Help in designing a throwing knife?

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
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A buddy just asked me to make him a throwing knife -just for fun. ;)

I'm thinking of using 5160, 1/4" thick.

I was wondering where should the center of balance be on a throwing knife? Front heavy or right in the middle?

Also, what hardness should I heat treat it?

What overall length should it be?

Thanks! :thumbup:
 
Well, I would assume just from thinking it through in my head and my previous (limited) experiance with throwing knives that it should be at the front of the knife. I would think that would stabilize it, whereas have it balanced right to the center would make it spin on that point and not be as stable. Maybe my reasoning is entirely off, but that is how I see it.

~Cody
 
maybe the knife throwing forum would be a place to look around for picks. i have a buddy who throws all the time and he has a neat thrower. i stuck after the 4th try but once i figured it out i can stick it every time and i'm not into throwing.
 
Generally, a knife is easier to throw if you grip the light end and throw it heavy end first. This is one reason the blade throw is used most often when throwing a knife not designed specifically as a thrower, as most knives are handle heavy.

Most "professional" style throwing knives (those with no sharp edges or handle slabs) are balanced in the center so they will throw equally well whichever way you grip them.

The most effective throwers are balanced toward the point. When more of the weight is near the point, the knife tends to stick in the target better. This is because the handle wants to keep rotating even after the knife has hit the target, and if the handle is heavier than the point, it can rotate the knife up and out of the target if the knife rotates a bit too far before hitting the target. Of course, with a point heavy knife you're pretty much limited to a handle throw.

Most good throwers are between 10" and 16" in length, and weigh about one ounce for each inch of overall length.
 
yea, i was way into throwing when i was younger. there is allot of talk about balance points and ideal size, however, in my experience, throwing everything i could get sharpened with my bench grinder back then (bit of a precursor to my blade smithing endeavors) is that almost anything can be thrown and stuck consistently (im talking from 12 inch bowies, 16 inch spikes, hawks, to the little 6inch steel tent stakes) the key is to have a consistent throwing motion, and find the distance for the number of turns imparted by the throw. i have made some fun creative throwers, and if im making a set, its mainly important that they are all the same, so they throw the same. then the all stick :) just my thoughts.
-Lou
 
You don't want your best steel for this project. If you harden your 5160 you need to temper it way back! Low carbon steel does just as well. There are lots of examples on the web where you can look at common designs and make your own. If you make more than one, three would be needed, they need to be the same weight and balance.
Just my thoughts,
Lynn
 
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