Review Acejet Raven II

Most things in this world develop. Some claim that progress is moving forward, but I am somewhat more uncertain about the direction although it must be admitted that it is moving. This also applies to knife throwing, knife throwers, and the tools used. For example, I myself am significantly better than a few years ago when I wrote a review of my first set of No spin knives from Acejet. The question is what happened since then?

Acejet Raven II, Shadow Steel

Knife throwing in Europe has developed to the extent that new rules are lurking on the horizon, although at the time of writing it is very unclear about when, where, how, and perhaps IF they will be implemented. It was Eurothrowers who presented them and I have previously discussed the subject here on the blog. However, they were not used at the 2022 Swedish Sport Throwing Championships.

A comparison between Stinger and Raven II

But it was partly the rules that were behind my motivation to acquire these knives. The model is called Raven II  and, as you can see, has similarities but also marked differences from the Stingers I previously threw most with. Someone expressed on Instagram that they looked like a cross between the Stinger and another of AceJet's models called the Finn and there is something to that.

The differences, of course, make the knives feel different to throw, but they also mean that (almost) regardless of what rules are implemented, these knives pass the regulations. That's also why I chose this version of Raven as there are two more to choose from. The Raven I lacks the finger guard which possibly means it can be argued that there is no "distinct handle" which is one of the new criteria. Furthermore, the Raven III has the same double rounding in the back end as the Stinger, while the Raven II has a different shape on the bottom and top of the handle, which makes it more flexible. Thus, my choice fell on that model.

Appearance and measurements

The Raven II differs from its siblings in the ways mentioned above and from the Stinger in several areas. But the differences can be summed up in that this version looks more like a knife than the Stinger does. It has a much more marked and above all longer "edge", or what to call it when the sides do not meet at all. On the contrary, about 4 mm remains, it's a rather dull edge. This means that the knife meets the requirement that the blade should make up at least one-third of the knife's total length. The clear "finger guard" also acts as a visual delimiter between the blade and handle.

The handle is shaped so that the sides are completely flat, which is by far the most common on throwing knives, while the underside is heavily convex and the top flat. It is not for the sake of appearance but is explained when you throw the knife.

Raven II are solid knives, fully 8 mm thick. The material is spring steel

The fact that the knife is thick provides a good contact surface for the index finger. The difference between the top and bottom
of the handle means that the pressure towards the rear end can be easily varied

One thing that sets this set apart is that it is not in the standard finish which means a brushed steel finish but in what Acejet calls "Shadow Steel". This means that it is blackened in a shade reminiscent of black/purple/gunmetal depending on how the light falls. Nice to look at but it has its drawbacks. Something that is quickly discovered if, for example, you miss and have to look for the knife among leaves and grass. "Shadow" is correct as it blends in extremely well among shadows and shifts. Like all coatings, it also wears, which can be seen in the pictures. The only marking on the knife is, as usual, the Acejet logo neatly laser-etched on one side of the handle. 

The length of the knives is 25 cm, and the thickness is 8 mm which gives a weight of 248 g/piece. The height of the blade is at most 1.6 cm and on the handle about twice that at 3.3 cm. Nothing extreme to be a throwing knife.

These knives also have a hole through the handle. It doubles as a hole for hanging your knife on a hook and indexing point when throwing.

Material

Apart from the coloration, the material is familiar. It is the same Czech spring steel that reappears in most of Acejet's range. Sometimes they work with other materials such as D2, but not in this case. The steel is then hardened in the usual order, but what separates throwing knives from all other knives is that in the process of hardening and heat treatment, care is taken to reduce the hardness significantly. We're talking Rockwell numbers below 50 here! Everything to achieve a maximally durable knife. If you had found it in an ordinary knife, you as a customer would not have been completely satisfied, I can say.

If, against all odds, you manage to break a piece of 8 mm thick spring steel with the right hardening, Acejet offers a lifetime guarantee. You simply get a new knife. Now, however, I find it very difficult to imagine that there is any major cost to them. It would be interesting to know if that ever happened.*

To Throw

It has been, if not a lot of water under the bridges considering all the sun this year, several hundred thousand throws since I wrote the first review of a knife for No-spin. I have also a wider experience of different knives and this experience gives me a different view of knives, I can say.

Among other things, it means that my view of how and for what a knife can be used has been somewhat nuanced. Now it's not just me that's more flexible that way, this knife is too. But it is still primarily a knife for anti-spin or no-spin throwing.

Raven II is an example of knives that penetrates very hard

This means, among other things, that these knives are rear heavy. Not extremely so, but the center of gravity is found 15 cm from the tip alternatively 10 cm from the back end depending on where it is measured from. Then the shape of the handle means that you can choose to throw the knife on the right keel or up and down for slightly different pressure on the hand or index finger when it is released. 

