101 KNIFE THROWING TIPS

by Scott Gracia

IN THIS REPORT
Safety Tips
Throwing Tips
Checklist
Ways to Slow Down Rotation
Ways to Speed Up Rotation
Targets
Preserving Your Targets
Soft Woods to Use for Targets
Do-It-Yourselfers
Hardening Simple Steels
Types of Materials Used for Handles
Inexpensive Things to Throw
Preventive Maintenance
Competition Rules
Knife Throwing Tricks
Throwing Clubs and Organizations
Knife Throwing Websites

SAFETY TIPS
1. Always be aware of your surroundings. Make sure there
arent any children or animals around.
2. Its also a good idea to have your throwing area roped off
so others may not wander onto your throwing range or get
hit by a ricocheting knife.
3. If you have throwing knives that have a sharp edge on
the blade, you can put a few layers of electrical tape around
them and you will be able to throw them from the blade
without having to worry about getting cut.
4. If there are younger people who wish to try throwing, first check with their parents. Then have them throw
something else first, like a tennis ball. Something that
will bounce back at them. Let them know that knives can
bounce back and cause serious injury, so they should be
ready to move. Make them throw the ball hard, without getting hit by it after it bounces off the target, about 100 times.
Or until you feel they are ready. Some may need more,
some a little less. JUST BE CAREFUL.

THROWING TIPS
5. Start out with a basic half-turn throw. Hold your knife by
the blade and stand about 6-8 ft. away from your target.
When you throw, your knife will make 1/2 rotation before
it reaches your target. Pay attention to how the knife hits.
If it sticks straight in the target then thats your 1/2 turn distance. Make sure you mark it! If the handle hits high or low,
then make your adjustments. Once you find your 1/2 turn
distance, measure it out exactly and mark it. Practice here
until you are consistently sticking your knives. Then you just
need to do a little math to figure out where to throw from
for 1 turn, 2 turn, or 3 turn throws.
6. Formula for figuring out your throwing distances: Start
with your 1/2 turn distance. Mine is 7.5. Now guesstimate
the length of your arm and subtract it from your 1/2 turn
distance. Lets say 2.5, (Im only 56 and I throw with a
pinch grip which makes it spin faster), subtract 2.5 for the
length of my arm and I get 5 for my 1/2 turn distance.
7. To find your distance for 1 full turn, take your 1/2 turn
distance, 5, and multiply it by 2. Then add the length of
your arm, 2.5 and thats your full turn distance. 25 + 2.5=
12.5 for a full turn.
8. Your 1 1/2 turn would be: 35 + 2.5= 17.5 for 1 1/2 turns.
And so on, and so on. This formula will figure your approximate distance to throw from. Every little thing affects your
knife. If you dont stick em right away, dont get frustrated.
Try to watch how the knife is hitting the target and make
your adjustments. If you dont want to spend time figuring out distances and just want to get started you can try
standing between 6 and 8 feet for a half spin, and between
11 and 13 feet for 1 full spin. These are just a starting point.
Distances will vary depending on the length of the knife and
the person throwing it.
9. A knife that is handle heavy, throws more easily when
gripped from the blade.
10. A knife that is blade-heavy, throws more easily when
gripped from the handle.
11. Heavier knives are better for longer distances. like 2-5
turn throws.

12. Lighter knives are better for closer distances. Like 1/2 to
1 1/2 turns.

you keep your weight on your back foot, always do that or it

will change the spin.

13. Always watch the handle, not the point. If your knife hits
with the handle up, move forward a few inches. It had too
much time to spin before reaching the target.

