Katana (length, center of gravity)

[Tsukijama]

Goodday to all!
I've had a sakabatou made and did some calculations in order to improve for a second one I want to buy. Could anybody give me his/her opinion about the following measurements of my new sakabatou (btw: it is a reverse bladed katana, sword).
Blade length: 26.772" or 68 cm
Hilt length: 15.846" or 40,248 cm
Overall lentgh: 42.815" or 108,748 cm
For the interested and people that know a bit more about swordfighting, I have a height of around 168 cm (= 66.14 inch), could be important.
Also, is it possible to have the center of gravity in the hilt of the katana (not talking about stainless steel machine made stuff, talking about carbon steel hand crafted katana)
Thanks for any reply's!

[Ilander]

Well, it's possible to have the center of mass in the hilt, but you'd have to use a counterbalance on the low end of the hilt...and I'm pretty sure that you'd not want to do that!

Besides, physically speaking, the optimum center of mass is at the place where you can generate optimum angular momentum with the average amount of torque that you can apply. That said, to have the center of mass in the hilt would negate any advantage you might have in this regard, meaning you're relying soley on the strenth of your wrists!

[Q'alooaith]

I don't quite agree, the closer the center of gravity to your hand the less force needed to change your swing direction radicaly.

But that's more a persoanl prefrence I think.

[Dron_Cah]

I know not. I'd say I would be agreeing with Ilander, though. Your power would be significantly decreased. Then again, since this is a reversed katana, that may be a good thing, as they are more prone to break. Good luck!

[Ilander]

It is true that the torque you would have to apply with your wrist would be much less that way...but I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be using your all that terribly much in swordplay anyway. A little bit, of course, but I don't think that it's the dominant muscle group (my guess would be the tricep, but the shoulder and even the hips come into play here). Thus, by giving your wrist that particular advantage, you subtract a bit of an advantage from the rest of your arm, which is structured in such a way as to move objects best (with minimum exertion) when the entire center of mass (that of your arm AND the sword) is at your hand.

Though let's not overcomplicate this. Really, you don't want the center of mass at the hilt because that either means you have a relatively heavy and mildy awkward counterbalance, or a very light blade...and light blades mean thinner blades...which means less structural intergrity.