Throwing Knives

I don't know if it would be considered a sport or a hobby or a passtime. Whatever it gets called, throwing knives at targets is therapeutic. The knives themselves are typically inexpensive to the point they may be considered disposable:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/...41b176c21b.jpg
With very little practice one can develope their skill enough to find the activity itself is quite rewarding:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/...79c096d2de.jpg
I throw into the end of large logs. When the knife sticks it is surprisingly gratifying. It is challenging, fun and a little violent. Even Basil enjoys when I do it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/...01997a1604.jpg
Does anyone else enjoy knife throwing?

Is that another gratuitous shot of Basil or is he the target?;)

I have never been into throwing knives but they look quite nice!

Funny though as I have always liked the idea of throwing a knife in general

My dad has a nice little throwing knife almost exactly like the one in the middle of your top picture (with the fewest holes in the handle). He taught me how to throw it when I was 10 or 12. I remember it was a lot of fun, and I've been meaning to pick one up again one of these days.

Got any favorite websites for ordering decent, inexpensive throwing knives?

I'd be interested in hearing about where to get some decent, cheap ones too. Seems like it would be a fun way to blow off some steam and pass the time, and I've got room in the basement or the attic to set it up safely.

I have always been interested in throwing knives.
Sadly, I've never been able to get started and buy some, since throwing knives are deemed illegal weapons here, along with throwing stars :(

Sometimes I am surprised that they let you have razors

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I have always been interested in throwing knives.
Sadly, I've never been able to get started and buy some, since throwing knives are deemed illegal weapons here, along with throwing stars :(

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Now that you mention it, I seem to remember hearing something about throwing stars being illegal in The States, or at least NY state, or maybe just this particular town where the incident happened. A teacher confiscated a throwing star from a student, felt obligated to report to the main office, the legality issue came up, and the student was escorted from the building in handcuffs by the police.

EDIT: ran a quick search looking for cheap throwing knives (I don't care enough to search the legal issue) and found http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/n...wers/index.php

I used to play with throwing knives occasionally in Australia. Once when I used to work in a factory an old guy there collected knives, so he and I constructed a target from cardboard packaging. When no one was looking we would throw small knives the factory used for unpacking boxes.
Also at a house I used to rent I constructed a throwing knife target out of timber planks in the back yard. The neighbours saw me and never talked to me again after that (crazy guy with knives)
finally, before I go. I trust you all know with regards to combat, self defence or martial arts, throwing your weapon is one of the stupidest things you can do.

I had a brief interest when I was in my teens, but I just couln't ever seem to get the knack for it.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Now that you mention it, I seem to remember hearing something about throwing stars being illegal in The States, or at least NY state...

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That's a state law, and like most state laws, they vary widely from state to state. Here in Oregon, it's only treated as carrying a weapon if the blade is 3" or longer. Anything less is considered pocket knife. Come to think of it, it's might be 2 1/2". Not 100% sure on the size.

Also, like all weapons, it's perfectly legal to carry them in a visible manor in Oregon. So, strap them to the outside of your forearm wearing a t-shirt and you are just fine. Put a jacket on over it and you can get nailed for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

I used to know a guy who walked around down-town Salem (the capitol city of Oregon) with an honest to goodness sword on his back, just because he could.

I do like throwing knives but I think throwing a 'Hawk' is more fun (plus easier to find in the grass when you miss).

http://www.ragweedforge.com/23G.jpg

Mark, in answer to your question, yes. That is another gratutous shot of Basil. My girlfriend, Basil and Mr. Toes are the most beautiful things in my life. I can't seem to stop taking pictures of them. I recognize it may be some sort of affliction but I am guessing it's pretty harmless and I beg your patience with me.

