Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Center of gravitiy of 17th century swords

Timo Nieminen · 12th June 2015, 01:37 AM

Point of balance is very much in the middle of the common range. And, looking at the sword, unsurprising.

Doesn't mean it's "well-balanced". As in my first post, I'd look for forward pivot point/centre of percussion near the tip. Ideally, within 5cm of the tip. If you're interested in checking where it is, see:
Waggle test video at http://blog.subcaelo.net/ensis/dynam...ighing-swords/
Waggle test, figure 5 in http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/GTA...nd_impacts.htm
Pendulum test, figure 6 in the same article.

That's for cut-and-thrust swords. Other swords should and will be balanced quite differently. Sabres often have PP/COP about 10-20cm from the tip, rapiers maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of a blade length from the tip. See http://www.peterjohnsson.com/the-mak...-a-long-sword/ for some examples.

12th June 2015, 01:37 AM	#9
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	Point of balance is very much in the middle of the common range. And, looking at the sword, unsurprising. Doesn't mean it's "well-balanced". As in my first post, I'd look for forward pivot point/centre of percussion near the tip. Ideally, within 5cm of the tip. If you're interested in checking where it is, see: Waggle test video at http://blog.subcaelo.net/ensis/dynam...ighing-swords/ Waggle test, figure 5 in http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/GTA...nd_impacts.htm Pendulum test, figure 6 in the same article. That's for cut-and-thrust swords. Other swords should and will be balanced quite differently. Sabres often have PP/COP about 10-20cm from the tip, rapiers maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of a blade length from the tip. See http://www.peterjohnsson.com/the-mak...-a-long-sword/ for some examples.