Knife Throwing FAQ
Frequently asked questions about knife throwing and throwing knives.
The questions that Knife Throwing.info is asked most frequently are answered on this page. John Bailey has a similar answer list.
General
Knife throwers
Throwing knives
Throwing
Are there any other websites on knife throwing?
Besides KnifeThrowing.info, there are of course
many more websites on knife throwing. In our website directory we even
list throwing knife shops.
Can you send me a catalogue?
Sorry, we are a pure online-shop and have no printed catalogue, you can find all our products at
ThrowingKnives.com. Or you visit us in our store near Berlin :-)
What are the standard rules at competitions?
Since September 2008, many countries use the
European Standard Knife and Axe Throwing rules, with some extensions.
I'm looking for a knife thrower for my event/a film.
Have a look at our list of
European hobby knife throwers. Not all of them will want to do a show, but they can give you more contacts in your country.
Are there knife throwers in my area/state?
Have a look at our list of
European hobby knife throwers, or browse the pages of the
European Throwing Club.
Which throwing knives are good for beginners?
Do throw only throwing knives, they were made to withstand that abuse! They should have a
weight of around 200g up to 400g, their
center of gravity should be in their middle, and the handle should have no fancy ornaments which would catch at your hand. But above all, the
blade should
not be sharp, or you will eventually injure yourself! A pointy tip is all it takes for the knife to stick perfectly in the target.
A good knife for beginners is the
Faka throwing knife.
Can I throw this knife?
In principle, you can throw any knife you want. But if it is not a special throwing knife, hence manufactured for that purpose, it will break sooner or later. So never throw expensive knives!
Knives with the following features should also not be thrown: too light (under 200g), sharp blade (you will injure yourself), or with a rubber handle (difficult to release).
Where can I buy throwing knives? I live in ...
So, you want to know where to get throwing knives fast! The easiest way is to order them at
our throwing knives online shop (worldwide shipping) or
another online knife shop. If you are in central Europe, take a look at the sites of big manufacturers like
Böker ("Fachhändler") or
Linder who supply lists of local knife dealers. It might be a good idea to call these dealers beforehand to see if they actually have throwing knives in store.
I found a throwing knife. Can you tell me where it is from / what it is worth?
No, we are sorry. We do not have a huge archive concerning this question. Try a
search on the Internet for the brand names that sometimes are engraved on the knives.
The term "rostfrei" is German for "stainless steel", "Wurfmesser" means "throwing knife" and Solingen is a town in Germany famous for its many high quality knife manufacturers.
How sharp should a throwing knife be?
Not sharp at all! Sharp
blades will eventually cut you hand. For a perfect stick, all it takes is a pointy tip. Blunt knives are also much less prone to ugly dents.
How do I make my own throwing knife?
Just follow our
instructions on how to make a throwing knife.
If you want to know more, try to search and ask in the discussion boards
Thrower and
BladeForums.
I am X years old. What kind of knives shall I throw? Am I too young for it?
If you are younger than 12 years old, knife throwing is not recommended. If you are under 18, always take an adult along for throwing, he will make sure that no thrower or accidental bystander will be injured (see the
safety guidelines).
Even for young throwers, knives lighter than 200g are not recommended, they bounce back from the target. See also
"Which throwing knives are good for beginners?".
How to throw a Kunai knife?
You put the Kunai flat in your palm, and hold the knife in place with your thumb. This knife throwing technique is rather difficult to master, and those kunai knives tend to break rather easily. So,
don't throw Kunai knives at all, but chose a different throwing knife design.
How do I throw a knife?
Please read our
detailed instructions on how to throw knives.
Can I get knife throwing lessons in my area?
There don't seem to be regular courses anywhere. But most hobby knife throwers will be happy to teach beginners, see:
"Are there knife throwers in my area / state?".
Which throwing technique is best for beginners?
A knife throwing technique suitable for beginners is described at
John's throwing style. But the most important thing is to throw with a movement that is natural for you. Once you are able to do this throw in always the same manner, you
search for the
distance where the knife sticks.
The knife rotates during the flight. How do I make it reach the target point first? A question of the distance?
Yes, you try to
find the throwing distance where the knife turns exactly so that it reaches the target point first.
How far away from the target should I stand in the beginning?
When holding the knife at the handle for throwing, the first
distance where the knife will reach the target point first will be around 2.6m to 3.2m.
Do knives always turn? Can't I throw them straight?
Throwing knives do always turn during the flight, with the blade and the handle taking turns in pointing to the target. The reason is that the circular motion from the throwing movement is transferred to the knife (see also the page about the
physics of knife throwing). The "cheater throwing knife"
Gyro Dart is an exception, being constructed so that it can be thrown straight like a miniature spear.
But, if you are prepared to train for a really long time, you can have a look at the so-called
no spin knife throwing techniques, which avoid the circular throw and use much power and speed, but which in fact succeed in throwing the knives straight!
My throwing knife hits the target with the flat of the blade. Why?
The throw has not been clean, an additional sideways rotation was given to the knife. This is most likely caused by your elbow making a jerk to the outside in the throw.
When I hold the knife at the handle for throwing, how exactly do I have to grip it?
Like you would grip a hammer at the handle. The knife does stick out at the underside of your fist only a little. The thumb is placed on the spine of the throwing knife or at the side. If the knife has a blunt blade (which is recommended), you can also use this grip there.
How hard do I have to throw?
Not hard. For the knife to stick, it is only important that it hits the target in the right way. If you throw with all your force, you will not be able to control the movement. Hence keep relaxed.
Why are there different knife throwing techniques?
For every person, a different throwing movement feels natural. So everybody develops a somewhat different knife throwing technique.
Is knife throwing useful for self defense?
No.
Combat Knife Throwing is a oxymoron. I wouldn't throw my knife away if had one in my hand. (
Kenn Mcgolloway, Personal safety consultant & close-combat trainer, New York)
What is essential to remember is that the primary purpose of the thrown object is distraction. You throw it to buy you time to either escape or close distance. (
Phil West, author of several books on self defense)
Throwing it is absolutely not recommended. Self-defense is about awareness, space and time, and preparation. (
Shawn Zirger of Zirger Academy, Toronto, who hosts knife throwing workshops.)
See also longer interviews with noted martial arts experts on
Knife Throwing In Combat and Self Defense.