EDC Throwers?

D

DJ Kali

Joined
Apr 20, 2004
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Legal discussions aside, does anyone have any recommendations for good throwers for everyday carry? In addition, how many would you all recommend and how would you carry them?
 
Throwers are usually not good for EDC for utility purposes. The designs make them generally uncomfortable for actually cutting. They are usually not tempered, as to not be too brittle, and break when thrown.

Also throwers are generally heavy (over 200 grams?). Thowers should also not have a sharp edge.

If I were to carry throwers, I'd want three, in a piggy back sheath.
 
I agree with Underaged... unless you're doing everyday throwing, you probably won't like any thrower as an EDC.

Some are sharp--certainly sharper than they need to be--but yes, they don't retain an edge for long and are a hassle to resharpen. And changing the shape of the blade to put on a scary-sharp edge could conceivably change the flight dynamics.

Unless you're certain on throwing, I'd go with a standard knife for EDC.

Hope this helps...I wouldn't want you disappointed.
 
I don't think this is really hijacking the thread, but if it is maybe a mod can split it or I'll just start a new one. I was just wondering if anyone had some suggestions for a normal EDC, that could, in dire circumstances of course, be thrown with a fair amount of success. unless of course this was the original intent of this thread.
 
Well, if ya gotta throw a knife, ya gotta. :)

With a good familiarity of the throwing process, any knife could be thrown, balanced or not, and stick. It's a question of adjusting your grip and possibly your stance and range.

The problem is that you would probably only throw an EDC in an emergency ("Big Trouble in Little China" is an excellent documentary on when to throw an EDC ;) )... and strategically, that can be the worst time to throw one: it's nearly impossible to hit an eccentrically moving target, and unless your target is at an ideal range, it won't stick.

You can mitigate the risks inherent in throwing a knife by deciding when and where to throw, and of course to have a balanced knife--that makes things a little easier, but as Underaged mentioned, defeats it as a good EDC.

I think the question came up a while back, and a few of us agreed that if throwing is a good option for you, carry a utility EDC *as well as* a thrower.
 
Thanks for everyone's replies. Carrying EDC utility as well as EDC thrower(s) was actually what I had in mind. I usually carry a straight blade and karambit but the other night a situation arose wherein I wish I had a set of throwers. While my straight blade would work, what I have found is that I oftentimes use my first throw as a reference, as I practice throwing for SD and therefore am not particular about positioning or set distances.

My two methods of throw that I practice the most are running to or away from a target while throwing (this is when multiple throwers are useful) or moving in simulated combat (freestyling/freeflowing) and either "fading away" for throws or throwing off to the side or behind to mimic multiple targets.

Thanks again, and further input would be welcomed.
 
Would you be opposed to inexpensive throwers, that you wouldn't mind leaving behind?

If so, there's a plethora of cheap throwers out there--they'll stick in a variety of things, and you can buy them in sets of three, or so. I second underaged!'s recommendation about a piggybacked sheath. A quick Google search under "throwing knives" should produce a few dozen opportunities to get some cheap throwers. United, Gil Hibben, etc., make some inexpensive ones.

Do keep in mind any legal implications... it can be far easier to explain away an EDC as a utility item, but throwing knives might raise a lot of eyebrows. Thus endeth *that* sermon... :)

Whichever type you carry, be sure you practice speed-drawing and throwing per your two preferred methods (it might be a good idea to hit your throwers with a few spots of bright spray paint, or you can lose them in the grass). I'm sure you already appreciate that there will be enormous changes in finding, drawing from concealed position, stabilizing the grip, positioning, aiming, and throwing in a clinch situation!

A co-worker once claimed to me that he would sometimes wear a thrower down the back of his neck. When he needed it, he claimed he'd reach his hand back to his neck, pull out the knife, and throw it.

Maybe it was true. But when I tried it, all I did was fumble trying to find the thing and get it drawn smoothly. So I gave up any illusion of *that* ever working. Plus, the darn handle kept sticking up above my collar: how is *that* concealed?
 
Unless you are really good, able to hit a vital exposed body part the first time every time, never consider throwing a knife as self defense or offense. If you have a big knife (10" or larger, .25" thick) it won't matter as long as you get a head shot. It is basically the same as hitting some one with a chunk of steel. Unless you do make vital contact, you have just given your opponent a weapon to use against you! Penetration through clothing or even bare skin is not near as severe as hollywood would have you think. It is very difficult to transfer enough kinetic energy with a thrown conventional blade design to disable an aggressive opponent. More than likely you will scare the hell out of them. They will either run or just get pissed off and use your discarded weapon against you.
Throwing lead for self defense is much more effective than throwing steel.
Any questions, post some more!
Good luck
 
When I think of throwing a knife in self defense, I think a half turn throw, if that. That generates more than enough power to go through clothing, skin, and muscle, especially with a bigger knife. I would never throw a knife far enough that an attacker would actually be able to retrieve the knife and use it before I was on top of them. I'm not sure exactly who posted it, but there's a few pics floating around here of a Kabar, sticking about half way into a wooden board...tell me THAT couldn't penetrate clothing and skin. Granted, I'm sure not alot of people can throw that well, I know I can't. It would take a hella lot a training to be proficient enough with a throwing knife to be able to use it under stress, but I think that extra few feet of distance from an attacker would be quite an advantage.
 
