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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. Light Throwers- Part 4 of 4 by K.E. Sackett 3. L&H Throwing Dirk 4. Another Christmas! 5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines ======================================= 1. WHAT'S NEW Hello everyone! Man am I excited! It was a busy week here. I was updating the site again and making room for the new throwers we now have available. Introducing 3 new models from L & H Knife Works: The 11" Throwing Dirk, 13" French Curve and a 15" Tactical Throwing Tanto! I was outside the other day, attempting to try the bigger throwers out. It didn't go so well... After I shoveled about 6" of snow away from and off of my targets I grabbed my new knives and commenced to "chuck'n some steel"! I was throwing outside for about 7 minutes when I decided this wasn't the best idea I've ever had. There was already ice forming on the knives from sitting in the snow, and my hands were frozen. (The sun must have been in my eyes ;-) So I headed back inside to my indoor range. I was throwing the 11" Dirk for about a half hour. It seemed a little strange at first. It is definitely handle heavy. Anyway, after I made some adjustments, I was throwing a 1/2 spin from about 11' and with some authority! I'm very impressed with this smaller model. I can't wait until I can try out the bigger ones! To learn more about these knives visit The Great Throwzini web site: http://www.throwzini.com/LHknives.htm Thanks to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!! ======================================== 2. GUEST COLUMN: LIGHT THROWERS -- Part 4 of 4 by: K. E. Sackett Continued from Issue #4 THROWING LIGHT WEAPONS Everyone who practices knife throwing as a hobby knows that a short, light knife is hard to control at more than close range. This is just a built-in limitation of light knife-tossing -- about the only one, I would say. But light knife throwing is meant to fit into limited space and budgets. If you accept practicing only at one-half to a full turn, you can have a lot of fun, and gain a lot of skill, with a light setup. Light knife throwing is less tiring than full-size throwing: There's less weight to handle, less distance to walk back and forth retrieving your knives, and less effort needed to make your weapon fly to the target. I might add: fewer ricochets to dodge, and fewer knives to hunt for in the grass when you miss. Because the preferred targets are cardboard, knives or spikes tend to bounce less if they hit wrong; the cardboard absorbs some of the weapon's energy. All the same, you will get ricochets on occasion; every knife-chucker knows that. So if you set up your light target indoors, 1) provide protection for windows and lighting fixtures and 2) follow the same safety rules you use outdoors. With practice, you'll find that you can hit a surprisingly small target at light-knife ranges. This will allow you to place your aiming-marks close together, and to throw a lot of knives into the target. But don't get cocky: ice picks, spikes, scissors, and other such hardware can still collide if you try to group them too tightly. About powerful throws with light weapons: Don't use them. For one thing, they're not necessary at ranges of only a few feet. For another, light weapons and targets won't stand the strain of macho-man, grunt-as-you-release throwing. Finally, safety considerations in a confined space call for restrained throwing. A wild ricochet at half-turn distances is almost impossible to dodge, and those bodkin-pointed screwdrivers and scissors can inflict serious wounds. Eye protection is a terrifically good idea. SPECIAL ADVANTAGES The small size of the equipment used in light knife throwing makes it a very flexible sport. Light knife throwing can be practiced in a basement or garage, or on a small patio, or in a tiny back yard. Because even a large cardboard target will weigh only a few pounds, you can change your throwing venue simply by carrying your target to a new place. Want to take your light throwing-weapons on a trip? Just bundle them up securely in your luggage; their small size and weight make it easy to travel with a dozen or more. But don't try to carry them on board an airplane; security people lose their smiles when the metal detector turns up a bunch of shanks. Check your luggage through. Don't want to lug a knife-throwing target on your journey? No problem; just improvise one when you get where you're going. A plain cardboard box will stay in one piece long enough for an hour's throwing with ice picks or light knives. A solider target can be whipped up by filling any convenient cardboard container (say a flat, thin carton of the kind used for shipping mirrors) with additional sheets of cardboard and taping the whole thing tight. Cardboard targets of this type can be hung from a tree branch using stout twine or light cord. If no tree branch comes handy, you can use almost any kind of pole; wind your string around the pole a few times at the correct height, and draw it snug. A derelict plank or an old door can be leaned against a post to form a backing for a cardboard target. If no cardboard comes handy (although cardboard is everywhere), a dozen round firewood logs can be stacked up to form a woodpile-type target. You can set up a light target in almost any quiet place, indoors or out, as long as the owner is agreeable. When it's time to move on, dispose of your temporary target neatly, sweep up the crumbs or chips that knives always peck out of any surface, and skeedaddle. STUNTS AND COMPETITIONS WITH LIGHT KNIVES You can practice most of your favorite knife-throwing stunts and games with light knives. MOVING TARGETS Try hanging a pasteboard circle on a string pendulum to swing back and forth across the face of your backstop. Or tack a pasteboard spinner onto the backstop so that it can rotate freely, spin it, and try sticking one end. REACTIVE TARGETS Rig a light shelf of cardboard across the face of the backstop. Place a row of empty milk cartons or crackerjack boxes on the shelf and try your hand at picking them off. COMPETITIONS Draw a target with scoring rings and lines on a sheet of butcher's paper and tape it to the backstop. You can score exactly as you would for darts. TRICK THROWS You can practice your light knife throws kneeling, sitting, lying down, backwards, jumping, and while wearing funny hats. Use your imagination, and you'll never run out of fun. Article contributed by . . . K.E. Sackett sackett@dbo.eng.wayne.edu http://www.crl.com/~mjr/knife_lite.html ============================================= 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 CHRISTMAS!!! It was a knife throwers dream at my house this week. Besides getting my order of the new models from L&H Knife Works, I got another package in the mail... I wasn't expecting anything else, so I looked at the address on it. It was from Waterloo, IA??? "I don't know anyone in Waterloo, IA?", I thought as I was walking towards the house. The package was taped up pretty good so it looked important. Hmmm...someone in Iowa is sending me an important package... I shook it a little and I heard a clang! Hey... knives clang! I was starting to get excited! I got inside and cut it open. There was a letter and 2 HUGE, throwing knives! I opened the letter and read it. The package was from a knife maker/thrower named Jeff Koch. (Jeff is also a reader of the this newsletter.) The first line of the letter said, "I enjoy your Great Throwzini Newsletter so much that I wanted to give you a couple of my newest model throwers"... How cool is that! These things are crazy! They're called Javelins. They are 16" long and weigh 17oz! I already need new targets! There were also a few pictures of Jeff's other throwing designs. I put them up at: http://www.throwzini.com/collections.htm (I also received a pic from Jason Chasse, from the Thrower List, of some of his designs.) Be sure to check both of these pages out. They're definitely worth seeing! Thanks again Jeff for the great new knives and thanks to everyone else for the all your pics/info! ============================================= 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 1999, 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 website http://www.throwzini.com ============================================= Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini, 5321 4 Mile Rd. Racine, WI 53402-9791 Phone 262-681-7942, Email: 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. |