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Targets for Knife & Tomahawk Throwing 7/1/05 By Scott Gracia 7/1/05
When it comes to "cool sounds" I can't think of anything cooler than the sound a knife makes as it flies in from about 20 feet and slams, point first, into the target! That big, hollow, "THUNK" sound just makes my blood start pumpin'! :-)
There are quite a few types of targets you can make that work great for knife and tomahawk throwing. Here are a couple easy ones to get you started...
PLANKS OF WOOD You can make a target out of boards or planks that you have laying around. Always place the grain of your target vertically. The knife or 'hawk will cut into the grain easier this way.
Get about 4 - 2 inch X 12 inch planks, about 6 feet in length. Lay them out next to each other and attach them using a few 2 X 4's. One on top, one on the bottom and one in the middle. Screw them in from the back with large screws or lag bolts. Be sure to get a "softer" board like Pine/Fir.
LOG ROUNDS "Log rounds" are my favorite target to throw at! Get them as wide across as you can. That way you can fit more targets on the face of the log which will help prolong the life of the target.
If you only have one target on your log you are always throwing at the same exact spot, (usually a bullseye), and that's one sure way to chew up a target fast!
(If you plan to compete in one of the many throwing competitions going on throughout the US, the standard target has 3 rings on it. The largest is 16" so I would recommend getting a log with at least a 20" diameter. In most events the target size is the same. A 2.5 inch bullseye - 3 points, an 8 inch ring - 2 points, and a 16 inch ring - 1 point.)
If you only plan on throwing knives at your target, you should be able to get away with a section only 4" thick. But if you can get them thicker you really should.
When the face gets chewed up, you just turn the log around. And if you get thicker logs, when both sides need replacing you just get a chainsaw and take off a few inches from each side and you have brand new target faces!
If you are going to throw axes or hawks then the target will get chewed up much faster so I would get the thickest stumps you can handle. (Just remember you're going to have to move them and set them up so be sure they aren't too much for you to handle.)
TYPES OF WOOD If you use a hard/dense wood your throwers will be more likely to bounce out or not get a good solid stick. It also depends on the knives/axes you are using. Some throwers may have sharper points and edges that make them stick a little better in hard woods. But I suggest always going for a softer type of wood if you have a choice.
My favorite wood to use is Cottonwood. After it's been outside for awhile, getting rained on and soaking up all the moisture, it acts like a "self-healing" dart board. The holes seal up quite a bit after you pull your knives out.
Pine, Palm, Spruce, and Poplar are also softer woods that work great for knife and axe throwing targets.
Stay away from plywood. It will work for some of the smaller throwers but its not a good target. Its loud when the knives hit it, your knives will bounce off of it more often than if you're throwing at a log round, and if you throw bigger, heavier knives... they can go right through it!
A GREAT WAY TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR TARGETS Here's a great tip I learned about prolonging the life of your target. Before you start hurling your steel, soak your targets with water. Just bring out the hose and "water" the
wood for a few minutes. If you can wait that long to throw :-)
PLACES TO FIND TARGETS
LUMBER YARD/FIREWOOD DEALERS If you're having trouble finding two by twelves or log rounds you can call a lumber yard or even a place that sells firewood.
I recently stopped at a lumber mill in Kenosha, WI and the guy told me he would save a bunch of soft wood like Pine and Cottonwood and cut me 12 inch thick logs, (no smaller than 16 inches in diameter), for $5 a piece!
PHONE/POWER/ELECTRIC COMPANY These guys are constantly out on the road. They have crews cutting down and trimming trees all the time. They also clean up downed trees after storms. Stop and talk to one of the crew and see what they say.
It might cost you a 12 pack of beer or maybe even a knife throwing lesson, but either way it will be worth it! :-)
AIR FORCE BASES AND JUNKYARDS If you are close to any Air Force base you may be able to pick up "aircraft chaulks" from the base recycling center. These things are basically a curb that you'd find in any parking lot but they are made out of wood. They're usually 12 inches wide and 4 feet long. They are also heavy as hell and take a lot of abuse from axes and knives! They only cost about a dollar a piece so pick up a bunch if you can!
You can also call your local junk yard or recycling center to see if they have any old railroad ties they'd like to get rid of.
FRIENDS And finally, ask your friends for help! People cut trees down everyday. Just let your friends know that you're looking for stumps and if they see any decent sized ones on the side of the road to grab them or call you and let you know where they are.
Once the word is out for awhile, you may end up with more targets than you need. But thats a good problem to have!
These rounds can be heavy so be sure to check them before loading them up. Many times the reason the tree was cut down was because it was either dying or rotting on the inside. Some sections may be good and others may not.
If the "future targets" are somewhere out of the way where I think its safe enough, I bring out one of my knives and see how it sticks. One stick and you should know if its leaving with you or staying where it is.
Well that should be plenty of ideas for you to get started on your throwing range! Have fun and be safe!
Best of luck with your search for the perfect target and always remember...
Beware of flying metal!!! :-)
Scott Gracia Copyright 2005 by Scott Gracia All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without permission from the author.
DISCLAIMER: You participate in the sport of knife throwing at your own risk. The author of this tips report urges the reader to take all safety precautions available. The author is not responsible for any injuries resulting from knife throwing or any use of the above mentioned tips. To learn the specific techniques for throwing knifes properly and safely we highly recommend that you seek a professional knife throwing trainer or organization to assist you in learning the sport of knife throwing.
Redistributed with permission by eknives.com. Get more information and a wide selection of quality products. We offer below retail prices and free shipping on all items!
About the author:
sgracia@wi.rr.com 101 FREE KNIFE THROWING TIPS http://www.throwzini.com
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