Learning to throw a knife is not that difficult. However, mastering the craft is, and would probably require, at least a few hundred hours to do so. That shouldn’t be daunting to a beginner, as learning is a part of the fun.

Pro Thrower Tip: One of the biggest bits of advice I could give when getting into throwing knives is to learn to enjoy the process. You’re not going to hit the bullseye every time. That’s okay!

This guide is a complete overview of what you need to know before you throw a knife, the correct technique, and how you can eventually perfect the art of knife throwing. Let’s begin by making sure that you have the correct knife.

There’s not a lot much money in knife throwing, so IKTHOF is reader supported. This page may contain affiliate links so we get a small advertising fee for any purchases.

Picking a Beginners Throwing Knife

I have seen some practice throwing knives on the market, but, for the most part, my general advice is to start with a good knife, to begin with. You might as well learn knife throwing with a comfortable weight and size, to begin with.

You do want to avoid some of the more fragile blades, however. Beginners are more likely to break their tips (especially while trying to find their throwing style), and that’s why we cover the best beginner throwing knives separately.

Going for the most premium and expensive knife is not always a good idea if you are a beginner. For one, many knives are designed with competitive throwing in mind. As such, they often have a learning curve that may make them difficult to pick up for a beginner.

Secondly, you are much more likely to break your knife as a beginner. It will miss the target regularly and come into contact with other services that may be a lot harder than your target board. As such, it will scuff and be damaged. While expensive knives do not break as easily as cheap ones, that is only true when they are not being used improperly. Since you won’t initially know what the proper manner is, purchasing them is a waste of money. Lastly, many quality knives can be had for a modest price.

How Does a Throwing Knife Differ From Other Knives

There are various kinds of knives, but a throwing knife is very specific. Please don’t start throwing your kitchen knife around. These are balanced knives that are designed to stick to a target.

Some of the best throwing knives won’t even cut a piece of paper.

Unlike a hunting knife or a survival knife, the knife blade on a throwing knife is not sharp apart from the tip. The edged blade allows you to stick the knife on any surface you want, but it also allows you to hold the knife from the handle.

Throwing knives also have a streamlined shape so that they move better during spin throws. On top of that, each knife is almost completely unique due to its different weight, shape, and size. This allows for a lot of variance in the experience.

What to Look For in a Beginner Knife

Part of this is personal preference and finding the knife that fits your style. Part of it is avoiding some of the low-quality knives that don’t throw straight. Here is a list of things to watch for when picking a knife for the first time.

• Decide whether you want a cord grip or a standard steel handle. If you have access to both, try them out and see which knife grip you like best. Avoid fancy grips that cost a lot. You can’t make use of them anyway.
• Decide whether you want to begin with lightweight or heavier knives. The best way to do this is to take a look at your physique and strength. People in their early teens or those that are of a lean build should opt for lighter knives.
• Make sure that you take all safety measures into account. Purchasing a mini first-aid kit along with your knife is a good idea.
• If possible, try to purchase two packs of three knives (a total of six). Chances are that some of your knives will break, so having extra cannot hurt.
• Opt for a balanced throwing knife in the beginning. You can switch to a handle-heavy knife or a blade-heavy knife after you have mastered the basics. A balanced knife will help you learn faster.

An Easy Recommendation: The Kershaw Ion

The Kershaw Ion is a great knife for beginners. While it is a little too lightweight, getting started on the Ion can allow novice knife throwers to pick up on all the nuances that exist in the sport. It is also reasonably cheap, allowing you to easily replace the knife if it breaks.

For something in a different style, you might also consider getting the Uzi throwing knife set.

Picking a Throwing Knife Target

This part deals with picking and setting up a throwing knife target. While you can use trees (and many do), they are not usually ideal targets. Many trees are simply too hard and have the potential to destroy or damage your knives. While I have personally tested knives against trees, and many professional knife throwers use trees for practice almost explicitly, it is best that you avoid them until you are an advanced knife thrower.

Planks are usually a great target. As long as they are of the appropriate thickness (at least 30mm, although more is always better), they work great as targets. Apart from that, something with soft wood like pine is also great for making a throwing knife target.

While you can make your own target, it is easier to purchase one if you have the money.

A Note on Safety

Make sure that no one is standing close to the target before you throw the knife. It is easy to make mistakes as a beginner, and throwing knives have the potential to seriously harm someone.

