"And now for something completely different" as Monty Python used to say. In this case Guillaume Henry's "Babies" as he calls them or The Scalpel. They are made by French Throwingzone and are throwing knives with a rather unique appearance. In addition to the name, they have borrowed their shape from surgeons' tools. The question that immediately arises is how do such visually unique knives feel to throw?
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| Throwingzone Scalpel |
Appearance and measurements
The shape of these knives differs from most other throwing knives. They are longer, narrower, and lighter than many others. But those who are familiar with the world of throwing knives and know their history quickly make associations with other throwing objects such as classic bo shuriken. Japanese throwing weapons that look a bit like an overgrown nail.
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| One characteristic these knives do not share with their namesake is thickness. These are sturdy, made out of 6 mm Hardox 550 |
They vary in length but if you take one of the longer ones and then add the appearance of a scalpel you get the Throwingzone Scalpel. The length is 29.5 cm and the height is at most just over two cm combined with a thickness of 6 mm which gives a weight as low as 205 g. Normally I would have said that it is too little weight for my taste but that might not be the case here?
Guillaume Henry or Abeille Métallique as he is known in the knife-throwing community and on Youtube was obviously aiming for a long and slim design. With such a specific look comes a unique feeling when thrown.
Material
The steel used in these knives is recognizable from other knives made by Throwingzone and some other French manufacturers and is Hardox. In this case with the number 550. This group of steel from Swedish SSAB is high-strength steel and is found in rather extreme applications otherwise. They are used for, among other things, dumper flatbeds, rip hooks for bulldozers, and the teeth of excavator buckets and the like.
In other words, it is an extremely durable material, which is a good basis for a throwing knife. The fact that they are also 6 mm thick means that they do not break easily.
The finish is available in two variants, "Classic" which is a matte gray, or a slightly lighter brushed version. Regardless of the version, the buyer should be aware that Hardox is far from stainless. So certain maintenance in the form of oiling and the like is required at regular intervals. Otherwise, not only patina but rust will be a feature on your knives.
To Throw
That these knives are intended for No spin throwing may not come as a surprise to anyone after looking at them. Perhaps more surprising is that they are actually quite good to use even with rotation techniques!
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| Despite their rather extreme shape, these knives rotate predictably |
There are two things that contribute to that they despite their extreme appearance also can be used for other throwing techniques. Firstly, Scalpels are fairly long knives and secondly, they are rather neutrally balanced. In that regard they differ from many no spin knives which are often back heavy. Or rather there are two main categories. One where the blades are slight to very back heavy and one where they are slightly back heavy to neutral. In the first, you find knives of "Arrow" type and the other are "Osetr"-style knives.
- Rotational Throwing
It was when I first tried throwing the Scalpel with rotation that I was really surprised. As they are neutrally balanced, the balance point and also the center of rotation are found in the middle of the knife. It makes it very easy to calculate the spins. Or simply put, the Scalpel spins a revolution of about three meters like most knives and you don't have to think too much about how fast or late the rotation should be initiated.
However, it should be pointed out that the light weight means that the blades rotate very quickly. Therefore, no extra power is needed. From four meters it becomes extra clear. When you hold the knives in the blade, it is important to throw without using too much force because the rotation is nevertheless very quick, which still gives a good punch when they stick.
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| Chisel-type tips penetrate very well |
There I can point out that a distinguishing feature of this model, regardless of throwing technique, is that they hit the target hard. Very hard even and the penetration is really extreme.
In fact, these knives work with rotation techniques right up to the maximum competition distance for "Walk back" which is seven meters if you feel like it. And since Eurothrower's rules are not nearly as strict for knives used in rotational disciplines as for those used for no-spin, it's perfectly fine to use these if you feel like it. But it's not something I recommend as the knives are so light. The strength of these knives is found elsewhere.
- Half Spin
Half-spin techniques are also no problem with Scalpel. It would be strange otherwise considering that almost anything can be thrown that way. But here it is the length that helps by making them calmer during flight than they would otherwise be. It is the other big factor besides weight that affects knives in flight.
Military half-spin is easy to throw with these knives. But it mainly applies to shorter distances. At least I want more weight when distances approach or exceed five meters for half-spin throws. However, they work just as well for backhand, side throws, and underhand throws as for regular overhand throws. They are therefore more flexible than one might initially be led to believe.
