni]

Actually, Keffeler wasn't there last year...

I recently became aware of the super assassin. What a blade.

 

[yoko]

Actually, Keffeler wasn't there last year...

Thank you you are correct lol

I'm wrong

 

[toker]

Thank you you are correct lol

I'm wrong

I mostly remember because I was really excited to meet Dan last October and to use the Super Assassin.

Fonedork asked me what I was going to use and I told him the K18. He said that the Super Assassin was available. I immediately changed my mind.

 

[EMCEE]

Man, here I sit on the shitter in a tiny apartment in Greece…..and all I keep thinking is, “Man, I really miss those guys !”

 

[toker]

Man, here I sit on the shitter in a tiny apartment in Greece…..and all I keep thinking is, “Man, I really miss those guys !”

To be fair, I think a good amount of posting on Bladeforums is done on the porcelain throne.

 

[Jsega51]

Man, here I sit on the shitter in a tiny apartment in Greece…..and all I keep thinking is, “Man, I really miss those guys !”

To be fair, I think a good amount of posting on Bladeforums is done on the porcelain throne.

And….here I sit reading the CPK forum, gooooooood morning!

 

[Lorien]

 

[Jack Lewis]

These are fantastic photos, Lorien.

It seems like big knives serve as a sort of overlap between a machete and hatchet, in one tool. Very cool.

Although, in a moment of weakness and doubt, one might reach for a chainsaw.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Man, I missed a couple shots…


A afr with the behemother:

]

Rolland76 with the K18

 

[bluemax_1]

I know Nate mentioned it when the pics were posted after the cut, but I’m surprised no one instructed/recommended that folks hit closer to the center of the blade with the K18.

In just about every single pic, it looks like folks were hitting closer to the tip.

I get that I’m a bit odd/anomalous in having practiced test cutting/chopping with swords/2-handed blades, but most of the contestants have experience with 1-hand choppers and probably instinctively hit near the power cut region of those blades (which is closer to the center than the tip). Thought those instincts would translate.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I know Nate mentioned it when the pics were posted after the cut, but I’m surprised no one instructed/recommended that folks hit closer to the center of the blade with the K18.

In just about every single pic, it looks like folks were hitting closer to the tip.

I get that I’m a bit odd/anomalous in having practiced test cutting/chopping with swords/2-handed blades, but most of the contestants have experience with 1-hand choppers and probably instinctively hit near the power cut region of those blades (which is closer to the center than the tip). Thought those instincts would translate.

I think it’s easier than that. Most of these guys have never seen the pressure of running one of these courses, much less with unfamiliar knives, much less in front of their friends, AND in this case, in front of a camera crew. Even someone with a bit of experience is going to be a little off-kilter. Maybe I’m speaking out of turn, but I don’t think too many of these guys have martial arts backgrounds, and I can’t imagine even those that do have focused on bladed weapon training.

I was impressed with how well they did, especially given the circumstances.

 

[yoko]

I know Nate mentioned it when the pics were posted after the cut, but I’m surprised no one instructed/recommended that folks hit closer to the center of the blade with the K18.

In just about every single pic, it looks like folks were hitting closer to the tip.

I get that I’m a bit odd/anomalous in having practiced test cutting/chopping with swords/2-handed blades, but most of the contestants have experience with 1-hand choppers and probably instinctively hit near the power cut region of those blades (which is closer to the center than the tip). Thought those instincts would translate.

It's actually interesting when you run the course the first time, maybe it's instincts definitely inexperience but I had the same issue of being too high on the blade...you are correct and you can even hear and feel the difference in a cut when you hit the sweet spot on a thicker target

 

[Non.Nisi.Te]

I know Nate mentioned it when the pics were posted after the cut, but I’m surprised no one instructed/recommended that folks hit closer to the center of the blade with the K18.

In just about every single pic, it looks like folks were hitting closer to the tip.

I get that I’m a bit odd/anomalous in having practiced test cutting/chopping with swords/2-handed blades, but most of the contestants have experience with 1-hand choppers and probably instinctively hit near the power cut region of those blades (which is closer to the center than the tip). Thought those instincts would translate.

Nate and Jo, Keffeler, et. al were constantly reminding us to step forward and closer to the target to better utilize center of percussion.

We were so good at following directions that Nate rewarded us with those pretty yellow dresses

 

[Jack Lewis]

center of percussion

Can you help me understand that term better? I would have assumed that the end of the blade offers the most power because it creates the longest lever, like an axe. I assume what’s happening is related to the mass of a knife being distributed along its length, instead of knotted up at the end, like an axe?

 

[yoko]

Can you help me understand that term better? I would have assumed that the end of the blade offers the most power because it creates the longest lever, like an axe. I assume what’s happening is related to the mass of a knife being distributed along its length, instead of knotted up at the end, like an axe?

The end of the blade offers speed

Think of it like the sweet spot on a baseball bat when hitting a home run

It's not at the tip of the bat

Hitting to far out doesn't put the mass of the blade into the hit

Hope this makes sense.... I'm not smart lol

(And I usually never know what I'm talking about)

 

[not2sharp]

The center of precussion is where the mass is most concentrated. To find it you suspend your knife from the pommel (like a pendulum) pull it back and release it. You count the number of times the point of the blade crosses the center of the swing over a period of time. Then you do the same with a simple weight (plumb bob, fishing sinker, any small item) and adjust the length of your string until it swings like your blade (same no. of swings over the center line over the same period). You then measure that distance (string anchor point to the tip of your plumb) along your blade from where you attached the string to your pommel; this is the center of precussion (sweat spot) for your knife. When you strike with that part of the blade you get harder impacts and less vibration.

N2s

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

Man, here I sit on the shitter in a tiny apartment in Greece…..and all I keep thinking is, “Man, I really miss those guys !”

So what you're saying is, bowel movements remind you of those guys?

Awww
That's so sweet!

Nate and Jo, Keffeler, et. al were constantly reminding us to step forward and closer to the target to better utilize center of percussion.

We were so good at following directions that Nate rewarded us with those pretty yellow dresses

I'm not sure how to tell you this......
That's just one of Nathan's sick kinks.

To quote Metallica, "Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight"

You're lucky you didn't end up in an old well, putting lotion on your skin.......

 

[bluemax_1]

Can you help me understand that term better? I would have assumed that the end of the blade offers the most power because it creates the longest lever, like an axe. I assume what’s happening is related to the mass of a knife being distributed along its length, instead of knotted up at the end, like an axe?

Think of it in this manner;
When you strike a hard target with a long blade, impact too near the tip, means the blade torques back.

You need to resist that leverage.

Conversely, if you hit too close to the hilt, the long lever and mass past the point of impact will cause the handle to kick back, and you have to resist THAT particular force.

When you hit at the center of percussion, it’s between those two. It doesn’t torque your wrist back, and it doesn’t kick. It just bites deep.

 

[AR-Trvlr]

Think of it in this manner;
When you strike a hard target with a long blade, impact too near the tip, means the blade torques back.

You need to resist that leverage.

Conversely, if you hit too close to the hilt, the long lever and mass past the point of impact will cause the handle to kick back, and you have to resist THAT particular force.

When you hit at the center of percussion, it’s between those two. It doesn’t torque your wrist back, and it doesn’t kick. It just bites deep.

Excellent description. That makes perfect sense.

 

[Fonedork]

Think of it in this manner;
When you strike a hard target with a long blade, impact too near the tip, means the blade torques back.

You need to resist that leverage.

Conversely, if you hit too close to the hilt, the long lever and mass past the point of impact will cause the handle to kick back, and you have to resist THAT particular force.

When you hit at the center of percussion, it’s between those two. It doesn’t torque your wrist back, and it doesn’t kick. It just bites deep.

Nobody was hitting with the tip, you need to pull the blade hard when it sticks, which is most hits for beginners, and that’s what you see in the pictures