Best Throwing Knives for Beginners
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Reason to learn the art of knife throwing
Knife throwing was traditionally used for hunting purposes in prehistoric times. This tradition is continued by certain societies of the world. They are Native Americans, African tribes and Japanese warriors who use throwing daggers or axes. As time went by, knife throwing became less popular with the introduction of arrows and guns. Today, many play it as a type of art or sports in many cultures globally.
American Knife Throwing Alliance is a dedicated organization that promotes knife throwing. It regularly organizes competitions around the country for enthusiasts.
For some, the satisfying sound of the knife striking its target works as a great stress reliever. It is an incredibly inexpensive activity. It offers hours of entertainment, akin to playing pool or throwing darts. Knife throwing helps sharpen your aim and increase hand-eye coordination.
It is also one of the must have items for a survival enthusiast. For families, it works great as some extra fun while camping. Or it can be a social event, where you invite your friends over and teach them how to throw knives.
As there are so many choices of throwing knives in the market out there, how do we find the best knives for throwing that meet your needs? From our extended research, we have narrowed down to a group of top throwing knives that we think is best. In this guide, we have listed down all its key features and why these knives have landed among our top picks.
If you want to skip and find the best throwing knives, then Smith & Wesson SWTK8CP Six 8in Stainless Steel Throwing Knives Set is the one for you.
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How to choose a throwing knife
An ideal throwing knife usually has dull edges and sturdy tips. Rounded corners are great for safety purposes. You do not want to slice your palms by accident. These good throwing knives are usually not designed for cutting. Instead they are crafted to nicely penetrate onto the surface of your target.
The blade should be also thick enough so that the tip does not bend. Solid blades are better than knives with holes, as perforations are more prone to breakage. The heavier it is, the more kinetic energy is harnessed to propel the knife to pierce deeper into the target. The lighter it is, the higher the possibility of it bouncing back to hit you.
It is important to find a tradeoff between the length and the weight of the knife. The general rule when considering the weight and length is 1 ounce to 1 inch. This means for every inch in length, it should weigh 1 ounce. Shorter knives rotate faster.
Longer knives are heavier which propels it to go further distances. When aiming at the target, there is always an infamous sweet spot. Longer blades increase the chances of hitting the sweet spot. In general, smaller knives are recommended as throwing knives for beginners.
Most knives are made of stainless steel which do not rust easily. Higher quality metals will reduce the chances of having the knife bent in half. Sometimes low quality ones quickly chip off when it hits the target board.
It is recommended to buy a set of six, or two sets of three. Rather than spending time searching for the knives that missed the target, it is easier to practice with more knives in your hand.
How to use a throwing knife
Jules and Ken
We are Jules and Ken. We are outdoor lovers, travellers and writers all rolled into one. You have seen our posts here reviewing lots of different types of outdoor gears, camping equipment, kayaking to cycling. Our reviews are guided by our years of experience being outdoors. We are happy to share our knowledge with you to make a better choice when you are outdoors.
As there are so many choices out there, finding the perfect throwing knife can be confusing. At Outdoormagnet, we have performed hours of detailed research and have narrowed down 5 knives as our top picks for Best Throwing Knives For Beginners.
5 Best throwing knives
Smith and Wesson is a well known brand, specialising in knives. Its blade is made of reliable 2Cr13 S.S which makes it long lasting. Based on some users’ feedback, it can withstand hitting hard things that were not the target. The tips and sharpness remains in good shape and does not show any signs of bending. The blunt sides are designed in a way so you that users don’t cut yourself as easily when throwing. This makes it safe for knife throwing. It comes with a nylon sheet belt that holds all 6 knives to ensure proper storage and safety.
It is well balanced and has a good weight to them. It is 8 inches in length with an individual weight of 4.7 ounces and an overall weight of 1 pounds 12.2 ounces. It is considered a small knife, which is usually a better option to practice for beginners. Your whole family will enjoy this activity, as it is a great hit at the campground. You can show them how to throw a knife.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comes with a nylon sheet belt that holds 6 knives
- Durable
- Affordable
Cons
- Small in size
PROS
CONS
- Lightweight
- Comes with a nylon sheet belt that holds 6 knives
- Durable
- Affordable
- Small in size
This single piece of construction is well made measuring 4.4 inches. They are crafted in 420 hardcased black stainless steel. It is more durable than generic martial arts knives. It is also corrosion resistant against rust.
