Knife throwing has been practiced for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until 2009 that it had a modern resurgence.
There are now many tournaments taking place all around the world. Throwing knives are produced by reputable companies. If ESPN soon adds a knife-throwing show, I wouldn’t be shocked!
Any knife may be thrown, but throwing knives are quite different. Additionally, some knives are superior at rotational or no-spin throwing.
The Best Throwing Knives for no Spin that you can continue use as you acquire expertise is listed below.
Most “Throwing Knives” Are Not Very Good!
I feel the need to go on a little rant before discussing the greatest throwing knives. I looked at the top throwing knives that other sources had recommended. Almost all of them suggest the same knives. And most of those knives are useless.
Why? Either the knives are too thin, too light, or both. And other websites advise purchasing kunai throwing knives. There is no justification to purchase a kunai unless you are a geeky anime lover (more on why kunai knives suck for throwing later).
I understand that websites might earn affiliate commissions by suggesting particular goods. But at the very least, they should do their homework!
On our website, we also have affiliate links, however we won’t advocate things that are total garbage only to make money.
What Do We Suggest?
The throwing knives in this list are all bigger, heavier, and primarily center-balanced.
The best is without a doubt Cold Steel. Even when misthrown, they don’t shatter.
However, the other knives examined here are also appropriate for novices, particularly those on a budget.
Just be aware that eventually, you’ll have some broken blades. You’ll likely be prepared to upgrade to a better pair of throwing knives by that time.
Best Throwing Knives Overview
1. Cold Steel Sure Flight Sport
The greatest commercial throwing knives are without a doubt Cold Steel knives. They won’t break as other less expensive options do.
This Sure Flight knife has a respectable length and is well-balanced. They are therefore appropriate for newcomers who aren’t sure if they want to toss rotationally or without spin.
Since it is a little lighter, it won’t be as effective for throwing far. The decreased weight will lessen wrist strain while learning, though.
Keep in mind that a sheath is not included with this knife. That must be purchased individually. Up to three blades can fit inside the sheath.
Rotational or no-spin is best; extended distances are not recommended.
2. Cold Steel Pro Balance
This is a preferred throw for no-spin spear throwing. It is a little bit heavier than what is often used for no-spin, but this gives it a decent heaviness, making it easier to launch the knife over long distances.
For no-spin, you want the center of balance to be somewhat nearer the handle. To shift additional weight toward the handle, you may also place cordage over it.
These throwing knives from Cold Steel are excellent quality and won’t malfunction (at least not right away). Yes, they cost more, but buying one high-quality knife is less expensive than buying new knives all the time.
The knife’s form isn’t quite straight. But despite its smooth shape, it nevertheless performs admirably for no-spin.
3. Boker Magnum Baily Ziel Throwing Knife Set
This knife set was made by expert thrower John Bailey. They are excellent for those who are new to competition. Most competition requirements will be met by the knife.
They work well for long-distance throwing because to their larger weight (though the weight might be a bit overwhelming at first if you are a newbie).
However, you shouldn’t toss without a spin with them. The trajectory for no-spin will be messed up by the little spikes that protrude from the centre of the blade. But for rotational, they work wonderfully.
The fact that the knives are constructed of stainless steel is another important detail. Knives made of this material aren’t the ideal for throwing, and you’ll certainly wind up with some shattered tips. However, you may simply repair the blades using a grinder.
4. Boker Magnum Bo-Kri Throwing Knife Set
Don’t be put off by these blades’ peculiar form. They feel wonderful and are well-balanced, which makes figuring out rotation simpler.
Despite being lighter and shorter than the majority of rotational throwing knives, they nonetheless revolve effectively thanks to their design.
Many dedicated throwers rely exclusively on these. For a full rotation at 10 feet and a half rotation at 12 to 14 feet, they advise using them. Even 1.5 and 2 spins are possible with them.
Another point is that these knives hold up quite well despite being made of stainless steel. They may acquire some chips when they collide, but they won’t crack or split in two like cheap SOGs or Monarch throwing knives.
5. Perfect Point PAK Throwing Knife Set
If you’re looking for a fantastic starter knife set, they are excellent, especially for learning no-spin.
For a set of 12, these are fairly affordable. The knives are quite fragile as a result, and you will have some broken tips (purchase a file to correct this!). However, given how inexpensive the knives are, you won’t care too much.
They are superb throwers, despite being so inexpensive. They are less daunting for beginners since they are lighter and smaller. They are quite simple to stick since they are balanced and smooth. Even rotational usage is possible, although no-spin is preferable.
Notice how light they are. To increase the weight, you should wrap the handle. If not, the knives will bounce back rather than sticking. The blades will cling much better after you take the time to wrap them (which is really simple to do).
Not in their unwrapped state! They may bounce back pretty strongly, generate a lot of noise, and it’s simpler to break tips.
How to Choose a Throwing Knife
When selecting a knife, there are several things to take into account. But this is especially true when choosing a throwing knife.
Knife throwing may be quite challenging due to certain design elements, especially if you’re trying to throw it without spin. To make matters more problematic, several popular throwing knives do not match competition criteria!
You should think about the following before making a purchase:
Rules for Contest
Look at the contest rules if you plan to participate. Even though the regulations for each competition vary slightly, the following knives are often permitted:
- 9 to 12 inches minimum in length (tip to handle)
- maximum length of 16 inches (tip to handle)
- You need three identical knives.
