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The Great Throwzini Newsletter: Issue #44

by Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com

=======================================
IN THIS ISSUE

1. What's New
2. Tempering Steel - Part 2 of 2 - by Mike Spiker
3. Recreational Knife Throwing Video - by John Bailey
4. The Guru of Recreational Knife Throwing - by Scott Gracia
5. Advertising Opportunities
6. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines
7. Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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1. WHAT'S NEW

Hello fellow throwers!

Its been another nice week for throwing! I was trying to get in as much practice as I could last week because the "weather guesser" said it was supposed to rain all week long... but it barely rained a drop!

I got to throw a little bit each day and have been practicing all weekend long with a few of my friends, Scott and John. This is perfect knife throwing weather. Its a little bit cool, but just cool enough to where you don't break a sweat no matter how long you throw.

Our latest target of choice has been a 4X4. After seeing the newest knife throwing video from The Great Throwdini, (aka. The Rev. Dr. David Adamovich), we've been on a mission to stick 5 knives in a length of 4X4" wood from 12'. There's not much room for error!

In his video David throws 5 knives from 8' (half spins), and 5 knives from 12' (full spins), and they all hit right where they were supposed to. He walks them right up the 4X4!

Try it out. Get a piece of 4X4 a few feet long and attach it to your target. Now see how many you can stick. Its totally addictive, I just can't walk away until there are at least 4 out of 5 sticking in the 4X4 :)

My new motto: If you're not having fun, than whats the point? (Get it? "Point"... heh eh...

So anyway, for more details of Throwdini's video just follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html

Hope you're all safe and doing well after the horrible attacks we suffered on the 11th. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and friends, and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.

Until next time...

Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
The Great Throwzini Web Site
http://www.throwzini.com

NEW TARGET PIC
I received a letter from Jim Dowd of Lakeside, AZ with a fantastic picture of his target set up! Can you say "BIG LOGS!" Thanks for sharing it Jim.

To check it out just go to our home page and click on the TARGETS link and then the OUTDOOR TARGETS link. Its called JIM'S TARGETS.

http://www.throwzini.com

UPCOMING U.S. EVENTS
The American Knife Throwers Alliance will be holding their 6th Annual National Championships on October 12-13 2001 in Awendaw, S.C.

For more information on this event, contact Bobby Branton (President of the AKTA) at: PROFLY001@aol.com

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!

There's no better place to learn tons of useful knife, axe and spike throwing tips so 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:

TEMPERING STEEL -- Part 2 of 2
by Mike Spiker

Continued From Issue #43

Step 1
This is probably the most important... preparing the knives. The knives should have all the edges rounded, and all the grinds completed.

I personally like to have the knives completed to at least a 100 grit finish. This is important because any burrs etc. can cause hot-spots that will not allow the blade to harden properly, usually causing it to be harder in those areas.

And when the blade is put thru the draw-cycle it does not draw a temper evenly causing it to have brittle areas.

Step 2
Preheat the motor oil to aprox. 110 degrees. Do not overheat as the temperature will rise rapidly during the quench.

Step 3
Using your preferred heat source, heat the entire knife EVENLY until the point is reached where the magnet is no longer attracted to the steel. Heat just a bit-more and then...

Step 4
Quickly, but carefully quench the knife in the oil. Completely submerge the knife but don't let it rest on the bottom of the container.

Keep it there until all bubbling and boiling stops. Quenching knives produces a lot of smoke and fumes so keep your head to the side.

And finally while in the "quenchant" don't "swish" the knife around as this can cause warpage.

Step 5
After all the bubbling stops remove the knife and let it cool, edge down, in still air until it reaches ambient temperature.

Once cooled clean and sand the knife to remove all scale, this is important because any scale left on the surface becomes terribly hard to remove after the draw cycle.

Draw a file across the knife at the grind area. If the blade hardened properly, a new file will just "scratch" the surface.

Step 6
Place the knife in the oven and draw at 350 degrees for 2 hrs. Check with the file again. The blade should be able to be cut SLIGHTLY using the file.

If not, you will have to experiment with the temperature and time, until you find what works with your steel.

I hope that this set of guidelines gives you a useful starting point to work with.

Just remember to do it safely, after all you're going to want to enjoy those new knives.

Article Contributed By:
Mike Spiker
mspiker@juno.com
www.throwingknives.com

I can also be reached on the Throwers List:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thrower

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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. THE GURU OF RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING
by Scott Gracia

We returned from our FL trip on the 17th. It was a great adventure! One of the days we were there, we took a drive over to John & Monika Baileys house.

John is the Founder and President of the WKTG (World Knife Throwers Guild), and also the maker of the Recreational Knife Throwing Video Part 1 and soon to be released, Part II!

He has all kinds of throwing toys and all sorts of targets! We even got to sneak a peek at his "vault" of throwers and hear a few great stories. It was a learning experience to say the least!

Thanks to John and Monika both for all the hospitality and for letting us come and play, we had a great time and can't wait to return!

THE GURU OF RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING
I'm now going to call John the "Guru of Recreational Knife Throwing"! We had a few small contests but everything else was just plain old fun!

No bullseyes. Instead we threw at 4X4's, lexan glass, giant spinning wheels, tree trunks, oh yeah... and fruit!

There are 2 grapefruit trees growing in their backyard and John pulled one off of the tree and rolled it across the yard. It was about 30 feet away from us when it stopped rolling.

John handed me a bayonet and said "Good Luck!" :)

I didn't even dream of hitting the piece of fruit let alone sticking the pointy end of the blade in it...
but it happened!

My second throw skewered it! I was AMAZED to say the least! The first thought that flew into my head was:

"Nobody is ever gonna believe me",

But John was sitting a few feet away from me, and he was watching. It was a "once in a lifetime shot". I was so excited I tried hitting that thing for about another 30 minutes and didn't even come close to it.

So then we started throwing the bayonet underhanded and trying to stick it in the top of a log that was about waist high. (Just like the old Lawn Darts that I played with 20 yrs ago :)

Its a different kind of throw all together and very fun! I suggest you all go and try it just to do something different. Anything to break up the monotony of throwing at bullseyes is good in my book!

Just set a log round on the ground facing up and stand a few feet away. First just go for 1 spin. Then back up and try for 2, 3 etc.

We also threw flaming knives, set up a string cutting contraption, I walked up a "ladder of knives" that John threw, and there was even some special effects that involved .22 caliber blanks and small bags of exploding gun powder :)

It was the most fun I've had throwing knives in a long time! Thanks for all the great tips and fun John!

Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
The Great Throwzini Web Site
http://www.throwzini.com

To check out some pictures of my day at John's house just follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/baileyhome.html

============================================
ADVERTISE WITH US
Run an ad in this newsletter and expose your business to thousands of potential customers! Send an e-mail to sgracia@wi.rr.com for details.

=============================================
Worlds Easiest To Use Throwing Knife! The Easy-Stik Pro. You will throw like an expert in just a few tries. Order from the net or send a check or money order for $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping to:
Accuflight Inc.
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See the video of this knife in action at
www.accuflightinc.com
Dealers inquires invited.

Thank you,
Clyde Hoch

============================================
If you have any questions about throwing that you would like answered in one of our upcoming issues, or if you have an article or story about throwing that you would like to share, 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 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 E. Plainfield Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207-5008
Phone 414-744-8689,
E mail: sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com

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Chuck Fogarty
Countryside, IL



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