Review Zitoon Knives The Primitive Rotational

  

Introduction

This will be a review that starts from a position I have already established. Which is that I really like these knives from Zitoon Knives! So much so that they became my new first choice for rotational throwing and thus the knives I have competed with for the last year. Of course, that says something about what I think about the general characteristics.

Zitoon Knives le primitif rotation

But I thought I would go into more depth about why I appreciate Le Primitif Rotation, as they are called and provide more specific details. In this way, I may be able to make it easier for those of you who are interested in buying a set.

Those of you who follow me either here on the blog or on Instagram have come across this brand before. Zitoon Knives is a small enthusiast brand from Normandy, France. Olivier Feret is found there, who both designs and manufactures these knives. In other words, we are talking about knives made in small series and largely by hand. I don't want to say that they are 100% handmade, because I want to leave that epithet to knives that are forged from scratch.

Appearance and Dimensions

For those of you who have seen my presentation of Le primitiv No Spin, you will recognise the look. This is exactly the same model, but on a larger scale. Regardless, it is a knife that exudes a certain rawness with simple but aggressive lines. According to Olivier, he was inspired by a computer game, "Hunt", when he created the model. And it was the design of the tip that he fell for. That is something I can understand, and as a bonus, it can be said that it is extremely effective. In a way, they are reminiscent of daggers in that respect, something I will return to. They do so especially because the long "false edge", even though throwing knives do not have any actual edges, makes the knife look and act as if it were double-edged.

What the knives look like after about 33,000 throws

The thickness is 6 mm, and the rear ends are rounded.

The tip is very effective

Le primitif belongs to the 13" category. That is, knives that are 330 mm long.* The width of the blade is at most 42 mm, and then narrows quite quickly, as you can see. The handle is 29.5 mm at its widest point, and the thickness of the knife is 6 mm. Like the length, it is a common measurement for throwing knives. It is thick enough to hold well and give the right weight while being thin enough to provide good flight and good penetration.

These measurements give a knife that weighs 410 g. That measurement also falls in the middle of the intended categories, as primitif is neither the lightest nor the heaviest knives for rotational throwing. I prefer knives around this weight. Knives that are too heavy can fall off the target if the hits are not perfect, and they have a tendency to hit like axes, which grinds down the targets faster. In addition, it is harder if you practice for a long time, I might add. Although the latter primarily applies to No Spin knives.

Material

The French know what they want, at least when it comes to the choice of knife steel. A large part of French knife manufacturing has always turned to Sweden to meet the need. This applies to the production of both classic folding knives and throwing knives. However, it is not the same steel we are talking about.

What Zitoon Knives and some other manufacturers use is a group of wear or high-strength steels from SSAB that go by the name Hardox. They have serial numbers such as 450 and 550, and here the former is relevant. It is generally an excellent material for the purpose. As I said, it is made for tough jobs as it is usually found in dump truck bodies, dozer blades and the like. 

The French's favorite steel for throwing knives. I found this label on a tractor bed.

Concretely, this means that you have a steel that is extremely tough and therefore does not chip or crack. This is provided that the hardness is not too high, of course. Throwing knives are hardened like regular knives, but then they are heat-treated to get a significantly lower hardness. Where a folding knife often boasts steel with HRC around 60-62 and regular fixed blades often hold 58-59 HRC, throwing knives are found around fifty. Very soft in comparison.

The reason is simple: regular knives don't hold up to the stress that throwing knives are subjected to. One or two throws are fine, but not if you practice with them. We're talking about hundreds of throws per practice session. Even good hits cause strong vibrations, and then we haven't even talked about broadsides in the target or close contact with the ground and other things that count as pure abuse.

To Throw

Le primitif rotation, or The Primitive as it is called in English, is a model that is completely made for rotational throwing. As usual, you can, of course, throw both Military Half Spin and No Spin with these knives, but it is not very good for that. In my opinion, I should add.