It is sharp at the sides which turns it into a multi usage knife, suitable for preppers. Its paracord wrap on the handles, makes it useful as a general utility blade. It works great for chopping small branches, as a kitchen knife or for hunting.
For knife throwing, just remove the wrap and you will find the blade and handles are very well balanced. The grip on the handle makes them easy to handle and throw.
Pros
- Comes in a set of 3 knives
- Very sharp
- Work well as general utility blades
- Well made
- Good weight
Cons
- Paracord easily comes loose
- Sides are sharp (need to be careful)
PROS
CONS
- Comes in a set of 3 knives
- Very sharp
- Work well as general utility blades
- Well made
- Good weight
- Paracord easily comes loose
- Sides are sharp (need to be careful)
It is made of AUS-6 stainless steel blade. It is not so soft that the knives bend, and not so hard that they are brittle and break easily. The knives will hold up great even after throwing a hundred times into cardboard and wood targets. It is optimal for throwing as the tip would penetrate several inches into the plywood.
Comes in a very nice sheath with a belt loop along with a leg drop. The nylon belt sheath looks great. The nylon is thick enough to hold up to the knives. It has a belt loop and a strap so you wear it as a drop leg.
It is very well balanced and perfect for throwing. But be careful when holding the blade side, as it is sharp. Thus, it is recommended that you wear gloves while throwing.
Pro
- AUS-6 stainless steel blade
- Well balanced
- Extremely sharp
- Additional ring, useful for attaching a lanyard
- Comes in a set of 3 knives
Cons
- Paracord easily gets loose after a while
PROS
CONS
- AUS-6 stainless steel blade
- Well balanced
- Extremely sharp
- Additional ring, useful for attaching a lanyard
- Comes in a set of 3 knives
- Paracord easily gets loose after a while
This is a 12-piece throwing knife, which is the perfect set to practice with. It is marked with six silver stainless steel throwers and six black stainless steel throwers. You can compete with another player with 6 knives each for 1 game. Or you can throw a bunch of times in 1 session, reducing the trouble of retrieving back the flung blades.
It comes with a lanyard hole in the handle to keep an item securely tethered to yourself. With a lanyard attached to it, it makes it easy to get things out of your pocket with the increased grip. And after throwing, you will have a better chance of spotting it if it does not hit the spot.
The sides of the blade are razor sharp. It is easy to cut your finger, so you need to be aware when holding them.
Pros
- Great choice for beginners and experienced throwers
- Easy to handle with a length of 8.5 inches
- Comes in a set of 12 knives
Cons
- Sides are razor sharp
PROS
CONS
- Great choice for beginners and experienced throwers
- Easy to handle with a length of 8.5 inches
- Comes in a set of 12 knives
- Sides are razor sharp
This is a dagger-type throwing knife. They are 13-¼ in. long and weighs 14 oz. and At this length, the knife is not prone to coming back at you if thrown wrong like many knives do. They have strategically placed milled divots and grooves. These are perfect for allowing a good grip in every possible hand position. The length and weight are well balanced, creating fantastic accuracy upon throwing. This specification gives the knife enough weight to throw a distance up to 9 meters.
This is a higher quality blade. It is constructed with 420J2 stainless steel, which sticks hard into the board. It is very easy to remove them from a board. Even if the knife is sunk deep, they slide out easily. It does not require you to wrestle with the board in order to dislodge.
It comes with a 3 compartment leather sheath with a loop for attaching to a belt. This makes the knife portable to bring around.
Pros
- Packaged with a handsome leather sheath
- For Professional and novice
- Higher quality blade
Cons
- Some users find its shape make it more difficult to throw
PROS
CONS
- Packaged with a handsome leather sheath
- For Professional and novice
- Higher quality blade
- Some users find its shape make it more difficult to throw
Summary
Knife throwing sport requires excellent throwing skills and a perfect knife. The quality of your knife may influence the outcome of your success. All the 5 best throwing knives we have reviewed are generally equally outstanding. Considering the balance between its weight, length and quality, Smith & Wesson SWTK8CP Six 8in Stainless Steel Throwing Knives Set has the winning edge. If you want a durable throwing knife, then getting this will be an excellent move. It is one of the most popular choices among knife collectors and survivalists.
What's next
Read here for tips and a list of 10 Easy Camping Meals for you to have without a need for a ton of kitchen equipment and ingredients.
I hope you enjoyed this review and if you have questions about any of the 5 best throwing knives, or want to leave your own personal review, feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
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