Review AceJet Guillotine

 

This is something rare, perhaps even "the world's first" unless my "Google-Fu" fails me. I'm talking about the world's first written review of this throwing knife from Acejet.

This text is aimed, literally and figuratively, at or perhaps with a couple of older knives from their now huge catalog. Older is a relative term as the brand is not that old but the knives belong to the earliest models in any case.

AceJet Guillotine

Guillotine is a knife that in terms of shape is simple and straightforward, the question is whether they feel the same way when used?

Appearance and dimensions

Guillotine is a model that deviates a bit from most things I have in the way of throwing knives. They do not look like ordinary knives, which applies to, for example, AceJet Appache which belongs to the "Osetr school" or Acejet Excalibur which is based on a classic dagger in terms of appearance. In addition, there are Bowie-inspired throwing knives and so on. What they all have in common is that if they were provided with an edge, they (almost) look like any other knife.

These knives, on the other hand, do not look like much other than just throwing knives. Possibly one could argue that they have features of a Japanese variant of utility knife with an angled edge, a Kiridachi.

Somehow Guillotine feels shorter than the 24 cm that the ruler shows

The thickness of the spring steel used is 6 mm

The length is 24 cm and the width varies from the narrower rear end which measures 2.8 cm to the widest point just before the tip where the knife is 3.4 cm wide. In pictures, they have a tendency to look almost short, but that is because they are relatively high. This, together with a thickness of 6 mm, gives a total weight of 280 g. However, the knives feel rather heavy to throw with, so it is fortunate that Acejet has refrained from releasing them in 8 mm thick steel, which is otherwise often the case with their models.

The tip itself is almost reminiscent of a Kiridachi as said as it is straight and at an angle relative to the spine which, on the other hand, slopes slightly down towards the tip. The spine has also been thinned out by a 5 cm long swedge. 

The finish is AceJet's standard. It's a brushed finish that both hides scratches relatively well while giving a slight structure for better grip. The only marking is the AceJet logo laser etched on one side.

Material

As usual, Acejet uses spring steel in this model. Although that statement can be modified as they have begun experimenting with releasing knives in other steel grades. But this, as I said, is an older model and thus they stick to the spring steel that most of their knives are made of. It is Czech steel with the designation 14260. It has proven to be an excellent material for throwing knives. It is just as tough and durable as you want, which guarantees a long life span for your knives.

When the knives are damaged, there are not so many sharp burrs but more "dents" if you can put it that way. This means that you as a thrower run less risk of cutting your hands open. So even at that point, it's sympathetic material.

Spring steel, on the other hand, is not the least bit stainless must be pointed out. So keep the knives dry and clean. It requires a bit of maintenance from time to time.

To throw

Despite their "instinctive" appearance, these are actually knives made to be thrown with most techniques. Of course, the straight top and the absence of finger guards, etc make them excellent for No spin. And it is in this area that I believe they have their main strength, which is perhaps not so strange considering that it is Adam Celadin who is behind the design of these knives.

The balance is fairly neutral with a slight shift backward

The balance point on the Guillotine is found 13 cm from the tip and 11 cm from the rear end. It provides a fairly neutral knife that is just a tad back heavy and therefore rotates well when you need it for that kind of technique. The straight look of the handle otherwise gives a hint of what it is intended for, anti-spin or no spin throwing. That's why the knife is a bit butt-heavy. This helps them to stay on the right keel in flight more easily.

Rotational Throwing

The guillotines are not very long, which means that when I throw rotational throws with this type of knife, I usually "extend" them by holding further out on the handle or blade tip. In addition, I angle them forward quite markedly to slow down the rotation, which is otherwise fairly fast. If you do, the knife works excellently at a distance of 3,4,5 m. An alternative is of course to keep the knives more upright but further in. The effect is the same, that the knife rotates more calmly.

I grip the knife quite far out and compensate for it by angling it slightly forward to reduce the rotation speed

I find that they are a little harder on longer distances. That is over five meters. Mostly because they are relatively short. It's a matter of training of course but it's an area where I do not have enough experience yet.

Half Spin

Everything can be thrown with a half-rotation throw, I usually claim and this also applies to these knives. But it is not the most sympathetic experience in my opinion. At least not if you engage in Military half spin. The width and the asymmetrical tip make it feel like they want to tip over in the hand. If it is also combined with a fairly neutral balance and lack of indexing and the knife is relatively short, the end result will not be perfect for that technique.