Generally speaking, it can be said about this model that it deceives the eye. It is the slim lines and the elongated tip that do it. Le primitif feels heavier than you might be led to believe when you first see it. Especially when compared to knives that are thinner and longer.

This, together with the weight, makes the flight predictable. Something desirable in a good throwing knife. This is a result of the knife having a stable rotation and also of the fact that it splits the air well. The latter means that the knife does not want to twist or get caught by crosswinds very easily.

Le primitif/The Primitive is a very good model for precision throwing

Some of the properties come from the fact that the knife is neutrally balanced. Something that applies to the majority of knives for rotational use. The exception is some knives primarily adapted for very short distances, and displays** where slightly front-heavy knives are sometimes used.

Furthermore, it can be said about this model that it is a good precision instrument thanks to the properties mentioned above. Le primitif is a good knife for precision throwing from 3, 5 and 7 meters because of that.

Then something must be said about the tip. Mostly, it is devastating to everything it hits. That is, the penetration is very good. That is also an important feature when you really want a hit to stay in the target. "Stick", as it is called, is always important, but especially if you are competing. You do not want to miss points because a half-good hit falls off the target. It can be costly for the score.

However, thinner tips are both a curse and a blessing depending on what the knife is to be used for. As I said, it is excellent for keeping the knife in the target and for hitting smaller objects and not least for hitting, for example, playing cards. Succeeding with "centre cuts", i.e. hitting in the middle of a card without touching the edge, is much easier with a narrow tip. But wide tips have other advantages, such as covering larger parts of a target and thus increasing the chance of good scores.

- Rotational Throwing

First, it should be said that not all knives for spin throwing spin the same way. They all rotate about the same amount, that is, a turn of about three meters or just over. But, and it is a big but, how you get there is very different. Some knives give the feeling that they have to be "started", while others, like this one, spin more naturally. The thrower, therefore, does not need to add much speed himself. Then it varies how quickly or slowly a knife starts to rotate and how fast the turn itself is once the movement has been initiated. Generally speaking, a smaller knife rotates faster, but it also depends on how the handle is designed, etc. So far, I have left aside the thrower himself and his grip and technique, but that is another question.

Le primitif is very neutral on all these points. It starts to rotate relatively quickly but is not extreme in that direction thanks to neutral weight, medium length and medium weight. It also does not spin either late or extremely early. All in all, this makes this a very good model for precision throwing. This is especially evident from three meters, which is the closest distance in most competition systems.

My first impressions of Le primitif rotation from about a year ago

One of the things I like about this model is how the release feels. This is due to the design of the handle and the lack of handle sides. I also like the rounded back of the handle when it is held against the hand. The grip I have is a handshake grip with three fingers on the handle and the little finger slightly behind the handle itself.

But then we come to an area that is one of the main reasons why I chose this specific model to compete with. It is that the grip when you throw from the blade is relatively similar to that obtained when you throw from the handle. This is a big advantage when you engage in "Walk Back" and not just throw full rotations.

This becomes very clear when throwing from four meters. Here, however, the thrower must remember that the throw must strive towards the target, as I usually say. If not, the knife will overrotate, at least that applies to my technique. At both short distances, 3 and 4 m, the knife must be tilted quite a bit forward to avoid spinning too fast. This and the fact that the knife's flight is very straight mean that it is important to aim precisely at the target.

The grip from four meters is a firm four-finger grip with the little finger right where the top edge turns into a point. The angle of the wrist is completely straight. It is a good example of good design, by the way. The thrower does not need to adjust the grip because the designer has already done that.

About 33,000 throws later, this is still one of my favourite models for Walk Back

From five meters, the knife behaves somewhat the same, although the thrower has to adapt the technique slightly. I personally "pull" the throw when the handle is pointed towards the target in the middle of the movement. However, it should be done without force and fairly calmly. All knives have a natural speed, if I may say so. They can certainly be forced to rotate both slower and faster depending on the thrower's technique and strength. But if more force is added to the rotation than the knife's natural speed, you also have to recalculate the throwing trajectory and when the actual release should occur, as well as the angle of the knife in the hand to achieve the desired result. Many variables play into knifethrowing.