31. Are you at the correct distance for your throw. Even 3
can make a difference when throwing small knives.

14. If your knife hits with the handle down, back up a few
inches. It needs a little more time to spin before reaching
your target.
15. Try not to snap your wrist when you release your knife.
It is hard to snap it exactly the same every time you throw.
16. Keep your wrist locked and try to get a smooth release.
17. I found after I throw for a while my arm gets tired and I
start bouncing the knives from the same distance I was just
sticking them from. When your arm gets tired your body
adjusts by giving it a little more of a snap to get it to the
target. This makes it spin a bit faster. So if all of a sudden
you start bouncing your knives after youve been sticking
them all day... try moving forward just a bit.
18. I always take a small step forward when I throw. This
seems to help propel the knife. If you are a right handed
thrower, you step forward with your left foot. Just like
throwing a baseball.
19. The farther away you are from your target the more
distance your knife is actually traveling. Ex: if you are
throwing from 20 away you must aim well above the target
due to the effects of gravity so you could be throwing more
like 23. If you are calculating your number of turns and
distances you will have a shorter distance the farther away
you throw from.
20. Knives are pretty easy to lose if you throw outside in
deep grass. I put a bright layer of tape on the handles which
makes them easier to spot. This also helps when trying to
find your spot to throw from. The tape makes it easier to
see if the handle is hitting up or down.
21. When throwing more than one knife, start by grabbing
the 1st knife off of the pile. Then raise it in front of you,
take aim or go through your steps, and release it. Grab the
second knife and do the same thing. Dont just grab each
knife and let it fly. This is not a race. Take your time. If you
start throwing too fast you might end up snapping your
wrist and moving your elbow out to the side like a baseball
pitcher. This will cause the knife to spin more than usual
and it wont stick (unless you make adjustments).

32. Are you using the same release? Are you letting it slide
from your hand or are you snapping your wrist?
33. Everyone is different. What works for one person may
not work for another. Keep practicing and you will discover
what works for you.

WAYS TO SLOW ROTATION

34. Put your thumb on the spline (top edge), of your knife to
slow the rotation down.
35. Or choke up on your knife to slow the rotation.
36. There is another technique to slow the spin called a slide
release. You achieve this by holding the knife softly and letting the centrifugal force of your throwing arc pull it sliding
from your hand.
37. Another way to slow the rotation of your knife is to keep
your wrist straight. Dont bend it when throwing because
then you will tend to snap your wrist which will make it
spin faster.
Bonus tip. It doesnt actually slow the rotation of the knife
but it has the same effect: if you throw the knife harder, it
has less time to spin in the air before it reaches the target.
So if your knives are over rotating just a bit, try throwing
them a bit harder instead of moving forward.

WAYS TO SPEED UP ROTATION

38. To speed up the turning of your knife you can choke
down on the handle (grab your knife a bit lower from your
usual spot).
39. Snap your wrist a little when you release the knife.
40. Raise your knife like you are about to throw. Now angle
the tip of your knife towards you (if this is a handle throw).
Continue with the rest of your throw. If it were a blade
throw, do everything the same except you would then
angle the handle towards you.

22. Concentrate on using a true overhand throw. If you

throw side-arm, your knife will be less likely to stick. One
reason is the grain of the wood usually runs vertically, and
a blade hitting the target horizontally just wont cut through
as well. Another reason is your knife will be slowed down
by more resistance going through the air because it isnt
cutting through the air.

TARGETS

23. Mark your throwing spots. A piece of tape, a stick, or

whatever. Just be sure to mark it so you know exactly
where to stand for each spin (1/2 spin, 1 spin, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2,
3, etc.).

42. Polypropylene archery targets work well for smaller

knives and spikes, but get chewed by the bigger throwers.

24. Your throwing distances may change daily. Sometimes

my full turn throw is from 12.5 and sometimes from 11.
Dont worry about it. Just make your adjustments. The
consistency will come the more you practice!
25. If you plan on entering any competitions, I would suggest getting yourself a set of at least three, 12 knives. And
practice from a minimum length of 12 from your target.
26. If you ever get the chance, go to one of the many knife
and tomahawk throwing competitions. These participants
are the cream of the crop in our sport. You can learn tons
of useful tips from them. Also, many competitions have
demonstrations going on where you can learn new techniques, different things to throw or just meet other people
who love to throw!
27. Get together with friends to throw. Its always more fun
when you are with others that enjoy the sport. Get together
once a week or once a month and practice.