Moreover, indoor usage should always be done in a carpeted room. It is very easy for knives to bounce off surfaces and fly off the handle (so to speak). Also, make sure that no one is standing close to the wall where the knife is most likely to strike, as ricochet injuries can pack more of a punch than you’d expect.

A lot of venues (and competitions) ask for some sturdy footwear. You don’t need to wear a bulletproof vest – but don’t show up in sandals.

Please respect this side of things. Especially with beginners or a different style of throwing knives, it can be hard to judge the release properly, and you don’t want one of these knives going in your direction.

There’s an old saying with experienced knife throwers: a returning knife has no handle. Don’t try and catch a knife that bounces.

Knife Throwing Techniques

There are innumerable knife throwing techniques, each of them a variation of another in some way. Here, we will look at the three most common ones that are usually used as a basis for all others.

The Half-Spin

The half-spin throw is the easiest technique to learn. You grab the knife by the blade and throw it in a standard fashion. The half-spin throw is ideal for short distances. There are many variations of this, which we will not go into here.

The Full-Spin

The full-spin throw is not as easy as the half-spin, but it looks a lot cooler. You grab the knife by the handle, measure the distance to the target, and apply the appropriate force. A full-spin throw is a lot more accurate, but it’s not as fast as the half-spin.

The No-Spin

The “no-spin” technique is exactly what the name suggests. You hold the knife from the handle with your index finger on the side of the knife. The motion of the no-spin throw is quite similar to cocking and shooting a bow and arrow. Its biggest advantage is that the technique is quite similar no matter what the distance to the target.

How to Hold and Throw a Throwing Knife

So, now that you know what you have to do before you throw a knife let’s take a look at the process of throwing the knife itself.

Posture and Form

A proper stance helps set you up for the perfect throw. A relaxed body is a must for knife-throwing. If you are someone that caves in to pressure, it might be better to throw alone the first few times.

Some like to take one pace forward as they throw, while others prefer to start with their dominant front foot one step ahead. Slightly bend your left foot slightly and keep your shoulders square to the target.

You might need to practice a little to find the footing that works for you.

Stand up straight with one foot in front of the other. For the hand that you are going to throw with, the same foot is going to be upfront (for example, left-handers should have the left foot forward).

Most throwers will use their dominant hand as muscle memory forms a lot easier, but I do know at least one professional thrower who uses her non-dominant hand.

Avoiding Force (Biggest Mistake)

One of the biggest mistakes I see beginner throwers make is trying to use too much force.

If your knife doesn’t stick or bounces off the target wood, the problem is most likely that your knife is not landing properly on the tip. A more powerful throw adds more unpredictability (as well as a greater chance for injury or damage).

You can add more force later as you get a feel for the different techniques. A big part of learning how to throw a throwing knife is learning how not to throw it.

Stick to One Knife

I’ve been guilty of this in the past. There are a lot of fantastic-looking throwing knives out there, and many of us have an ever-growing collection. There’s nothing wrong with this.

But knife throwing is about repetition. Getting used to the weight, where the tip is and how your knife sticks to the target are important. It can be tempting to get into the sport and keep buying knives but you’ll progress much faster if you stick to just one.

The Three Grips

Remember that the way you hold the knife is the most important aspect of success. Eventually, you will be able to aim well enough. However, a bad grip will never allow you to throw perfectly and consistently.

Let’s look at the three most commonly used grips.

• Hammer Grip: Grip the knife the way you would a hammer. Place the handle on your palm and wrap your fingers around the knife with your thumb on top. Remember not to grip too tightly, as it will only lead to problems when releasing the throw.
• Pinch Grip: Here, the thumb rests on top of the blade on one side, with your fingers supporting the blade on the other. Make sure the handle is pointing outward (away from you) and the blunt end is facing toward your palm. The tip of the knife should be in line with the bottom of your thumb, with your thumb directed up the blade toward the handle.
• Slider Grip: This is one of the grips used when trying to perform no spin throws. Place the knife perpendicular to the palm of your hand, and place your thumb across the knife to hold it.
• The McEvoy Grip: This is a more specific type of grip and not one I’d tend to suggest beginner throwers start with, so let’s call it an honorable mention. Here, the thumb goes along the spine of the throwing knife.

How to Throw a Half-Spin

To perform a half-spin throw, hold the knife in a pinch grip, with the blade facing you and the handle pointing upwards. The ideal distance for a half spin is between five and seven feet for a beginner. Once you have properly lined up the knife with your target, bring your arm forward while twisting your wrist toward the direction of the spin.

