For me, these knives, The Devil's Claw from French Zitoon Knives, represent my evolution as a no-spin thrower. I have only been throwing for a few years and I am learning a lot all the time. It also means that I haven't really decided which knives should be the main tools. I'm still experimenting which has resulted in throwing with several different sets of knives.
In the beginning, I therefore used knives of the "Arrow" type. A popular variant that belongs to the handle heavy category. After that, bigger and heavier knives of the same kind. It was followed by some set of knives based on the "Osetr" style.
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But now more neutrally balanced knives of slightly different variants are being tested. The Devil's Claw belongs to that crowd.
Appearance and Measurements
In profile, The Devil's Claw actually looks like a knife, although in that case, it must be an all-steel knife with a not-too-long blade. But it has a handle part and a clearly marked blade with a distinct edge and an equally distinct swedge.
It is only when you look at it from above or any other angle that is not directly from the side that it becomes clear that it is a throwing knife. The measurement that reveals it is a thickness of a full 8 mm and an "edge" that is no less than 5 mm wide. Many knives are not even that thick across the blade spine by comparison
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| Knivar från Zitoon tillverkas i Frankrike till största delen för hand. Materialet är Hardox 450 |
The knives are 8 mm thick, 245 mm long, and 24 mm high, which gives a weight of 270 g
Otherwise, the model has fairly typical characteristics for being a knife primarily intended for No-Spin. It is just under 25 cm long, more precisely 245 mm from the beginning. Mine are slightly shorter due to grinding. It is unavoidable in this context.
That length and thickness give a weight of a whopping 270 g, which is a lot for this type of knife. Lighter than 195 g, a No spin knife must not be according to the competition regulations. But 200-220 or even 240 g is a more common range. There are both pros and cons to the weight, which I will return to.
The finish is a semi-rough brushed surface. Zitoon's logo is found laser etched on the handle. There is also a clear detail with the three holes. They fulfill a dual function. They lighten the handle, which of course affects the balance. Then they help to index the knife and provide a better grip when throwing. For me, they are a great asset when I grip the knife.
Material
This knife is built from Swedish steel, which is often the case with knives from Zitoon Knives. It is an abrasion steel from SSAB in the form of Hardox 450. Steel that may not be exclusive in terms of price but is well chosen. It is also found in flatbeds for dump trucks, excavator buckets, and similar applications. It's a really tough steel in other words. This means, among other things, that it has a tendency to get dents rather than splinters when there are mishits or if the knives greet a stone or two. I throw outdoors so the latter happens from time to time. Especially when casting long distances.
Like all non-stainless steels, it requires a bit of maintenance or rather attention. Especially if you've been outside in damp weather or if you've been sweating a lot. The latter, in particular, can cause some spots in the steel.
To Throw
The Devil's Claw is primarily made for No-spin casting, of that there is no doubt. But since it is a knife that is neutrally balanced, it can of course also be used for all other kinds of techniques. It is a lesson that has developed over the years. What differs is mainly how knives move in the air.
The balance point is also 11.5 cm from the rear end, which means that it is not found completely in the center but quite close.
Speaking of throwing, I have about 21,200 throws to lean on when reviewing these knives. That and the fact that at this point I own close to fifty different models of throwing knives and have tested several more.
Warming up with the Devil's Claws
- Rotational
The Devil's Claw is relatively good for this type of technique despite not being intended for it at all. But as mentioned above, the knife is fairly neutrally balanced and thus spins relatively evenly. This compared to a back-heavy knife where the rotation point is offset from the center point. It gives a more ovoid motion in the air which is still possible to calculate although more difficult.
This means that these knives are easy to throw from mainly three meters, even if the other distances in a walk back can be handled. But at the longer distances it becomes apparent that the knife is short and then you better understand why knives for this type of throwing are usually significantly longer. In other words, there are no knives I recommend for competition in this discipline. But on the other hand, it shows that the knives are quite flexible when it comes to practice knife throwing.
- Half Spin
All knives can be thrown with this technique, I tend to argue. But as usual with the addition that it can be done more or less easily. In this case, there are two factors that have a negative impact. It becomes clear if you compare them with, for example, a knife from Zitoon that is actually dedicated for the purpose, the Dague Commemorative. First, Devil's Claw is too thick, so it doesn't penetrate as easily and deeply. This means that you have to use more force, but above all hit just right so that the knife does not fall out of the target.* A fact that is emphasized by the weight. It becomes particularly clear with dry log rounds. It is very clear in the attached videos.
