Throwing Knives

THROWING KNIVES. (See also: BLADED WEAPONS) A set of blades designed and weighted so as to be thrown in sport, defense, or performance. Throwing knives are fashioned from a single piece of metal with a small grip and weighted towards the center to ensure the knife will follow a circular trajectory. The weight of the knife and throwing speed determine the power of impact. The heavier the knife, the more stable, though this requires more strength to throw for accuracy. Lighter knives can be thrown with ease, but are prone to bouncing back from their target.

Throwing knives began to grow in popularity in sport and performance in the late 1800s thanks to, for one, Barnum and Bailey Circus that featured knives thrown at a living target, often in motion.