Throwing Knife Steel type and thickness

[awreis]

I'm currently in the beginng stages of making my own throwing knife for my home range but would also like to be able to use it at events. Is there any reason to use good carbon steel or would a scrap piece work plenty well? Also, what thickness would be good for an 8" blade and 12 1/2" overall length knife?

 

[Loja man]

I would use 5160. Thickness….i would say personal preference…personally I wouldn’t go thicker than quarter inch.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I'm currently in the beginng stages of making my own throwing knife for my home range but would also like to be able to use it at events. Is there any reason to use good carbon steel or would a scrap piece work plenty well? Also, what thickness would be good for an 8" blade and 12 1/2" overall length knife?

If you can get an old leaf spring, that worked for me.
Larry

 

[oldramrod]

I also like old leaf springs. Just make sure you anneal them twice . Once to straighten. Then again after straightening. To test for "snap back"

 

[arby]

Yep, agree with leaf spring. 1/4 inch thick. Made plenty of them, they hold up well. I don't harden and temper any of them, better the tip to bend rather than snap.

 

[LRB]

Yep, agree with leaf spring. 1/4 inch thick. Made plenty of them, they hold up well. I don't harden and temper any of them, better the tip to bend rather than snap.

If you are not going to HT the blade, then just use bar steel from the box stores.

 

[Miketheblacksmith]

Just to let you all know, many leaf springs were made from 5160. I have forged many blades from recycled springs.

 

[LRB]

Just to let you all know, many leaf springs were made from 5160. I have forged many blades from recycled springs.

 

[LRB]

But, if you don't heat treat them they are no better than box store steel for a cheap throwing knife.

 

[BJHabermehl]

I'm currently in the beginng stages of making my own throwing knife for my home range but would also like to be able to use it at events. Is there any reason to use good carbon steel or would a scrap piece work plenty well? Also, what thickness would be good for an 8" blade and 12 1/2" overall length knife?

1/8” to 3/16 mild steel will do fine for your first couple attempts. Easy to shape and cheap. You won’t make just one. Surprisingly it holds up decently in use and may be all you need. I made a couple in different lengths trying to find something that threw similar to my hawk. I still found throwing knives messed me up for throwing hawk and vice versa. BJH

 

[diyj98]

I’m as unskilled as it gets with knife making, but I’ve made a few rough ones from an old leaf spring. They held up fairly well for throwing at boards.