"balance" is everything in a knife

[Ray Hammond]

I'm not even close to the experience level of many of our guys here so I hesitate to even begin spouting advice, but...

Just remember as you try this pleasant pasttime that balance is the key to building a knife that is both pleasing to USE and pleasing to look at.

Each is critical- neither is less important than the other, in my opinion.

Guards, handles and blades should all be in balance, meaning they should compliment each other in size and shape- the blade guard and handle should all be compatible in size. The design should flow...not having a lot of straight lines.

The heavier the handle, the more power one can impart to a given job. the lighter, smaller the handle the quicker the knife will be.

Typically when we think of users for hunting we don't worry about speed so much as we do being able to pop a joint, cut through a brisket area, and get a hide off prior to cutting the meat up into quarters, removing backstraps and tenderloins.

Also remember a knife with a substantial enough handle to get in there and keep your grip on it when its bloody, and a blade strong enough to take side pressures present in attempting to work through joints, or twisting motions so often used in dismantling a deer is a plus. Tempering, hardening, are really important in this regard- a knife that breaks in the middle of a job is a real heartburn creator...especially when you are off in the bush somewhere...and you don't have a back up!

If its a woodlot deer hunt its one thing- but "your knife is your life" can certainly become all too real in the wilds of Alaska or anywhere in Canada or a thousand other remote places...think about those things when you are creating a knife, for yourself or others.

[Lin Rhea]

Ray,
     You have helped some folks better understand what a poor old knifemaker has to ponder when designing and constructing a knife. A LOT goes into a knife that is not readily seen. Lin

[theunluckyhunter]

well said ray

[Lin Rhea]

Ray,
      I think literal balance is a very essential element of any knife no matter what type. That said, some knives' balance point is in different places. I believe some makers dont place enough importance on this.

     You are very correct, in my opinion, that visual balance is just as important. I believe a maker's eye for this has to be developed with time.

    This is a subject that I would like to see discussed in depth for the benifit of all. Lin

[tippit]

I hearted agree with Ray and Lin.  For me balance is both visual and feel.  This is probably different for each maker.  It's kinda like hunting in stages...needing first kill then, the numbers of kill, and the best/biggest trophy.  If you stick with it, you will continually go through a number of stages but hopefully always evolving your craft.  It's kinda fun to look at what you first made and how proud you were...that's what keeps me trying harder in design and feel of my blades.  

I remember Doug Campbell being so supportive of my first attempts and just mildly/kindly suggesting a little tweak here or there for encouragement rather than pointing out All the faults     That seems to be what this forum does for all the makers here be they pro or newbie.  Sorry for the rambling...Doc

[Kevin Evans]

Linn and anyone who will respond.
Is the balance supose to be right behind the guard???If so I understand,but when I make a knife with 8" to 10"blade or bigger it doesn't work that way.What should a guy do??

[Lin Rhea]

Kevin,
       Literal balance should often be determined by the particular use of the knife. Naturally a knife with a 5 inch handle and a 5 inch blade will be closer to actual balance than one with a 5 inch handle and 10 inch blade. The maker can manipulate literal balance with the distal taper of the blade and by using denser handle material and/or buttcap of some type.

    Even still, in my opinion, depending on the the intended use, some of the larger knives can benifit from the some extra weight in front. Bowies, Camp Knives come to mind. Lin

[tomh]

to me knives that are slightly blade heavy feel "alive" in my hand.
I have one full tang knife that is very tang heavy and it feels like a brick. you have no idea what the blade is doing because there is so much inertia in the hand.

[Ray Hammond]

I'm working on tapering tangs on my knives. Not satisfied yet to send any out that way...but we'll get there.

[Danny Rowan]

I must say that the knife you made for me has the best balance of any knife I own. Feels like it was made for my hand and when using it, it just flows, if ya know what I mean, and I own a bunch of custom knives, yours is my favorite. Thank you Ray my good friend.

Danny

[OconeeDan]

Well, call me amateur or dunce or whatever you want.  But I will go against the grain here, and all the pros.  
Physical balance has never meant much to me.  I have made tapered tang knives, hidden tang, etc, and the difference has not been enough to make much of a statement to me.  You can have a hunting knife with blade about the same size as the handle, and the balance is somewhere near the middle.  Good.  Then make a big bladed knife for a camp knife and there is no way you can keep the balance at the middle, it'll be blade heavy.  Good.  Or make a short neck knife, try to get it to balance in the middle.  Good.
So physical weight balance has never meant anything to me.
NOW, visual balance is different.  If the knife doesn't flow visually, it is just not as appealing, even though it may cut your eyeballs by looking at it.
And the shape is more important, as it effects the uesablity of it, but that has nothing to do with balance.
Just my opinion, which may change as I grow up.
Dan

[OconeeDan]

Come on, any replies?
I can't have the last word, according to my wife!

[Lin Rhea]

Dan,
     A lot of people would agree with you and in a practical sense, you would be correct. However in my mind and speaking for me only, I am trying to understand every nuance(as if I could)of knife design and construction. As a maker, I obsess on such things much as a other craftspeople would when they have so much riding on it.
   
     One thing that has helped me is participating in the various cutting competitions. This has taught me MUCH more than how to make a knife that will hold an edge. Believe me, balance plays a big part as well as texture, handle drop, edge geometry, etc. In other words, ergonomic. A knife can be lacking in some areas and the user will not notice it much unless called upon to really exert himself and the knife. Then it will be noticed in the form of fatigue, blisters, less than optimum  performance, etc.

    So it's in the context of heavy or high performance use that I speak. Do I use a knife this way all of the time. No. But it has helped to fine tune the different features of a knife to get the most from it. This is the reason why size limits were set in competitions order to get the maker to develope the best knife for a variety of chores. Blade no longer than 10 inches, no wider than 2 inches, over all length no longer than 15 inches.
     
     I would encourage all of you guys to make a knife to those size limits and test them. I promise that you'll learn a lot in the process.
                                       Lin

[Ray Hammond]

I also think a tapered, thin at the rear tang on a full tang knife does make for better aesthetics-I've not achieved a result on mine yet that will allow me to send one to a client...but I am getting there.

I am more interested in hidden tang handled knives now anyway..so that may go to the back burner for the time being. I'm working on my schedule next year to enroll in the Moran School  in Arkansas...maybe they'll let me join the Arkansas Mafia!!!!! Like maybe a member in exile or something.

I do love making knives.

[OconeeDan]

Thanks, guys.
I see, said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Dan