CHECKLIST
28. Repetition is the key. Try to do everything the same
every time you throw until you get the feel of your knives. If
you just cant get your knives to stick consistently, check to
see if you are doing the following:
29. Are you using the same grip? Hold all your knives in the
exact same spot every time you throw.
30. Are you using the same stance and approach? Was your
left foot or right foot forward? If you leaned forward when
you released the first knife, then lean forward for the rest. If

41. If your target is made of boards, always place the grain

of your target vertically. The knife cuts into the grain easier
this way.

43. If you are using log rounds for your targets, try to get
them at least 4 thick minimum. The thicker they are the
longer they will last.
44. Once the face gets chewed up you just cut off a couple
inches and you have a new target face.
45. Bales of hay will also work. (Ive never tried this one so I
cant tell you how long they last).
46. You can tape a bunch of broken down cardboard boxes
together for a cheap indoor target.

PRESERVING YOUR TARGETS

47. Make more than one bulls eye on your target. Otherwise
the center of your target will be mush. This also helps
prolong the life of your handles. Because you wont be
banging knives together as often.
48. Soaking your targets with water before throwing at
them is a good idea. If it is a soft wood, it will act like a selfhealing dart board when you pull your knives out. When it
starts to dry out just add more water.

SOFT WOODS TO USE FOR TARGETS

49. Pine
50. Spruce
51. Cottonwood
52. Willow
53. Poplar
54. Cypress

DO-IT-YOURSELFERS

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

If you want to make your own throwers, here are a few

good tips to keep in mind:

76. Clean your knives with hot water and soap to get mud
or dirt off.

55. If youre going to make your own thrower, a good rule

of thumb is 1 = 1oz. You need sufficient weight for good
target penetration.

77. You can also use a non-abrasive scouring pad for the
stuck on dirt.
78. Dry them thoroughly. You dont want your knives to rust.

56. Use carbon steel, not stainless. Carbon steel is much

more sturdy.
57. Make sure your knife is long enough so you have good
control over it. Some people say a good rule of thumb is an
11 minimum and a 16 maximum.
58. If you want a knife that will throw equally well from the
handle or the blade, then the balancing point should be
very close to the center of the knife.
59. Throwers should always be made of one solid piece.
Dont try to attach the blade to the handle because it wont
be able to take the impact and will eventually break.

HARDENING SIMPLE STEELS

60. If you want to harden a low alloy steel there is one
feature that makes this virtually foolproof. When cooking
them for hardening, keep a magnet handy. When the low
alloy steel reaches the critical temperature where it can be
hardened by quenching, it turns non-magnetic. As the steel
heats, check it with a magnet. At a certain point, the magnet
wont stick. Keep it in the heat a few more seconds and then
quench it.
61. Dont use water to quench it. Its too thin and will cool
too fast.
62. Use light weight oil or transmission fluid heated to 175
degrees for quenching. If the oil is too cold it may crack
your steel.
63. The thicker the oil, the slower it cools.
64. Dont use a small tank of oil to quench a lot of knives.
Sooner or later, the oil will start on fire!

TYPES OF MATERIAL USED FOR HANDLES

65. If your knives dont have any handles, you can cut a
T-shirt into 1 strips and wrap your handles with these. Then
put electrical tape over the T-shirt. If it wears out it is easy
and cheap to replace.

79. If you are going to store them add a light coat of

machine oil.
80. If your knife gets a ding in it from hitting another knife
or a rock, take a file and smooth it out. Otherwise you can
be cut by these sharp pieces. Thats also a good place for
rust to start.
81. Cover your handles with electrical tape. It will prolong
their life. Make sure that the last layer of tape goes up the
handle toward the blade. This way it wont get caught on
your hand during your release.

