knife throwing book wanted

demented dale

Full Member
Dec 16, 2021
1,022
485
58
hell
can anyone recommend a decent book about knife throwing or perhaps someone has one they may let go off, pun intended. thanks x
 
Last edited:

Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
2,192
1,180
77
UK
I used to do a talk to youth clubs about knife throwing.

“Knife throwing for entertainment or idiots”.

Throwing a knife into a log end can be fun for a while. Any thought of using it aggressively is nonsense. I used to dress a pumpkin in an old silk shirt and a fleece and throw the knife as hard as I could from about 750mm. Yep - less than a meter. All I had achieved was to wee off my adversary and hand them my weapon.

A circus knife thrower throws about 750mm holding the handle. That distance has to be fairly precise. The knife makes half a rotation.
A good knife thrower can throw nearly 1.5 meters holding the blade. This distance has to be very precise. The knife rotates one full turn. Chaos theory applies as it does to the second deflection of a snooker ball.
Anything further than that is either luck or very long practice on a known pitch.

We’ve all heard of the farmer who can throw a silage knife across his yard into a barn door and the sailor who can throw their knife into the head of a conger eel. I’m prepared to believe that they did it once.

At the end of my talk I threw a knife three meters holding the handle. It was the hardest throw of the night and only possible because I had a measured mark on the floor.

The circus thrower adds two meters to the throw by stepping forward pivoting on the sub-dominant leg throwing then pivoting backwards a long stride immediately after throwing while the audience is focused on the (pretty girl) target.

The knife needs a maximum curve tip, more than 180 degrees and an ultra light handle so that angular (rotary) momentum is absorbed by the impact and minimised at the handle that could spin it out of its target. The forward half needs to be twice the weight of the rear half.

Never throw a knife with scales*. The lateral shock wave through the blade/tang will burst the rivets/bolt threads and throw them off explosively.

I was taught by an expert.

None of this bears any relation whatsoever to stabbing where a light blow can be lethal.

Edited to add:
* A showman’s throwing knife does have very lightweight scales but they are very flexible and glued not riveted.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ijohnson

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,898
3,317
W.Sussex
Pretty sure I’ve got a book somewhere you could have. I think it’s this one in the eBay link below, the cover looks familiar. It’ll be in the loft at my sisters place, I’ll have a look when I’m round there.

Look up John Taylor, he was a member of BritishBlades for years and used to make and sell his own version of an out of production Cold Steel. Did a crazy video with Eliza Doolittle too.


This book. No idea if it’s any good, I haven’t read it.


IMG_1824.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tony

demented dale

Full Member
Dec 16, 2021
1,022
485
58
hell
Pretty sure I’ve got a book somewhere you could have. I think it’s this one in the eBay link below, the cover looks familiar. It’ll be in the loft at my sisters place, I’ll have a look when I’m round there.

Look up John Taylor, he was a member of BritishBlades for years and used to make and sell his own version of an out of production Cold Steel. Did a crazy video with Eliza Doolittle too.


This book. No idea if it’s any good, I haven’t read it.


View attachment 91524
yes I would like that. can trade you. i bet i got something good here x
I used to do a talk to youth clubs about knife throwing.

“Knife throwing for entertainment or idiots”.

Throwing a knife into a log end can be fun for a while. Any thought of using it aggressively is nonsense. I used to dress a pumpkin in an old silk shirt and a fleece and throw the knife as hard as I could from about 750mm. Yep - less than a meter. All I had achieved was to wee off my adversary and hand them my weapon.

A circus knife thrower throws about 750mm holding the handle. That distance has to be fairly precise. The knife makes half a rotation.
A good knife thrower can throw nearly 1.5 meters holding the blade. This distance has to be very precise. The knife rotates one full turn. Chaos theory applies as it does to the second deflection of a snooker ball.
Anything further than that is either luck or very long practice on a known pitch.

We’ve all heard of the farmer who can throw a silage knife across his yard into a barn door and the sailor who can throw their knife into the head of a conger eel. I’m prepared to believe that they did it once.

At the end of my talk I threw a knife three meters holding the handle. It was the hardest throw of the night and only possible because I had a measured mark on the floor.

The circus thrower adds two meters to the throw by stepping forward pivoting on the sub-dominant leg throwing then pivoting backwards a long stride immediately after throwing while the audience is focused on the (pretty girl) target.

The knife needs a maximum curve tip, more than 180 degrees and an ultra light handle so that angular (rotary) momentum is absorbed by the impact and minimised at the handle that could spin it out of its target. The forward half needs to be twice the weight of the rear half.

Never throw a knife with scales*. The lateral shock wave through the blade/tang will burst the rivets/bolt threads and throw them off explosively.

I was taught by an expert.

None of this bears any relation whatsoever to stabbing where a light blow can be lethal.

Edited to add:
* A showman’s throwing knife does have very lightweight scales but they are very flexible and glued not riveted.
thanks that all sounds fun. I just love playing. it is great fun and when you get it right its fantastic x
 

Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
2,192
1,180
77
UK
Yes, there really is something very satisfying about the thud of a knife into a log end once you understand your knife.

You also quite quickly realise how unlikely various Western and Commando films are.
 
Last edited:

stonepark

Forager
Jun 28, 2013
135
72
Carse of Gowrie
can anyone recommend a decent book about knife throwing or perhaps someone has one they may let go off, pun intended. thanks x

Don't have a book but self taught.

Get a professional throwing knife (my first was about £20 about 20 years ago.) to start.

I see similar knives are about £35 to £40 e.g.



Next step is to figure out your throwing distance. Mine is 4.5 steps from target.

It is different for each person, but once you are consistent in your release, throw and distance, nearly every throw will stick into the target.

Consistency is key.
 
  • Like
Reactions: demented dale

demented dale

Full Member
Dec 16, 2021
1,022
485
58
hell
Yes, there really is something very satisfying about the thud of a knife into a log end once you understand your knife.

You also quite quickly realise how unlikely various Western and Commando films are.
you got any knives you might move on Pat? i just borrowed some and ended up enjoying it. x
 

Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
2,192
1,180
77
UK
I used to make my own - nothing grand just a flat piece of sheet steel cut to a simple shape with a bit of red inner tube around the handle. The sharpened tip was like a Gothic arch. This shape is most forgiving of distance; it sticks into target at a wide range of angles. Even the expert in the video moved too far forward for one throw. It didn’t rotate far enough and bounced out. (He is very good!).

I was a youth leader in my late teens and early twenties. I’m in my seventies now.
 

slaine_23

Tenderfoot
Jun 25, 2021
57
21
Ireland
A circus knife thrower throws about 750mm holding the handle. That distance has to be fairly precise. The knife makes half a rotation.
A good knife thrower can throw nearly 1.5 meters holding the blade.
This doesn’t sound right and while am not claiming expertise in the field I have seen longer distances than that. These were with the specialised bare tang style things, unless that’s the difference?

 

stonepark

Forager
Jun 28, 2013
135
72
Carse of Gowrie
This doesn’t sound right and while am not claiming expertise in the field I have seen longer distances than that. These were with the specialised bare tang style things, unless that’s the difference?

4.5 steps for me is 12.5ft to 13ft for 1 full rotation
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE