folding/throwing knife query

B

bSquirrel

Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
190
is there a folding knife that is balanced well enough to be thrown accurately when open, durable enough to withstand the stress to the blade of hitting a hard target, and with a handle light enough to not alter the trajectory, yet withstand impact in the event of a missed throw?
 
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For me, Buck andrenaline broke its tip.
USARA got its tip bent when it bounced off concrete..

If u need one, you should get a folder with a well made tip.
 
In my experience, it's not so much the blade you need to worry about: it's the handle.

Throwing a knife is very hard on the total blade, not just the tip. There are plenty of folders whose tips are more than strong enough to put up with the shock of hitting a target...

...but it's the handle that cracks, loosens, or breaks apart after repeated throws.
 
My old first gen SOG Tomcat has a nice centered balance. The lockup is the tightest i've ever seen on a folder .And the blade is thick and the tip is super strong. If you really had to throw a folder i would try that one. however i only have one and i like it too much to risk throwing it. If i was a millionaire and really needed to throw folding knives then i'd buy a dozen tomcats and use those.
However i really don't think any folder is meant to survive repeated throwings. Perhaps if you are wealthy enough you could comission some genius custom knife maker out to design/make a folder specifically made for throwing. Actually that would be very cool!

Its not the accurate hits that put the most stress on the knife its the misses. Rebounding off hard things like rocks and concrete beats the crap out of the knife. And at least in the beginning you will miss a lot!

IMO stick with heavy full tang fixed blades for throwing. From what i've read an ounce per inch and an overall length of 12 inches is supposed to be ideal.
Of course i am not an expert no doubt there are more knowledable forumites here who could help.
Anyone?
 
I have a design in mind that should function theoretically well as a thrower and a standard folder, but I would like a more experienced opinion. I also wouldn't know what materials to use to balance the knife's need for a very strong and very tough blade capable of withstanding impact and holding its edge. Furthermore, I would need an extremely lightweight handle material, perhaps carbon fiber? I will see if I can upload a picture and maybe someone can advise me as to what materials would be best and how much a custom knife like it would cost?
 
If you study the tips of most throwers, there's not a whole lot of magic to them. They're just thicker, and the edges basically form facets.

Do I assume you'd want this knife to be a functional slicer as well? Some throwing knives are (momentarily) sharp enough to cut, but take a beating.

You might take a look at some of the Cold Steel throwers (I know, I know...but they throw well, are inexpensive for a person who doesn't want to keep it, and come pretty darn sharp) to see how they form their tips.
 
here's my idea for one, would anyone know how much it would cost to get it made?


http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/9699/14302182di4.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5706/93995085dv5.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/395/19085441sr5.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1678/50228205wr2.jpg

its dimensions, if theyre not visible in the image, are ~3.75 in. blade, ~4 in. handle, ~7.75 overall length, and ~2 in. height of the blade. I wasnt sure about the width--maybe .5 cm at its thickest point at the center, tapering to half that (.25) at .5 in. from the edge, then have the blade edge itself be about .125 cm.

Also, the handle is shown with holes-would it be better to fill them with some light material, wood maybe, or just leave them empty? the black edge should be a soft rubber to provide a better grip and some cushioning if it missed its target.

The handle would be about 1.5 cm total width

the lock mechanism i would leave open to suggestions, I wouldnt know where to begin designing that.
 
I don't think you will find a maker who will be foolish enough to make you a folder that you can throw. You can throw a few folders that are built pretty stout, but they will eventually start coming apart. Folders simply are not designed to withstand the rigors of throwing.
 
it wouldnt primarily be for throwing. To practice I would obviously not use it for that. but as I dont like firearms, and I would like a nice knife, I want my edc to be something that, if the occasion should arise, I could throw well--even if its primary function isn't that. Essentially, I want a folding edc that could effectively function as a thrower, even if it never actually were thrown.
 
bSquirrel said:
it wouldnt primarily be for throwing. To practice I would obviously not use it for that. but as I dont like firearms, and I would like a nice knife, I want my edc to be something that, if the occasion should arise, I could throw well--even if its primary function isn't that. Essentially, I want a folding edc that could effectively function as a thrower, even if it never actually were thrown.
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There is a huge discussion on throwing your EDC knives and some people, including me, concluded its not really practical.

