Tru Balance Vs. Cold Steel, etc.?

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hicomp2

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Dec 10, 2005
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OK, I've been throwing a HB Forge hawk around for the past year, now I'm ready to buy a set of knives. I bought the booklet McEvoy (The Founder of Tru Balance knives?) wrote decades ago. Question; is Tru-Balance still is buisiness? If not, any recomendations for a quality set of large (14", about 16 ounces or so) throwing knives? I'm looking at hunting small game after I get comfortable with them. How do the Cold Steel throwers compare to the old Tru Balance in quality and preformance? Any other brands I should consider? Thanks!!!
 
Thanks! I went to the link, but I don't see a website for Tru-Balance, only a mailing address? I checked E-Bay, but I don't see any dealers on there selling Tru-Balance knives. Am I missing the link, or do you have to write to them via US mail???
 
They do not have a web site, You either have to call them or write for information. Phone 616-647-1215
 
hicomp2 said:
...If not, any recomendations for a quality set of large (14", about 16 ounces or so) throwing knives?...How do the Cold Steel throwers compare to the old Tru Balance in quality and preformance?
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The Cold Steel throwers are excellent in terms of quality and performance (but sharper than I personally like in a knife). That said, if you want 14", 16oz knives, the CS throwers aren't it. They're smaller and lighter than you're interested by a large stretch.

Also, given another comment you made (which I inexplicably edited out but am too lazy to put back in) about small game, I would further wave you off from the CS throwers: you'll lose them. If you throw at game and fail to stick it, the gray/green coloration of the CS Throwers will make it hard to find in the brush... I've lost one because of its hard-to-see coloration.

The CS Thrower is a good throwing knife, but I wouldn't consider it outside of controlled target throwing situations.
 
Thanks for all the Info! The CS I'm looking at is on E-Bay, and it says 14", but no weight is mentioned. ??? Anyhow, I'm thinking pretty hard on the Tru-Balance brand. Perhaps I'll get both...LOL!!!
 
but I don't see a website for Tru-Balance
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Bobby's right, give them a call and leave a voice mail with your address. They will send you a booklet that you can order from. There is another alternative that Bobby is too modest to mention - go to his web site and order one of his throwers, they are very close to Tru-Bals.
 
hicomp2 said:
The CS I'm looking at is on E-Bay, and it says 14", but no weight is mentioned. ???
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The Thrower I have is a little over 10" total length, and specs say it's 8.5 ounces. I gather you're looking at the ProFlight, which is 14" and 11 ounces. Sorry for the confusion--that's my fault for assuming my knife was what you were interested in!

On a similar note, if you have the spare cash, the Cold Steel ProFlight thrower is pretty darn inexpensive...but again, I wouldn't throw that in the field. It's exactly the color of dirt, and once it snakes along the grass on a missed throw-- it's gone.
 
I'm looking foward to getting a few throwing knives. I called Tru-Balance this AM. I'm looking at others as well, for hunting/woods loafing, etc. I was just throwing my HB Hawk this AM, which I LOVE, but it is heavy (even with my cutting the handle to 12"), and lobbs through the air. My range is short, 15 to 20 feet. I'm thinking with the knives, I could at least double or triple my range, and cut the trajectory. This Hawk is awesome and fun, but I'm feeling it is almost useless for small game, as it is not often I get to 15 feet or so. But if I could get a range of 40 to 50 feet with practice, and a straight trajectory...:D Most of the small game I see is at under 20 yards.
Taking bunnys with my shotgun and revolver is getting too easy, not much sport. I'm looking for that pump and blood rush I had when I was 12. Even my archery Eq. doesn't seem sporting anymore. I guess I'm just getting old, and chaseing my younger days...LOL!!!
 
I'd definitely recommend the CS products for "loafing." :D What a great description!

I'm not sure you'll enjoy much success at increasing your range with a knife. Remember there's a tradeoff of energy: hawks are slower and heavy. Knives are faster, but lighter in weight. They whap in with about the same energy, which means if you're not sticking a hawk at 40 feet, you probably won't get there immediately with a knife. The speed delta isn't enough.

And trajectory is dependent upon gravity which is a constant. Your knives fall at the same rate as your hawk does. With either weapon, your solution to increasing range is to increase the arc of your throw to compensate.

In other words, if your hawk is hitting the dirt at 30 feet, your knives will as well. It's the throw, not the weapon.

But here's the good news: you already know this, because you said 'with practice.' And that's the best part of throwing, isn't it? The practice!

Imagine what you'll have learned in 6 months time! Have fun, and good luck. Throwing different types of knives is the best way to improve one's overall throw.
 
hicomp2 said:
Even my archery Eq. doesn't seem sporting anymore.
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What's your tackle consist of?

If a compound or newer recurve, try taking off the stabilizer or increasing the draw weight. If you have a clicker or arrow rest, take them off (one at a time: it might be too hard to put it all back the way you tuned it). You might rediscover your bow as a whole new weapon.

Maybe you're ready for a longbow, and doing unassisted shooting.

Archery should never become routine!
 
I have a compound, crossbow, several recurves, and a longbow... and countless rifles, shotguns, handguns, as well as airguns. The Longbow (60lbs PSE) kicks my butt, with the handshock. Lots of fun, but it somehow seems far too easy to take small game with them. I have shot instinctive since the early 80's. So now I move onto new toys...Throwing knives. I'm going to grow up some day...LOL!!!!
 
hicomp2 said:
I'm going to grow up some day...LOL!!!!
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That's something else I would advise against.

Your archery collection sounds great! Too bad there's not a smiley for 'highly jealous.'
 
Watchful said:
I'd definitely recommend the CS products for "loafing." :D What a great description!

I'm not sure you'll enjoy much success at increasing your range with a knife. Remember there's a tradeoff of energy: hawks are slower and heavy. Knives are faster, but lighter in weight. They whap in with about the same energy, which means if you're not sticking a hawk at 40 feet, you probably won't get there immediately with a knife. The speed delta isn't enough.

And trajectory is dependent upon gravity which is a constant. Your knives fall at the same rate as your hawk does. With either weapon, your solution to increasing range is to increase the arc of your throw to compensate.

In other words, if your hawk is hitting the dirt at 30 feet, your knives will as well. It's the throw, not the weapon.

But here's the good news: you already know this, because you said 'with practice.' And that's the best part of throwing, isn't it? The practice!

Imagine what you'll have learned in 6 months time! Have fun, and good luck. Throwing different types of knives is the best way to improve one's overall throw.
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Chicago.
Trajectory is based on speed X weight X resistance(gravitational or ballistic/aerodynamics/wind ).

The knife will leave his hand at 50 plus MPH.. The heavier hawk wont.
A 50 cal BMG will toss the same weight bullet 30 times farther than a 50/70 black powder
Initial velocity is dependant on the power behind it.
With a particular human that remains constant..
Class over ;) :D
 
Look up Jeff Koch, custom maker. Very nice knives at a reasonable price. I just had him make me 5 with my own bowie design. great service,excellent work. He has knives in stock, ask for the bullet design.
 
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