Some Unusual Axe Alternatives To Watch Out For
If you’ve ever thought about throwing other things, here’s a list of some alternatives to your axe
Have you ever thought: “So, I can throw axes, what else could I throw”. If so, here’s a few ideas for bladed implement alternatives that you might like to try. I can’t see any of them becoming more popular than the axe for throwing, but they can be a good way to improve your throwing (or at the very least, be a fun change from the norm).
Legal and Safety Considerations
Before looking at the list of throwable implements, it’s worth noting that not everything may be viable to throw for everyone. Unlike axes, which have widespread acceptance, other throwing items are not always welcomed so readily. Even something as seemingly straightforward as commercial throwing knives are illegal in a number of countries (eg Belgium and The Netherlands). In other locations, throwing in a sports facility may be ok, but you could have problems with the authorities if you want to carry the items there (eg the UK).
It is understandable that we don’t want potentially dangerous weapons on the street, but are they really more dangerous than axes? In reality, throwing them in a safely controlled throwing environment, shouldn’t create any more risk than normal axe throwing. However, even if they are legally throwable, there may be a few extra safety issues to consider, particularly if you are throwing at home.. Often the items are smaller and sharper. They may involve gripping much closer to, or even on, the blade area, so they need to be treated with care. They may bounce around more than heavier axes too.
One additional consideration is insurance. Insurance companies tend to be particularly cautious about any risk, and it may be that they will not insure you to throw certain items. Even insurance companies that will insure for axe throwing, may not cover items such as shuriken, or, if they do, may add a higher premium. That is more of a concern if you provide throwing for the general public.
That said, I have found every one of the items on this list in various axe throwing venues, so it is feasible to throw them all. I have never felt they were particularly treacherous to handle, but it is worth being aware of the risks, and the local laws and regulations needed to throw them.
Knives
Knife throwing has a long history and close association with axe throwing. There are opportunities to throw knives in leagues and competitions, including internationally. If competing is your thing, then knife throwing could be a good addition to your axe throwing. Outdoor competitions often include combined knife and axe throwing disciplines.
You could raid the kitchen drawer and start throwing the carving knives, but fortunately there are a huge variety of throwing knives on the market. Developed over decades of throwing, throwing knives are now precisely weighted and balanced, and robust (so less likely to break than your average kitchen knife).
Commercial throwing knives range in design, and price. They may have wooden or fibreglass grips, but more often are simply one flat piece of knife-shaped metal of around 9 to 16 inches. More like a blade with a duller handle end.
It’s always subjective, but most people seem to find knives harder to throw than axes. However, it is an engaging discipline, involving a variety of facets, such as throwing with spin or no-spin, and for speed or precision. It may take some perseverance, but it can be rewarding to master, and, who knows, could potentially open up a new area of competition for you.
Shuriken/Throwing Stars
The Japanese shuriken was a concealed throwing weapon used by the likes of Samurai and Ninja. Traditionally they were handmade from bits of metal lying around and so there are a variety of styles and sizes of shuriken on the market. (The market typically being martial arts suppliers).
Commonly shuriken comprise of a star shape with four or more spikes. Hence their popular name of “throwing stars”. Homemade stars are made by cutting circular saw blades into a star shape.
Stars are thrown in a similar way to an axe, but require more of a wrist flick to get them spinning. Unlike a longer axe, they will rotate multiple times before they hit. Given that they have multiple points on all sides, they are pretty easy to stick, even for a beginner. Getting them to stick where you want them is much harder though.
Popularised by martial arts movies, throwing stars have consequentially been banned in many locations (even more so than knives), presumably to stop wannabe ninjas taking to the streets with them. However, if you are fortunate to be somewhere they are not banned, they are pretty harmless in a safely organised throwing venue – and can be a lot of fun.
Batarang
For a slightly different take on a shuriken, you could try a Batarang. The original Batman Batarang was a sort of bat-shaped boomerang that developed into a shuriken-style throwing weapon for the DC Comic’s crime fighter.
