How should a good SWORD BALANCE?

[@troyfiss9332]

Pleasantly surprised this wasn't a ten-minute version of "it depends".

[@edi9892]

There are two schools of thought: 1) you can add a pommel and bring the point of balance closer to the hand making the tip more responsive and it makes it easier to hold the blade horizontally. 2) save up to 1/3rd of the weight and let the blade be nimble by being light. It changes a lot more than people may realize: 1) mass distribution: determining the behavior of swinging it and impacting targets 2) the way the blade may vibrate on impact 3) a sword with a pommel is basically a lever where a heavy mass gets moved by a long lever upon impact.

[@bobrobinson1576]

Off subject but just got my 1796 light from The Knight Shop. You really are turning Windlass into something special Matt. Distal taper and sharp! Never knew that this sword had a foot of sharp false edge! Well done you and Windlass.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Great to hear! I didn't know they had landed in the UK yet.

[@RelativelyBest]

Oh? An affordable 1796 with good blade geometry? _Interesting._

[@donaldryan4876]

Why am I just now finding this out??? 😠

[@iapetusmccool]

I'd say the location of the balance point on the rapier vs choppier swords is less surprising when you think in terms of % of blade length rather than inches from the hilt.

[@martinbuckley6400]

More of that rapier please Matt!

[@RelativelyBest]

I recall Peter Johnsson saying something interesting on this topic (specifically talking about medieval swords, I believe) which was that the point of balance should be as far _out_ on the blade as possible without making the sword unwieldy. That way you maximize cutting power while still having an agile weapon. That stood out to me because it's sorta the opposite of how people tend to think about POBs, but it does make sense. I also think over-all weight plays into this more than people realize: In my (limited) experience, a lighter sword with a high POB can feel better than a heavy sword with a low POB. An early piece I owned was this terribly weighty Darksword Armoury sword with bad mass distribution, and I was surprised to find it actually handled better when I eventually took the pommel off. Since then I've been mildly skeptical towards the idea that a heavy sword just needs a lower point of balance to handle well: With cheaper swords that usually means adding _even more_ weight to the thing, compounding the underlying problem, rather than removing weight from parts that could be lighter.

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

He does have a point. However I don't fully agree with all of his conclusions. That being one. We have some untouched examples that are more balanced closer to the hand at a little bit of weight in exchange. It can help if you need to thrust against maile. And help in terms of archaic steels. Alot do tend to be that way but not all. And even many are aren't are still rather exceptionally functioning swords. I personally feel there's sweet spots. And sometimes the longer light swords seem liked they'd be rather whippy. I think Roland warzecha showcases some examples on his channel including the Lightest viking era sword ever found. Intend to reproduce a few for testing. Idk if it's just how things work for me given wider range of interests and research, vs Peter johnsson has alot more specific research into certain types of originals. But he seems to always make hybrid designs, and they seem to have a little bit of the modern preferences hold overs. Basically we're just seeming a little bit of his bias due to modern situations. I also think another reason for the modern preference for pobs closer to the hand is many people don't fully understand the concept of you can slightly adjust your movements to a blade to tailor things to work better. If you move the blade or pivot it around the balance point with slightly different arcs and such you can pick alot of speed and nimbleness back up. Especially if the blade isn't heavy. Think both topics also come down to specific time periods and use cases as well. Someone using a sword and shield as a primary might want a sturdier sword then someone actually using it as a back up weapon. And now in modern times. Are you using something like 1050 to 1080s to simulate really good old steel. Or are we using 5160 or other super steels that can handle designs that wouldn't work with Historic steels very well and can handle abuse originals might not. I think some historic examples. Actually a decent few tbh, would kinda prove that going too long and forwards balanced while keeping it light as possible show cases you can end up hurting its function before it even breaks and also decrease its usability and durability in that sense.

[@kaltaron1284]

Short answer: It depends on your fighting style. Long answer: It still depends on your fighting style.