The half spin, while the most accurate throw, cannot be used at longer distances due to lack of power. For that, the full spin is preferable.

How to Throw a Full-Spin

For a full-spin throw, stand around ten feet away from your target at the beginning. Here, a hammer grip is usually preferable. The blade should be facing upwards, with the handle facing you. Similar to the half-spin, bring your arm back behind your shoulder and then move it forward while twisting your wrist. Remember that when throwing from longer distances, you can also move your body forward along with your arm to inject more power into the throw.

It is also important to remember that the full-spin throw is a lot more advanced than the half-spin. As such, it will take you a lot more time to learn it properly. It is better to first master the half-spin before moving to the full-spin.

How to Throw a No-Spin

For the No-spin, you can use the slider grip. Place the knife in your palm like a hammer grip. This time, however, you will move your index finger to line up on the side of the knife. Then, pull the knife back (as if you are cocking an arrow on a bow). By the time you have pulled back completely, the blade should be pointing almost completely upward. Then, bring your arm forward and release, but don’t twist your wrist in the process. The no-spin throw can be performed at any distance and can be extremely accurate once you have mastered it.

Performing Advanced Throws

Advanced throws are usually either a variation of the throws already mentioned or utilize a higher number of spins. As you get better at throwing, you will begin to develop a knife-throwing ‘common sense that will allow you to gauge the right distance for the number of spins you are trying to perform. The technique itself will remain the same as a full spin throw, with the power and the arm motion varying.

If you find that you are unable to hit the target with the blade (the handle hits it instead), don’t try to change the force with which you throw. Instead, either try changing the movement of your wrist during the throwing motion or move one step forward or backward (depending on which throw you are trying to perform. For example, if you are aiming to perform a full spin and falling short, taking a step back to allow more room for rotation is a good idea).

Where to Practice Knife Throwing

Before I answer this, I should point out that your local laws might matter here. I can’t personally throw knives in a local park, but I can practice in my back yard. I know some practice on their own land or even indoors.

Realistically, with a large enough piece of wood to stop your knife from flying towards the wrong target or bouncing anywhere, knife throwing is relatively safe, but you do need to practice proper precautions.

Many axe-throwing venues will also have some throwing knives to practice with, although the staff often seem to be less knowledgeable and will push you towards axe-throwing instead. Depending on their insurance rules – they might let you bring your own equipment, but it can help to call ahead first.

Practicing For Competitions

If you are someone who plans to participate in throwing knife competitions, it is imperative that you only practice what you are going to need. Knowing a ton of styles and techniques will not win you any competitions, but mastering the few that you know will.

A good rule of thumb is to find the technique and the distance from the target your local competitions use and stick to these rules for your practice session.

Competitions generally only go up to two-spin throws. As such, trying to do anything beyond that should come under the leisure category instead of honing your craft for the next tournament.

Knife Throwing Distance

Hitting the target from a long distance is always fun. However, it will be a while before you can perform the accurate and powerful throws to do that. The standard distance for a single spin throw is around 10 feet, and that is where you should begin. The same distance also works for most other styles.

As you slowly become proficient in knife throwing and begin to understand how to perform advanced throws, you can move back and increase the throwing distance if you wish. Your goals of knife throwing should determine the distance you use. If you are hoping to participate in a competition, then the distance used by the competition should be the distance you use. If your aim is to be as good a thrower as possible, you can pretty much pick and choose the distance and technique to your liking.

A Lifetime to Master

No matter what throwing technique you choose, how many knives you buy or how much you enjoy the sport, there’s always more to learn.

A professional thrower is constantly practicing and once you tackle things like the bad form beginners often find themselves in – inconsistent throwing practice is the biggest issue you need to contend with.

Joining a local throwing group is a great way to learn from people with different experiences and styles and get entering competitions! You don’t need to be professional to go along and have some fun.

There are two ways to make knife throwing more challenging and fun: Increase the range or learn new techniques. Here, we will look at all the mainstream knife techniques that an expert knife thrower should know.

Before we look at the techniques, let’s briefly discuss how you should choose a knife-throwing technique relative to your skill level. Also, I highly suggest making sure you’ve gone over the beginner’s guide on how to throw a throwing knife.

There’s not a lot much money in knife throwing, so IKTHOF is reader supported. This page may contain affiliate links so we get a small advertising fee for any purchases.

Use the Right Throwing Knives

Not all throwing knives were created equal.

