Help Throwing Cold Steel True Flight

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andrew_rigsby

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Oct 17, 2013
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I have been throwing knives for about three years now. I got into with a buddy and we both have grown in our love for it. Up until now we just throw the knife at targets and hope that it sticks, but I want to increase my skills. I throw with the same knife all the time, a Cold Steep True Flight, and I have three of them. I want to learn a throwing technique that is best for this knife and that will stick any knife at any distance. I dont know what method is best for sticking it everytime, I have looked for resources online but dont know what are the best ones. I know you guys have a ton of knowledge and would appreciate the suggestions and advice. I am willing to upload videos of my progress for you to critique me or anything to get my throws perfect. Thanks!
 
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I agree, I just know that my technique is both inconsistent and ineffective most of the time. I have practiced my throwing at the same targets and my percentage of sticks hasnt increased. I guess I just want to know the most effective throwing technique that is easy to learn.
 
I can highly recommend looking at Jack Dagger's knife throwing DVD.
It will help you with the fundamentals needed to get good results throwing any good throwing knife (including the True Flight)
Then, it's just down to puttin' in the reps!
Good luck! :)
 
There's information on several techniques you can find on the internet. It sounds like you are trying to throw knives with uncontrolled rotation at random distances. The Jack Dagger method will teach you the technique, set distances, and the appropriate number of spins per distance. This is the type of throwing used for most competitions and circus acts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FRKMFrX-8

No spin and half spin techniques are "any distance" methods where the knife performs the same amount of rotation from random and unknown distances. Ralph Thorn and Houzan Suzuki both have information available online about no spin techniques. There isn't as much info online regarding half spin techniques as far as I know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji1nBmcKuoo

I own a few true flights and throw them with all 3 of the techniques mentioned above. My only recommendation is in regard to the sharp blade on the true flight. Until you know what you're doing you might want to throw it by the handle. Basically, start learning from a 1 spin distance or learn the no spin technique.
 
Harry McEvoy wrote several books about Knife and Hawk throwing.you can find them on ebay for between 5-10 bucks.they cover 1/2 spin thru 2 1/2 spin for the most part.great books by the father of American recreational knife throwing.MR.McEvoy was also the original founder of the AKTA[American knife throwing alliance] which is now being led by Mr Bobby Branton.who as you may know is an expert thrower and AWESOME knife maker.
may your blades never rust.
 
I gotta say,

I have thrown each of the Cold Steel knives in my little practice area many hundreds of times. I find the Cold steel True flight to be one of the hardest to be consistent with. The Pro Balance, Perfect Balance, Sure Balance are all heavier and stick more consistently at longer ranges for me. They all work out to 15' or so but to get 21-26' I just have to have a heavier knife. It is probably just me. On the other hand, the True flight is a great hiking/camping knife and is certainly more useful than the two "point only" knives.
 
I've been throwing for over 7 years and still struggle with consistency.

If you are going for no-spin, you could try the following:
(1) Grind off the knob on the spine. It may be interfering with your release.
(2) Grind the knife shorter - about 0.5" to 1.5" shorter. For some people (like me), something magical happens when the knife is in the 9" to 11" range. I am able to control it much better than with a 12"+ knife.
(3) Try a foam or archery target (or nice semi-rotten end-grain wood). It will take sticks that a wood target will reject, allowing you to build confidence and diagnose your throw. In my case, for example, one of my big struggles is knife yaw - turning left or right. I know this because I throw into foam when my wood target is bouncing my knives.
 
I have only been at this 8 months or so. I try to get in half an hour or more every day. But the one thing that is really consistent is my lack of consistency. Everything seems to effect the throws from time to time. The area where I throw is lengthwise to late afternoon sun so after 4 or so I am staring into it one way and throwing my own shadows the other. Anything that causes depth perception problems is an issue as well. Or sometimes I'll slip on a pine cone just as I release or put my foot in a small hole. One thing that is amazing. If I think about what I am doing, I tend to miss. If I just start throwing at targets surrounding me and letting my eyes and hands do the work it can be amazing how consistent I can be. Once in a while I go out and throw ten and hit ten all at different targets and ranges and heights> When that happens I just go back in! There is no way the day can improve and it can only go downhill from there.
 
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