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by Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ======================================= This newsletter is a FREE service you requested. You are on this list because: * You subscribed at our Great Throwzini web site * You inquired about our products or promotions * You requested our free knife throwing tips or other information. If you'd like to be removed from this list, simply reply to this message with 'remove' in the subject. ======================================= IN THIS ISSUE 1. What's New 2. The Firestone Throwing Axe - by Arlan D. Lothe 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video 4. A Few Notes on Hunting With Knives - by Lee Fugatt 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW This has been the best November I can remember in a long time! It has been in the 60's the past few days. Not bad for Wisconsin. Let me tell ya... its alot easier getting people to come over to try throwing for the first time when it is warm outside! A couple of my friends, Tim & Brian, stopped by on Saturday to hang out for a bit. We talked for about 38 seconds before I was dragging them outside to my targets, with two fists full of hawks and knives :) I brought out my new Firestone ThrowingAxe which you'll learn about in our GUEST COLUMN. It is an awesome new thrower from McGowan Manufacturing Co. And we also threw my Pro Target Dragons, and some 16" Zephyr's, (the big lunkers!). As soon as they started sticking the knives, I told them how they just had to try the hawks. They're a BLAST! (I probably should have only brought out one set of throwers to begin with. It can be a bit confusing when you're constantly changing the length and weight of your throwers since they will all spin differently when thrown. Especially if you are a first-time thrower! But they did great! After a few pointers Timmy and Brian caught right on and were sticking knives and talking "smack" like they were pros :) Drop me an email when you guys are ready for Round 2 Brian. Next time we're keeping score! Warm weather, good friends and sturdy knives... it just doesn't get any better than this!!! OTHER UPDATES When you visit the site you'll also notice a brand new QUICK IDEA and lots of interesting new posts on our Great Throwzini Discussion Forum! Be sure to check them out. Just visit our homepage and click on the THROWZINI FORUM link. http://www.throwzini.com Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: THE FIRESTONE THROWING AXE by Arlan D. Lothe My name is Arlan D. Lothe, from Adams WI. We have a new product development, design and marketing consulting firm. We specialize in the development of all types of hand tools, among other things, particularly for the Sportsman. In 1998 we designed a very unique axe for McGowan Mfg., of Hutchinson, MN. The axe is called the Firestone BeltAxe. Showing this new axe at national trade shows, we were constantly being asked if we were going to offer the BeltAxe head in a throwing version? So you might say, "by popular request we developed the new "FireStone Throwing Axe". ABOUT THE AXE The design of the head was inspired by a picture of a Viking ship builders axe I saw in one of my Viking history books. It was found in a grave that dated to the year 800. This same head is used on our Firestone BeltAxe, but for the ThrowingAxe we do not heat-treat it to 63 Rockwell. The Rockwell for the ThrowingAxe is in the high 40s low 50s. The material is 440C stainless steel. The same stuff used in the quality, high-end knives. The heads are made using an investment casting process called "lost wax casting". This is the same type of process used to make custom jewelry and fine gun parts. The casting is done in Wild Rose, WI. The finishing and assembly is done in Wausau, WI. The head alone weighs 15 ounces; the complete axe weighs about 24 ounces. The handle is 18 inches long, thus providing plenty of length so the handle can be shortened to fit every throwers size and style. The handle is air-dried, straight grained Wisconsin Hickory and each is hand made in Richland Center, WI. There is a special oil and wax based finish applied to the handles for protection and to stabilize the moisture content. These handles are easily replaced and available from McGowan Manufacturing Co. (I have yet to break a handle, but I'm sure I will eventually.) The head is attached to the handle quite uniquely; using a 3/8" stainless steel set screw. If a handle should loosen up a bit one need only tighten the screw. The two holes on the side of the head are for a stainless steel roll pin, which is used only for the BeltAxe. We found it not necessary for the ThrowingAxe. If one wants to fill in the holes, they can use a 1/4" dowel, or any piece of 1/4 rod stock, glued in place. The "hole plugs", if they are used, should not impair removing the handle if it needs to be replaced. SHEATH A leather sheath, custom made by DeSantis Leather, for the BeltAxe is available for the ThrowingAxe, as an option. DeSantis is one of the finest gun holster makers in the world, located in NY State. This sheath has a special swiveling belt loop, so when it's worn in the woods it will not hang up in the brush. It also makes it very easy to tip the axe out of the way when you have it on your belt and want to jump into