Where is the balance point?

M

miden

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
835
Hi Guys,
Just wondering about this. Some people say a knife is well balanced if you use the guard as the balance point, others say it is just beyond the guard, others say it is just behind the guard!!!
Is this a matter of personal opinion/choice or does it depend on the function of the knife (hunter,skinner,fighter, general purpose) ? I am thinking more on the lines of a hunter/skinner.
Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Mike
 
For hunters, skinners, and most fighters, the ballance point
should be at or just behind the first finger. The idea being that
the knife will not feel handle or butt heavy, and will lay in your
open hand.
 
I don't really know the answer, but I suspect it has to do with the function, but ultimately with personal preference. It is this way with kitchen knives, at least.
 
On knives of that size, I think it will depend more on personal preference.
I believe the balance will not really be a big deal to performance unless we start talking about really big knives and swords. But I must point out, I don't believe it's nearly as simple as where the balance point happens to lie. As I've said elsewhere, that's a by product of the balance, not the end goal.
 
The intended use determines the balance.

A chopper better be tip heavy. A fighter should be tip neutral. A hunting knife benefits from being handle heavy. A sword should be a tip neutral as possible even if it means adding weight to the pommel.

There is not fixed rule that covers everything.
 
I may have to slightly disagree that swords should be tip nuetral in balance, at the least the designs I'm familiar with. The pommel is used to do far more than simply pull back the balance point. Probably knew that; I just don't want a newbie getting confused.
 
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