[@andreweden9405]

Wonderful as always, Matt! Could you please do a video about early American trade knives and fighting knives that were contemporaneous with the heyday of the tomahawk (i.e. the French and Indian War to the War of 1812)? OR, if you could do a video about the use of knives (and tomahawks) by modern day military troops, that would be awesome. Thank you!😁

[@danhaas9730]

That rapier is massive! What’s the length on that beauty?!?

[@Hansmaffai]

Very interesting topic. I think your initial statement of a balance point further out indicating a chopping-weapon and a balance point closer to the hilt indicating a piercing weapon is spot on. However in cases like the rapier we have to consider bladelength as well. while the rapiers point of balance is about as far out as the broadsword in total length, relative to the total blades length it is much closer to the hilt. Personally i'd be really interested if you could show a similair analysis comparing 2-handed swords and bastard swords. I noticed in training that even short and light 2-handed swords feel extremly unwieldy when used with only one hand.

[@HeliophobicRiverman]

I was expecting the rapier to balance even further out, that is one big long boi

[@jonathanh4443]

"All Swords will balance in different places relative to what they are intended to do". Thank you for leading with that. I hear far too much "all swords should balance at X spot' and no care to what kind of sword it is and what it's intended use is. I have regularly taken people through a few swords at our school, a 1796, an artillerymen's Blucher, Ye Old Wristbreaker and a Paton 'sword'. They all feel vastly different and, aside from the Paton sword, are all considered Sabres.

[@jessecunningham9924]

Great video! Would you be able to do a video comparing the balance points on swords to other weapons, such as warhammers, maces, and hand axes?

[@robertvondarth1730]

I just bought the Windlass Scottish basket hilted cutlass. It’s a beast, about 3 lbs. I looking to fine grind/sand and drill it in places to trim it up a bit and shift the balance around.

[@jamesedmison2768]

Always enjoy your insights

[@osirisatot19]

As someone who is getting into making weapons, this is incredibly useful.

[@Duzzies-101]

Albion Lancaster is great! I was lucky enough to pick up a mint-condition second hand one recently. It's probably my most nimble sword, despite several being lighter in overall weight

[@Dragonamg2]

Hi Matt. I’m an engineering student and about to start a product design project. Is there any gap in the HEMA equipment market that you would like to see filled that I could pitch as product ideas to my team?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Helmets are universally terrible in HEMA especially for long sword.

[@scholagladiatoria]

A better fencing mask would be a great idea, but surprisingly complex I think.

[@fernandopolanco7532]

Splendid rapier! Will we get it featuring any videos soon?

[@allenmciver1888]

Thank you! I learn so much from your channel.

[@zachharrell7776]

Great video!!! Very informative!!!

[@jellekastelein7316]

Would love to see videos with more detail on that Indo-Persian kilij and the original 17th century rapier!

[@matthewmillar3804]

Now I want to know what the exceptions are! Thanks for the video Matt!

[@djsden6124]

Awesome. I've got a J.F. Schroeder made schiavona which balances about 4" off the guard, its a great weapon but could definitely benefit from some enhanced distal taper... I may just attempt it.

[@erikjrn4080]

So, um, it depends on the context? Somehow, I'm not surprised that Matt's video would lean in that direction. Still, an enlightening run through, for those of us without access to hundreds of authentic, antique swords, which should be most.

[@scottmacgregor3444]

Also the point of balance is only part of how a sword handles. The distribution of that weight also matters. A barbell with weights on either end, and a solid metal rod might have the same overall weight as well as the same point of balance, but will handle very differently. By the same merit the basket hilt broadsword and the rapier might have the same overall weight and POB, but will handle differently.

[@scottmacgregor3444]

Anyone who's been watching Matt for a while might understand that. But it does bear mentioning here.

[@user-bf4fi5hn8h]

That Indo-Persian Shamshir is so beautiful - wish more sword shops stocked swords like that

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Quick and dirty answer it depends on what the sword is designed to be used for, if it's chopping out towards the tip, if it's thrusting back towards the hilt. 👍👍

[@jrhamilton4448]

If you ever travel out to the states Matt I'd love to meet up and have you take a look at my Peter Munich German hand and a half sword! It's quite a thing!