We had a student who told us they already had hundreds of hours of practice. They had been throwing an old butcher knife and couldn’t understand why it never worked. Needless to say, we had to start from scratch.

Throwing knives are made to be balanced. They’re made to have a semi sharp point, and they don’t have the usual hunting knife style or shape. They’re made to hit the target and stick to it.

Before we get into the weeds on the techniques you can use, make sure you’re using an actual throwing knife. And that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. A lot of good beginner throwing knives are just as cheap as the generic knives you’ll find.

Overall best: Cold Steel Sure Flight

Easiest to learn: Perfect Point RC-595-3 Thunder Bolt

Cheapest: Whetstone Cutlery Throwing Knife Set

Intermediate /expert choice: Uzi Throwing Knife Triple Set

How to Choose a Knife Throwing Technique

There is no best throwing knife technique.

Some knife-throwing competitions will have specific requirements, but, for the most part, it’s a matter of preference. The best way to find the technique that’s right for you – is to try them all.

(We’ll go through the different techniques and how to use them in a moment). Spend some time with the different knife throwing techniques and see what suits you.

Remember that the more spins a technique requires, the more difficult it is for you to do. Not only is it more difficult to be accurate when trying to spin the knife multiple times, but you also need to be at the right distance for the technique. Gauging this distance, especially as a beginner, can involve quite a bit of trial and error.

The half-spin is usually considered the simplest technique to perform. However, remember that each technique will have multiple variations. For example, it may be possible to perform the technique with both the pinch grip and the hammer grip. The results may vary depending on your grip and whether you are using lightweight or heavier knives.

Sounds confusing? Don’t worry, we’ll start with some easier techniques and as soon as you start throwing knives and understanding the basics, the rest will come pretty quickly.

Take a look at our knife throwing guide if you are a beginner knife thrower, as we’ll get a little more into the weeds on your knife grip and throwing stance but rather than get into throwing basics again, let’s look at the actual techniques.

Common Techniques

Let’s take a look at each technique, going from the most basic to the most advanced. Just remember to take all the safety precautions necessary before you begin throwing. As a beginner, the rule of thumb is not to have anyone standing remotely close to the target, as a stray throw may hit and injure them.

Also, make sure that you are using a balanced knife rather than one that tends to favor the blade or the handle. While those knives have their place, and a professional thrower may have a specific preference, your job is to first master the basics. As such, a balanced blade is a one-size-fits-all approach that will allow you to perform all the basic techniques and their variations.

The Half-Spin

The half-spin is the very first technique that you should learn once you get into the art of knife throwing. It is incredibly simple to perform and can be used at a variety of distances as long as you use the correct variation.

Tip: remember that you want an accurate throw before a fast throw. Speed will come with practice, focus on getting your spin and number of rotations right. Your first goal is hitting the target with the right number of rotations.

The Conventional Half-Spin

The standard half-spin can be performed by just about anyone with some practice. You hold the knife by the blade. Both the pinch grip and the hammer grip can be used to perform the conventional half-spin. Those looking for a bit more power usually gravitate towards the hammer grip, while those looking for accuracy at a short distance usually use the pinch grip.

Hold the knife by the handle and stand with your preferred foot slightly ahead of the other. For example, those that use the left hand to throw the knife should have the left foot slightly ahead of the other.

Then, perform the throwing motion. Make sure to keep your body relaxed and not to twist your wrist too much when bringing your arm forward, as that may overspin the knife.

The Military Half-Spin

The military half-spin is only slightly different from the conventional ones but has a lot more benefits. For one, it can be used to throw without having to aim much. As such, it is great for when you are trying to throw instinctively. Moreover, with the right amount of practice, it can also be used to throw the knife from a longer distance than the conventional half spin.

For the military half-spin, you need to hold the knife from the blade and make use of the hammer grip. However, your thumb should be resting on the side of the blade. It is also important to remember that the farther away you are from the target, the higher you need to hold the knife. This is what makes the military half-spin so versatile. It can be used effectively at five feet or at twenty-five with the same precision.

As a beginner, we would recommend dedicating a practice session to perfecting the military half-spin. It is the easiest way to throw the knife in a fast manner. At first, aim where you are throwing. Eventually, you will begin to develop a feel for where the knife will go and will be able to throw it without having to aim.

Remember that there are numerous other half-spin variations, many of which can be used to throw reasonably accurately art even a distance of twenty meters. However, the military and the conventional half-spin serve as the basis for pretty much all of them. As such, once you master the two, you should have no trouble moving on to the rest.