- No Spin
If you are a novice in the field, these knives are not entirely easy to handle. It can be a bit frustrating to start with them as first knives I suspect as they require a certain understanding of different techniques.
The back ends are softly rounded and have some grooves for the best effect during the actual "release"
Or rather, they can be used with two different basic styles of no spin. On the one hand, it is possible to use "slide" as intended by the creator and which is his basic technique. It involves throwing with a soft wrist, a kind of whip-like movement where the thrower lets the finger slide along the back of the knife to control the knife. This is why transverse grooves are found on this knife at the end of the handle. They index the grip and provide friction against the index finger for better pressure at the actual release. For those who do not like that detail, the knives can be had without them after contacting the manufacturer.
The second style is somewhat similar, but here you don't let your finger slide in the same way. At least not consciously. The grip is fixed and even if the index finger slides here too, it is not actively used to push the knife in the same way.
Either way, Scalpel works great. But the flight is not calm in the same way as with a heavy knife. This, in turn, makes any attempt to use power instead of technique very difficult, if not impossible. It is also easy for the knife to flutter in the air in the event of a miss in the actual moment of release and then it will not stick.
This is also when you discover another peculiarity of these knives. They bounce! And not a little either, they are probably the knives I have tested that have the worst recoil of all. If you throw from five meters, after a miss you can find them behind you after you (hopefully) ducked! The combination of little weight, slim shape, and steel make them veritable springs. In return, they are forgiving when it comes to angle into the target. They stick easily even if they are slightly over- or under-rotated or come in somewhat sideways towards the target.
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| A tip is not to hold long sharp knives with the point upwards if you intend to throw technically correct with a nice follow through. Scalpel punches a neat and tidy almost square hole |
Another peculiarity is that they are very sharp even though the point is of chisel type. It is noticeable if, for example, you follow through a throw properly and at the same time hold the other two knives in the other hand. Then it may happen that you stab them in the throwing arm! We can also call it clumsiness on the part of the undersigned.
If you are more experienced and have gotten used to these knives, they are, like their namesake, veritable precision instruments.
Conclusion
Scalpels are not only quirky in appearance but also provide a rather unique but very satisfying experience when throwing them. Once you master the technique, it's hard to stop throwing. There is something about the feeling itself that is pedagogical. The knives provide instant response to the thrower by not working at all if you make a mistake. In return, they are easy to stick in the target once the technique is in place.
The shape of the tip also means that they penetrate very hard despite their modest weight. Since they don't require much force to throw, the precision can also be very high.
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| Scalpels are truly precision tools |
Unfortunately, I have to briefly mention that even though the designer, Guillaume Henry, has won both national and international competitions with these knives, they may be banned. Yes, only in the context of competitions and the clashes that fall under the Eurothrower umbrella, of course.
Namely, they belong to a category of knives which, together with a long line of others, will become persona non grata at competitions if Eurothrower's new proposal for no spin rules is implemented. Thankfully, no sign of it yet.
Scalpel certainly meets the distinction of a "clearly marked handle" being one of the requirements but otherwise they violate most parameters. The "blade" definitely does not make up a third of the length of the knife and the width is far too small among other things. But I think the proposed regulation is a bit bizarre because there are no clear definitions of what they mean by a knife and that makes the regulations too narrow.
In any case, this is not a knife according to them. Although I would counter that NO professional throwing knives count as knives in that case. Namely, they lack a cutting edge and therefore fall completely outside the definition of what a "knife" is.
So if you know that you will be competing internationally (or in Europe rather), you might have to wait and see what happens on this front. It would be rather sad to train really hard and then not be able to use the tools you got used to.
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| I like the Throwingzone Scalpel so much that I made a sheath for them |
But for those who do not compete and are looking for a unique set of knives that not only offers a personal design but also a special and sympathetic throwing experience, The Scalpel is a really good choice!
They are knives that help you develop your no-spin technique and once you achieve it, they are real precision instruments made to operate a bullseye. For those who are sold on this type of knife throwing, they are almost a must!
Specification:
Steel: Hardox 550
Length: 29,5 cm
Height: 13-21 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight: 205 g
Point of balance: slightly back heavy, the point of balance is found 13/16,5 cm from back/front
/ J - humming "like a surgeon, cut for the very first time..."
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