COMPETITION RULES
Im listing a few of these for anyone who is interested in
competing. Its nice to know what youre in for when you
get there. The rest of the rules and regulations can be found
on the pages of some of the throwing web sites listed. The
AKTA and PKT both follow AKTA rules. And these are some
of those rules:
82. TARGETS
At least 16 inches in diameter. Bulls eye of 2.5 inches in
circle or equilateral triangle. Second ring of 8 inches, and
outer ring of 16 inches.
83. KNIVES
Only knives are allowed. The knives must be at least 12
inches long and must be no wider than 3 inches at their
widest point.
84. SCORING
Bulls eye = 3 points.
Second ring = 2 points.
Third ring = 1 point.
A knifes point must be embedded in the target for a
score. If the knife blade touches the border of a higher
ring, the higher score is awarded.
85. There are four targets placed at varying heights. The
distance from the ground to the bullseyes vary from 3 feet
to 5 feet.

66. You can use thick pieces of leather attached with rivets.

KNIFE TRICKS

67. You can use composition rubber, (same as shoe soles),

attached with rivets.

When you master the basics of knife throwing Im sure

some of you will want to have a few cool tricks to impress
everyone with. So here are a few:

68. Micarta A hard, fiber material that works great until

you bang a knife off the handle. Then it really splinters and
makes getting a smooth release difficult. A layer or two of
electrical tape seems to help a bit.
69. Rawhide strip. Can also be attached with rivets.
70. Nothing. Just the cold steel!

INEXPENSIVE THINGS TO THROW

71. Clothes hanger darts. Take a heavy wire hanger and cut
it into 8 inch lengths. Bend one end over about 2 inches
along the main shaft. You now have a 6 inch throwing spike.
You can even add tassels to the loop for stabilization.
72. Razor blades. (Be very careful!) You have to get the
blades with an edge on each side. The ones used for shaving I think. Wedge your index finger, on the edge next to
your nail, in the middle opening of the blade. Wedge it on
your middle finger side. Then curl your finger in and put
your thumb on it. Like flicking something off your finger.
Remember be careful and dont practice with anyone else
in the room.
73. The bamboo chopstick . You can pick these up in any
Asian market. A few dollars for a bundle of fifty.
74. Lawnmower blades. This one is inexpensive if you have
a lawnmower that just blew up. Use a bench grinder to
shape them how you want and voila!
75. Large nails. You can buy 8-12 inch nails at any hardware store. These can be sharpened to throw into wood or
left alone to throw into softer indoor targets. And they cost
less than a dollar each!

86. Throw while lying down. Just make sure your shoulder
is at your mark where you usually stand.
87. Throw the knives from between your legs. Stand with
your back to the target. Bend over and look at your target
from between your legs. Now throw. It will take a few tries
to find your correct distance.
88. The under-handed throw. Pretty self explanatory. Kind of
like bowling. Step forward while swinging the knife behind
you then release it when its coming past your body. This
one you will also have to practice until you find your mark.
89. Another backwards throw. Stand with your back to
the target. Look backwards under your throwing arm and
throw. This should be from the mark where you usually
stand. Blade throws seem to be easier for this one.
90. Place one of your targets flat on the ground. Now lob
your knife high into the air and see if you can get it to stick.
If it sticks in the ground, mark your spot. Now you just have
to work on your accuracy!
91. Practicing with a fake assistant. Since my girlfriend
wont let me throw knives at her, I just draw a profile (side
view) of a face on my target. Then I can tape a cigarette or
balloon next to the mouth and practice throwing without
worrying. I havent killed my fake assistant yet!
92. Throw 2 knives at once. You can do this with both in one
hand or one in each.

