Best pattern for a throwing knife

[Bretwalda]

Ok, what do feel is the best pattern to provide balance and accuracy?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Ok, what do feel is the best pattern to provide balance and accuracy?

Don't even bother. There isn't one. It is impossible to throw a knife accurately.
I know, I have tried. :redface: :rotf:

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Are you thinking of making a knife or buying one?

 

[crockett]

I don't know if there is a best pattern, any knife can be thrown. You don't want to throw a fine knife- I did that as a kid and the point bit into the tree okay but the tip then snapped off- I had to re-grind the point area. If I recall it was a Moro knife from Sweden and at the time I considered it a pretty good knife and was pretty bummed out it broke. You can also crack or break a wood handle.
So....most throwing knives are pretty soft tempered and have leather handles. Dixie Gun Works sell a few and they all work. I'd get a fairly large one.
Kids running around in the woods throwing knives... I was playing mumbly peg and stuck a knife in my knee one time- yeah it bled and hurt AND I learned a lesson. Now a days it's all mothers taking kids to a penned in area at McHamburg to "play" under close supervision.
Man, we sure had a lot more fun when I was a kid.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Since you posted here, I assume you're making one? For me, since I hold the handle when throwing, I like a straight smooth handle. I like a leather handle because it won't break. I don't consider blade shape or "balance", because all it has to do is complete one full turn and shape doesn't seem to matter. I use an old Bowie style that I had, that I changed the handle on. I use it around camp also. I can't see having a special "throwing knife". I also use my belt knife to cut at the muzzle as opposed to carrying an addition "patch knife", but again, that's just a personal choice.

 

[Billnpatti]

I am not an accomplished knife thrower but the best knife design that I have found has hard leather scales for the handle and balances at the hilt. The blade shape has a point that is centered on the blade with no clip point. The edges are not sharp but I keep a good point on it. When I hit what I am throwing at, it will stick pretty well. It is a pretty big knife, larger than a regular belt knife. It gives it enough weight to stick in the target.

 

[mooman76]

I've always like throwing knives for some reason. I still don't have one that would work but I will some day.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Here is one from Crazy Crow! http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merch...arch_Begin_Only=&sort=&range_low=&range_high=

He has several others so take a look at his site! Just put in the search box knives and they will pop-up! One thing you will notice is they are all blade heavy!

 

[bpd303]

Of all the knives I have forged, the best thrower was the RR spike leaf blade with the hole in the shank.

I've tried to duplicate it's balance without success.

 

[crockett]

As I said any knife can be thrown but those with a long blade and short handle might be a little more difficult.
I'd start out with something like the following: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...Fqmy0QG_6YHYBw&sqi=2&ved=0CJIBEPUBMAk&dur=828

 

[crockett]

And, I also hold the handle rather than the tip of the blade while throwing.

 

[Claude Mathis]

And, I also hold the handle rather than the tip of the blade while throwing.

Most accurate throwers do. :wink:

And since most competitions require a full rotation, holding the blade requires one and a half rotations, which puts you farther away and it's unnecessary.

Throwing by the blade is good for a half-turn distance and the movies. IMO

 

[gmarc]

Shape is less important than weight and balance. The knives I have thrown in competition are heavy, around a pound each.

I make them for folks out of auto leaf spring, with a "spear" point and they sort of look like butcher knives. I rivet a leather "scale" on each side of the tang, which makes them look less like...well...a piece of spring.

These are easy to make and are a good project for anyone with a torch and angle grinder.

 

[flintlockmdj]

I can throw a knife with the best of them, I just can't make the darn thing stick. :rotf:

 

[Claude Mathis]

I've watched people balance a knife on the side of there index finger to check it's "balance". I find this to be irrelevant. I do think overall weight is important and that it shouldn't be too light.

Once you learn the distance required for your object to stick, it doesn't matter if it's a specially made "balanced throwing knife", a dinner fork or a sharpened piece of rebar - It will stick. :wink:

 

[M. De Land]

Well, if you can throw it like Sandy Kofax did a hard ball, it's doesn't have to stick to kill yah. It would knock your head off if it struck broadside! :rotf: Mike D.

 

[crockett]

I agree the greater weight seems to rest more solid in the hand and when you throw it the weight gives you better control. On a little lightweight knife you don't have the same "feel" if that makes sense.
This one is sold by Dixie and I think it would be a good choice. http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3806

 

[akapennypincher]

A throw knife is just that knife for throwing, will not skin, cut or do anything well except throw.

There use to Beaver Bill be a guy name Beaver Bill, or Beaver Bill Knife Works in the Mid West that made Throwning Knives, and Hawks.

They did what they were advertised to go well.