Throwing Knives

Knife-throwing developed from throwing wood, which was used as both a tool for hunting and a weapon for battle. In North Africa, the evidence of throwing wood goes all the way back to approximately 6000 B.C. In Egypt, throwing wood was found in the grave of Tut-anch-Amun (approximately 1340 B.C.). After the emergence of iron about 600 B.C., throwing wood gradually developed into the throwing knife.

The throwing knife became popular in America in the early 1800s. The knife-throwing battles of James Bowie, an American soldier during the Texas Revolution, are legendary. In fact, knife-throwing was popular with many Confederate soldiers as a method of fighting. It also became popular as a form of entertainment for them.

A drawing titled “Camp Life in the Confederate Army” shows Confederate soldiers throwing knives at a mark on a tree. which first appeared in 1861. This is considered the first evidence of knife throwing for entertainment.

As early as 1890, knife-throwing appeared as entertainment in the theater. The performer  Monsieur Bushnell used knife-throwing in his variety act. As early as 1902, Victor F. Cody and Miss Lillian Cody joined in the fun and performed knife-throwing acts around the country.

Today, a lot of emphasis is placed on the throwing knife in movies. However it is still used as a weapon by many military units around the world. Throwing knives have also developed as a popular competitive sport.

Several people have asked us what brand or type of tomahawk was used on the History Channel TV show, Top Shot episode. The name was not mentioned on the show. It looked similar to a Cold Steel Pipe Hawk Frontier Hawk , but the head looked more like stainless steel, rather than the drop forged steel of the Frontier Hawk.