Throwing knives, a blend of ancient craftsmanship and modern engineering, offer both sport and utility.
Whether you’re a beginner fascinated by knife throwing or a professional aiming to perfect your technique, choosing the right throwing knife is crucial.
This guide dives into the essentials of selecting the best-throwing knives tailored for various skill levels, focusing on features, durability, and performance.
Start Sharp: Top Throwing Knives for Beginners
Choosing suitable throwing knives is crucial for beginners who need tools that are not only cost-effective but also designed to enhance learning and technique development.
Here’s an enriched look at some top recommendations that combine quality with beginner-friendly features:
1. Cold Steel Sure Flight:
This knife is celebrated for its robustness and superb balance, making it an excellent choice for novices.
The Sure Flight’s heavier build is a significant advantage, as it helps stabilize the knife during flight, allowing for smoother and more controlled throws.
Its design is tailored to help beginners get a real feel for the sport without the frustration of managing lighter, less predictable knives.
2. Perfect Point RC-595-3 Thunder Bolt:
Ideal for younger throwers or those just beginning their knife-throwing adventure, this set offers a lighter option that’s still robust enough for training.
The RC-595-3 Thunder Bolt includes three knives, making it convenient for repeated practice without the need to retrieve after each throw.
Its lighter construction enhances manageability, lessening fatigue and enabling extended practice periods.
3. Whetstone Cutlery Throwing Knife Set:
This set offers exceptional value for those looking for an affordable entry into knife throwing.
It includes multiple knives, ideal for extensive practice sessions.
This set features knives crafted for robustness and user-friendliness, ideal for those new to knife throwing.
It allows newcomers to practice different techniques and improve their skills and provides a variety of knives to explore different weights and balances.
Master the Craft: Premium Throwing Knives for Professionals
Professional knife throwers require tools that deliver exceptional precision and withstand frequent use rigors.
The next set of featured knives are for professional throwers ONLY!
These blades are specifically made for survivalists that have been around knives consistently throughout their life.
Compared to the beginner sets, the blade on these knives are much sharper and more concise to pierce the intended target.
Here’s a detailed look at some of the top choices that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of seasoned throwers:
1. Uzi Throwing Knife Triple Set:
Recognized for its exceptional build quality, the Uzi Throwing Knife Triple Set stands out in the professional throwing community.
These knives are designed with a balance that complements professional techniques, facilitating accuracy and consistency in throws.
The robust construction ensures the knives can endure extensive use without losing their integrity or performance.
This set offers versatility across different throwing styles, making it a versatile addition to any professional throwers arsenal.
2. Smith & Wesson Bullseye Throwing Knife Set:
There’s no doubt that the S&W brand is a part of the professional throwers knife collection.
A nod to traditional craftsmanship, the Smith & Wesson Bullseye Throwing Knife Set is known for its precision engineering and durability.
These knives are crafted to meet the demands of competitive environments, where precision is as crucial as reliability.
The weight and balance of these knives are meticulously calibrated to provide a stable throw and predictable flight path, which is essential during competitions.
They are also built to last and can endure frequent practice on different targets, making them a reliable option for seasoned throwers.
Key Features to Consider When Selecting a Throwing Knife
Understanding the key features influencing performance is crucial when choosing a throwing knife.
Here’s a concise breakdown of what to look for:
1. Length and Weight:
Longer and heavier knives offer better stability and control, making them ideal for beginners and professionals.
For example, the Cold Steel Sure Flight’s heavier build ensures smoother throws and easier rotation control.
But keep in mind that if it’s too long, the blade won’t spin early enough during the throw and will cause an inaccurate throw.
Having a shorter knife would be much more difficult to group, which would result in a lousy throw.
Practically speaking… you should choose a throwing knife that is somewhere between 12oz and 20oz for a comfy weight ratio while not sacrificing the the ability to stick to the target.
2. Material and Build:
If you’re just looking to have some fun with your buddies/want to show off on your next camping trip…
Any steel-based blade will do, as it is durable enough to withstand multiple throws while still not breaking the bank.