The Right Distance for a Half-Spin Throw

The conventional half-spin can only be performed reliably at small distances. However, it makes up for it by being extremely accurate. The military half-spin is able to push this distance back by quite a bit, allowing experts to throw accurately from as much as ten meters. If you want to go beyond that, then you will need to learn advanced techniques that make use of grips not commonly used.

The No-Spin

In terms of difficulty, the “no-spin” technique falls somewhere between the half-spin and the full-spin. This is an easy technique to learn but a difficult one to master. There aren’t that many variations of the technique either (at least none that are vastly different than the conventional one), so once you learn it, you learn the whole thing.

For no-spin throwing, a slider grip is usually used. Once again, check our knife throwing guide for details about the grip. However, many knife throwers use their own grips as well, and there are many videos on YouTube that you can watch to learn about all of the ways you can perform a no-spin throw.

One slightly advanced way to throw a no-spin that is extremely accurate is to use the pinch grip but have your index finger resting on the side of the knife. Remember that the knife must be held from the handle, as it will not rotate on its way to the target. Just like the half-spin, the basic stance with one foot in front of the other is more than good enough for this technique.

Then, it’s all about dragging your arm back, bringing it back forward with the appropriate force, and releasing the knife at the right time. We often liken throwing a no-spin to using a bow and arrow. If you have shot an arrow before, the no-spin will be easy for you to learn.

Remember that you must not twist your wrist when bringing your arm forward. Additional movement may cause the knife to begin rotating, and that will almost certainly mean that the handle will hit the target instead of the blade.

The Right Distance for a No-Spin Throw

The primary factor that goes into determining the correct distance for a throwing technique is the distance required for the spin to occur. This is why the half-spin is usually suited to short distances, and only advanced throwers can throw a half-spin at longer distances (that too only with a military half-spin).

Since there is no rotation during a no-spin, the technique can technically be performed at any distance. Also, unlike a full-spin that usually requires you to measure the distance, the no-spin can be thrown instinctively from any distance.

If you are having trouble using the no-spin from longer distances, a lighter knife may solve the problem for you. However, remember that an extremely lightweight knife has a great chance of being influenced by the wind when throwing from long distances. As such, it may be better to practice indoors or make sure that the wind speed is manageable.

The Full-Spin

The full spin may be the most advanced knife-throwing technique out of the three, but it is also the most versatile and has the most variations.

The Conventional Full-Spin

For the conventional full-spin, you need to first measure the distance to the target. That is the only way to ensure that you are accurate 100% of the time as a beginner. As you become an expert, you will get better at gauging distances without having to measure them.

For the full spin, you grab the knife by the handle. Usually, a pinch grip is used. However, the hammer grip can also be used if you feel more comfortable with that. The standard starting distance is between eight-ten feet, as it provides a long enough distance for the knife to achieve a single complete rotation.

When throwing the knife, the key thing that you need to focus on is the subtle twist of the wrist (apart from being a knife thrower, I am also a poet. Here is an example of my scintillating poetry: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I threw a knife down the middle). You can increase or decrease the speed by which you move your wrist if the edge of the blade is not hitting the target squarely.

The Instinctive Full-Spin

The instinctive full-spin is performed in the same way as the military half-spin. Your index finger rests on the side of the knife, and you try to gauge the distance to the target and the motion required to make the knife stick.

However, remember that this is a very advanced technique, and it will not be possible for you to perfect it without a lot of practice. As such, we advise waiting to use this technique until you are good at the standard full spin.

Advanced Full-Spin

The advanced full spin involves more than one complete rotation before the knife hits the target. It is much more difficult to perform than the standard full-spin, but it also looks extremely cool (like something straight out of a movie).

The technique is largely the same as the conventional full-spin. However, you need to change the distance to make sure that the knife has enough room to spin more than once. Just like the full spin, you can make up for the blade edge not hitting the target properly by twisting your wrist a little more or a little less during the throwing process.

The Right Distance for a Full-Spin Throw

We have mentioned that the full spin is usually performed at a distance of between eight-ten feet. However, advanced throwers should be able to perform it from a distance of twenty feet or more. At longer distances, the advanced full-spin technique is ideal, as it allows the knife to rotate more than once and makes the process a lot easier. However, considering how advanced the full-spin technique is relative to the others, we advise you to try to master this the last.

