If you live in a place where hunting with a gun is prevalent, it’s likely that others in your area do as well. In addition to the obvious danger of a bullet from an angry hunter finding its way into your house, there’s also the danger of knives.
Throwing knives are traditionally used by hunters to wound or kill prey, and can be equally dangerous for anyone who happens to come across them.
A sharp throwing knife can penetrate through clothing and skin, making it very difficult for paramedics to extract the blade without further injuring the person it pierced.
But should you be worried about throwing knives? Even if you don’t live in an area where they’re common? We take a look at their dangers so that you can make an informed decision before purchasing one.
Are knife throwers dangerous?
Knife throwing is a dangerous sport and has been shown to be responsible for many injuries. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 700 people are injured every year by knives thrown from spectators at sporting events.
An even larger number of people have been harmed by knife throwers who have been convicted of crimes against them. In 2016, there were 2,209 knife-related crimes in which a knife was used as a weapon or to commit a crime, which accounted for 67 percent of all weapons-related offenses in the United States.
The most common type of injury from knife throwing is non-fatal concussive injuries: Bruising over an area greater than 500 square centimeters and including any internal bleeding or subdural hematoma (bleeding between the skull and brain). However, knife throwers can also cause fatal injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord injury, and death due to hemorrhage or shock.
Injuries can be very serious—for example, in one case study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), one victim was left with permanent damage that included hearing loss after being stabbed while watching a fight with his friends at a nightclub.
Knife throwers may also cause injuries to bystanders depending on how they use their weapons; if they’re using them as weapons rather than sports equipment, they could cause more severe injuries like fractured bones or lacerations.
How much damage do throwing knives do?
Throwing knives are typically small and have a sharp edge. The danger of them is that they can penetrate through clothing and skin, making it difficult for paramedics to extract the blade without further injuring the person it pierced. For example, if someone were hit in the throat by a knife with an 11-inch blade, the knife would have penetrated about six inches into the victim’s body before being extracted.
In addition to the dangers associated with throwing knives, they can also be dangerous when used as a weapon. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to defend yourself with a knife, using one will give your attacker an advantage over you.
They’re easy to conceal, too – if someone is coming at you with a knife, they may not even know that you have one until it’s too late. That may mean that time could be on your side and allow you to escape or call for help before anything happens.
Can throwing knives be used for self-defense?
As with any weapon, it’s up to you whether or not you want to use the knife for self-defense. Throwing knives can be used in a number of ways, including stabbing, slashing, and jabbing. If you decide to carry one on your person as a self-defense tool, make sure that you have training classes or experience in martial arts.
How difficult is knife throwing?
One of the most common questions about knife throwing is how difficult it actually is to do. When you think about throwing knives, your mind likely says “easy.” Why wouldn’t knife throwing be easy? You just need a knife and some space to throw it. But as with any sport or action, there are different levels of difficulty that you should keep in mind.
For beginners, learning how to throw a knife can be tough! Throwing a simple paper dart is easy, but when you throw your first steel-bladed throwing knife, it feels like an insurmountable task by comparison.
The skill level required for mastering the art of throwing knives depends on what type and size of knives you’re attempting to throw. If you’re looking to purchase a starter set that’s designed for beginners, they typically come with beginner-friendly steel blades that are easier to throw than heavier competition-grade ones.
The easier blades mean that novice users can practice their technique without having to worry about breaking these delicate knives. Once the beginner has mastered their technique and developed their hand speed, then they can move on to more advanced sets where their skills will grow exponentially and the blades become much more durable.
are throwing knives good for self-defense
The danger of throwing knives is that they are traditionally used by hunters to wound or kill prey. If you live in a place where hunting with a gun is prevalent, it’s likely that others in your area do as well.
In addition to the obvious danger of a bullet from an angry hunter finding its way into your house, there’s also the danger of knives.
Throwing knives are traditionally used by hunters to wound or kill prey and can be equally dangerous for anyone who happens to come across them. A sharp throwing knife can penetrate through clothing and skin, making it very difficult for paramedics to extract the blade without further injuring the person it pierced.
But should you be worried about throwing knives? Even if you don’t live in an area where they’re common? We take a look at their dangers so that you can make an informed decision before purchasing one.