Real-life Batarangs are now available in sharpened metal, so they can be thrown and stuck in target boards. They throw just like a shuriken, although they are slightly harder to stick, as they are only really spiky at the bat wing ends.
Throwing Cards
For more media-inspired throwing, you could also try throwing cards. Flicking playing cards, once a simple childhood past-time, has been made cool more recently by magicians and X-Men. A few enterprising suppliers decided to take it further by making steel playing cards, which will not only fly through the air like the traditional paper cards, but will also embed in an appropriate wooden target.
The same size and shape as normal playing cards, these metal ones are effectively a four-bladed rectangle. Provided you throw in such a way that the edge hits the wood, they stick easily enough. They are better on end-grain targets where you don’t have to worry about what angle they hit (the same goes for most throwing items). The cards can be thrown as you like, but it’s obviously essential to pinch each one in two fingers and flick it out Gambit style.
There probably isn’t any great benefit to be added to your axe throwing training regime from throwing cards, metal or not, but they’re still entertaining, (and there’s always the possibility of launching some sort of card throwing magic act if you get good at it!)
Metal Mini-Axes
Metal mini-axes are essentially a cross between a standard axe and a throwing knife. A flat piece of steel around 10 inches long, like a knife, but with an axe shaped blade/head.
As these mini-axes are small and lightweight they are often used by children as a first step to throwing axes. The basic ‘chopping’ action is just the same as throwing a larger conventional axe, although the mini-axes may rotate more before hitting the board. They are a useful introduction to axe throwing for beginners, for adults as well as kids, but there is still an additional learning step-change to move on to heavier axes, ie mastery of these axes doesn’t guarantee mastery of others and vice versa.
There are a number of variations of small, all-metal throwing axes, and, although I’m lumping them together under the term “mini-axe”, they are more often known by brand or colloquial terms. Some are shaped tomahawk style, with a longer blade and short poll or spike at the back of the head. Others are more symmetrical, with an equal sized blade on each side of the haft. These are often known as ‘angels’ due to their resemblance to angels with wings outspread.
Beginners do tend to like these axes because they generally stick on any edge, ie top, left, right and bottom. They’re not just for newbies though. With some diligent practice, they can be placed accurately on a target, and, once you have mastered them, provide the opportunity for plenty of friendly competition.
Shovel
I guess any kind of gardening equipment could potentially be thrown and stuck in a board, but generally it is some sort of utility shovel that is used. The kind of shovel used by the forces (or preppers) is ideal because it is lightweight, sturdy, and has a sharper edge than a standard spade (to make it more multifunctional in difficult terrains).
Technique-wise, it’s basically an axe throw, but with more spin to help get the shovel rotating (as its not as top heavy as an axe). The point of release is different too. The hit needs to be more straight on. Hitting the side of the shovel is usually not sufficient for it to embed thoroughly.
If you get the throw right, the shovel makes a very satisfying thwunk when it hits. You do have to watch your boards though. The larger area being hit does tear them up quickly, so use sparingly (or use someone else’s boards 🙂 )
Chakram/War Quoit
A chakram is a small ring of metal, with a 360º outer bladed edge. It originated on the Indian subcontinent (with references back to the 5th Century BCE) and was sometimes referred to as a war quoit in English.
Modern chakrams can be elaborately decorated pieces (usually associated with the chakram-wielding tv character Xena Warrior Princess), but more basic models are also available.
Chakrams are not widely known as throwing implements (unless you’re a Xena fan), although they can be commonly bought from knife suppliers (as well as cosplay suppliers). They are not usually mentioned explicitly on lists of illegal throwing weapons, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they could be regarded as such by countries that ban knives et al.
A chakram can be thrown frisbee style or like a shuriken. You do need to watch your release, as your grip is around the actual blade. Like a shuriken, a chakram is easier to stick owing to the blade being all around, but accuracy is still tricky to get right.
And more…
This list of alternative throwing items is not exhaustive. Over the years, entertainers and throwing legends have shown off their skills throwing all manner of strange things. If it has a point, someone could probably stick it. Undoubtedly there are more items that could be added to the list, but hopefully it’s a good starting point for exploring some new throwing experiences!
