Smith and Wesson are mainly known for their guns rather than their knives. However, it does manufacture decent knives, especially for beginners. Its 8″ stainless-steel throwing knives are quite well known as a cheaper alternative to expensive models, and that is exactly what the Bullseye is.
The Smith and Wesson Bullseye throwing knife is a solid choice as a beginner throwing knife with average reviews hovering around 4.6/5 stars. It’s a high-quality knife for recreational knife throwing.
Overall, we have to say that the Smith and Wesson Bullseye is good enough to be the perfect knife for beginners. However, experienced throwers should look elsewhere, unless they are looking for a cheap knife for backyard targets.
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Smith and Wesson Throwing Knife First Impressions
Having seen the black color on the Bullseye before, I must say that I prefer silver. It looks a lot sleeker and the knife does not look too bad when it suffers the eventual wear and tear. The 8-inch size may be too small for some people, but I find the size to be perfect for my medium-sized hands. They also come in a 10″ variant, so order accordingly.
The black nylon belt sheath, on the other hand, seems cheap and poorly made. Obviously, I do not expect a leather sheath or something of similar quality at this price. However, other knives, such as the Perfect Point, have a nylon sheath of better quality, albeit only slightly.
How I Reviewed the Smith and Wesson Throwing Knives
I had only used the Smith and Wesson Bullseye once before when I had really enjoyed the sharpness of its spear point blade. I found it to be a slightly blade-heavy throwing knife, but still balanced enough for experienced knife throwers to practice various throwing styles.
That said, competitive knife throwers can make any knife look good, and this is a knife that is meant to be used by beginners. After all, Smith and Wesson are lauded for their simple and easy-to-use designs for beginners.
As such, I bought the pack of six knives once again and spend a couple of days testing the stainless steel against various targets. This is what I found:
How the Smith and Wesson Throwing Knives Compare
Versatility Galore
The knives are designed to be as versatile as possible. There is no ring pommel to prevent no spin throws, relying instead on three cutouts to reduce weight. Those three cutouts also help when it comes to tying ribbons and performing other utilitarian functions with the knife.
Using the Smith & Wesson throwing knives is a pleasure. The individual weight of each knife is less than what you would expect, and this provides them an edge over medium-weight knives in my opinion (especially for beginners). However, the knives are not as light as the Perfect Point, for example. All in all, I found the knives to be of the right weight for most people.
They Get The Sharpness Right
A throwing knife is supposed to have a sharp tip with dull edges. Many knife companies, especially those that design knives at this price point, fail to grasp this. The Bullseye knives, however, are reliable tools that almost always stick to the target.
Speaking of tools, did you know you can use this knife as a bottle opener? After all, what’s the point of target practicing without a few ice-cold beers?
The Ideal Blade-Heavy Throwing Knife
It is difficult to find good blade-heavy knives at this price, but the Bullseye set is a nice surprise. It is still a fairly balanced knife, with the weight only slightly leaning towards the blade. This means that even if you have only used an evenly balanced throwing knife in the past, switching to the Bullseye won’t be a huge problem.
The Knives May Not be Identical
While I have not experienced this problem personally, there have been a few reports online about the dimensions and weight of the knives not being consistent. Users have reported the knives being off by a millimeter or two, and this is a huge problem for beginners and advanced throwers alike.
The Steel Will Chip Away
The good thing about the knives is that they do not break easily. However, the steel used is 2Cr13, China-made steel that has always had problems with maintaining its shape. After extended use, the edges will begin to chip away, and your knife will look like it has been inside the mouth of a teething toddler within a few weeks of purchase.
Warning: There are far too many reports of this knife breaking quickly. This tends to be true of most popular throwing knives as beginners throw them as hard as they can when they’re not familiar with knife throwing techniques. These are not professional-grade throwing knives but they are durable enough with sensible use.
Common Alternatives
Smith and Wesson vs SOG Throwing Knives
The SOG Fling knives are much more expensive than the Smith & Wesson Bullseye. And no surprise, they do offer a better all-around experience. If you don’t mind spending a little more on a more professional blade, I’d take a look at the SOG Fling.
If you can justify the cost of the Fling, I would recommend that you go for it. However, beginners might be better off with the cheaper Bullseye, not least because they can get double the knives for a smaller price tag.
Think of it this way: If you are a novice knife thrower, the Smith & Wesson Bullseye is one of the best knives you can buy for its price. However, experienced throwers should be willing to spend more money and get a better knife that could serve their purposes better, such as the SOG range.
Smith and Wesson vs Kershaw ION Throwing Knives
The ION is much better when it comes to quality control. It is heavier, and the steel does not chip away as it does on the lighter knives. On top of that, the knives are always identical, allowing you to practice on your consistency.
That said, when it comes to ergonomics and performance, the Bullseye is much better. The lighter weight and the general shape of the knives allow you to practice any number of throwing styles. This is not possible on the Kershaw ION as the ring pommel gets in the way. You should also expect the Bullseye to last longer, due to its blade-heavy design that prevents the tip from breaking or bending when thrown at heavy targets.
If you’re interested in a sturdier knife (or like the pommel style) I have a review of the Kershaw ION here.
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