Best Throwing Knives Review
Introduction
When you think of the words sport and hobby, knife throwing isn’t necessarily among the top five things that come to mind. At first glance, this dark horse in the world of sports may seem impractical. However, it has some benefits that you can’t dismiss lightly.
Benefits of knife throwing
Knife throwing can help improve your coordination and concentration levels. It is also a good workout for your arms and back, and well, it is loads of fun, making it an excellent option for blowing off steam after work.
Throwing knives
If you are interested in this sport, then chances are, you may need a throwing knife.
If you’re a beginner and you have no idea about throwers, or you’re just searching for the right blade, then you’re in the right place. To make things easier for you, we have created a list of a selection of what we think might just be the eight best throwing knives of 2023 .
If you need to know a little bit more about throwers, you may want to look below our picks and check out our comparison table, Mike’s top pick, our best value pick, our premium pick, and our throwing knife buyers’ guide.
Our Picks
Mike’s Top Pick
Magnum Bailey Mini Bo-kri
Mediumweight, average-priced, well-balanced, coming with a leather sheath, we could go on and on, but ourpoint is, the reason MikesGearReviews decided we liked the Magnum Bailey Mini Bo-kri better than the other knives on the list is pretty evident, and needs no further justification.
Value pick
Perfect Point PAK-712-12
However you look at it, unless its quality is very shabby, a 12-piece set of stainless steel throwers that has its price starting from $30 is a good value for money. That’s why we’ve picked the Perfect Point PAK-712-12 as our best value pick.
Well-balanced and lightweight, these can be used by professional throwers and beginners who wish to learn how to throw a throwing knife.
Premium pick
Cold Steel 80STK12 Sure Flight sport knife.
For our premium pick, we’re going with the Cold Steel 80STK12 Sure Flight sport knife.
Its heavyweight and may be suited only for professional throwers, but it’s durable, and you can use it for purposes other than throwing. Camping, perhaps.
Table of Contents
• Mike’s Top Pick
• Value Pick
• Premium Pick
Comparison Chart
PLAN - PRICE
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Mediumweight
3 pieces
420 J2 Stainless Steel
Unwrapped handle
Leather sheath, legdrop
PLAN - PRICE
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Heavyweight
1 piece
1055 Carbon
Unwrapped handle
no extra items included
Mediumweight
3 pieces
420 J2 Stainless Steel
Cord-wrapped
Nylon sheath
Lightweight
2 pieces
Stainless Steel
Cord-wrapped
Nylon sheath
Eight Best Throwing Knives of 2023
Perfect Point PAK-712-12
Perfect Point has something for everyone who is interested in the sports of knife throwing.
The Perfect Point PAK-712-12 is a 12-piece set which includes six silver and six black Stainless Steel throwers. It is a lightweight thrower that provides a well-balanced throw each time. It also comes with a lanyard hole in the middle which makes it easier to store or carry around.
Each knife individually measures 8.5-inch, and the set comes with a black nylon sheath for ease and safety during transportation.
These knives easily stick to the target and have very little chance of bouncing off when thrown, making them an excellent choice for professionals and one of the best throwing knives for beginners.
Pros:
• Large quantity of the knives
• Balanced weight and length
• Sharp and durable
Cons:
• Comes unwrapped
• The tip of this knife is liable to break easily because of the blades’ thin steel
SOG FX41N-CP Fling
Made in China, this SOG throwing knife set comes in a pack of 3, which is not only perfect for beginners who practice often but also cost-effective for professional throwers.
The Fling is equipped with a balanced design and spear point to accommodate the broadest range of throwing styles.
Each SOG throwing knife is crafted in full-tang Stainless Steel to ensure better durability than generic throwing weapons and martial arts knives.
Pros:
• Unlimited lifetime warranty and support
• Well balanced, reliable and durable
• Can accommodate a variety of throwing techniques
Cons:
• Might not stick to its target very well
• The paracord comes off quite easily
United Cutlery UC2772 Expendables kunai knife
Created by United Cutlery and officially licensed from the movie The Expendables, just like the throwers that Lee Christmas uses in The Expendables movie, this set of three throwers is perfectly balanced and amazingly accurate.
This throwing knife set comprises of three perfectly balanced kunai knives constructed of single pieces of anodized AUS-6 stainless steel blade which is stain resistant.