Northpaw, her is a link to cheap throwing knives: DIRECT KNIFE SALES switchblade knives automatic knives stiletto out the front knife wholesale knives throwing knives throwing stars spring assisted knife nato military leverlock butterfly knife surplus discount blades cutlery cheetah stun gun (Powere

Here is another:
Throwing Knives / Stars - Blade Play

If you want something of higher quality, you can find places to spend your money. The most expensive throwing knives I own are these Ziel knives:
Review of the Ziel throwing knife designed by John Bailey

I personally think they are too heavy but knife choices are very subjective.

These things are usually stamped out of a sheet of stainless steel and ground sharp. Most of them seem to come from Pakistan. They are so inexpensive it seems impossible they could even ship them for what they charge. However, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I was using the plank of poplar (on which I photographed all my knives in the top picture) as a target. The steel is so soft it would bend to follow the grain of that plank. At our new house I turned a bunch of old logs on their side to throw into the ends. That makes a stable target as soft as a dartboard and relatively self-healing. I have a slice of sycamore about thee feet in diameter I want to put up on top of the others. It weighs close to three hundred pounds and I'm not as strong as I was before my body mutineed so I am having trouble, "getting it up."

Throwing knives is fun but I would never think of it as a self defence technique. The idea of throwing your weapon to your enemy seems to be counter intuitive. I think you'd be better off throwing your gun at him.

Bruno, Once you've thrown a knife or a star you will see how truly stupid it is for a law to proclaim those things as weapons. I think you'd be more likely to annoy someone by hitting them with a star than you would be to kill them. However, you can learn to throw anything that is sharp. I used to be pretty good at throwing single edged razor blades into a wall. There are steel spikes that are easy to make that can be thrown with great accuracy and effect. In the movie the Missourri Breaks, Marlon Brando's character throws a sharpened pair of sticks lashed into a cross as a weapon.

Never throw a folding knife! In the movie the Magnificent Seven, James Coburn has one of the best scenes in the film when he throws a switchblade underhand into some cowboy's chest. That is nonsense. You can't get enough pwoer into a throw underhand and throwing any folding knife will destroy the knife.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Sometimes I am surprised that they let you have razors

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There are very few restrictions on edged weapons here, but a couple of things are mentioned very specifically. Among these are throwing knives, throwing stars, and automatic open knives.

We have the 80's ninja craze to thank for that. Suddenly, all idiots wanted to carry the damn things and got a kick out of showing off.
To solve this problem, they outlawed these things. They also outlawed nunchucks.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

...We have the 80's ninja craze to thank for that. Suddenly, all idiots wanted to carry the damn things and got a kick out of showing off.
To solve this problem, they outlawed these things. They also outlawed nunchucks.

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See, this is what worries me so much. Thankfully, and in spite of the fact that they've been used as weapons in movies, none of the local idiots have decided to make the straight razor a thuggish fashon accessory.

I'm still worried that they will though.

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Originally Posted by icedog

Mark, in answer to your question, yes. That is another gratutous shot of Basil. My girlfriend, Basil and Mr. Toes are the most beautiful things in my life. I can't seem to stop taking pictures of them. I recognize it may be some sort of affliction but I am guessing it's pretty harmless and I beg your patience with me.

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Are you kidding Brad? I love those pictures of Basil and Mr Toes! Some of those pictures end up being the highlight of my day on certain rough days, but I also like pulling your chain now and again:p:p

I used to have a couple but I 'lent' them to a friend. I might have to pick up some more. I'm going through a bit of a small knife craze at the moment, and you can get some very neat little throwing knives.

Tim,
I guess you must have been posting the same time as me. I just now saw your tomahawk. Yeah man they are fun. I have a collection of sharp stuff that I throw. Among the things are a full size double bitt axe, a tomahawk, a few stars, some dart sort of things and all the assorted knives. When I bring it all out, it is one of my personal games where I throw everything one piece at a time in random order and try to get them all to stick. When one piece falls I start over and keep trying until the target holds them all.

Brad

I've got a couple of throwing knives. I used to have more, but...those things tend to get lost sometimes.

It's really fun to land a perfect throw, you're right.