Stainless steel is often selected for its resilience against the repeated impacts experienced during use, exemplified by the sturdy build of the Cold Steel Shanghai Shadow Knife.
If you’re a more medium skilled thrower, you should look for a higher grade steel as opposed to your typical stainless steel grade blades
WAIT… this doesn’t mean you’re breaking the bank!
Anything true blade steel within 1055 -> 1095 range would be a perfect setup for your intermediate thrower.
Choose high-quality materials like 1055 carbon steel, which is known for its durability and sharpness retention, will get you closer to be an advanced thrower.
For our advanced throwers… to be the best you have to spend more on your equipment in this case
You’re looking more so at the $100 range mark or even more if you desire a more custom-built blade to fulfill your throwing needs.
Most advanced throwers would much rather have a custom-built knife set to tailor their needs.
3. Blade and Handle Design:
Consider the blade type; double-edged blades offer versatility, while single-edged blades suit specific throwing styles.
The handle should provide a secure grip to reduce slippage, like the rubberized co-molded handle of the Kershaw Secret Agent, which also features a durable black oxide blade coating.
4. Balance:
A well-balanced knife, with the center of gravity near the midpoint, is crucial for consistent throws and accurate spins.
This balance is key to a knife’s performance, as demonstrated by the Cold Steel Sure Flight, which is favored for its predictable flight path.
Some throwers may say that an off-balanced knife may just be an additional challenge when throwing…
But most throwers will prefer the more center-balanced knives to make for a more precise and calculated throw.
There are throwing knives that have built-in adjustable weights, but it’s not recommended to use them.
Reason being is if your knife isn’t meeting your style, you don’t just change your knife…
You change the distance of your grip to accommodate the blade/knife.
Practical Tips for Knife Throwers
Effective knife throwing requires skill and careful attention to equipment and safety practices.
Here are some practical tips to help you hone your skills while keeping safety paramount.
- Choosing the Target: Beginners should practice softwood targets to minimize damage to the knives, which helps preserve their integrity during the learning phase. As throwers gain proficiency, transitioning to denser wood targets can enhance precision and pose greater professional challenges.
- Maintenance: Consistent maintenance is vital for knife longevity. Stainless steel knives require regular cleaning and oiling to prevent rust and keep them sharp. Regularly inspect your knives for any wear or damage, and adjust them to maintain their condition.
- Safety: Prioritize safety by practicing in a designated and clear area, away from people and potential hazards. Ensure your target has a stable and secure backdrop to avoid accidents and keep bystanders behind the throwing area. Proper technique is essential not only for accuracy but also for preventing injuries.
Throwing Knife Targets
There are plenty of different throwing knife targets that you could purchase from just about any retail store for you average thrower.
You could even go to the trusty amazon.com and get you a set of throwing knife targets to practice against.
However, if you want to go the whole mile, you could even create your own!
We aren’t professionals, but we do advise to stay far away from archery targets…
As the rubber foam targets are more designed for the hard and sharp pointed arrows as opposed to the thicker knives.
The throwing knife can cut through the layers, ruin them, and ultimately cause it to rebound to the thrower…
Ideally, you should purchase targets/make targets out of pure wood instead.
Log slices have been used to be throwing targets for years upon years.
You could make a stand to mount them on or hang them from a tree.. ironically…
The tree log absorbs the impact of the throwers knives, so if there is bounce back then it won’t be as much as that of an archery target
Final Thoughts:
Selecting the right throwing knife is a blend of art and science.
Whether you are just starting or a seasoned professional, understanding the features contributing to a knife’s performance will help you make the best choice.
Remember, the key to mastering knife throwing lies not only in the quality of the knives but also in consistent practice and technique refinement.
Ready to start your journey or upgrade your gear?
Consider the recommendations above and find the perfect knife that suits your skill level and throwing style.
Happy throwing with the best throwing knives!