your pickup. The belt loop is attached to the sheath with a locking snap, thus you can remove the axe from your belt without taking your belt off. The entire sheath design is rather ingenious, if I must say so my self. [of course it's of my design :)] The ThrowingAxe also makes a great camping axe. With its heavy head and long handle, one can get both hands on this thing and chop like crazy. The price on our ThrowingAxe is higher than most, but I think the performance and quality is much better than most. This quality thing is kind of a sore spot with me. In my opinion, most mainstream hawks are junk and lack visual appeal and thus not much pride of ownership. I sometimes wonder if this may be a factor in the slow growth of the throwing sports, the ugly throwing tools? I wonder if now is the time to "to take it up a notch", per Emeril? I think throwing is more fun when you use high quality tools, which are beautifully designed and made. So what if you smash them up! Race car drivers smash up their half million dollar toys every weekend :) Article Contributed by: Arlan D. Lothe A. D. Lothe & Associates, Inc. arlan@maqs.net *To see some pics of this awesome new axe just go to our homepage and click on the THROWERS link, and then click on the THROWING AXES link. It is called THE FIRESTONE THROWINGAXE. http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= 3. RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING VIDEO If you want to learn the insider SECRETS, TIPS and TRICKS that the masters use to hit their mark every time, then John Bailey's Recreational Knife Throwing Video is for you. Here is a taste of what you'll get: - 9 inexpensive target designs - 11 demonstrations - How to eliminate the most common throwing error - Master grips, stances and throws and so much more! For a limited time, you can have the ultimate knife throwing video for only $19.95. By acting now, you'll save 33% off the regular price of $29.95 For a full description and ordering details, follow this link: http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html AOL USERS LINK ============================================= 4. A FEW NOTES ON HUNTING WITH KNIVES by Lee Fugatt I use two very sharp but not razor sharp 14.5 inch knives about 7/32 of an inch thick that I made out of old chainsaw bars. They now have black ABS plastic scales but at first had Oak scales wrapped with tape. They weigh about a pound. One of the mistakes folks make with throwing weapons is that they think a heavier tool is better. Actually this will hurt you more than help. Reaction time and reflex response upon sighting a rabbit or raccoon in range requires a weapon heavy enough to knock the pellets out of Mr. Bunny, but light enough so that you don't rip your shoulder apart against the mass/inertia/acceleration of trained reflex response. Think of a gunslinger trying to draw against Wyatt Earp using a .25 Auto... TOO SMALL! or a .45-70 Cassel, too big! For hunting you need the added leverage of a blade heavy or atleast center balanced knife. For hunting I ALWAYS throw by the handle. Speed of response, control, and a file sharpened blade make this a good idea. Train to draw and throw from a walking position. PRACTICE I use all sorts of diabolical target arrangements. Up in trees, under brush, between branches and yes I get some stuck in trees and have to get them down! Moving targets on the ground are for me a 1 to 6 success ratio so I bring a file and a positive attitude. I have never lost a critter from a bad throw (See me knocking on wood :) KNOW YOUR CRITTERS I was brought up country and soaked up more about animal behavior than I even know that I know. I had a hunting background before I took up this style. I don't throw wild at running deer 50 yards away. I throw sneaky at sleeping possums and 'coons in trees 10 to 20 feet away. I whistle at running rabbits. Most of the time they will stop and look at me out of terminal curiosity. I hunt quail, on my property only as I have built them a habitat and feed them regularly in the Winter. (The best throwing thingie for birds, BTW, is not a knife but a "throwing stick".) For me, hunting is NOT a sport. It is a skill. And a skill to be used responsibly. Article Contributed by: Lee Fugatt Knife Maker/Thrower tonkasila@aol.com http://hometown.aol.com/tonkasila/life1/index.htm ============================================= If you have any questions about throwing that you would like answered in one of our upcoming issues, simply send an e-mail to: sgracia@wi.rr.com with QUESTION FOR NEWSLETTER in the Subject Line, and your name and question in the body. ============================================= (Copyright 2000, Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini.) Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full: Reprinted with permission from Scott Gracia's The Great Throwzini Newsletter. Get your FREE 101 KNIFE THROWING TIPS and Newsletter, filled with lots of great throwing tips and ideas to help you with your throwing game, at The Great Throwzini web site. http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini, 5321 4 Mile Rd. Racine, WI 53402-9791 Phone 262-681-7942, E mail: sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com It's free, and there's no obligation. |
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