THROWING CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The following clubs are all worth joining. We should all help
support our sport in any way we can. The more people that

join, the bigger the sport will become. And along with that
comes more publicity. After that its big $$$ competitions,
commercial deals with Cindy Crawford, record contracts,
etc. :-) Anyway, once you are a member, you also receive
discounts on knives from many knife makers, newsletters,
patches, stickers and a lot more useful information. So be
sure to check these out.
93. AKTA (American Knife Throwers Alliance) National
Director, Bobby Branton. The American Knife Throwers
Alliance is an association of American sportsmen dedicated
to the practice and promotion of knife throwing as a sport,
recreation and hobby. In support of its dedication to the
sport, the purpose of the AKTA is to provide assistance and
offer guidelines to individuals and groups who may wish to
organize for competitive sport in their local areas.
http://www.brantonknives.com/akta.htm
94. PKT (Pacific Knife Throwers) President, Rick Lemberg.
We teach, write, practice and compete with the intention of
establishing knife throwing as a fun, safe, target sport. The
PKT is dedicated to providing an environment in California
and the Western States that is open to all novice and experienced throwers that wish to learn, compete and enjoy the
many benefits of the myriad of skills involved. Any throwers
that share these goals are able to join.
http://www.commonlogic.com/knife/clubs/pkt/pkt.htm
95. IKTA (International Knife Throwers Alliance) Founder
and Director, Bob Karp (with over fifty years of knife throwing experience). The International Knife Throwing Alliance
is dedicated to developing, educating, and training people
in the art and sport of knife throwing. To that end, the IKTA
sponsors seminars, demonstrations, training camps, and
the IKTA World Championship Knife throw off in Las Vegas,
Nevada. In addition, the IKTA is committed to increasing the
Public=92s awareness of the art and sport of knife throwing.
http://www.ikta.com/

KNIFE THROWING WEBSITES

96. The Thrower Page: Everything you could think of that
has to do with throwing weapons. Economics, how-tos,
books, grips, articles, clubs and organizations, competitions
and rules, an Internet mailing list and many other useful
things about throwing.
http://www.quine.home.sonic.net/thrower.html
97. The Sticking Point: This is another excellent site about
throwing. Includes information on; the history of throwing,
do-it-yourself knives, clubs and competitions, a Coat of
Arms java applet where you can design your coat of arms
with your favorite knife models. There is also a contest link
to win cool throwing stuff!
http://www.commonlogic.com/knife/index.htm
98. The Knife Throwers Page: A great up and coming page
from John Bailey. John has 2 throwing videos available and
also an online catalogue with lots of throwers!
http://www.throwingknives.com/
99. Tonkasila and Knives: Custom knife maker Lee Fugatt.
I own some of Lees Ugly Knives and think they are great!
Every knife I own is abused daily and theyre all pretty
beat up. Im always bouncing knives off of one another. All
except for Lees! Theres not a knick or gouge on em. Ive
even had sparks fly off of them from being hit so hard and
still nothing! He has a catalog available that has more of his
products listed than his web site does.
http://www.geocities.com/leefugatt/index.html
100. Harald Moeller. Master knife maker: If you like to
drool... then check this page out! These knives are considered the best of the best.
http://www.horn-net.com/hmoeller/viper.html
101. The Great Throwzini: The Great Throwzini, a knife throwing site thats all about knives and throwing weapons. How
to make different targets and games to play with throwing
knives. Lots of pictures of knives and other throwers.
http://www.throwzini.com/

Copyright 2003 by Scott Gracia. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
used without permission from the author. Page design by Pep : http://www.alkaa.com
DISCLAIMER: You participate in the sport of knife throwing at your own risk. The author
of this tips report urges the reader to take all safety precautions available. The author is
not responsible for any injuries resulting from knife throwing or any use of the above
mentioned tips. To learn the specific techniques for throwing knifes properly and safely
we highly recommend that you seek a professional knife throwing trainer or organization
to assist you in learning the sport of knife throwing.