I would like to thank Matthew J. Rapaport of Thrower and Tim Valentine of Sticking Point for creating the first knife throwing websites on the Internet.

Knife throwing pages

At "throwing.it" you will find all kinds of news and interesting or funny finds around the sport of (knife-) throwing. People from all over the world collaborate to share their most interesting finds. (We help, too.)

The club promotes the sport of knife- and axe-throwing and facilitates the communication between throwers in Europe. Most members come from Germany or France at the moment. Various throwing-related topics are discussed via the website and mailing lists, for example how to organise contests.

These pages by Matthew J. Rapaport offer a wide range of information concerning the throwing of weapons. The focus is on throwing knives, but you also find information on atlatls or slings. Thrower is about the oldest knife throwing destination on the web.
The pages are not longer maintained by the author, the link above leads to the official archive.

Thrower also started the heart of the international knife throwing community, the thrower mailing list. Nowadays, you'll find the thrower people in the very active "Knife and Tomahawk Throwers" group at facebook (registration required) that was started by Throwzini. For a short history and old posts, see the archive description.

Tim Valentine created a page with a nice layout. Among other things, you will find short and illustrated instructions on how to throw in professional- and sport-style, a knife museum, and again information on the different US-American throwing associations.
The pages are not longer maintained by the author, the link above leads to the official archive.

is the work of Scott Gracia; The pages are growing fast. They feature many pictures of throwing knives, targets and unusual throwing objects (like playing cards, weird axes...). Apart from neat ideas for throwing games, there are articles by guest writers on many aspects of the sport. You may also subscribe to a newsletter that is worth to read.
The shop-section offers many things that you will not find in European stores. Scott will now ship them overseas, the costs for shipping and handling depend on what your order (e.g. 24,95 US$ for 3 throwing knives). You can pay by credit card or international money order.

Within just a few years, David Adamovich has become a professional knife thrower. He is even in a show on the Broadway! On his page, you will find pictures out of his instructional video, and free video clips from his shows. He always throws his knives around a beautiful female assistant.

Discuss about everything knife throwing related, from no-spin styles to target construction. Moderated by Bobby Branton of the AKTA.

She's a passionate knife thrower, and publishes funny videos on knife throwing. On a cold winter nights, do watch her oeuvre of over 80 videos, ranging from zombie stunts to the popular unboxing videos, where she presents and praises throwing knives sent in from around the world.

Roger Jals posted a thrilling collection of knife and axe throwing videos - including throws from a slackline, floating targets, and throws on a lonely beach.

The bearded engineers at Bellablades construct no-spin throwing knives. Kindly documenting their learings via documents and videos of their knife making process.

With very hard and long training, some people become good enough to be an impalement artist: that is, they throw around live targets. Nowadays, it's no longer only the girls that stand strapped to the board. To read on:

• Artwork and movie references at Throwdini.
• Strong target girls
• TVTropes Extensive list of knife throwing occurences in many media (literature, film, manga, music, and more).

Secrets-of-Shuriken is a very good and comprehensive site on the art of throwing shuriken: bo shuriken (long, thin blades, historically nails) and hira or shaken shuriken (the infamous ninja stars). The history section traces the development of the art, and the training pages are filled with many picture-sequences of different throwing styles to illustrate the instructions. A must-read for every thrower. Built up by Jason Wotherspoon, now run by Edward.
More shuriken sources:

• Website (in Japanese) by the late Houzan Suzuki, with many pictures and videos of shuriken and throws.
• Throw Ninja Star has an illustrated howto, and some articles tying the bo shuriken into movie culture.
• Notes on hira shuriken at Thrower.

The French site resembles KnifeThrowing.info and offers knife throwing instructions, pictures of throwing knives and targets, and a discussion board.
Le site francais ressemble KnifeThrowing.info, il a des instructions comment lancer, photos des couteaux à lancer et des cibles, et un forum.

Online Shops for throwing knives

Please note that we are unable to guarantee the correctness of statements concerning the shipping costs, terms of order and the like.

Our own shop. We only included knives that we tested and liked. The orders are processed by our partner Toolshop who can ship free of charge within the European Union and offers encryption for protection.

John Bailey is a long-standing knife thrower who now bought the well-known Sunshine Knife Outlet and built up an online-shop at throwingknives.com. Due to rising mail costs, John will only ship within the USA.

Sells only knives of its own brand, manufactured in Asia in solid quality. They offer some unique throwing gadgets like the torpedo or the bad axe. From the throwing knives the true flight thrower and the perfect balance thrower (see our review) are especially interesting.
At their homepage, you can request a catalogue, but it takes ages till it arrives in Europe. They ship worldwide, you have to pay all the shipping/customs/insurance fees (call USA + 805 650 8481 for details).
I recommend to buy their products at one of the retailers. Many shops carry their products.

This is the US-American branch of the old company Boeker Baumwerk from Solingen, Germany. The knives are still produced there, including the Tan-Kri, the star of their throwing knives line.
You can request the Magnum-catalogue at their page, which also includes many knives from the big brands.