[@ANACONDALR]

Hi I am a knife maker and I have a small KZbin channel. I Appreciate your information in each video, thanks. But I have a question for you: the general San Martín bought is sword in England before the start of the fight for argentinas freedom revolution, Now do you have any idea what type of sword it is ? Thank again

[@andreweden9405]

I'm American, but I've actually read about the saber of General San Martín. That particular type of saber is called a kilij or Mamluke, and they are actually Muslim swords. They originated in the areas of Ottoman and Persian influence, such as the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, and North Africa, as well as Mughal India, in about the 1500s. During the Napoleonic Wars, they became VERY popular with European militaries, and many European officers carried them instead of their own standard issued sword. They became so popular with American officers of this period that the "Mamluke" would eventually become the official sword of the United States Marines. Anyway, General San Martín was no exception to this trend, and like most other officers in Western armies of his time, wanted to make this fashion statement as well! So he got himself one!😁

[@iollan286]

I would argue that what really matters isn't so much a sword's point of balance, but rather how it moves in the hand. If you want a sword to thrust accurately, you want it to balance such that when you hold it in a point forward guard with a minimum of tension in the hand, and move the hilt to and fro, keeping the tension in the hand constant, the point naturally remains in the same place. For cutting, you basically want as much mass as possible near the tip of the blade, while at the same time keeping the blade relatively wieldy, and keeping it strong enough in other areas that it won't break.

[@guardsmanom134]

I forge swords and knives with historical inspiration and actual use in mind. I'm forging a sword at the moment that is inspired by several historical examples of shortswords/hangers. The sword is made with the cut/thrust/fence in mind, as it is most closely modeled off of a 1700's Footman's Saber(for coach Footmen, which was replaced by the shotgun during the Wells Fargo era). I find that in all properly made blades which feature a distal taper and a weighted pommel, have a balance point around the point that you mentioned, with rare exceptions(as I'm sure you are aware). I would like to get your opinion on the blade, and I am willing to make a second blade to send to you for that purpose. However, I would like to state, that it has taken me over a year to make this blade, and I'm not done yet. I don't make cookie-cutter blades. Every single one I've ever made, is a singular masterpiece.

[@LionAstrology]

Where do great swords fall in point of balance from your experience? Typical with there smaller relatives? Or more polaxe like? Thanks for another video.

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

Balancing a bit further from the hand helps both in binding and in parrying.

[@-RONNIE]

Good video 👍🏻⚔️

[@danielflynn9141]

Matt, I have been advised that a sword's POB or COG is generally not a good predictor or indicator of how its mass distribution will impact its physical handling characteristics. Could you potentially expound on this in a future video? I'm really challenged by the physics behind sword use.

[@valandil7454]

Not sure if Matt's had the same experience but over the years I've found that it's easier to understand "how to wield" a weapon so not just a sword by trying a few with different points of balance, shape and use. I started with Bo staves which are handled more like medieval polearms, you can feel the kind of "centres" of the weapon where they're meant to be turned, gripped or manipulated when they're used properly. Same pretty much goes for a sword, I started learning with the Katana and moved onto more European ones like the Longsword and there isn't really that much difference in use because they're not just balanced to work in a certain way but you can feel their "centres" which in most cases are at the pommel (where you accelerate it), the hilt (where your hands meet the blade so how you can grip it and direct it makes a big difference) and a few inches up the blade (where it needs to be moved to be used properly)

[@markfergerson2145]

There's another comment above that mentions that a badly balanced sword will seem to bounce off a target when you go for a cut. I was thinking that the location of the center of percussion (the sweet spot in baseball bat terms) relative to the center of balance will strongly affect the feel of the sword as well. Ideally (naively?) I would want to use that sweet spot to strike a target in order to maintain perfect control, but obviously that isn't possible all the time. Just another sword physics thing to complicate matters. ;)

[@valandil7454]

@@markfergerson2145 the biggest thing to practice is effectively moving the centres to connect at the centre of percussion properly yeah. Biggest mistake people tend to make is that they don't maintain edge alignment when they connect, that's why it looks like it's bounced off

[@Yellow.1844]

love the content!