At 12-inches long, this thrower could serve the purpose of either a dagger or a throwing knife.
Each double-edged stainless steel blade has a black cord-wrapped handle which makes its grip more fluid.
Also included, is a custom black nylon sheath with belt loop, boot clip and leg strap for multiple carrying options.
Pros:
• Incredibly sharp and can pierce its target with ease
• Blade is soft enough so it can absorb impact and hard enough to maintain its shape over time
• Comes with a nice sheath, belt loop, and legdrop
Cons:
• Cord wrap comes off with ease
• Coating wears off with ease
Magnum Bailey Mini Bo-kri
Constructed with 420 J2 Stainless Steel, this knife comes with a fantastic leather sheath and a leg holster for easy transportation.
Its 10.75-inches long, and weighs 7.6-ounces, creating a well-balanced thrower.
Pros:
• Cost-effective than other custom made throwers
• Durable
• Weight and length are well-balanced
• Comes with a fantastic sheath and leg holsters
Cons:
• Grip is naked and may hurt your hand
• Tip of the throwers are thin and may break easily
Smith & Wesson SWTK8CP
These knives feature double-edged spear points with 8-inch length and individual weights of 4.7-ounces which makes it travel quickly in the air and stick to the target very well.
Manufactured out of reliable 2Cr13 Stainless Steel, these blades are proficiently durable.
The SWTK8CP Smith & Wesson knives come with a black, nylon sheath that holds all six knives. The sheath makes the throwing knife easily accessible and increases convenience during transportation.
The knives are secure as they are sturdy and well balanced. Hence you can have confidence in your throw.
Pros:
• Great balance and solid throwing control which makes it an excellent option for beginners
• Affordable and durable
Cons:
• Doesn’t come wrapped
• Doesn’t bend so it is susceptible to breaking if thrown from a poor angle
• Because of its thickness, it can’t stick to hard grain wood
Cold Steel 80STK12 Sure Flight sport knife
The 80STK12 Sure Flight sport knife is a new line of intermediate grade, inexpensive sports throwers introduced by Cold Steel.
Built to the same standards as their higher-end models, the Sure Flight sport model knives are durable and well-balanced.
Available in three distinct blade designs, the knives are created with 1055 Carbon and with a thickness of 3.5mm.
Less expensive than Cold Steel’s original models, the Sure Flight sport knife is suitable for both beginners and professionals. It also strikes hard when released from either the grip or the blade.
Pros:
• Affordable, well-balanced, and durable
• Easy to throw, no spin
• Ideal for both handle and blade throwing
Cons:
• Tip gets bent easily
• Causes fatigue as it is heavyweight
United Cutlery GH0947B Gil Hibben
These United Cutlery Gil Hibben throwers are a set of 3 black throwing knives with non-slip tensile cord-wrapped grips. They are produced out of 420 J2 stainless steel and come with a top grade black nylon sheath. Perfectly balanced, they assure uniform rotation when thrown correctly.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Good quality
• Well-balanced and sturdy
Cons:
• Cord comes off quickly
SZCO Supplies Rainbow Ninja Sword with Throwing Knives
This category is an interesting one as it’s a 28 inches Ninja sword that comes with two 6 inches throwing knives. All of them coming with a rainbow finish which is pleasant to the eyes.
The handles of the sword and both knives are cord-wrapped, and the sword comes with a black nylon sheath.
Pros:
• Has an eye-catching color
• Lightweight and durable
• Has sharp tips
Cons:
• Throwing knives doesn’t come with a sheath
• Cord falls off easily
Honorable mention
Cold Steel 80TFTC True Flight Thrower
Made of 1055 carbon steel with a baked-on black protective coating, Cold Steel created the True Flight throwing knife was with strength, accuracy, and reliability in mind.
Its 5-mm blade is hard and resilient, and its versatile utility edge ensures it can stand up to the hardest of chores, making it a good choice for a survival knife.
Its handle is paracord-wrapped, and the knife comes with a durable Cor-Ex sheath.
It’s warranted against defects in materials and artistry.
Throwing Knife Buyer’s Guide
As a beginner or even a professional, you may have questions about what kind of throwing knives would fit your needs. Here are some common questions related to picking the right throwing knife.
• How is a throwing knife different from a regular knife?