I definitely prefer knives that are a bit heavy at the back and that are more symmetrical and narrower, preferably dagger-shaped in terms of appearance to be used for Military half spin. A good example from Acejet is Excalibur which is really good for that purpose.

If these knives do not feel completely optimal for Military half spin, they are all the better suited for Instinctive half-spin

But to complicate things, Guillotine is actually really good for Instinctive half spin, that is, a half-rotation technique with the index finger resting on the back of the blade. The same slide technique that makes it excellent for No spin is used to its advantage here as well. However, the weight of the knives means that you have to throw them fairly calmly to have control.

Despite that, they hit the target with impressive power with this technique. 

No Spin

Then we come to the area that these knives are primarily intended for. To be thrown with no or rather a quarter of a turn rotation. It is, of course, in this area that Guillotine excels. 

Sometimes a break is needed, even when throwing No spin

To begin with, the straight handle makes it easy to find a place for the index finger, which is so important in this context. The downside is that there is nothing that indexes where it is. In other words, you have to learn that yourself. It may not sound that complicated, but those who throw No spin know how important just half a centimeter forward or backward can be. In this case, as in several others for that matter, it is important not to accidentally move your grip too far forward / "up" on the knife. It is then more difficult to give the rear end the "push" it needs so that the knife does not start to rotate and the miss is a fact. However, it is a bit dependent on the technique used.

My basic grip on Guillotine when I throw No spin

To me, this is a knife that feels most natural with "slide" -based throws, that is, you let your finger slide along the back of the handle when the knife is released. "Push" techniques where you press the knife with your finger on the balance point at the actual release do not work as well, at least not for me.

It must also be pointed out that the knife feels quite heavy. On the one hand, it is de facto quite substantial for being a No spin knife, but the shape makes the weight feel more noticeable in the hand.

This means that you do not have to use power. To clarify, it is possible to throw quickly, but it must be done relaxed and without physical strength. If you do so, it leads to overrotation. The knife still sticks with authority when it is on the right keel. The shape of the tip also provides extra good penetration.

The weight also makes the knife feel good to use for Walk back can be pointed out. Heavier knives simply give more momentum, which means that you do not have to throw them at the same high speed.

Conclusion

Guillotine was and is a sympathetic acquaintance if you can put it that way. They throw almost as they look but not completely. I actually thought that with their deceptively simple appearance they would be easier to master. But at that point, I had to rethink a little bit. They are not directly difficult to throw with, but they require that you master a certain technique to make them justice. They favor "slide" techniques and pure "Skanff" -inspired variants where you hold the handle very loosely and far back. Other grips feel more complicated to use.

Once you succeed, the knife sticks with authority, and the thrower is rewarded with a dull thump and a knife that penetrates deep into the target. This becomes especially clear at a slightly shorter distance, three to four meters. But it's no problem to use them for Walk back even though I personally do not master the seven-meter level with them yet. It is not a problem to throw that distance or longer, it is only the regularity of stick from the distance that shines with its absence, which tells me that this is the problem with the thrower rather than with the knife.

AceJet Guillotine is an excellent throwing knife for those who want to improve themselves in instinctive knife throwing

Guillotine is, as I said, not the easiest to throw and thus perhaps nothing for the absolute beginner. Acejets Stinger is, for example, much easier to use for No spin for those who want to start in the area or have just started and Excalibur is an all-around knife that is just as flexible but easier to learn to throw with. But unlike the latter, Guillotine is excellent for Instinctive half spin. And the word "instinctive" is the key here whether you want to use that technique with half a turn or no rotation.

As I see it, Guillotine is an excellent knife to improve your throw in that area. In addition, you get a well-made knife that is basically indestructible. Thus, I recommend this model as a "continuation model" or a compliment for those who want to improve in instinctive knife throwing.  

When you buy your Excalibur or other product from AceJet, enter code "JOHN" (in capital letters)
 and you will receive a 5% discount on your purchase at check-out.

Specification:

Steel: 14260 spring steel

Length: 240 mm

Height: 28 mm till 34 mm

Thickness: 6 mm

Weight: 279 g

Balance point: Slightly back heavy, 13/11 cm from tip / rear end 

/ J 

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre