Where do you want your balance?

[rangerbluedog]

In the checking account obviously!

I hear a lot of people talk about a knife's "balance".
Of course there are different kinds of balance, including the aesthetics.
But in thinking about the physics definition of balance, what to you is a "well balanced knife".

Some say that for camping knives, used for chopping, etc, a blade heavy knife is preferable.
For so called "fighting knives", some folks say that a handle heavy knife is better - for maneuverability and blade speed. People who play with throwing knives want a balance point anywhere from one inch up the blade to balanced at the guard, to one inch down the handle. Some folks say a knife - any knife - should balance where the index finger rests on the handle.

I personally like a knife balanced handle heavy, just behind the index finger. Don't know why, I just like it. The knife seems to want to "fall into my hand" as I heard someone say.

What say you? What makes a knife "well balanced", And why?

[1967redrider]

For throwing I prefer an evenly balanced knife. Large bowies seem to stick the best for me, either in drop point or tanto. Never really thought much about folders.

[knife7knut]

Knife "balance" to me has always been a speculative concept.It varies greatly with the intended purpose of the knife;whether it be throwing,skinning,or general duties.
I always shied away from knives such as the Buck 110 and it's many clones because they always felt very handle heavy and my hand would tire from prolonged use.
One of the first knives I found to be ideal(for me at least)for all-around use was the Western 500 series(531 and 532 specifically).Although the scales tended to get slippery when wet(wood and black plastic)they were fairly thin but sturdy and the handle fell naturally into a comfortable grasp.
My test as to whether a handle will be comfortable for me to use is to put the knife in my hand edge up and my index finger laying on the spine near the point and my thumb diagonally across the handle just behind the tang(usually right where the liner lock is located).If it feels natural in that position I can use it in just about any position with comfort.This grip allows you to control the cutting edge very precisely;especially when gutting an animal.
My EDC for the past year has been a Leatherman e303.Semi serrated drop point(with Blade Launch which is an assisted opening feature)that also has a Phillips and straight slot screwdriver blade and a folding hook that allows you to store it on a belt loop or you can use the pocket clip.Blade has a vapor honed finish and stays sharp quite a long time and re-sharpens easily.Handle is some type of hard plastic that does not get slippery when wet.Made in the USA and paid $17 for it at a half price sale at a local department store.Wish they had more;I would have bought them all.

[elbertson]

For controllability and speed I prefer the balance point to be at my index finger in a hammer grip, or slightly forward at the guard. For choping I'd prefer the balance of the weight to be farther forward. That said, I can deal with it just about anywhere, but I'd like to know ahead of time how it feels and would much prefer to have some time "feeling it out" some before I had to use it in a pinch, or for extended periods of time.

[IMBand]

The only knife I use enough to really have a preference is my skinning knife.
Its handle and blade are shaped for a '3-fingered' style grip and on that knife
I appreciate that the balance is slightly forward. It has just enough 'tip weight'
to want to 'lean' into the work. Its close to balanced, just slightly forward.
I am not sure if its really the balance or if its the 20yrs use that makes it right
for me.