Well, lets put it this way.

Unless you have actually achieved that type of penetration in plywood
using your own tests, don't believe all that you see. The only time I have had those results have been with a spike type steel that was in the 2 to 4 pound range. Mainly with .50 inch punches or marlin spikes.
A tapered tool will penetrate much deeper than a convetional knife design. Also with a tapered tool you have more weight on the back of the tool to transfer the stored (kinetic) energy to the front of the tool after impact. Clothing is even a more difficult issue. The amount of flex that a given fabric will have has a dramatic effect. The tightness of the weave of that fabric has as equal or higher effect. Even Hydroshock bullets will not expand if enough fabric fills in the hollowpoint(winter clothing, mutiple layers of cotton or wool). A convential knife will not penetrate class II armor(without trauma plate) but an ice pick will. It is a matter of sectional density compared to thrust. A smaller point that is tapered that fits thru the fabric weave will penetrate much deeper than any convential blade design. This does not even take into account the amount of energy that is lost by throwing your tool. As soon as you release it, the pound per square inch energy diminishes. Held in your hand, the force may be fairly constant and can easily increase by your own choice.
I have been throwing anything and everything since age five. I have thrown numerous tools at hanging sides of beef. It is fairly difficult to get the desired penetration past the ribs. I have even modified my throwing technique so that the tool hits at a 30 to 45 degree angle(horizontal) in order to fit between the ribs. Even then the amount of muscle in these areas is detrimental to all but razor sharp or tapered tools. Even with a half turn throw, you gotta be good. If you got a real nasty player and the tool only pricks em, be ready to eat your own steel.
Bottom line:
Throwing lead is much more effective than throwing steel.
If you have a choice,lol.
Good luck!
 
The only application I can see would be to throw a knife at someone's face as a closing tactic, i.e. while running, and follow up with a series of hard strikes and a second knife. I have a consistent throw at three meters (non rotational) while running towards the target that is accurate enough.

But why carry two knives instead of a knife and a gun?
 
Exactly.

Why bring a knife to a gunfight?
Unfortunately if you do not live in the US bringing a gun legally may be a problem. I will admit that my views on self defense are biased towards US constitutional rights of the same. I am clueless as to the severity of penalties in other countries if you escalate an illegal or legal knife to an illegal or legal firearm. I can only assume that they are extremely severe, especially if your country does not acknowledge that you have a legal right to self defense at all. Please let me know about your laws so that I may be able to reply in a more informative matter.
Thanks guys!
Good luck!
 
Gee, what a bunch of whimps. I've carried light throwing knives for years. As long as you have a quick arm they will easily penetrate plywood. I work hard on that half-turn throw that puts you out of immediate contact range, but minimizes the chance of failing to stick. I also figure it as part of a combination attack, following immediately with a flying side kick. As a knife with a reasonable size and utility I would suggest a well sharpened Cold Steel TRUE FLIGHT Thrower. It is lighter than some of the long range exhibition throwing knives, but it is very practical. Knives and bayonets of the size of the WWII M3 combat knife work very well. A good bowie knife works pretty well.

If you want to learn to throw your regular EDC, you just need a kinder, gentler practice range. I would use a target that is about 4 layers of cardboard laminated together using spray adhesive. Hang this loosely from a support that is covered with layers of carpet. Use a hanging carpet back stop. Put carpet and cardboard under your target for knives that fall. If you do this right you will inflict minimal damage on any reasonably robust EDC. You can get good at throwing it. After a while you can put targets around your room and practice from your bed.
 