But an even more tangible characteristic is the length. A short knife spins faster than a long one, and it is also more difficult to calculate the rotation. However, it mainly applies to military half-spin, both over and underhand. If you switch to instinctive half spin, that part becomes easier to handle, but factor one remains.
- No Spin
Then we arrived at the area that The Devil's Claw is actually intended for. The noble art of throwing a knife without rotation. Or rather with a quarter of a turn if you want to be picky. Namely, the tip usually points upwards when the knife is released and it must have time to turn slightly before it hits the target.
Shown here are mainly No spin throws but also some rotation and half-spin techniques
This model is well suited for those who throw with a fairly calm and powerful technique. That is because of its weight. If you use more "snappier" techniques influenced by, for example, "Bim" or "Skanff" or similar Wave techniques, it is a little too heavy. It is especially noticeable if you throw for a longer time.
But otherwise, this knife is easy to throw. The weight is not only a disadvantage, but it allows you to "turn" the knife into the target, so to speak. It will hit hard in any case.
Personally, I grip them quite far out on the handle and let my fingers find the holes that are there to get the right grip. I don't have huge hands, but despite that, sometimes my index finger ends up too far forward on No spin knives if I place the back end in the middle of my hand. Then you push too far forward on the knife with your index finger and the miss is a fact. This also applies to The Devil's Claw.
Conclusion
The fact that this particular model was chosen has a lot to do with the thickness. I used to throw knives with the same dimensions and thought that a difference in balance would be enough as a change. With hindsight, I might have chosen the sister model "The Devil's Claw Light" which is just that, lighter!
The reason is twofold. For one thing, the weight is felt when practicing for longer periods of time. One, ten, or even a hundred throws are no problem. With 500 to 1000 throws and a couple of hours under the belt you get tired, I promise! The second reason is that it partly has the same problems as my previous competition knives. Despite very good hits, they can fall off the target. They penetrate well but they are so compact that they can drop anyway.
It happened, for instance, during the warm-up for this year's Soulthrower Open, whereupon I changed knives at the last moment before the competition started. It is of course not optimal. That's why I'm also thinning out the tips of the Claws. Every time I grind them, they get a little thinner. Anything to remedy that problem.
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| There has been a lot of throwing with the Devil's Claw in different seasons |
Otherwise, The Devil's Claw is a great throwing knife. To begin with, the material works well. The only thing you need to remember is that all finer throwing knives are made of steel that corrodes. If it is extremely hot or wet, you should be aware. The same applies if you, like me, happen to knock over a water bottle in the box with throwing knives on the way home from practice and don't notice it. ALL the knives had rusted a few days later.
But above all, it is noticeable that this model has been well thought out and designed by someone who throws himself. The knives are easily indexed with the holes and the handle design. This makes it intuitive to find the right grip. Then they behave calmly in the air thanks to the weight. A straight hit on softer and less dry targets than mine also gives really good penetration. The weight also means that the thrower does not have to use much power or rather throw as quickly as with a lighter knife. Momentum is the simple explanation behind that.
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| For anyone looking for a solid and efficient knife for No Spin, Zitoon Knives The Devil's Claw is definitely a good option |
The flip side of the coin is, as I said, that it gets tiring with such heavy knives in the long run and that they can fall out of the target from time to time. But personally, I like the "neck", the eight millimeters feel good against the finger when throwing.
Then I don't know if I would recommend them to beginners. Heavy, neutrally balanced knives are more difficult to throw than back-heavy knives. The latter tend to be more self-stabilizing in the air. Here the knife does not help the thrower in the same way, but in return, they are more all-round focused and are more forgiving when it comes to different styles.
That's why I'm changing. That, in combination with the fact that there is actually a lifetime guarantee on these knives, which are handmade in Normandy, means that they are certainly good for everyone. From beginners to professionals.
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| Zitoon Knives |
Specification:
Steel: Hardox 450
Length: 245 mm
Height: 24 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 270 g (weighed by me, stated 265g)
Point of Balance: 11,5/13 cm from back/tip
/ J - says: No Spin, No Worries
*Alternatively, have very soft targets made of wood such as Cotton Wood or Poplar. Wood types that are difficult or impossible to find in Sweden, at least the first mentioned.
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