Knife Throwing: The Safest Knife Thrower

The safest knife thrower is the one who takes safety precautions in every aspect of throwing knives.  From the knife, to the throw, to how you feel, safety first.  Safety rules!  It is the master.  So, everybody have a head up.

 

Throwing knives, especially professional throwing knives, do not have a handle.  You are meant to grasp the blade, which is one continuous piece of metal, with just your hand.  Following that, a safe thrower should use blunt-edged blades at all times.  Allow me to repeat:  Always use blunt-edged blades.  Your hands will thank you for it.  Sharp edges bear no true significance in the success of the throw or of the stick.  And competitions do not allow for sharp edges. 

 

The manner in which you grip your throwing knife is crucial in the success of every throw.  To be sufficiently fit for a good grip, one must have a fairly strong upper body, including the arms and hands.  Push ups are a fantastic exercise for this.  If you do push ups on your knees, or against a wall, with your fingers as your contact and not your palm or fist, you’ll be conditioning your chest, arms, hands and fingers, all at once.  Finger weights or springs can further strengthen your fingers.  Hand grips are extremely effective.  Think of it this way, if your hands aren’t very strong, your grip won’t be either.  Without a strong grip, the skill cannot be developed.  If you’re having difficulty gripping the knife, use tape or similar sticking material around the handle.  Be sure to extend the tape from the end of the handle to the middle of the knife when you finish wrapping it up.  And if you’d like an easy release, only use “tape” material with a flat, smooth surface.

 

There is a proper stance when preparing to throw.  There is a proper arm swing and body movement.  A proper release.  All of these movements combined make your complete throwing form.  While practice will affect your accuracy and success, one thing you must not ignore: how you feel.  That’s right.  Do not throw when you are tired, sleepy or disoriented.  Even a little.  After a bit or practice, your throwing arm, from your chest to the tips of your fingers, will start hurting.  Don’t keep throwing.  Rest up first.  And don’t throw when you’re hungry or mad, sick or recovering from some “small” injury.  Really, don’t.  You are throwing a deadly weapon and you shouldn’t risk hurting anyone—especially yourself! 

 

How about the target itself?  What makes a good target?  A chunk of durable wood is very good for a target.  Anything metal, concrete or of a material of similar hardness must not be used.  The knife must be able to penetrate and stick to the target.  Otherwise, what’s the use?  It should be in a safe location where bounce-offs can’t injure anyone or damage any thing.  The trajectory path must be clear and free of all traffic.  A good safe distance is one hundred feet clear in all directions.  Your distance from the target is also very important.  It is much better to hit your target five times at ten feet away than it is to hit your target once at twenty feet away.  When you’ve mastered throwing at a short distance, only then should you increase your distance from the target.  Baby steps. 

 

Let’s add a dash or two of common sense here.  Surely some will think that it’s unnecessary to say this, but there are some for whom you MUST say this:  Do not throw knives in the rain or during a snowfall.  Do not throw knives in inclement weather or during a storm.  Make sure your throwing area is well lit and clear of debris or material that can become airborne.  Buildings and trees should be well out of your safety zone.  And when you throw, don’t take your eyes off of the knife until it comes to rest.

 

It’s just a bit of knowing what is best to remove all risk of injury.  After all, you are throwing pointed blades at high speed over a distance.  Be the safest knife thrower.  Good luck and Be Careful!

 

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Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world.  If you would like to learn about

 

            ▪  Knife Sharpening:  How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them

            ▪  Tests for Sharpness, Steeling, Stropping and Much more

            ▪  Sharpening Other Edges (Maintaining and Storing Them)

               (i.e. Chain Saws, Lawn Mower Blades, Gardening Tools, Axes)

                       

Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com 

Knife Throwing: So You Want To Be A Knife Thrower

So you want to be a knife thrower?  Well, as quick and to the point as can be, here are the fundamentals of becoming a knife thrower.  You’ll need to know how to choose a knife, how to grip it and how to throw it. 

 

Choosing a knife.  The type of knife you choose will have an incredible impact on how much you’re able to enjoy knife throwing.  Keep in mind that quality throwing knives do not have a handle.  The blade is the throwing knife. 

 

▪ Size:  Knives that are between 12”-16” are a good size.  They aren’t too big and

not so small that you’d have to throw harder and strain to watch them in flight. 

 

▪ Weight:  Knives of the above size will fly fairly undisturbed from wind and

won’t drift so much.  They make a very satisfying sound when they find

their target.  Wait for it.

 

▪ Balance:  One of the most important fundamentals of throwing a knife is

controlling its spin.  A good spin on the knife is accomplished by throwing the heaviest

part first.  An unbalanced knife would be your surest bet.  But if you’d like to be able to

throw your knife by either the blade or the handle, choose a balanced knife.

 

▪ Edge:  For beginners, as you are, blunt-edged blades are best.  Moreover, sharp edged knives aren’t allowed in competitions or at social establishments, if that’s where you’re headed.  If you really want sharp edges, switch only after you’ve acquired some skill throwing blunt-edged blades.

 

The grip.  The easiest and most reliable grip is the hammer grip.  As you are a beginner, this grip is recommended until you’ve mastered it.  Hold the knife firmly around the handle as you would hold a hammer.  Lift your thumb off of your fisted grip and place it alongside the blade—this would be the blunt-edged spine.  You are now using a modified hammer grip.  Remember, blunt edges for beginners, please.  Safety first.  You really don’t want to risk slicing up your hands.

 

Throwing the knife.  The majority of knife throwers are right-handed.  The throw, therefore, will be considered for a right-handed thrower.

 

▪ Stance.  Your left foot is about 2 feet in front of your right foot with your weight resting on the balls of your right foot.  Both heels are on imaginary parallel lines.  Both feet are about 45 degrees apart, with your left pointing towards the target.  Knees are slightly bent.  Arms extending in a straight line at chest level, pointing towards the target.

 

▪ Throw.  Remember not to move your shoulders during this motion.  The right arm, knife held in a firm grip, makes a fluid arc swing to the sky and onward to the back until the knife is beside your head.  Now swing your right arm forward towards the target, shifting your weight from the back right foot to the front left foot. 

 

▪ The chop.  Imagine a large branch between you and the target.  Bring your right arm down as though it were chopping this branch.  Be sure to reach as you chop.  When the knife is pointing directly at the target, release the knife as you snap your fingers back.                   

 

▪ Follow through.  Although you’ll be tempted to, do not stop the swing of your right arm.  Follow through until it drops down.  This is very important in your form and, consequently, in the success of your throw.

 

Alright then.  There you go!  Beginners, have at it!  Practice, practice and practice.  Good luck to you and be so careful!

 

———————————————————————————————–

 

Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world.  If you would like to learn about

 

            ▪  Knife Sharpening:  How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them

            ▪  Tests for Sharpness, Steeling, Stropping and Much more

            ▪  Sharpening Other Edges (Maintaining and Storing Them)

               (i.e. Chain Saws, Lawn Mower Blades, Gardening Tools, Axes)

           

Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com