- Rotational Throwing

This is a point where I nuanced myself. It IS POSSIBLE to throw rotation throws with back heavy blades intended for no spin as well. However, it requires more skill than more specialized knives as they do not rotate neutrally around their center point but of course around the balance point. In order to put this and other similar knives into a target from, for example, three meters, it is, therefore, necessary to throw almost as if it were a half spin throw. In this case, that means making sure the rotation starts very late, close to the target, because once the knife starts rotating, it's quick.

From four meters you have to think again because the knife is not neutral as said. There, you have to make sure that the rotation starts early but without force if you see what I mean. Because the rotation speed is high, no additional force needs to be applied. The knife takes care of that part itself. It requires almost excessive caution. But then, in return, it is fairly easy to aim with as it flies very straight from this distance even without power involved.

From five meters the two mindsets mix and the knife behaves somewhat more like a "normal" knife for rotation. However, the throw must still be striving forward and you must take into consideration that the knife is not very long for this type of technique with its twenty-five centimeters.

With these adaptations, the Raven II becomes surprisingly accurate at shorter rotation distances. On the longer ones (6m and up) I don't completely master the knife. Mostly due to the fact that I predominantly use other knives for that kind of throw. 

- Half Spin

Just like other variants of knives with this weight distribution, slightly aft, the Raven II is extremely sympathetic to throw half-rotation throws with. This applies to both Military half spin and Instinctive half spin. Possibly it can be said to be slightly more oriented towards the latter. Asymmetric knives like this one can have a tendency to tip sideways in the air due to weight distribution. However, it is not a real problem but rather affects how the knife sticks. Incidentally, it does that quite hard. The design of the tip and the fact that the blade is sharply tapered means that the penetration is powerful. It takes its toll on the goals, one might add.

Since the Raven II is rear-heavy, it is also exceptionally good for underhand throws. It can be done with slightly different grips, but regardless of the grip, the rotation speed is easy to calculate. It is also easy to feel where the center of rotation is, which is important when throwing underhand. The closer you are to the target, the closer to the center of rotation you need to grip the knife.

- No Spin

It is for this type of technique this model is primarily developed and it shows. As stated at the outset, the Raven II and especially the Raven III can be said to be an evolution of the Stinger. It is therefore basically based on the "Arrow" type of throwing knives.

But unlike symmetrical knives, in this case, as I said, the advantage is that you can turn the knife and thus obtain slightly different properties. In short, I hold the knife with the edge down when I throw from three and four meters. From five meters and up, I turn the knife. With the same grip, it automatically gives a higher pressure from the index finger towards the back end of the knife, which prevents rotation better even without you pushing with the index finger. 

If there's one thing I could possibly add, it's that I feel this knife is actually a bit harder to throw than the Stinger. Perhaps it has to do with the length as it measures the same as for example Wulflund Vengeance, 25 cm instead of 24 cm. In return, it makes the knives a bit calmer in the air at longer distances in my opinion. That's distances from six meters and upwards. 

Conclusion

I was hoping that Acejet would be right in their sales pitch when they claim

"With a great surface and strong durable tip it belongs to the best candidates for your next trip to a knife throwing tournament. With these you can be sure that you’re gonna score well!"

With past experiences in mind, I had no reason to mistrust them. At last year's Swedish championship, I even managed to get a medal with their Stinger model. After using the Raven II during the test period, they became my first choice for the No spin discipline in the 2022 Swedish Championships. Maybe that sums up my opinion of these knives?

The result is not bad either, as these are the knives that helped me become Swedish champion in 2022** and win no less than all four gold medals in the discipline. 

Fresh soft and very nice targets at the championships

The slow-grown birch of the home targets are tougher

Besides trumping the whole rules debacle, at least as it stands now, there is another thing that I see as an advantage with these knives. It is the ability to turn them upside down for changed properties. In addition to doing as I do, changing the grip at longer distances makes it easier to adapt the grip to your throwing style.

Considering the results, I can only recommend the AceJet Raven II for no-spin

Raven II, however, is not only for those who have been throwing for a while but also works excellently for beginners. A combination of the fact that they are practically indestructible and fairly all-around focused makes them a good choice. All-round refers to all forms of instinctive throwing in this case. For rotational throwing, there are other knives both on the market and now also in AceJet's range.

Raven II is also a model that grows on you when you feel you are getting better and more confident in your throwing. The only deterrent is possibly the price. A set currently costs around €290.***

But for the pennies well invested, you get a knife set for both amateurs and professionals that will last a lifetime!

When you buy your Raven II 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: 250 mm

Height: 16/33 mm, blade/handle

Thickness: 8 mm

Weight: 248 g

Point of Balance: 10 cm/ 15 cm from back/tip

/ J 


* The answer to that question is that, according to Acejet's representative, it actually happens that customers return with a badly damaged knife, but that it happens so rarely that it is not even a cost they calculate for. They just replace them.

**  Gold was won in 3, 5, and 7m as well as Walk Back.

***If you buy them from Acejet and enter the discount code "JOHN" (in capital letters), you will receive a five percent discount!

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre