Newbie of newbs

[knifeydsd]

Hey guys, never thrown a knife in my life... except if you count my SAK in frustration after not getting my tote n' chit Anyway, I'm older than that now, and I must say, I have always been interested with throwing knives... maybe because when I was still in boy scouts there was a russian guy (he was 17 and so cool!) and he threw his Buck 110 into trees when no one was watching. But beyond that, I am interested in proper throwing. However, I am mostly tactical minded, so: questions questions!
1. what is legal to have/carry in california or north carolina? I know cali bans shurikens by name, and I believe throwing knives too. But throwing spikes perhaps? And how long? Would they still be legal in NC?

2. Are there throwers that are not only legal to carry, but practical (both in concealment and throwing) as well?

3. How much time does it take to become proficient in the 15-20 foot range? (In general, I know everyone is different)
That's all I can think of now, any answers would be greatly appreciated. And please, I am just an idiot when it comes to knife throwing, be kind and don't flame me for sounding like a mall ninja/idiot. Thanks

 

[Watchful]

Actually, you've come to the right place. I'm surprised you didn't get a bunch of answers before mine.

1. Check out our knife laws forum, one level above: you can get hours of details on what's legal or not for all 50 states and many countries. That said, if you're interested in sport throwing, pretty much anything is legal. Just carry them in a box in the trunk of your car and make sure they're designated for throwing. If you're planning on carrying these concealed as weapons, on the other hand--don't. Unless you're very experienced as a thrower, don't rely on a knife as a throwing weapon. It's waaaayy harder than it looks. And if it's a throwing *weapon,* most places will confiscate it from you if not cite you. Knife, spike, screwdriver, whatever.

2. See above. I advise you concentrate on learning technique long before you attempt to rely on one as a weapon.

3. It's not so much that everyone is different--but what is your definition of proficient? For me, it's the ability to stick solidly seven times out of ten. Based on your technique and knife, you could be proficient almost immediately. I've seen people throw metal barbecue skewers and stick them 9 out of 10 times on their first day. I've seen people throw knives for years and never stick one. On average, it takes a few weeks to really discover your basic technique, and a few decades to where you feel comfortable!

Try throwing a couple times a week, but at least once a week.

And don't get frustrated: try throwing different pointed objects to see what you like. I know a lot of people advocate throwing the same type of knife every time for consistency, and I respect that. But I like to see people mix it up and discover that they can throw scissors, say, on the first try, and thereby discover that all sorts of things can be thrown into a target.

Good luck, and have fun first.

 

[knifeydsd]

Well that's a relief!
1. Oh, believe me: I know everything, including a gun, takes lotsa time to get good at, and that isn't a worry that I would go around carrying stuff and throwing them at the first sight of danger. Just knowing I am from California, guns aren't much of a CCW option And, no duh: there is a reason the conquest of the world has been with guns. Not knives. Guns. Really? There aren't any sorta innocuous looking throwers? Hell, I don't care if they look like knitting needles- practicing some needlepoint might be good for me!
2. No duh. Not "no duh, you are an idiot" but "no duh, that should be common knowledge" Throwing shit is hard as hell- I've tried to do it before, and maybe cuz it wasn't all weighted right, but DAMN.
3. Proficient is being able to strike the target 9 out of 10 times. Again, I know that mostly throwing stuff is not much more than a parlor trick. But nevertheless, the true intention of shurikens from ninja were not to kill or even hit the person, but to distract. I think having some metal thingy hit you out of nowhere, even without penetration would make a normal guy go "wtf?"
And thank you. I certainly intend to look at it like a fun activity, because again- no one goes hunting with throwing knives. Or at least none I have seen. It seems more like a fun thing to try and do, so I might pick it up. I just feel that I should be able to justify whatever activity I do, no matter how psuedo-James Bond it is (emphasis on the psuedo). Incidentally, I heard about a chinese assassin dude on Ripley's. Never managed to catch it. Can anyone get access to a video?
Thanks, Knifey