Military Ziel Throwing Knife

Throwing knives have been known as the oldest weapons and tools used by people around the world and in all civilizations.  With the advancement of technology their combat performances have been further improved so they can be used for defense in combat situations.  Military throwing knives  look a bit different from other types of throwing knives which is understandable as they have to be durable and solid, designed for ground combat.  Throwing knives are an important part of training of several military service troops such as the US Marine Corps and Navy and Coast Guard troops.  Used for tactical purposes these knives are designed for military  jobs that require precision.  One of the military throwing knives that is interesting for professional throwers,  is the Ziel throwing knife.
The Ziel knife designed by John Bailey is one of the most famous military throwing knives popular among throwers due to its balance,  appealing design and excellent performance.  This superb throwing  knife that got its name after the German word for target is the best `tournament grade` throwing knife,  made of thick stainless steel  for professional throwers. The knife delivers  maximum penetration in all types of targets and it is made for both handle and blade throwing.  There are several models of the Ziel knife namely,  Mini Ziel,  Ziel  and the newest version called Ziel 2.

• Boker Ziel Throwing Knife – this is the knife all professional throwers have been asking for.  The knife is made of tough stainless steel,  13inches long and 14oz in weight.  It can be thrown both from the handle and the blade,  penetrates various kinds of targets and fits the hand well.  This knife is a must-have for any knife thrower,  experienced or beginners.  
• Bailey Mini Ziel Throwing Knife – a smaller version of the famous Ziel throwing knife this model is easy to throw.  The knife introduced in 2011 is made of stainless steel ,  it is extremely durable and sticks very deep.  The knife can be gripped by the handle or the blade the best grip technique being the hammer grip.  If you throw half turn your sticking distance is 2.3m with this knife while for a full turn it is 3.6m.
• Ziel 2 – this is a beautiful throwing knife,  long,  heavy and thick.  The polished blade is made of 420 J2 stainless steel,  it is more than 7 inches long and weighs 14 ounces.  There is a good reason most professional throwers love this knife – it is perfectly balanced for nice,  even rotation that results in accurate throws.  The blade is very durable although said to be prone to bending which is really the only disadvantage professional throwers have found about this Ziel knife.

Mini Ziel

Ziel 2

How To Sharpen a Throwing Knife

There is many was how to sharpen knives.

Throwing knives are special knives that have a unique shape and purpose.  They have edges that look like cutting edges but it is just the way it looks,  these are not functioning edges and  only the tip is sharp to hit and stick in the wooden target.  These knives are made of steel softer than that used for hunting  so one needs to be careful while sharpening throwing knives in order not to scratch or break it.  If you are not experienced when it comes to sharpening throwing knives,  you might damage the knives so if it is only for a hobby then you can use oil stone that can be found in hardware or sporting goods stores.  If you are to take part in a competition remember that they use razor sharp knives.  It is also true that for a good thrower razor sharp edges are not necessary and if you sharpen the knife too much,  your chances of cutting yourself increase.  This is why you should really invest in some time to learn how to sharpen and maintain your throwing knives.  To do this you can watch videos or ask professional knife throwers who recommend the following steps for sharpening a throwing knife :

• Sharpen your knife after each use to keep the blade in good condition
• Use a slot sharpener  because most throwing knives have double edged blade.  Put the blade in the V slot as close to the knife handle as possible,  pull it through the slot and repeat four times then turn the blade and sharpen the other side.
• Use a whetstone or honing oil for sharpening to keep the blade in great condition.  You can use a file for sharpening in which case you need to keep the file clean.  You can use some oil,  rub a few drops on the fine mill file to prevent clogging the files with metal shavings and always count the passes of the file so you can sharpen the edges with the same number of strokes.

Learn more about throwing knives at Knifeup.com. 

Check more about sharpening the throwing knives watching video tutorials:

Best Throwing Knife

Gil Hibben Large Tanto Throwers

It is possible to throw just any regular knife but not every knife is used for professional or combat throwing.  Throwing knives have several features that distinguish them from other knives.  They have dull blades because sharp throwing knives can cut you if you throw from the blade.  Throwing knives have specific length and weight features – the heavier the knife,  the more impact it has on the target.  Their length vary from 6 to 12 inches and they should weigh 1.5 oz for every inch in length.  Beginners may find it easier to throw longer knives as they spin slowly so the throwers have more time to practice on the technique.  It goes without saying that good throwing knives should be made of good quality material.  There are many cheap knives on the market that just break easily or do not hit the target properly. High quality throwing knives are all made of one sheet of stainless steel and come without handles.  It is always recommended that you purchase your knives with sheaths that need to be of high quality as well.  What are some of the best throwing knives on the market?  This is not an easy question,  but here are some of the top selling ones:

>Gil Hibben Large Tanto Throwers –  these excellent throwing knives have the tanto point of the blade and the ‘trigger grip’ that is actually a little nub which sticks out.  That little metal curve slows the rotation as the knife leaves your hand which is especially good when throwing at longer distances.

Naruto Throwing Knives

>United Cutlery Gil Hibben Competition Throwing Knives – designed by a thrower,  the knives are 12 inches long and the handle fits all in your hand.  The length is great for the knife to spin very slowly which is good if you want to add more spin.  You can stick the knife from 25 feet away due to its weight and practice your control.  The throwing knife is made of high quality steel and will not break easily while the sheath is made of high quality leather.

>Naruto Kunai – Naruto is a popular TV show and the knives used in the show resemble throwing knives used by the Ninjas of medieval Japan.  Although the knives are not well balanced and you will need to practice a lot to stick these knives,  they are cheap and only 6 inches in length and light.  If you are a beginner you might find them hard to throw but then you can buy a dozen for that price and practice every day.