How to Forge a Throwing Knife

Throwing knives must be balanced to fly true and forging one requires specialized skills. The weight of a throwing knife should be distributed evenly. The handle and point need to rotate smoothly around the center point. Forging your own throwing knives adds a level of intimacy to the art of throwing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steel
• Forge
• Fuel
• Hammer
• Tongs
• Anvil

1. Start forging a throwing knife by selecting a high quality knife material. Steel is the preferred material, as it is malleable with a high tensile strength. Unlike iron, steel can be worked over and over without shattering.

2. Heat the forge with coal or charcoal, as they give an even heat that is high enough to forge the steel. Wood or propane can also be used. Remember to properly ventilate the area round the forge. Set the throwing knife into the fire using iron tongs. Let the metal get red hot.

3. Check the steel with a magnet. When the steel is no longer magnetic it is ready to forge.

4. Pound the knife on the anvil to shape it. Start the shaping procedure with the beveled edge. Pay close attention to the tang, where the handle will go.

5. Use a three pound sledge to shape the blade. Avoid mushrooming the metal by striking too hard. Keep returning the blade to the fire to keep it malleable.

6. Anneal the blade by heating it red hot and letting it cool in the air at least three times. This strengthens the metal of the throwing knife. Without this process the blade would be useless for throwing.

7. File and sharpen the blade before adding a handle if desired. Most throwing knives do not have a handle, as the thrower simply handles the knife by the tang.