Check out this post http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400147&page=2

I concluded from that post that,
-knife throwing might not be practical in combat situations, especially if its your last weapon, you might very well be disarming yourself.

-Depending on what kind of life experiences the assailant had, it is still possible to move out of the way in time. (evading incoming torpedoes)

-Attacking distance varies all the time (constatantly having to adjust or you have limited distance and throwing opportunity)

-targets are always moving which reduces the chances of a stick.

-If they have a gun, depending on the situation, you most likely have to comply to their demands in order to live.

-Estimated chance of sucessfully striking the target with 1 folder including all this variables, 15% or less (unless U can suprise them)


I would recommend getting a well built folder and take up knife combat courses instead. If you really still want your idea to work, you need to practice with the future EDC folder and you might break quite a few in order to master something that might be potentially not really be useful in combat situations

I hope this helps,
Peace
 
AtomSphere said:
There is a huge discussion on throwing your EDC knives and some people, including me, concluded its not really practical.

Check out this post http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400147&page=2

I concluded from that post that,
-knife throwing might not be practical in combat situations, especially if its your last weapon, you might very well be disarming yourself.

-Depending on what kind of life experiences the assailant had, it is still possible to move out of the way in time. (evading incoming torpedoes)

-Attacking distance varies all the time (constatantly having to adjust or you have limited distance and throwing opportunity)

-targets are always moving which reduces the chances of a stick.

-If they have a gun, depending on the situation, you most likely have to comply to their demands in order to live.

-Estimated chance of sucessfully striking the target with 1 folder including all this variables, 15% or less (unless U can suprise them)


I would recommend getting a well built folder and take up knife combat courses instead. If you really still want your idea to work, you need to practice with the future EDC folder and you might break quite a few in order to master something that might be potentially not really be useful in combat situations

I hope this helps,
Peace
Click to expand...

I would highly doubt that I would ever find myself in a situation where I would need it for real self defense, it would be more of a sick party trick. But I would want it to be able to take one or two throws every once in a while, not actually be a throwing knife
 
bSquirrel said:
I would highly doubt that I would ever find myself in a situation where I would need it for real self defense, it would be more of a sick party trick. But I would want it to be able to take one or two throws every once in a while, not actually be a throwing knife
Click to expand...


oh.... I thought you were talking about self-defence:o

my bad.
 
Maybe something like the CRKT KISS or Gerber Edge (I think thats the one, the rip off of the CRKT KISS). Very simple, and no real handle to break. Plus, with the tanto tip, you should have to worry about major tip damage; at least nothing that 5 minutes with a file and a stone can't fix.
 
i have a kiss and i think it would be too small to throw affectively. the balance is good and ur right about the tanto tip, but size wouldn't work. neither would the locking mechanism.
 
u need something simple with a very durable handle... does anyone think a titanium ti-lite from cs would work? the only drawback i think would be the tip
 
i just keep getting ideas! how about a medium sized lock back with kraton shot-on titanium handles? that handle would prob. last forever!
 
bSquirrel said:
is there a folding knife that is balanced well enough to be thrown accurately when open, durable enough to withstand the stress to the blade of hitting a hard target, and with a handle light enough to not alter the trajectory, yet withstand impact in the event of a missed throw?
Click to expand...

I have had good success throwing the Gerber Air Ranger (with aluminum handles) at short distances at a flat trajectory. I think it's sufficiently well balanced. Haven't missed with it yet, so don't know how it would withstand that. They are very cheap second hand, you could probably afford a few.
 
AtomSphere,

oh.... I thought you were talking about self-defence
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Agreed, that is why there are 'so many' edged weapons. They are purpose driven designs. The idea of throwing my tactical folder (last weapon in the arsenal) is ridiculous - out of the question.

If you want to throw for fun / hobby - the Cold Steel offering is affordable and durable. I have a 'Large Tanto Voyager' I picked up 10-12 yrs ago and it's still a beast.
 
bSquirrel said:
is there a folding knife that is balanced well enough to be thrown accurately when open, durable enough to withstand the stress to the blade of hitting a hard target, and with a handle light enough to not alter the trajectory, yet withstand impact in the event of a missed throw?
Click to expand...

let me see......NO
 
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