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Post by elbufo on Jul 17, 2021 18:26:50 GMT
I would appreciate your opinions on point of balance and where you like it. My main interest is European swords, but knowledge of all types would be great, as I do not know where my interests will lead.
I have been book learning to the point my but hurts, so I understand the physics, but in actual experience, I am sadly lacking. So what say ye?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 18:34:57 GMT
It depends.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jul 17, 2021 18:46:24 GMT
Unfortunately true. Overall weight, swordtype, the method used for adjusting the pob, so many variables. In general a pob close to the hilt makes a sword more agile, good for fencing, but with less cutting power. Some swords are made for fencing, others for powerful cutting. If it's made by an overweight hilt the sword is just tirering dead weight. On a lightweight or shorter sword a pob further away from the hilt may be better. Or not. Variables... After handling about 50 swords you'll understand. Or not. Variables...
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 17, 2021 19:22:20 GMT
Unfortunately, dynamic balance has a much greater influence on sword handling than static balance (PoB). While it can be argued both ways to which gives better control (I've seen people say tip-heavier swords give a better sense of point tracking, I've seen people say having more weight in the hand is more comfortable for them) there's just more to it, as stated.
For reference sake, I have only two European-style swords, both single-handers. One is an old Hanwei William Marshall and the other an Angus Trim 1315. These swords are, give or take, about the same dimensions minus thickness. That is, their blades are about 31" and their hilts (including guard and pommel) are 6-7". One has a static PoB about 4" from the guard and weighs less overall, the other has a static PoB some 7-8" from the guard and weighs more. I prefer the lighter sword, but have had people tell me they like the heavier sword better.
My favorite sword has a blade less than 24" long that balances about 7" from the hilt, which is pretty significant for its size.
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Post by elbufo on Jul 17, 2021 19:40:24 GMT
Bavarian...This I understand. What I am looking for is personal preference.
I have a massive sword collection consisting of 3 different types. One is an authentic Japanese NCO Saber POB @7". Feels good in hand even with it being noticeably blade heavy. One RK Italian arming sword @4 1/2" feels nose heavy more noticeable than the Japanese. And last but not least an APOC tactical broad sword @3 1/2". This one has the best feel. So as you can see I ain't got a lot to go on.
I am thinking about a bastard sword and have been given some ideas from the forum on ones to look at (Thanks guys). It would be nice if every town had a try before you buy shop. The ones I looked at all had a POB close to each other. This kinda leads me to think that POB may have a lot to do with style. I hate spending bucks without being able to put my skinners on something.
Book smart... often more than it's cracked up to be!
Random...Did not consider dynamic balance. Thanks for that tip. I will bring all 3 at my next soda jug cutting session. I have never tried the saber. Hope I don't screw it up...Might just swing it around just to be safe.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 19:51:13 GMT
It depends.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 19:55:39 GMT
You seem to be more asking; What is your favorite sword and why?
Or not but your question is beyond vague.
For me, it depends.
A close balance may seem agile while not always the best pointer.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jul 17, 2021 19:56:19 GMT
A bastard sword should be usable single handed but also two handed. It always will be a bit heavy when used single handed, so a pob closer to the hilt is better. But it's important that this is achieved by a lighter blade not by an overweight hilt. So the overall weight is important too. A good bastard shouldn't weight much more than 1,5 kg.
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Post by joe_meadmaker on Jul 18, 2021 19:12:08 GMT
As others have mention, there are many factors that go into how a sword feels in the hand. But the general starting point I use for POB is keep it under 6 inches for a two handed sword, keep it under 5 inches for a one handed sword.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jul 18, 2021 21:19:28 GMT
Random...Did not consider dynamic balance. IMO, the POB should be wherever it needs to be to make the dynamic balance what you want. The actual location of the POB doesn't matter; how the sword moves is what matters. The two important metrics for dynamic balance are the moment of inertia and the location of the pivot points (which are what are called the "centre of percussion" in science and engineering, but sword people usually mean different things by that, so "pivot point" is less ambiguous). There was recent discussion of this stuff in sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/64558/physics-sword-useThe problem with POB as a metric is that it's possible to have good and bad swords of similar type, size, and weight, and have one with good handling and the other with bad handling. That is, a "good" POB doesn't mean that the sword will handle well. It's still worth looking at POBs, though - if the POB is abnormal for the the type of sword, then it might have pretty funky handling.
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Post by elbufo on Jul 19, 2021 20:42:25 GMT
Timo...Thank you for the link. Just read a couple pages. I want you to know you have ruined my weekend (in a good way). My parents tried to break me of the habit of taking things apart, but the didn't beat me quite hard enough.
Part of the problem at this point is not having enough knowledge or experience to ask the right questions. I have already been through a couple dissertations like the first on in the link. The physics is not hard for me but it takes a lot of scribbling.
A good mechanic can understand what an engineer is saying, but engineers seem to have trouble seeing what a mechanic feels. Sometimes changing just one word makes all the difference.
Thanks all...Time for more book learnin!
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