Throwing Knives in Literature

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Faiaoga

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I am rereading some of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books. In "The Long Lavender Look", the Florida beach bum hero uses a set of oyster knives from a kitchen to throw at a miscreant, using the technique he was taught by a Mexican named Miguel - seems realistic. What other books feature knife throwing as part of the plot? :confused:
 
What was realistic. Throwing oyster knives or a Mexican named Miguel?

Anyway, an old one here. "Tunnel in the Sky" by Robert Heinlien. Science fiction - a group of college kids getting a degree in off world colonization. Their taking their final in solo survival and get stranded on an uninhabited planet. Part of the grade is based on what the kids choose to take with them. Knives are pretty common. One of the main characters has two, "Colonel Bowie" and "Lady MacBeth". A little dated, but still a pretty good book.
 
I loved that book. read it when I was 14. Probably the best he ever wrote, but many others of his were pretty good. I worked hard at throwing knives, from about age 12 to age 15. it's a crock, for realistic performance. The adrenalin dump of combat will cause you to mis-judge distance, alter your grip, your wrist twist, release timing, etc. If the knife strikes point first, it was pure luck.
 
The Modesty Blaise series was a comic strip in the 1950's and made into three movies of the same name. The protagonist is a woman who is the head of a criminal gang called the network. Her right hangman is a character named Willie Garvin, who always carried two throwing knives and is expert in using a knife for mayhem. The movies were so-so, but interesting.

In the 1950's TV series, Yancy Derringer, the main protagonist has a right hand man, an Indian named Pahoo, who carried a sawed off shotgun and a throwing knife. It ran one season, so it didn't make it.

In the 1960's a short run series staring Robert Logia, called T.H.E. Cat, wa about a mystery man who was a former jewel thief and under world type who carried a throwing knife in his sleeve and was pretty good with it, on film. The show was a kind of forerunner of the Equalizer of the 1980's era. A shady background guy who helps people in need.
 
Can't add much except to say that I've been a knife guy since my dad gave me my first pocket knife, at the age of six. Boys simply cannot help throwing knives. I had two girls and they never seemed to have any special propensity to throw knives (tho they like them today). to throw knives, I think is a boy thing. Sorry, have to think about the book thing. I know some but can't come up with one right now.
 
The various books in the long running The Executioner series and it's various spinoffs(Mack Bolan, Stony Man Farm, Phoenix Force, Able Team) occasionally have it's heroes(and sometimes villains) dispatch some of their foes with thrown blades.
 
Commando comics, most adventures were of WWII. Every knife throw hit its mark, usually some Jap or Jerry.
I can see how an ouster knife could work, no spin throwing myself.
 
lukus said:
What was realistic. Throwing oyster knives or a Mexican named Miguel?

Anyway, an old one here. "Tunnel in the Sky" by Robert Heinlien. Science fiction - a group of college kids getting a degree in off world colonization. Their taking their final in solo survival and get stranded on an uninhabited planet. Part of the grade is based on what the kids choose to take with them. Knives are pretty common. One of the main characters has two, "Colonel Bowie" and "Lady MacBeth". A little dated, but still a pretty good book.
Click to expand...

I am referring to the advice given by Miguel to Travis McGee about how best to throw a knife and the effective range of a thrown knife. Travis waits until his opponent is within about 15 feet, then rapidly throws 5 knives. Only one knife does an effective job on the bad guy:cool:
 
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