Bonus: Knife Throwing Tips

• Practicing with different knives is fine in moderation, just remember that the weight and shape will have a huge impact. Every knife performs a little differently. When you’re really trying to progress, you want to get a knife that performs well and stick with it.
• Keep it slow, to begin with. If you try and speed things up too quickly, you’re going to get inconsistent throwing. Speed comes with practice, don’t try and force it.
• Keep your distance from the target consistent as well.
• Practice a good throwing posture. This might vary depending on the technique you’re using but keep it consistent.
• Your knife tip should be sharp, but most throwing knives will not have sharp edges along the blade. This is intentional. The ideal throwing knife won’t cut your hand as you release but will have a good, consistent stick rate when you hit with the knife’s tip.
• Square your shoulders square towards the target. Be mindful and attentive of this. It’s one of the first things that slip with beginner throwers when they’re trying to pay attention to too many things at once.
• You can play with fancy grips and less conventional throwing techniques but keep it safe. Use the proper equipment and keep the safety of yourself and others in mind.
• Your target wood needs to be durable and you’ll progress faster if it’s something your tip will stick to. I would heavily suggest using a knife throwing target board (either your own or one in an axe-throwing venue) rather than a generic piece of wood or a tree.
• There is no trick to knife throwing. There are techniques you can practice and then it’s just about putting in the work.

The Important Bit

We just went through the three basic throwing knife techniques and some of their most well-known variations. Remember that knife throwing is meant to be an enjoyable endeavor first, and you don’t have to try to learn or master all of the techniques and the countless variations that exist.

Find your own throwing style, and don’t let anyone tell you that there’s a right way of doing it. Instead, do what you like, and learn at your own pace. As long as you keep at it, you should eventually be good enough to take part in competitions (if that is your end goal).

While I am a fan of the art of knife throwing I’m never entirely sure about how to answer this question as it really depends on what you expect from a throwing knife.

Based on what Hollywood generally shows (and what a lot of beginners have in mind when they start) throwing knives are probably not a good choice for self-defense.

While you absolutely can do damage to someone throwing a knife at them (practice responsibly folks) and it really doesn’t take that much practice to get fairly accurate at getting a throwing knife to stick in the target – judging the distance is usually the tricky part.

I love knife throwing. I think it’s a fantastic sport and hobby but I wouldn’t expect them to work in a zombie apocalypse or an emergency situation. They could do the job – but so could a rock from the ground and unless you’re really practicing at different ranges you’re probably going to be more accurate with the rock.

Are Throwing Knives Good for Self Defense?

Avoid the legality side of things (because that should factor into using a throwing knife for self-defense but I don’t know where you are) at a push they could work.

But it’s probably not going to be a good idea. At best, it’s going to be highly situational.

Someone experienced with the hobby will land a good deal of shots consistently however unless you hit something incredibly important your attacker isn’t going to be immediately stopped and (unlike archery for example) your attacker now has another weapon to use against you.

They’re probably inexperienced at throwing a knife but I still wouldn’t want to give them the extra edge. Literally.

There are situations where I can see throwing knives being effective for self-defense but in most situations, you’re probably better to run.

Are Throwing Knives Impractical?

In the hands of practiced knife throwers, they’re effective at various ranges, they’re small and easy to transport so I wouldn’t say they’re impractical… but it does depend on what you’re looking to do with them.

Compared to a gun (for example) they’re pretty impractical. Once you throw them you’re probably going to want your knife back but if you are able to collect it again – you don’t have to deal with ammo limits or the noise.

They are not what you see in some Hollywood movies of a perfectly balanced knife flying through a dozen trees to land perfectly every single time.

For something like hunting again they could work but unless you have a specific need for knives then there are plenty of better options out there that probably don’t require as much practice to be efficient.

This all said none of it prevents me from practicing my knife throwing. It can still be a handy skill to have once you are proficient and accurate and it’s a whole lot of fun.

Are Throwing Knives Sharp?

A throwing knife should almost never be sharp in the way a normal knife is. You want a sharp pointed tip on the end for hitting the target but you want fairly blunted edges for actual throwing.

You could technically try and throw any knife but if you look at something like the SOG Fling knives there’s a clear difference between that and a butter knife. The edges need to be smooth so they don’t cut your hands but the edges are not supposed to hit the target – the pointed tip is.

Some throwing knives

You could throw a sharp knife and you probably have a better chance of hitting a target that way since a near-miss might still hit the edge but you absolutely run the risk of hurting yourself and that’s not good practice. Especially with some of the heavier knives, you don’t want sharp edges for throwing.

The rest of the knife is designed for balance.