[@Rayziyun]

Awesome, my D&D blacksmiths just got more informed on sword specs.

[@0Turbox]

Two hander Landsknecht monster sword: "I feel nothing, but it swiiings soo good.

[@AnoNYmous-bz2ef]

I think it matters less where it balances, more on *how* it balances. As in, the focus should be weight distribution instead of point of balance.

[@barretharms655]

Yes I've noticed that as well both my Katana and my wakizashi balance at 5.4 inches from the gard. This makes my Katana it rather fine Cavalry blade but does not detract from its speed will on the ground. The walking Sasha on the other hand is more of a Barrel sword just common. Honestly given the choice I would almost never draw the Waukesha and because of that plan on giving it a distal taper.

[@frankharr9466]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@jeroenimus7528]

I was wondering if you could make a video about training swords. Some (fantasy) books seem to be talking about wood or bound reeds? How historically accurate/viable would such be?

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but is it the case that longer swords accentuate the tendency Matt demonstrated in this video while smaller swords can get away with balancing points further from the hand because they have less leverage and weight?

[@markfergerson2145]

This sounds reasonable if for no other reason that one would tire quickly trying to swing a very long sword if it's center of mass were far from the grip. All of the extreme great swords I've watched people like Shad wave around look quite nimble for their size. Of course you don't want the center of mass too close in because you want a hit to have some momentum behind it, so I guess the takeaway is that things are never as simple as they seem, and everything is a compromise.

[@staLkerhu]

Interesting and very informative video, thank you! Can this be more or less applied to daggers aswell? 🤔

[@josephmartin1540]

The balance on that rapier makes me to wonder and desire to know more about the effect of that balance on the physics. Specifically tip speed. That balance on that sword looked like it would very much increase tip speed. [That is balance as a factor aside from both wrist strength and strict wrist flexion speed]. I wonder how often that is of very much importance in balance? Certainly would influence both cutting and relocation of the point at need. I think.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

How *floppy* should a sword be? I got one of the saber repros you recommended a month ago, and when I rec'd. it, it seemed like the blade was pretty soft. My only experience is with the shorter & lighter blades of sport fencing [foil, saber & epee'] and I was expecting the more substantial blade to be bit stiffer. Just wondering what it should be like in case there was a bad heat lot as Windlass ramped up production & I just got one of those in my par-for-the-course normally bad luck...

[@НиколайКупцов-ю5о]

Wat about balance on longswords and greatswords? Some longswords have blade length close to single-handed swords, but with longer and heavier(?) hilts.

[@charleshawkins699]

Depends on the type of sword. The particular sword martial art style. That the sword user uses. A defensive sword balances more towards the hilt. A sword used primarily for attacking. Can have a more forward balance. Some ancient swords. That were designed to be used against shields. Had a balance point more toward the point than the hilt or handle.

[@BCSchmerker]

+scholagladiatoria *Thanks for the briefing video.* Swords balance at various points on the blade, given the intended tactics for the sword, e.g. 1/4 length from the hilt for sabers, 1/3 length from the guard for choppers, 1/6 length from the guard for basket-hilt backswords and broadswords, 1/8 length from the guard for pure thrusters.

[@carlcramer9269]

Caveat: I am not an expert, I am just analyzing what I see here. If you measure the balance point in percentages of the blade length, the values seem to be more extreme. In your examples, I believe the chopping blades were shorter for exactly this reason. If you want a blade with a balance point at 30% of the blade length and you still want the sword to handle well, the way to do it seems to simply be to shorten the blade. By the same measure, the example rapier and smallsword in this video look like they have similar balance points as a percentage of blade length because the rapier is so much longer.

[@carlcramer9269]

I own a Finish university blade my grandfather got when he was made a doctor in Finland. This has a blade with edges and a point, but it is purely decorative, and the easiest way to tell is that it is horribly balanced. I measured it now, the balance point is 9" from the hilt on a 34" blade. That is actually within your approximate area, slightly further out, I expected it to be halfway or more down the blade. Despite this it feels awful in the hand - I think I would rather use a stick than this "weapon". Its very pretty tough.

[@davidw6684]

Keep in mind that when a sword is new it should balance farther forward. As you sharpen and maintain your sword (like blending out nicks) the sword will loose mass towards the point of the blade. You do not sharpen the handle and even the blade (usually) takes more damage towards the "sweet spot" which is fairly far away from the handle. The point of balance moves farther back towards the handle. The factors of this vary but the general principle is the same: swords tend to loose weight, and loose weight farther forward, with use.

[@puncher6536]

What about swords that were made on the show " Forged in Fire"? It would be interesting for you to assess some of those!

[@barbarossarotbart]

Even a modern foil used for Olympic fencing has its balance point 10 cm from the base of its blade.

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid, very interesting - a golden ratio but with swords.

[@BIG_ump]

Wait, wait...I think I know the answer: it depends on the context that the sword is being used in

[@Hakaze]

I agree. Weapons are tools, and have different uses. The people who wielded them, were allso built different, had different fighting styles and different roles in a figh or a battle. To think that swords would have a singular optimal build, is just strange to me. If I fight in reenactment battles, I will have a different need of properties, than if I'd fight in a duel. My experience is allso that allmost none of those I have fought or trained with, have an identical style, even if comming from the same group, with the same gear and having a simmilare build. My recomendation, is that people pick a weapon that is generaly suited for the task at hand, then adapt their style to the poperties of the weapon, instead of trying to force it to behave the way they want. A weapons quality, will rather lie in the craftmansship, matterials and such. A weapon is rearly too heavy or too delicate, if it's at the same time well crafted with a purpose in mind. Heavy weapons can do stuff that light weapons can't, and visa versa.

[@0KOrbU0]

Are there any swords that balance in the handle? Not at the guard but maybe closer to inside your hand?

[@AuxLine-w7x]

What do you think about using the measurements of an individual for tailoring a sword to them personally? I figured this is something that's been a long standing industry, but as far as the meat and potatoes of accomplishing these goal. How do you reckon past and present technologies allow for one to maximize the design geometry for the optimal handling of one person?

[@jackrice2770]

While I don't have a lot of experience with fencing, in my limited experience, some swords 'feel' better than others. I have to stress that melee combat is a quite different situation vs. one-on-one 'fencing' combat (which is, of course, what we see so much in movies). If you're fencing, you need to feel your opponent's blade more than see it. The blade moves so quickly (especially toward the point) that the eye cannot really follow it, so you use contact with the opponent's blade to give you almost instant input as to what his next move is going to be, allowing you to counteract it. That's why there's a lot of deception in fencing, to try to fool your opponent into moving to parry what he feels you're going to do, then doing something different. This 'feel' factor has to be different for every person, since individuals vary in arm length (leverage) and strength (weight of the lever). A sword that feels clumsy to one user might feel okay to another. But, as Matt points out, the variation in balance point isn't all that great, so extremes at either end will probably not appeal to the majority of users. Since the human anatomy varies within predictable limits (nobody's got six foot arms, or forearms twice as long as upper arms) sword design and engineering values will be within certain limits as well. I would never buy a sword I actually intended to use in combat without being able to actually hold and wield it. Of course, thinking of using a sword in combat reminds me of that scene in the first Indiana Jones movie, where the bad guy is slinging his tulwar around and Jones just draws his revolver and shoots him Never bring a knife to a gun fight, eh?

[@seanpoore2428]

Point made 😃 lol but that last swords balance point isn't too far off from the one in pirates I just checked lol the one in the movie is Aliiiittle closer to the hilt

[@Gabrong]

This video is useful for my game I showed you some months ago, you may remember! As a video recommendation; did you ever try to throw a halberd like a javelin? :D Or a Dane Axe? Spinning it in the air? Imagine if something like that hits you from afar!