I managed to get the big slice of sycamore up into position as a target:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/...018b204f51.jpg
It is about three feet across and weighs (I'd guess) about two hundred pounds. The center of the target is about four feet above the ground. It is as good a target for knives as you can get.
Here are my biggest and smallest knives:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/...7e5227d88f.jpg
The big ones are 13 inches and the little ones are 5 inches. They all work well but I had to teach myself different techniques for the different sizes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/...148044c703.jpg
These were thrown from twelve feet (small) and fifteen feet (large)

Nice grouping on the small ones!:rock:

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

Nice grouping on the small ones!:rock:

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Hey thanks! I am getting pretty good with these things. But look what I just discovered:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/...5ec3db18_b.jpg
The big ones can break if you get them, too close! This one fractured when I threw in into one that was already in the target.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Now that you mention it, I seem to remember hearing something about throwing stars being illegal in The States, or at least NY state, or maybe just this particular town where the incident happened. A teacher confiscated a throwing star from a student, felt obligated to report to the main office, the legality issue came up, and the student was escorted from the building in handcuffs by the police.

EDIT: ran a quick search looking for cheap throwing knives (I don't care enough to search the legal issue) and found J & L, Knives, Throwing Knives

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I know they're illegal to carry in public, but I'd be willing to bet you can own them and wouldn't be bothered for using them on private property. I own plenty of knives that are on that list, but as long as I'm not walking around with them, I'm OK.

Jordan

Did you know a knife beats a gun "every time"? Check this guy out:
YouTube - knife beats gun

I have only had really cheap throwing knives when I was a kid and bent the heck out of them. However, I did though other things such as 8 inch spikes for railroad ties all the way down to horseshoe nails. I threw the spikes into a sheet of 1/4inch plywood, and it would go right through without any problem. The horseshoe nails were the best because they are so darn sharp they stick into almost anything.

I also used to shoot hypodermic needles off syringes, and into phone books. Just plug the needle up with clay, put it on the end of a 60cc syringe, and depress the plunger really quick. not accurate at anything over say 5 feet, but a lot of fun.

Matt

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Originally Posted by icedog

Did you know a knife beats a gun "every time"? Check this guy out:
YouTube - knife beats gun

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Looks like the guy with knife wins. Not sure it was a fair contest, though ... I think the dummy was distracted.

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Originally Posted by Wildtim

I do like throwing knives but I think throwing a 'Hawk' is more fun (plus easier to find in the grass when you miss).

http://www.ragweedforge.com/23G.jpg

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That must take some skill ...

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Originally Posted by icedog

Did you know a knife beats a gun "every time"? Check this guy out:
YouTube - knife beats gun

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Lets see him beat this guy: YouTube - Fast Draw slow motion video

Matt

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Originally Posted by igitur55

Looks like the guy with knife wins. Not sure it was a fair contest, though ... I think the dummy was distracted.

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I'd like to see him doing that with the dummy shooting back.

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Originally Posted by mhailey

Lets see him beat this guy: YouTube - Fast Draw slow motion video

Matt

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Sure he can shoot fast. But did he even hit the target? The angle of the shot looked a bit low.

did you watch the balloon?

Matt

No, I missed the balloon. Did he miss the target and hit the balloon?
Just kidding.
He is certainly a better shot than me.
When I'm shooting a safe place is generally directly in front of the target.

Here's another video of him.

YouTube - Fast Draw - Howard Darby on More Extreme Marksmen

Matt

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Originally Posted by mhailey

Lets see him beat this guy: YouTube - Fast Draw slow motion video

Matt

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Matt,

The dork with the knife can beat Mr. Quicksdraw if the gun is not loaded and glued into the holster.

