Looking for throwing knives

[Riverdance]

I'm looking for a set of three (or more) throwing knives of fairly high quality, or at least that won't break. My price limit is about $25. I was looking at these (http://kitrae.net/fantasy/kr_functional.html), but they seem kind of fantasy, meaning they are less likely to be functional.

[Tyndmyr]

Look, if you're getting three knives for $25, they are not going to be fairly high quality. They'll be three fairly generic knives that are advertised as "throwing knives" and are of fairly marginal use as such.

[Grinner]

If you have access to a grinder and a blowtorch or hacksaw, you might be able to cut your own.

The thing about any sort of throwing implement is that they need to be largely balanced and little top-heavy.

[Riverdance]

If you have access to a grinder and a blowtorch or hacksaw, you might be able to cut your own.

The thing about any sort of throwing implement is that they need to be largely balanced and little top-heavy.

Yeah I've thought about that. I'm satisfied with anything that flies decently and won't snap off right away.

[Maeglin_Dubh]

They should also be at least 12 inches long and probably at least 3/8th inch steel. The six inch throwers you get from places like Budk aren't good for much more than dartboards that you don't particularly like.

Trust me.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/423484_550840525241_123001102_30960825_689880156_n .jpg

[Riverdance]

How hard was it to get that back out of the block?

[SDF]

Cold Steel (http://www.coldsteel.com/fighters.html) makes some quality inexpensive throwers. You would only get at most 1 for $25, though.

Most knives I would really begin to associate with the word quality start at around 2 to 5 times that much, but I don't have too much experience with throwers tbh.

[Maeglin_Dubh]

The best budget knives I know go for $50 apiece for a set of 5. I'm sure he'd do you one or two if you'd rather, should still be $50. Point is, these knives will be thrown by your grandchildren, they're good knives. They're just not frilly.

That knife came out pretty easy. It's tricky to throw, with the big handle, but that's necessary to prevent having to replace the scales. Guy who made it put a piece of leather between the steel of the blade and the antler handle scales.

I can put you in touch with some people who make knives, and if you're in the PA area and you get some Cold Steel ones, I know a guy who can fix them up for you to make them a bit safer and easier to throw (that black coating can be toxic if it gets in you, and the squared edges chip easier, resulting in burrs that can ruin your day if you aren't careful).

Cold Steel knives aren't -bad-, but they aren't particularly -good-, either. They're a starting point.

[TheThan]

Cold Steel (http://www.coldsteel.com/fighters.html) makes some quality inexpensive throwers. You would only get at most 1 for $25, though.

Most knives I would really begin to associate with the word quality start at around 2 to 5 times that much, but I don't have too much experience with throwers tbh.
Here’s a small list:
http://www.coldsteel.com/fighters.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/sure-strike.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/boomerang.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/rpg.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/torpedo.html


Cold Steel knives aren't -bad-, but they aren't particularly -good-, either. They're a starting point.
That really depends. A lot of their offerings are pretty superior. But EXPENSIVE. Their budget products are, well budget products. They’re not crap, but you could do better by spending more cash.

[dehro]

Trust me.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/423484_550840525241_123001102_30960825_689880156_n .jpg

with a grin like that? :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

[Maeglin_Dubh]

Here’s a small list:
http://www.coldsteel.com/fighters.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/sure-strike.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/boomerang.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/rpg.html
http://www.coldsteel.com/torpedo.html

That really depends. A lot of their offerings are pretty superior. But EXPENSIVE. Their budget products are, well budget products. They’re not crap, but you could do better by spending more cash.

I was referring specifically to their throwing selection.

Does CS have nice things? Yes.
Are any of them throwing knives? Not so much.

Out of everything you link (none of which are -bad-, per se) the only thing I can honestly recommend for someone who really wants to get into knife throwing is the Sure Balance. It helps if you know a guy with a bench grinder or belt sander, or both.

[DeadManSleeping]

A throwing weapons specialist once told me there's no such thing as a weapon "balanced for throwing". As an example, he told me he could bullseye a target with a bearded axe. Yes, the two-handed kind. Yes, by throwing it.

Just saying, if you practice, there's no reason you can't throw any given blade and get it to go pointy-side in.

[Anuan]

A throwing weapons specialist once told me there's no such thing as a weapon "balanced for throwing". As an example, he told me he could bullseye a target with a bearded axe. Yes, the two-handed kind. Yes, by throwing it.

Just saying, if you practice, there's no reason you can't throw any given blade and get it to go pointy-side in.

Whilst this is true (and I've seen people throw large axes, very well even,) there are some items that are designed to be weighted and balanced for throwing in certain ways. I won't say too much out of my acknowledged lack of expertise in throwing weapons, I'm much more inclined nowdays towards melee.

With that being said, I wouldn't suggest giving much money to Cold Steel if you're buying anything but their sabres.

