Throwing knives are becoming increasingly popular mainly due to what I believe to be the rise of them in video games. However, when looking for the right throwing knife whether you are a beginner or expert you want to 1) make sure it is a quality knife and not some cheap knock off and that 2) you practice with it and in a safe environment where you are not going to hurt anyone.
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What to look for in a throwing knife
When choosing a quality throwing knife, there are a variety of factors that you will be wanting to look at, however, in my opinion, the main feature that you are after is the right balance. This will be a big factor on how well you are able to throw the knife accurately. Furthermore, early on (as in if you are a beginner) then you are going to want something with a little bit more weight on it, somewhere around 10 ounces is usually considered desirable. This is because this again will make it easier to throw and judge better.
Another factor you want to look at in a throwing knife will be the length. Again if you are just a beginner, then I would recommend going for something a bit longer as this is going to be much easier for you, preferably around 13 inches as longer knives are easier to throw and aim. However, once you pick up a bit more skill and have a bit more practice, then do not hesitate to get something a bit shorter and more sleek, which should be a bit more of a challenge for you.
Something else you need to make sure you do with your throwing knife is to take good care of it. I always recommend that if you are going to be practicing or if you are a beginner that you practice throwing at a target that is on an open grass field. I Suggest this for variety reasons but mainly so that if you miss the target (very likely early on) you are not at risk of damaging the blade. Whereas if you are throwing it at a tough surface such as concrete, then you risk chipping or breaking your blade which I am sure you do not want. Also, if you are practicing in an open field, you should hopefully have less chance of hitting someone. Below I have listed what I believe to be two of the best throwing knives out there on the market currently.
Cold Steel True Flight Thrower
This tough looking throwing knife is definitely the one I will be recommending to beginners. If you have read any of my other posts, you will know that Cold Steel make really solid and great knives (as well as some pretty intense videos). The Cold Steel true flight thrower is no different featuring a high quality 1055 Carbon steel blade with baked on protective coating to ensure it doesn’t rust or corrode. The handle on this little beast is made out of paracord which allows you to get a nice solid grip on.
Like I said before if you are a beginner you are going to be looking for a blade which weighs around 10 ounces and is 13 inches long. The Cold Steel True Flight thrower is roughly 9.7 ounces heavy and roughly 12 inches long so it is really close enough. That makes this the perfect beginners knife and the one I suggest you to get if you were looking to get into throwing knives. Better yet, they are relatively cheap ($20 on Amazon) meaning if you do manage to break it they are not that expensive to replace.
Click Here to Read the Full Review Directly on Amazon
United Cutlery GH2033 Gil Hibben Competition Throwing Knives
These knives really are top notch quality made out of high grade 420 stainless steel which is really good at keeping a solid edge and is also hard enough to ensure that it is not going to break or chip as likely as some of the other lesser quality brands out there. Another thing that I noticed about these knives is that they are deadly accurate and just by purchasing them did I find my accuracy increasing. Not only that they look great especially when flying through the air, although I would have preferred a black set. The only complaint I have with the blade is that the sides were probably just a bit too sharp for me straight out of the box and I cut myself the first time I went to throw them, but this is easily overcome by merely just filing the edge down.
Another thing you will notice about this knife set is that they are relatively heavy which when thrown creates a somewhat satisfying “thunk” upon inserting its self inside your target. These are quite large, coming in at 12 inches long meaning that they are also great for beginners. Furthermore, I felt that they were really well-balanced meaning that you are really easily able to aim and hit the target you are after. My only complaint about this knife’s handle could be that I do prefer ones with a paracord handle however that is really not that big of a deal.
Click Here to Read the Full Review Directly on Amazon
Verdict
Overall, both these knives are top quality and are great for all skill levels. The long blades and heavy weight make them perfect especially for beginners and will give you a big head up on your friends when it comes to hitting the target. Out of the two, however, I would probably have to say I prefer the Cold Steel set, just because I prefer them overall as a brand. However, the United Cutlery set is still fantastic and are incredibly well balanced. They are both similarly priced and the united cutlery comes in a set of three. If you shop around you should be able to get the Cold Steel’s for around $20 and the set of United Cutlery for around $35 (hint amazon).