I would not buy these: SOG Knives: SOG Fusion Fulcrum I Throwing Knife, 3 Pack, SG-FL11
I have played with similar knives and I see no value to any moving parts on a throwing knife. In fact, it seems to me that you can throw just about any thing that has a point on it. Once you get the distance right and you can throw it repeatably the weight is superfluous. If you get good with it and the weight moves you have to start all over. Secondarily, this knife has a "lanyard hole". Who would put a lanyard on a throwing knife? I guess if you have thirty feet of cord on your knife you never have to worry about losing it. Sort of like a leash or a kite string.

i used to be pretty handy with small ones, especially if you tassle them, makes it so no matter how hard and at what angle you through, the tassle drags and makes the tip land dead straight.
i could just whip them as hard as i could at a thick dartboard.
stars are fun too, but dont seem as consistent.

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Originally Posted by icedog

I would not buy these: SOG Knives: SOG Fusion Fulcrum I Throwing Knife, 3 Pack, SG-FL11
I have played with similar knives and I see no value to any moving parts on a throwing knife. In fact, it seems to me that you can throw just about any thing that has a point on it. Once you get the distance right and you can throw it repeatably the weight is superfluous. If you get good with it and the weight moves you have to start all over. Secondarily, this knife has a "lanyard hole". Who would put a lanyard on a throwing knife? I guess if you have thirty feet of cord on your knife you never have to worry about losing it. Sort of like a leash or a kite string.

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if you put a tassle on that whole, like the tassles on book marks, you can whip them hard as hell like totally amateur and that tip will land dead straight every time, even if you through it sideways.

and theres no moving parts, the adjustable balance is awesome, especially for people that through no-spin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYCcJ...e=channel_page
tassles nand weights a cheat but it makes it fun and less technique required.

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Originally Posted by igitur55

Looks like the guy with knife wins. Not sure it was a fair contest, though ... I think the dummy was distracted.

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one of the funniest things ive ever seen. first of all the dummy istn moving or shooting back. second that line " he has a a gun, i dont.. all i have is this machette" lolz. good to know. hes encouraging bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Crappy steel or heat treatment I guess.
I think for throwing knives, you want to make them rather 'soft' to keep them from snapping.
Or perhaps harden only the tip but not the body...
Or clay the knife like a katana to have a hard edge and a soft core, with a hamon... now that would be cool :)

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Originally Posted by icedog

Matt,

The dork with the knife can beat Mr. Quicksdraw if the gun is not loaded and glued into the holster.

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He is going to shoot his nuts off one of these days.

Thanks for the thoughts Mr. Octopus. I've had various dart type things with tassles that are fun to throw because they are fairly foolproof. But they are typically small little doodads that come in pretty armsheaths and the like: Throwing Spikes - Ninja weapons I find you can throw anything with a point. Like Matt was saying, you can teach yourself to chuck spikes and nails into a target. Having said that, I have tried to learn the "no-spin" throwing method for knives and I am able to get more power and accuracy into a throw if it spins naturally. But I have seen some pretty impressive demonstrations of no-spin throwing. I just happen to suck at it. Some things simply cannot be thrown with no spin, like a tomahawk.

That big knife of mine that broke is this Ziel II: Magnum 163 Bailey Ziel Thrower
I am disappointed because I was getting very good at the "hammer grip" throw. That is where you hold the knife by the handle. I have a very bad right shoulder and have found I can practice longer with heavier knives and this knife is my heaviest. Most knives are thin and tend to bend when they hit another knife or bounce funny. This one hit with enough force to fracture the steel. I guess if the temper was softer it would have bent rather than break. I still have two of them. If I earn a gift from Scarlett I may hint for some nice throwing knives. I am lucky because she likes throwing too. I even have her into target shooting in our new back yard.

let me see if i can find em,... coldsteel makes Spikes.
YouTube - cold steel spike throw
damn, thats the only vid of them i can find, a little kid throwing it.
his is tiny and weird, not the ones ive seen before.

but you cans ee, its basicly a couple pound, double ended spike. made just for throwing.
the demo vid i cant find had guys bustin em through picnic tables and the like. there really heavy. and super funa nd cool

Icedog,

Robin Hood had the same problem with arrows.:rofl2: