 |
|
|
|
|
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. Low Cost Homemade Throwers - Part 1 of 2 by Sam Nolte 3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video 4. Another Great Way To Hang Targets by Kenny Vaughn 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Hello Fellow Knife Throwing Brothers and Sisters! I hope you all are doing well :) Things have been going great here! I went to a private archery club a couple days ago called R.I.B. (Racine Instinctive Bowmen) to talk about setting up a knife throwing booth at their annual archery competition coming up August 18 & 19, 2001. Usually their event is just an archery contest where all the "bowmen" walk a trail that is outside and shoot at different types of targets that are set up along the way. (They even have a giant cardboard elephant set up on one of the trails at about 100yrds.) I talked to the "board of directors" - about 25 people - and gave them the whole "It's a great target sport!" schpiel :) Just about all of them thought it was great idea. So this year there will be a knife throwing booth right at the beginning of the event trail. So anybody that is waiting to start the archery contest can come and throw a few knives and axes. If everything goes right, I'll get a couple more people interested in the game and maybe even get to go back next year and do it all over again! All I have to do now is figure out what type of range/targets I want to use. Guess its time to go over my Recreational Knife Throwing Video to see if there are any other types of targets I can use. (I'm pretty sure there are at least 9 designs covered on the tape.) Follow this link to find out what else this great video can teach you. http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html The archery club sits on 200 acres of land and according to the owners, they have more big stumps than they know what to do with... but I'm sure I can come up with a few ideas :) It will be an entire weekend of camping, bonfires, cool people, good food... and lots of knife and axe throwing! I can't wait til I can tell you all a story about it! Until next time... Scott Gracia The Great Throwzini Web Site sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com UPCOMING EVENTS The World Federation of Knife Throwers 1st ever event is coming up fast! Less than a week to go til the fun begins, so try not to miss it! To see the rules and other details about the newest knife and axe throwing competition just check out: http://throwzini.com/wfkt_events2001.html OTHER UPDATES When you visit the site you'll also notice a brand new QUICK IDEA and lots of interesting posts in our THROWZINI FORUM! Like the one about the free knife throwing lessons in the Houston area! Or learn tons of other useful knife, axe and spike throwing tips by visiting our homepage and clicking on the THROWZINI FORUM link. http://www.throwzini.com Thanks again to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: LOW COST HOMEMADE THROWERS -- Part 1 of 2 by Sam Nolte Have you ever looked at a sleek, professional-made thrower and thought, "Wow, I bet that thing throws awesome! Wouldn't it be cool if I could buy that!", only to glance at the price tag and immediately think, "Well, ya know, that knife isn't really that cool looking, and I bet it throws terribly..." Probably not. Anyway, I have, and I have found that the best and cheapest throwing knives are homemade. My first throwers were a set of three 6" throwing knives that I bought at a local flea market. I started out trying to count the number of spins it took for the knives to stick, but since I wanted to throw knives quickly, I started out at around 4 turn throws. (Not that far away with 6" knives.) My knife trio gradually dwindled away over the months as I lost one, then another knife in the grass, until I was down to one knife. By then, I wasn't half bad at sticking 1/2 - 1 turn throws, but I stuck my last knife into a wooden trailer bed and the tip snapped off. After that, it didn't stick very well with a 1/4" wide tip that looked like a blade screwdriver, so it found its way into the trash can. I immediately bought another set of throwers, this time a set of two. Since I still hadn't gotten over the "If its cheap, buy it" phase, they both turned out to be very low quality throwers that bent badly nearly every throw I missed. I eventually gave them both to my friend as a going-away present since he was moving to Virginia. I finally broke down and started looking for a higher quality knife. I bought a 9" Rigid Throwing Knife for $16 and I loved it. Only problem was, I had progressed to wanting more and more distance accurately. For me, that meant a bigger knife. And, since I wasn't willing to cough up $30 or more for a bigger knife, I made a copy of the Rigid Knife, only 11 3/4" long instead of 9", and ground it out on our bench grinder. Well, that 11 3/4" worked for a while, but I wanted even longer distance! I steadily progressed to bigger and bigger knives, until I had made my ultimate thrower... A double bladed, needle sharp, wicked looking 18" long knife made out of a lawnmower blade. You can see this knife in the Unusual Throwers section in the Throwzini web site. http://www.throwzini.com/unusual_throwers.html HOW I MAKE A THROWING KNIFE To make a knife, what I first do is draw up what I want the knife to look like. Then, if you are lucky and have a local store that sells old lawnmower blades, buy a lawnmower blade that has the straight part of the blade long and wide enough for the design you want. (I buy mine from Western Auto, they cost anywhere from $5 to $15 here.) If you can't find a lawnmower blade with a straight part long or wide enough, an old chainsaw blade is a very good choice, or you could make one out of a large metal file, or any chunk of good hard metal. Also, have your friends watch for likely pieces that could be made into a knife. Once you have a design drawn on paper, cut it out and hold it on the metal and trace the shape with a marker or pencil. Then go ahead and get to grinding. However, do not grind without earplugs or a suitable substitute, leather gloves, and safety glasses. A dust mask is also recommended. Grind out the basic shape and then work on details. Hold the knife at its central point and balance it on your finger. If it balances, you are now finished with your knife. If not, grind on the heavy side and balance again. Repeat if needed. Part 2 of 2 continued in our next issue. Article Contributed by: Sam Nolte sly1685@hotmail.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. ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO HANG TARGETS by Kenny Vaughn I saw your tip about using a golf tee to put up targets due to it not damaging the blade. Well, I think I have something better. In my opinion, it is the best target holder I have ever found because: Its cheap. Easily available. Ridiculously simple to use. Holds up most targets, including paper plates. It will never damage any blade in any way. And, it doesn't even leave a mark. What is this elixir, this cure, my friends? Poster hanging putty. You can get it at any business supply store or the larger hardware stores for less than 2 bucks for a sizable wad of it. It works well for sticking up anything made of paper. The knife goes through it without any damage or mark. All you do is rip a chunk off and apply it to the center of your backing, then stick the card or plate to it. Or, of course, you can slap some on the back of your card/plate and then mash it onto the target. It works great either way. It lasts quite well too, particularly if it doesn't get soaked. It can even survive normal rains. When it sticks no more, just add some new. Hope this helps out, and thanks for listening... Article Contributed by: Kenny Vaughn coldsteelkv@hotmail.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 2001, 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, 126 East Plainfield Ave Milwaukee, WI 53207-5008 Phone 414-744-8689, 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. |