[@erikjrn4080]

Shad from Shadiversity has a video out, where he throws an axe. Not a Dane axe, and he's not an expert thrower, by any means, but perhaps worth a look? It's fairly recent, as in the last couple of months.

[@Gabrong]

@@erikjrn4080 may take a look, thx! I've unsubscribed from him a while ago, when the foolishness became more than the actual content.

[@erikjrn4080]

@@Gabrong I know what you mean about the foolishness. He's losing his focus and spinning a bit out of control, chasing the easy views.

[@edgarburlyman738]

How to tell a legendary quality sword: 1. Rings like a bell when you tap it hard 2. Makes a schiiing sound when you swing it through the air

[@alantheinquirer7658]

I was under the impression that a swords 'balance point' depends on the users own preference.

[@saganenzenieer6785]

what blade would be the proper choice for someone that is not really strong in order to sustain long time sword wielding ?

[@vedymin1]

A longsword, two hands, light weight, stances are with hands held close to the body on account of lesser hand protection. One handed swords less and those with complex hilts even more so, becouse more weight and those swords are often held far forward, will tire your shoulder quicker.

[@saganenzenieer6785]

@@vedymin1 10x

[@realcuondaotherside]

Aren't there some rapier style swords which are more balanced in the middle of the blade? I remember someone talking about how it was designed so that your feeling of the blade would allow you to pivot kind of.

[@charleshawkins699]

There are actually a lot of swords that don’t balance towards the hilt. That you’ve not talked about. Such as whip swords from India or China. There are also ancient Egyptian swords. Along with different swords from many places around the world. That balance more toward the attacking end. Moving the balance point back. Was a function of dueling or defensive techniques. Attacking swords that ignore the defensive postures. Are also commonplace worldwide. Especially with large swords. Like the flamberg or claymore. Designed to be used against horsemen. Or an executioners sword. Such as the dai katana. There are also sword pole arms in Chinese martial arts. That utilizes the Pudao or horse blade. Nine ring blades or weighted combat swords. Meant for breaking through shield lines or barricades.

[@charleshawkins699]

A sword with the balance towards the hilt. Increases the nimbleness of the swords defense. Comfort and endurance for the hand. But it weakens the strength of the cut and point. With a hilt balanced sword. It’s entirely possible to lose because of a broken defensive posture. Against a heavier sword with more weight towards the tip. This actually was why the the scimitar was invented. A sword designed for duels. Wasn’t always successful on the battlefield. Although it’s lightweight and well balanced. Has superior speed and agility. Strength of arm and technique along with superior experience. Proved itself many times throughout history to win over finesse. Better technology wasn’t always an improvement or advantage over inferior weapons used by a larger force. The small sword and the rapier. Have a slightly more forward balance. Because they were thrusting weapons primarily. Used to stab from a distance or through defensive structures. The idea of the dueling swashbuckling swordsman. Was mostly fantasy from books. Works of fiction. The real battles were not long duels of two swordsman pitted against each other. Going up and down stairs like the three musketeers. They blew each other to smithereens. Using bombs, cannons and rifles. Swords were always a weapon if last resort. Even in the Middle Ages. Siege warfare was about artillery and starving the enemy out. Places where swords were mainly used were In a civilian setting against the public. That is why the balance is more towards the hilt. They were using it more for defense than attack. Probably against unarmed untrained civilians. A sword designed to actually fight or kill in battle. Is more like the claymore or scimitar. It’s designed not to break. Weighs more as a result. Even the Spatha or Falcutta swords of the Romans. Although short balanced more towards blade. The sword of Henry the fifth. A hollow ground archers short sword. Was designed for superior cutting. With a balance outwards of six to seven inches away from the hilt. Shield tactics and archery. Were more often the chosen battle strategy when it really came down to it.