[dehro]

while we're at it...how the crap does one do that?
I've thrown my share of shuriken, with some proficiency, a couple decades past.. .but I remember that every time I tried with a blade/knife, whatever it's shape or balance, 9 out of 10 times it would hit the target with the wrong end.
surely the key lies in practice, but that aside..what should I have been looking out for, or what kind of movement would increase the odds of hitting the target blade first?
there must be a trick to it

[Psionic Dog]

I'm looking for a set of three (or more) throwing knives of fairly high quality, or at least that won't break. My price limit is about $25. I was looking at these (http://kitrae.net/fantasy/kr_functional.html), but they seem kind of fantasy, meaning they are less likely to be functional.

Look for factory defect or 'economy' knives.
For example, I purchased these (http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/2-pc.-7-Stainless-Set-p-16832.html) last year. They aren't perfectly balanced, but the balance was still a lot better than tossing cheap folding knives and they do have two good qualities: they're cheap and durable.


Edit:


while we're at it...how the crap does one do that?
I've thrown my share of shuriken, with some proficiency, a couple decades past.. .but I remember that every time I tried with a blade/knife, whatever it's shape or balance, 9 out of 10 times it would hit the target with the wrong end.
surely the key lies in practice, but that aside..what should I have been looking out for, or what kind of movement would increase the odds of hitting the target blade first?
there must be a trick to it

+1 to this question. I'm doing better with hitting the target pointy end first 2 out of 10 tosses, but my goal of squirrel hunting with knives is a long long way away.

[Anuan]

The trick is apparently mostly to know how fast the item in question will rotate and the number of rotations between yourself and your target, when using a consistent throw. Or, in some styles utilizing a lack of an edge but the presnce of a sharpened point, there's ways to keep it flying straight out like a dart, rather than rotating. Not sure on how to do that last one.

[dehro]

my goal of squirrel hunting with knives is a long long way away.

you could work your way down from elephants, rhinos, cows, pigs...etc etc..
they'd be easier to hit

... oh, wait..

[Tyndmyr]

Cold Steel knives aren't -bad-, but they aren't particularly -good-, either. They're a starting point.

This is pretty accurate. They're not a bad place to go for a knife to tinker with if you don't know any local blacksmiths.

As for balance...just find the balance point on the weapon. It will rotate around that point when thrown. The closer this balance point is to the striking tip, the more margin of error you have for it to stick into the target instead of bouncing off. Anything *can* be thrown, though, if you really want to. Do be aware though that many knives are more for decoration, and throwing chews them up pretty quick.


The trick is apparently mostly to know how fast the item in question will rotate and the number of rotations between yourself and your target, when using a consistent throw. Or, in some styles utilizing a lack of an edge but the presnce of a sharpened point, there's ways to keep it flying straight out like a dart, rather than rotating. Not sure on how to do that last one.

Things like a spear can be rotated around the axis, like a football. Typically, you'd want to throw such things from at or slightly behind the balance point. I prefer end of end myself, even when using short spears. That said, I haven't been into knife/etc tossing in a while, and I don't claim to be an expert on the subject.

[Maeglin_Dubh]

The trick is apparently mostly to know how fast the item in question will rotate and the number of rotations between yourself and your target, when using a consistent throw. Or, in some styles utilizing a lack of an edge but the presnce of a sharpened point, there's ways to keep it flying straight out like a dart, rather than rotating. Not sure on how to do that last one.

This, essentially.

This is why I say you need something at least 12" long, because the shorter the knife, the less consistency you'll have, due to basic flight characteristics and the rotational velocity of the piece.

Average distance for a half-spin is about 5-7 paces, depending on arm length, grip style, throw style, and knife length/weight.

One of the guys who taught me years ago, demonstrating half-spin throwing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JriUEsRk8Ns&feature=related)

Throwing no-spin is tricky, and some would say gimmicky, but there's what my current teacher calls a military throw, which allows you to throw a knife with any balance point at a half spin, at any distance. It takes a lot of practice.

[Erloas]

I've only done a little bit of throwing. I actually preferred the throwing axes to the knifes, they just felt more satisfying when they hit.

The bit of training I was shown basically said to find the distance that is right for you and the weapon and throw from there. If you're hitting with anything but the tip try moving forward or back a little bit and try again until it starts hitting with the blade. How far you have to move depends on the weapon, with a very slow rotational speed you'll move farther then a weapon with a faster rotational speed.
Once you get a lot of practice and can throw very consistently at that set distance then you can work on speeding up or slowing down the rotation of the weapon which will decrease or increase the distance at which it will hit blade first.

[Maeglin_Dubh]

If the knife hits like this.... /| move back.
If the knife hits like this.... \| move forward.

[Karen Lynn]

This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji1nBmcKuoo&feature=youtube_gdata_player) may be of use. I've been throwing this way for two years. I can peg most targets from any distance (=<30 feet).