Sorry Jeff,

I have to raise the BS flag on this one. Did you see the picture of the Kabar that was referred to? The knife had a good 4" penetration through the plywood. Yes, small knives will penetrate plywood, but just barely even with thin plywood at extremely close ranges. At that range you would be better off using it to stab or slash. Have you ever had to defend yourself at close range(5 to 7 ft or closer) using a gun or knife? Do you know people who have done the same? I have and know many others who have. Tell me about your experiences to make me a believer. Your own motto expounds my belief that throwing lead is better than throwing steel. What's up?
 
flying side kick:confused:

its pretty easy to be accurate within 5 feet with a 0 rotation throw, and you can get pretty good penetration out of a throw, moreso in wood then with a stab. rather then throwing your knife then going in for attacks, you could slash, slash, step back and throw, keeping yourself at about a 3 foot distance. but it would seem that if your going to do that, your iether about to run, or your better at stickyhands/handtohand then at knife fighting, cause it would be silly to throw away your weapon otherwise...

and honestly, if you want an inexpensive throwing weapon, you can buy some pretty dirt cheap large carpenter nails and sharpen them... you can also attach them to shoe strings and throw 5+ creating a shotgun effect (kind of like a sling, but you let go of the shoestring completely) :eek: : :D

as to the original question, id say buy a knife/knives that are excellent for edc/use, and get good at throwing them rather then great throwers that can be used for cutting (marginally).
 
Great points all around. I think when it comes to throwing knives, there are those that throw as a distraction or diversionary tactic, and others who try and throw for depth and lethal entry. The reason police have their 20' rule (I apologize for not knowing what the name is) is because time and time again, tests have proven that within 20 feet an assailant has a high chance of inflicting damage with a knife before an officer can fire off a clean shot. I am accurate within about a foot (I know thats not the tightest grouping) when throwing a knife or knives from about 20 feet and if I were to do so in a "real" situation I would close the distance and use whatever else I had.

Personally if someone was rushing me and threw a knife at me I would first of all be concerned with dodging the knife (no matter how protective any clothing might be!) and if it missed (or even hit, but did not stick) I do not know if I would feel confident trying to grab it or pick it up. I would be more concerned with the fists coming at my face. So for me, my throws would be more of a long range attack only to be followed by further tactics. Either that or I would throw and run. I doubt I would throw and stand there.

Regarding force, I know for a fact my throws hit harder than any stab or thrust I could perform both with the blade or with the hilt (or puno). From about 16 feet and two rotations I have put a Cold Steel True Flight thrower into 1" compressed plywood and had it stick solidly, sometimes with the point just sticking out the other end. This force is magnified even more when thrown while running.

To me, Tuhon Tom Kier of Sayoc Kali said it best when he stated something along the lines of "most people don't throw their knives because they think they're going to miss. I don't think I'm going to miss." As of right now in my training I would feel more confident throwing a knife than deplying a firearm from a holstered position and firing. But yes Bilker in long range combat I would think "throwing lead" would be better. But what about in an elevator? Would you rather have a knife or a gun?

Great discussion!
 
A gun, any day. I could easily take a perp out with my 45 very quickly. It doesn't take any longer to pull a gun than a knife. I carry cocked and locked and can unlock before the gun leaves the holster. If you look at my previous posts I do not rule out throwing your knife if you are very good and know you will hit a vital enough spot to take control of the situation. You cannot assume that a perp will stop if you just stick them in a non-vital area. Maybe most of them will, but why assume that an attacker is not totally intent on finishing what they started? If you are good and know your skills, sure, throw that knife! If you are just some person that thinks it would be neat to have a knife they might be able to throw in a bad situation, well probably better hang on to it. Personally if I am 5 feet or closer, stab & slash is faster than throwing. 5 to 12 ft I will hit whatever I need to, and simutaneously charge right into the perp to finish the job with my other knife. This would be when I am not carrying firearms.
But all of this depends on your training, experience and level of confidence with your favorite tools. Do what you know best seems to be a decent rule of thumb.

More opinions please!!
 
Some good points all.

Bilker said something that makes sense and we say it in Sayoc Kali... if one does not throw then they will not throw with much confidence in real life situations.

However, Tuhon Chris Sayoc said it best that his preferred projectile is a well balanced brick... :)

Tuhon Tom Kier of Sayoc Kali also puts it into this perspective:

You are facing someone and he's allowed to throw a projectile. You are not. Suddenly the idea of throwing a projectile changes people's perceptions.

Also, force of impact is just as significant as causing sharp force trauma... projectiles are closing tactics.. anything that forces the scenario to go by your call. You make the other guy evade or move instead of attacking when they felt like it. That's how people have been fighting throughout history.

If we look at it from a projectile POV... there's more power in throwing than there is in stabbing something. It is a simple matter of physics.

And people are not made of plywood. I've put blunt objects through flesh quite easily. I've never seen plywood get hit in the 'face' by a screwdriver and flinch.

Try this... fall on anything that is solid and forms a point.. not razor sharp... tell me if you don't make a hole (common sense, consequences and safety is your responsibility). Now drop a piece of plywood on it.. tell me if it makes the same hole... no matter what you do ... that damn plywood has no secondary 'human' responses of it's own.

Unless, flat and wood-like counts.

--Rafael--
" A knife fighter is someone who ran out of ammo"
Sayoc Kali
 
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