[@Gilleban]

Will Turner: "The blade is folded steel. That's gold filigree laid into the handle. If I may? Perfectly balanced, the tang is nearly the full width of the blade." Sword and the Stone crew: "BWAHAHAHA! It's got a rat-tail tang!" The hero piece (steel copy) was made by Peter Farquahar, the aluminum-bladed stunt swords were made by Tony Swatton and crew (the same guys who made the swords for the Blade movies and the Banderas Zorro films...at the time the swords for Curse of the Black Pearl were made the shop was also making swords for The Last Samurai and Master and Commander).

[@silverjohn6037]

So the point of balance should be in the forte of the blade?

[@josephmartin1540]

You know, I love how your brain works, brother from another ancestory!

[@tamasgyorffy1]

Thanks! I would imagine., as amateur, that curved blades have the balance close/within handle , to be able to cut, to "pull the blade" through the impact point, pulling toward oneself... but it seems nope. I have a 1,5 hand longsword and that one also has the balance "far" away, but that was "logic".... Thanks anyway

[@michalfaraday8135]

So 2-10 inches is the norm and exceptions are rare. I feel like I already knew that but it is encouraging to hear the confirmation :-)

[@tsmspace]

It bothered me the first time you said "feeling in the blade" as to why a forward point of balance, and by now I've settled on the wording I think is more technical and accurate. (after all "feeling" doesn't go away if the point of balance is the hand, you still feel the sword it just feels different,, a swordsman such as yourself will have a specific feeling in mind but to anyone else they would hold a hammer and think it's the same) ,, the benefit for thrusting with a point of balance in front of the hand is "stability". If it's too far back, it's easy to move but doesn't keep itself where it is enough for the user to have consistency and control against forces such as vibration. If the point of balance is in front of the hand, then the stability of the mass can contribute to the stability of the users sword posture. So the "feeling" that you describe is stability.

[@farkasmactavish]

Same answer as any legal question: "It depends."

[@WhatIfBrigade]

I think the point of balance makes sense in those locations if we think of the sword as a lever. Too close to the hand and your opponent has all the leverage. Too far away and you can't move it well.

[@rbranham8062]

I would be interested if anyone knows of a study done of the ratio of POB to total length of different swords

[@manfredconnor3194]

Matt, is there such a thing as a "defensive" or "offensive" sword? I would say, "no, not purely", but is this even a thing at all to call a sword "offensive" or "defensive"? If there was such an animal, how would you go about designing a sword to be more "offensive" or "defensive" and what attributes would you enhance or diminish to arrive at them? I would think that a "defensive" sword would have a good guard and would balance like 4-6 inches from the guard, but would it be lighter too necessarily? I would expect an "offensive" sword to be heavier and balance farther out? I suspect that this is not really an accurage way to refer to swords, but have heard people, mostly gamers, use these terms in reference to particular swords. For example, hand-and-a-half swords, long swords and early medieval ("viking") broadswords [let's just say early medieval swords] are often termed "offensive". Whereas, rapiers, spadroons, small swords, side- and backswords are often referred to as "defensive". These seem to me to be incorrect layman's musings, but perhaps there is a grain of truth to them?

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

Matt, susbaint fìor mhath mar a bha e an-còmhnaidh. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri barrachd susbaint chlaidheamh farsaing Albannach! ✌😉

[@Berengier817]

The perfect balance is when it's inside my enemies. Kidding

[@alicelund147]

But the rapier is longer than the basked hilted sword, so the balance is further back relatively speaking? The Indian sword looks very nice aesthetically and in it's proportions.

[@pinarppanrapir9489]

What about knife balance? I have a 9'' barong that balances about an inch from the bolster. You think that's well balanced or too close to the handle? I was expecting it to be more forward heavy, so I have a bit of bias.

[@pinarppanrapir9489]

@@fettmaneiii4439 Yeah, 'tis a shame. I specifically said to the bladesmith I wanted it as a chopper like a kukri.