Here you can buy some knives of the Gil Hibben line (even the new ones whose main feature is the futuristic design), and some other throwing knives that you will find in many weapon stores throughout Europe. Some of the knives are definitely too lightweight.
Shipping and handling into countries within the EU is about 5 Euro and up; You can pay with your credit card.

ISS seems to be the official online shop of the company Linder from Solingen, Germany, they carry their complete line of throwing knives (located under Item groups). Nothing special, and all knives are sharp hindering a blade throw, but cheap prices.
Shipping and handling into countries within the EU is 15 Euro; You can pay with credit card, check, or advance payment to their bank account.

See above.

This are the pages of Bobby Branton, the president of the AKTA (American Knife Throwers Alliance). He makes and sells heavy US-style throwers and an axe.
The shipping costs to Europe are 15 USD for the first knife, 4 USD for every next. Pay with cheques.

Patrick Brewster produces a wide collection of spike-like throwing objects, which are especially suited to be thrown using no spin techniques.
Shipping to Europe starts at 20 USD (ask them), payment via PayPal.

Here you will find a vast collection of unusual throwing knives and other throwing items that seem to have been designed by the marketing departments of the manufacurers.
The company is not really keen to ship outside the UK, but you can enquire about international shipping costs by email.

Has a collection of decent throwing knives. These tend to be rather lightweight, so be sure to pick up one of the heavier models.
Ships only within the UK, accepts major credit cards.

According to Thrower, they have a wide range of knives in their catalogue and are quite cheap.
Send an email to help@eknifeworks.com to get their little monthly catalogue, which can also be downloaded. They ship to Europe, shipping charges do vary, enquire at international@eknifeworks.com.
SMKW wrote:
We ship packages to Europe, but the shipping and handling fees depend on the merchandise that you order. Please inform us of the items you wish to purchase, and we will send you a shipping quote to your e-mail address. Please include your full address so the quote will be accurate to your location.

Beautiful and reasonably priced hand-forged throwing axes.
Shipping only to the USA.

Throwing related pages

Ordinary playing cards can be thrown quite far, and even with such a speed that they stick in vegetables, blow out candles or burst balloons. The most famous book on this topic is "Cards as Weapons" by Rick Jay. It is out of print and now costs hundreds of Dollars, but fortunately, people on the web still provide quotations from the book (in .doc).
Everybody interested in lerning this skills should read our course on how to throw playing cards hard.
The Encyclopedia of Card Shooting deals with the issue of throwing cards from a magician's viewpoint.
Some hackers organised a competition for card throwing machines.
Why the impact of a thrown playing card can by for not be likened to that of a buzz saw is detailed in the science forum.

An amazingly huge private directory with links to thousands of knife related pages. All is ordered in categories, e.g. by country.

Collection of knife related links of an online retailer. Categories range from Antique Associations to Wood and Supplies.

Here you can learn all about how to sharpen your knives, and which tools to use. (I do recommend only to throw blunt knives!)

The Swedish axe manufacturer offers some general information about axes, as well as on Yxkastning.
Yxkastning means axe throwing :-)

These special darts you can throw like a throwing knife. Not allowed in all dart tournaments, but something new for the pub for sure :-)

Axe throwing

Axe throwing is a sport: You throw your axe at a painted wooden target, and collect scores. Being quite heavy, the flight of an axe is rather stable. So, unlike with knife throwing, it's rather easy to have regularly sticking axes from the first try on. If you position a beginner at the correct spot (around 4m from the target), the axe will stick with a nice "thud".

This is why axe throwing is sometimes promoted as exciting sport for corporate events (for example by Wooden Tom in Scotland, or HWS events in the Black Forest).

Axe Throwing: The sport

The standard axe has one blade - this kind of axe is also referred to as tomahawk or hawk (in the USA). Axe throwing enthusiasts usually also love to throw knives, so the competition rules for single blade axes and knives have been standardised by the same organisations: EuroThrowers for the whole of Europe, IKTHOF for the USA. See the central event calendar for Europe to find a competition or meeting you can take part in.

Canada is a country where pure axe throwing has taken off as a sport and fun pastime. Companies like Bad Axe Throwing have practice ranges all over Canada, offer beginners courses, regular range hours, and even their own axe throwing leagues.

To learn about techniques and tools for axe throwing, visit Axtwerfen, the page of Norbert Maier. It was inspired by our page, and approaches every conceivable aspect of axe and knife throwing. The site is perpetually work in progress, and was instrumental in creating the central Big European Throwers Meeting together with Messerwerfen.de.

The Tomahawk Guys have videos showing (double handed) axe throws, and practical hints on building sturdy axe throwing targets.

Double Axe Throwing

The second big variety of axes are the big double axes that have two sharp blades, requiring long handles that are gripped with both hands. Double axe throwing is traditionally part of timbersports events. However, in some countries dedicated leagues emerged. Mostly, they use a variation of the rules that was published by the axe maker Gränsfors Bruk.

• Sweden: Traditional home of axe throwing, or Yxkastning. Swedish Axe Throwing Society
• Germany: Several regional hotspots that have agreed on common rules for their competitions and meetups
• Switzerland: Big on forest works, the Swiss have their own associations like the Axe Throwing Club Ticino.