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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. Converting Steak Knives into Throwing Knives by Peter Krzonkalla 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video 4. Name That Famous Knife Thrower by Hazelle Jackson 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Hello everybody, Hope all is well in the knife throwing world! We have a few new things to tell you about so let's get to it! NEW WEB POLL Be sure to stop by and cast your vote in our newly updated Web Poll. It's right on the home page. Bottom right. Thanks!! (Results of our last Web Poll are listed below.) OTHER UPDATES When you visit the site you'll also notice a brand new QUICK IDEA and lots of great new posts on our Great Throwzini Discussion Forum! Be sure to check them out! http://www.throwzini.com PREVIOUS WEB POLL RESULTS What type of throwing knives do you prefer? My favorite knives have always been "handle throwers". Probably because these are the ones I'm most consistent with. But ya gotta have a little variety!!! I get bored throwing from the handle all the time so I change every once in a while and play with one of my blade throwers. The Tactical Throwing Tanto from L&H Knife Works is a great one and I have a few others from Jeff Koch that are great fun to throw... ... but after I start bouncing more than a few and get sick of bending over to pick them up, I always end up going back to the full turns :) Anyway, thanks to everyone who participated. The final results were as follows: What type of throwing knives do you prefer? Handle Throwers - 37.3% Blade Throwers - 32.4% Handle/Blade - 30.4% Total Voters: 308 I have thrown lots of different "handle throwers" and "blade throwers" but only one knife that could be thrown equally well from either end. The Model #79 from TRU BAL. Just keep trying new things and knife throwing won't get boring... new grips, new throws, new knives. Just keep on chuckin' that pointy steel and having fun!!! Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: I recently received a few messages from a thrower in Germany named Peter. He wanted to share an idea he had about making some throwers out of steak knives. I told Peter if he wrote out the procedure as best he could, I would translate any part that needed it. Although his English wasn't perfect it was easy enough to understand what he was getting at, so I've done just a little editing. And now, on to the next workshop project... The following is the email I received from Peter: CONVERTING STEAK KNIVES INTO THROWING KNIVES by Peter Krzonkalla Oh boy, to explain the procedure... I hope I have enough English words - or you have enough imagination to understand!!! First a kindly regard to you, and all the other throwers out there. OK, on to the procedure... Hmmm, how do I "shape" the steak knives? (my girl-friend just give me a laugh, because she knows how difficult this is to explain for me :) When you buy some knives - do not buy the cheapest you can find, what we need is a good blade-steel and these are usually a bit more expensive. Now, on the knives I bought, the sharp side of the blade is like a "wave", (serrated), this is not very good for throwing. In my workroom I have an electric sharpening stone, so I carefully grind away the "waves". Be extremely careful because the blade of the knife is very slim, and you don't want to remove any more steel than is absolutely necessary. These aren't the heaviest knives to begin with so the more steel you remove the lighter your throwers will be. You have to have enough weight to get "optimal flight". I throw these from 8-9' and also from 15-17' by adjusting my grip and choking up on the knife. After I grind off the "waves" of the blade, I also hit the other side of the blade - but carefully!! You don't want to sharpen the knives, you only want to get each side of the blade to look the same. You only need to do a little bit of grinding. I try to focus on the middle of the blade in one eye while grinding away each side. And try to get them as consistent as possible. The peak or tip is very sharp! (Be careful where you put your fingers in working and later when throwing). URGENT: Try to leave the full length of the blade. If you grind it down you won't have enough weight in the blade to be a good thrower, (I learned this lesson the hard way). But you can make the handles heavier, (this will help for longer distance throws and optimal flight). Five hour's after I started this project I had 8 new short-distance "precision-sport-instruments"! Today my 8 "customized steak knives" are my favorite throwers! They all have the same handles and weight, so I can throw 8 knives from the same distance. Instead of having to move around due to different lengths and weights of knives. Always remember not to sharpen the blades too much, your fingers will thank you!!! Wishing you good throws every time... Yours, Peter Krzonkalla Hessen, Germany pk100@t-online.de ============================================= 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. NAME THAT FAMOUS THROWER by Hazelle Jackson This is a bit of a long shot but maybe someone out there knows the answer. I have lived in England, to the South West of London, for the last 30 years. I first got interested in knife throwing around 25 years ago because every summer in Whitton, a small suburb, in my neighborhood of West London, the town council used to stage an annual carnival with a little fun fair and side shows. It was all very Mom and Pop stuff. For several years, in 1970s, one of the acts was a knife thrower who did an impalement act. And boy what a knife thrower, I have never forgotten him. He was getting on a bit then, I would guess in his 60's and I think he wore a Mississippi gambler type costume but I can't be sure. He had a female assistant and he would throw these knives all around her, real close to the edge of her body, very fast and so casually I shall never forget it. He may have had a wheel act as well. I asked a circus friend of mine if he knew who it might be and he suggested the name Roy Roper, but it doesn't ring any bells and I don't remember him doing a rope act. I think I read in the local paper at the time that he was American, retired and quite famous. But I could be imagining that. If he was English he would surely be very well known among US knife throwing circles. Any veteran knife throwers out there have any idea who it might have been? Hazelle Jackson London England hazelle.jackson@dial.pipex.com This message is also posted on our Throwzini Discussion Forum. If you have any ideas of who this thrower could be, you can post a response by clicking on the THROWZINI FORUM link on our homepage. And then click NAME THAT FAMOUS KNIFE THROWER (You can also check here to see any answers to this question.) http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= 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. |
Want to improve your accuracy?CLICK HERE "...the ability of David to throw different turns at different distances was outstanding and the impalement acts were 1st rate..." Chuck Fogarty Countryside, IL FREE STUFF CLICK HERE for FREE 101 Knife Throwing Tips Info-Pak Want hundreds of great knife throwing tips, ideas, articles and interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport of knife throwing? Get our FREE, twice-a-month Great Throwzini Online Newsletter. Just click below and send. CLICK HERE for FREE Online Newsletter or send e-mail to: sgracia@wi.rr.com with SUBSCRIBE in the Subject Line. I respect your privacy and will never share or sell your e-mail address to anyone. |