[@scottmacgregor3444]

Short answer, depends on the sword and how it is intended to be used.

[@scottmacgregor3444]

Hey I was right.

[@jgbizarro2726]

And what about pole arms point balance

[@not-a-theist8251]

thats a very nice rapier

[@leehilborn8118]

i want that arming sword

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

When you said "people are going to be surprised" I knew you were going to pick up a rapier 😂 people really do think that it's like an eppe but they're actually on the heavy side of swords in general.

[@scrtwpnx]

I hate it when people ask for pob. Pob is just an estimate for how a sword feels. But that changes depending on your style and other personal preferences

[@scholagladiatoria]

POB / COG by itself also doesn't tell you much about how a sword handles. Two swords with wildly different mass distribution can have exactly the same POB / COG

[@scrtwpnx]

@@scholagladiatoria yup. This would fall under mass distribution but pommel shape and weight, and even grip length can drastically change how a rapier feels. I get triggered everytime someone says put a heavier pommel on a rapier

[@Joe___R]

Small swords having such small fittings on them would make it unlikely to balance at the hilt. Also, having a hilt that is too heavy could make wearing it more difficult.

[@robertpatter5509]

How should a sword penetrate?

[@g4gaming809]

What sword is this?🤔

[@staticdynamic1605]

informative

[@thechroniclesofthegnostic7107]

All swords will balance differently, depending on what they're intended to do... AND... *if* you encounter a sword you need to use that's balanced differently than how you intended to use it, well, intend to adjust your intentions. 😏

[@thechroniclesofthegnostic7107]

And you're absolutely right: if we don't pick nits, don't the vast majority of swords balance at between, oh, about 3 inches and 8 inches or so? That *is* a pretty narrow range for a an object of about a yard.

[@jonathanh4443]

The sword will tell you what it wants to do, just listen and use it as it wants to be used.

[@thechroniclesofthegnostic7107]

@@jonathanh4443 This! 😁

[@adcyuumi]

In defensive context, it is much easier to parry a hard sweeping stroke from something heavy (such as a swath from a bladed spear or a halberd) if the point of balance is toward the tip of the blade. If the contact point is closer to the point than the balance point is, a hard blow will easily go right through a direct block. Against light/quick weapons where blows will not forcibly drive through a direct block, you want the opposite to a degree - there is no need for a higher balance point, as that does decrease weapon control (especially if you are not familiar with your weapon). But personally, I still prefer a higher balance point. It is more difficult to sweep my blade out of position and easier for me to drive slashing attacks through a weak defense, which (to me) is more comfortable/valuable than the extra point control. But I never use thrusting only weapons. I prefer weapons designed to both cut and thrust well.

[@tn1881]

Center of gravity of the tachi is on the hilt so that cavalry can handle it. Uchigatana is wielded by infantry with two hands, with the center of gravity on the blade side due to the cutting power. Katana changes the weight of the tsuba to adjust the position of the center of gravity.

[@nullifye7816]

"Most sorts balance around this region" * *swirls finger from very close, to very far away from, the guard* * There is a world of difference between 4 and6 inches from the guard, and again for 7.

[@johnladuke6475]

How should a good sword balance? I wish it would balance on my hip.

[@carloparisi9945]

Hi Matt, very interesting. I do like thrusting swords that balance in the blade, rather than at the shell, because the point will be more stable as you move and will certainly impart it some vibration as you extend and lunge. The blade balanced above the hilt will stay where you put it a bit more. Also, I've come to the conclusion that lateral balance makes more of a difference, between the thrusting and the cut-and-thrust sword: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g33bqqGjZplmmpY

[@SBVCP]

Ah, I see you were in *that* reddit thread! s

[@nickdavis5420]

Everyone gets rapier wrong in games

[@tricksterjoy9740]

Massive Oversimplification, but they basically are just a one handed fancy spear.

[@nickdavis5420]

@@tricksterjoy9740 I was talking ttrpg and having fought with rapier for years it’s really not like a spear .

[@beepboop204]

🙃