When it's time for six meters and grip on the blade again, I vary my feeling towards the same grip from four meters. Where I previously thought of aiming the handle at the target, I now get the feeling of starting the rotation earlier. If the knife is thrown forward from this distance, I can guarantee that it will not have time to rotate completely, and the miss is a fact. The grip is the same as at four meters without modification to my technique.

From seven meters, however, I change the grip slightly in relation to that from five meters. Now I only use two fingers to hold. The reason is simple: I actually want to be able to throw forward, unlike at shorter distances. In order for the knife to have time to rotate completely, the rotation needs to be accelerated a little with a "faster" grip. Otherwise, the rotation is "pulled" in the same way as at five meters. No strength is needed from seven meters either.

If you want to throw further, it can be noted that the knife is very easy to throw even from nine meters, as it feels fairly similar to throwing from seven meters. One danger is that you are led to believe that you have to use more strength and then over-rotate the knife. The only thing that is needed is that you change the throwing parabola slightly.

- Half Spin

The Le primitif is not one of my favourite knives for Half Spin techniques. That can be said right away. My favourite among larger knives for that purpose is another Zitoon model, namely the Spinning Dagger. This is especially true for underhand throws. Otherwise, I like even narrower daggers for the purpose.

The grip on the blade itself is quite good in this case, for that reason. As I said, the Le primitif is reminiscent of a dagger. So in that respect, it does not fail. But then there was the disadvantage that it is quite asymmetrical in its shape. The large "hump" on the blade always makes me feel like the knife wants to tip in both the hand and in the air.

Now it certainly does not do that to any great extent, but it feels that way. But if you measure, you can say that the balance point of the knife is not only found approximately in the middle but also along the intended centre line.

- No Spin

As a No Spin knife, it is both too big and heavy, as expected, while the shape of everything from the blade to the handle is excellent. The reason is simple: the knife, as mentioned earlier, comes in two sizes, one for No Spin and one for rotational techniques. Therefore, the properties of course follow, although it is not without problems to scale up the size. But in this case, Zitoon has succeeded well.

If you are going to throw mostly No Spin, you should choose the smaller model.

The reason is that the increased mass, almost double that of many No Spin knives, means that most techniques fall short. It is impossible to flick or to accelerate a knife this heavy in an effective way. What remains is to use techniques like those that Ralph Thorn once launched. Simply put, when you throw large knives without rotation, you "hurl" the knife more than a flicked throw.

If that is your preference, this is a really good knife!

Conclusion

A couple of questions often come up when I'm choosing a throwing knife. The biggest one is whether to go for a type inspired by a dagger or a Bowie knife. There is, of course, a third variant, and the Le primitif is an excellent example of that, a throwing knife that looks more like a, well, regular knife!

Another question in my case is whether to go for a knife with or without a handle. The advantage of this type of knife without handle sides is that the "release", the moment the knife leaves the hand, becomes very distinct. But it also depends on the weather. If your hands are dry, I prefer bare steel, but if it is extremely hot, for example, a good leather grip is nice. Then the thickness is, of course, affected by the sides. So the choice is not entirely given. Both variants have their pros and cons, and in the end, it is mostly about personal preference.

Another big advantage of not having a more advanced handle, well, besides the fact that it holds better, of course, is that the knife feels more similar to grip regardless of whether you throw from the blade or the handle. In this case, the feeling is as similar as it can be without the knife being a pronounced dagger. A type of knife that otherwise usually excels in the field. 