- a minimum of 8 ounces
- Knives with handles that allows air to travel through them are prohibited.
Spears are prohibited
A spear is frequently described as being longer than 13 inches and having a tip that makes up less than one-third of the whole length.
Longer knives provide you more control, which may seem paradoxical, especially when shooting at distant targets.
For this reason, knives must be at least 12 inches long for rotational throwing and 10 inches long for no-spin contests.
Short throwing knives, in the words of one knife thrower:
When I first started, a few people cautioned me about using light and short knives. I wish I had listened to them. By beginning with hefty knives 10′′ or longer, I may have saved money and a ton of time. Simply said, they are considerably simpler to handle, throw, and stick into place, requiring less picking up off the ground.
Why Decide on Longer?
- They turn slowly when thrown rotationally (with spin), making them simpler to manage. The throwing distance increases with knife length with each revolution.
- The length provides far greater control while throwing no-spin. It won’t spin because of the added weight from the length; instead, it will fly in an arc.
- Knives that are longer are easier to hold.
- They can better penetrate the target thanks to their heavier weight.
Weight
Heavier knives self-throw, as IKTHOF creator Mike Bainton noted. The knife will slip out of your hand more easily because of its weight. Because of the weight, they won’t bounce back but rather stay to the target, which poses a serious safety risk.
When you first start throwing, you’ll discover how difficult this activity is on your joints, thus it may seem paradoxical, but heavier throwing knives are gentler on your joints.
Because of the weight, you don’t have to throw the knife with as much power, which spares your wrist and elbow from injury.
How Much Weight?
A common requirement for contests is that the throwing knife weigh at least 8oz. Harry McEvoy, a skilled knife thrower, calculated the ideal weight for a throwing knife using the following formula:
1 inch of knife weighs between 1.1 and 1.4 ounces.
Therefore, if your knife is 10 inches long, it should weigh no more than 10 ounces and no more than 14 ounces. The majority of commercial throwing knives are nowhere near as hefty, as I complained previously. Because of this, professional knife throwers frequently use specialized blades.
Which portion of a knife is heavier is referred to as the balance of the knife. Blade weight, handle weight, or balance all play a role in throwing knives (referring to center balance).
A throwing knife is frequently perceived as needing to be “ideally balanced.” However, when thrown, a knife will revolve around its center of gravity. Therefore, determining the location of the knife’s center of gravity is all that is required. We are able to hurl incredibly imbalanced objects like tomahawks because of this.
However, it is usually preferable to start with a balanced knife.
If the knife’s center of gravity is balanced, throwing it will result in pleasing circles. As a result, predicting the trajectory will be simpler. You may swap from one balanced knife to any other balanced knife, which is another benefit of using balanced knives. Knives with hefty handles or blades cannot be used for this since each blade has a distinct feel.
Handle – Good Or Bad?
Best Is No Handle
The majority have no control over them at all.
Why?
Considering that you want to hold a straight, smooth surface for a solid release while throwing it.
Repeated throwing will cause any handle material to fracture or shatter, including “durable” handles. Kraton and other kinds of rubber are the sole exceptions. These are resilient to several influences. You still need a throwing knife without a handle, though.
Knives may always be made better for throwing by removing the handle.
Steer clear of cutouts or skeletonized handles:
Although they may have a nice appearance, the cutout might grab your hand as you toss. Additionally, if you wish to compete, the majority of contest regulations forbid blades with any apertures that allow air to pass through them.
Putting Your Own Handle on It:
Many professional knife throwers will give their blades their unique handles. Attaching cardboard that has been vulcanized is an excellent choice. As you toss the knife, it won’t rub against it since it is smooth.
Using a piece of linen that has been trimmed to be approximately 1 inch wide is a more simple do-it-yourself approach. This is wrapped around the knife handle, leaving a little portion of steel visible. The linen is then covered with electrical tape. You should attach the tape to the steel that you left exposed. You must make sure that the last linen and tape layer is UP on the handle.
Your throwing knife will get heavier if you add a homemade handle to it. It’s nice that you can choose how much weight to put to the handle, but you’ll need practice to know just how much to add.
What Form?
The most straightforward knives to throw are those that are absolutely straight. These are typically balanced and appropriate for no-spin or rotational throwing from the handle or blade.
You can toss knives with unusual shapes, and it can be fun to do so. Simply hold the knife higher or lower to account for the strange form.
Contrary to popular belief, throwing knives do not require razor-sharp edges. All they require is a sharp tip. Additionally, you don’t want the knife’s sides to be pointed. Use a file on the sides if they aren’t already dull. Seriously, you don’t want to stab yourself since throwing knives bounce.
Construction
A lot of misuse is not intended for most knives. If used for tossing, they will crumble very soon. Unexpectedly, most inexpensive knives don’t shatter when tossed. Instead, when you remove it from the target, the tip frequently breaks off.
Look for the following characteristics in a knife to ensure that it can resist being thrown:
- Full tang: It must be full tang without a doubt. Otherwise, after a few tosses, the handle will separate.
- No cuts, holes, or skeletonized components are allowed since they significantly weaken the blade. Although skeletonized blades may appear nice, they are useless investments since they will shatter.
- Carbon steel: Compared to stainless steel, carbon steel is more resistant to being thrown. You can simply hammer carbon back into shape if it bends.
- The knife must be at least 3/16 inches thick in order to be sturdy enough to survive repeated throwing.