• Types of throwing knives.
• How to choose the best throwing knives.
How is a Throwing Knife Different from a Regular Knife?
While knife throwing as a sport or hobby can be carried out with an ordinary knife, it is advisable to use one design for that purpose instead. Here are three reasons why you should pick a thrower over a kitchen knife.
Different purposes
Throwing blades are designed and weighted so they can be effectively thrown at targets, while regular or kitchen knives are utensils intended for the use of cutting.
Modeled differently
Regular knives and knives used for throwing are both made from some form of metal, which is usually steel. However, while the former is sharpened on one edge and attached to a handle, the latter is designed without a handle.
A thrower instead has two parts; they are the blade and the grip.
The most significant difference between both components is that the blade comes sharpened while the grip doesn’t. The grip is designed for safe handling by the user and to balance the weight of the knife.
Tactic
Throwing knife culture is popular around different parts of the world, giving rise to varying tactics for throwing with throwers.
Throwers are designed to accommodate some or all of these tactics.
Types of Throwing Knives
Generally, there are two types of throwing knives;
• Balanced knives
• Unbalanced knives
While the balanced ones are more lightweight, the unbalanced knives are heavy-weighted and require more strength and precision when throwing. For this reason, we would recommend the balanced ones as the best throwing knives for beginners.
Other types of throwers include:
• Blade-heavy knives
• Handle-heavy knives
• Kunai knives
Balanced knives
Balanced knives have their weights sitting at the center of their blades. When thrown, a balanced knife travels through the air in a near circular fashion.
Unbalanced knives
Not designed with their weights at their center, when thrown, it is almost impossible to predict the trajectory of these blades.
These kinds of knives are thrown by gripping the lighter parts of the blade.
Blade-heavy knives
Blade-heavy knives are a type of unbalanced knife. As its name suggests, these knives have more weight on their blade than on their grip. These types of knives are thrown by gripping their handle.
Handle-heavy knives
These babies have more weight on their handles and are thrown by gripping their blades.
Kunai knives
Originally meant as a Japanese tool for farming, these knives are unsharpened, made from soft iron, and can be used by throwers as throwing knives.
How to Choose the Best Throwing Knives
They are various factors to consider when selecting a throwing knife. These include;
• Weight and length
• The sharpness of its edges
• Grip
• The practicality of the design
• Cost
• Quantity
Weight and length
Generally speaking, the weight, the length, and the throwing speed of a throwing knife are what determines the power of the knife’s impact.
The definition of the right weight and length, however, may differ from individual to individual. While some people have a preference for lighter blades, other people prefer heavier knives.
Lightweight knives are less challenging to throw, but they may fail to penetrate the target adequately, resulting in a “bounce back” while heavyweight blades are more stable in their flight, penetrate easier, but require more strength of the person throwing them.
Finding the right weight ratio may be the best way to find the knife that’s right for you.
To know the weight ratio of your thrower, divide the weight of the thrower in ounces by the length of the knife in -inches. A light knife usually weighs between 0.4 – 0.6 ounces per inch, a medium one weighs between 0.7 and 0.9 ounces per inch, while a heavy one weighs between 1 – 1.4 ounces per inch.
The sharpness of its edges
When it comes to sharpness when picking out a throwing knife, you might want to keep in mind that the only prerequisite for a good one is a sharp tip. Buying a knife with sharp edges might hurt you during handling or because of a bounce back so it might be best to avoid blades with sharp edges.
Grip
A wrapped or unwrapped grip is a preference you might want to decide on all by yourself. A good knife need not have a wrapped grip, especially one which might require constant maintenance. However, it might protect your hands and help with the stability of light knives.
The practicality of the design
Although knives with styles such as spikes may look cool, they may limit your grip when you throw, so it’s advisable to go for simpler ones.
Knives with holes in them are more prone to breakage so you might want to avoid those as well.
Cost
Although an expensive knife may mean a high-quality knife, you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on your throwers. The above statement doesn’t imply that you go for the ones that are the same price as a cup of coffee as its most likely that those won’t survive the turmoil of throwing.
There are many high quality moderately priced knives available. You might want to check these out instead.
Quantity
When buying knives, buy in sets instead of as singles so you can have multiple throws before going over to retrieve the ones you’ve thrown.
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