Throwing knives

[kdnolin]

I just made a few throwing knives, they seem light to me, does anyone have suggestions for size?

the bigger ones are 8”x1”x 0.118 AEBL.

 

[Josh Rider]

I’d message @Lorien , he’s a knife throwing machine.

 

[A.McPherson]

Most throwing knives I've seen are heavier at the pointy end.
Of course that is just one style of throwing... In one of the martial arts I study we throw bo shuriken which are essentially sharpened nails, so... Whatever works I guess!

 

[kdnolin]

I drilled a 3/8 hole in one, seems to give more control and spin. My brother and I used to throw spikes when we were kids, but I have never thrown knives. I was trying to throw no spin, but can only stick them to about 7-8’.

 

[JTknives]

Seams like most of the throwing knives that are used at any kind of distance have some heft to them.

 

[P.Brewster]

For an 8" length, 1/4" thick would get you in the right weight ballpark.

 

[kdnolin]

For an 8" length, 1/4" thick would get you in the right weight ballpark.

That makes sense, they feel really light. i totally underestimated the thickness needed. I'll try some in mild steel next, to get my design, then order some 8670 or AEBL.

 

[P.Brewster]

That makes sense, they feel really light. i totally underestimated the thickness needed. I'll try some in mild steel next, to get my design, then order some 8670 or AEBL.

It's pretty simple to do the math with some guesswork. Looking at your shape, I'd guess that your final knife is 80% of the weight of the initial rectangular bar. Steel density is right around 0.283 lbs/cu-in.

So a 0.25 x 1 x 8" bar is 0.566 lbs. 80% of that is 0.452 lbs or 205 grams.

 

[Metalhead0483]

My experience is that weight is your friend in throwing knives. All the ones I've made have been between 1/4" and 3/16" and at least 8" in length. I don't get too creative on my throwing blades. A nice simple design to keep the center of rotation even.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Plain old welding steel/A36 works good for throwers. Heat the tip to around 1500°F and quench in brine or Parks #50 to harden the tip. Temper at 500°F and it will pierce well.

 

[A.McPherson]

Plain old welding steel/A36 works good for throwers. Heat the tip to around 1500°F and quench in brine or Parks #50 to harden the tip. Temper at 500°F and it will pierce well.

Yup!! The guys I see throwing knives most often are at "mountain man" events... Most of those guys use mild steel, one piece knives with leather "scales" piened on with rivets...

They work good!

 

[kdnolin]

I found a slab of 1/4” mild steel at work, just need some shop time now. Taking the family camping this weekend, hard to get into the shop in summer, too cold in winter, really need to build a heated shop.

 

[JTknives]

I found a slab of 1/4” mild steel at work, just need some shop time now. Taking the family camping this weekend, hard to get into the shop in summer, too cold in winter, really need to build a heated shop.

that’s why you send the drawing to me and let me cut them out of 8670 for you.