Throwing with a good knife is definitely something that sharpens the mind

But the release is an area where one of Le primitif's great advantages is found. When that is combined with a relatively massive feel despite its slim exterior and a devastatingly competent tip, you get a precision tool. A knife that is good from three-meter distances, and this recurs in several competition disciplines. Not least applies to the moment like "Silhouette" where the target is made of planks. This knife does not fall off the target in the first place.

One of the knife's few weaknesses, or rather an area in which it is not as good, is long-distance throwing. At least I would like to have some small depression or similar in the handle or handle sides to get a better grip at distances from 11m and up. It is easier to get the power into the knife without increasing the rotation speed. Personally, I also prefer slightly longer knives for that purpose.

Crispy weather, crispy knives. Zitoon Knives has really succeeded with Le primitif rotation

With Le primitif rotation, Zitoon Knives has managed to create a shape that works for both rotational throwing and No Spin by changing the size. It is actually not as easy as it may seem. Most models cannot just be scaled up or down like that and still work.

However, this larger version is a very nice acquaintance. As usual, it was actually the appearance that I fell for first, I must admit. There is not much else to go on when you do not have the opportunity to test the models. I have not been able to find any previous reviews of this knife either. But once in hand, it corresponds to all expectations and then some. This means that, as it looks now, I will be using this for several disciplines in the upcoming UKAT World Championships in Italy later this year. Especially in Walk Back and Silhouette.

The reason is simple, this knife is very pleasant to throw, also from the blade, which makes it a perfect choice when you have to throw from many distances. At the same time, an easily controlled rotation and a superb tip make it a formidable tool for all short disciplines, especially those that include plank targets.

These characteristics also make the knife very suitable for beginners as well as professionals. All in all, it makes it clear that I can recommend this knife without a doubt.***

Zitoon

Specifications:

Steel: Hardox 450

Length: 330 mm (13")

Width: 42 mm, at most

Thickness: 6 mm

Weight: 410 g

Point of Balance: Neutral, 17/16 cm from tip/back of handle

/ J - aiming for Italy with French Knives

* Knives intended for rotational throwing are usually around 30 cm (short), 33 cm (medium) or 35.5 cm (long). There are exceptions, of course, but most models are found in the three categories.

** For example, in Circus and Vaudeville, you would throw at or around a person. There, you almost always throw at the same, very short distance.

*** If you pass by the Växjö area and want to try this model or any other knife I have reviewed, please contact me and a demonstration and test can be arranged via Växjö Sportkastning.

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Review Throwingzone Pathfinder

  

Introduction

In the presentation of Pathfinder, I already wrote about how, as a knife thrower, you are often on the path to something new. By that, I meant that I have only been practicing knife throwing for four years and therefore have not had time to try enough models to be completely sure what suits me best. Especially not as I am involved in all the disciplines and variants I come into contact with.

But there is no doubt at this point that these creations from the French Throwingzone are good. Especially not, as I have achieved some success with them. I have a few small objections, but I will explain them later. But they quickly became the competition model for No Spin. That could give an indication of what I think of them. 

Appearance and dimensions

Pathfinder doesn't really look like everyone else, but it's not completely unique, as there are several models on the market that have been lightened in different ways. However, it's more unusual on quality knives. Often, these details are found on fairly cheap throwing knives sold via Amazon and the like. There, it's just about appearance, and therefore, a few holes are drilled here and there because someone thinks it adds to the cool factor. It's often done without much finesse, and the result is as follows. They mostly weaken the knife.

On Pathfinder, there is a completely different thought behind the design. The holes in the blade and handle are, of course, to lighten the knife, but also for the sake of balance.

Throwingzone Pathfinder

The appearance is quite aggressive with a tip that promises a lot. This effect is not least enhanced by the hollowed-out blade, which in turn makes you really see the thickness of the steel. In this case, it is 8 mm. The knives are also available in a lightweight version for those who prefer it. They are only 6 mm thick. They reportedly weigh 180 grams. That is, slightly less than what I usually prefer.

A tip with exceptionally good penetration ability

This more powerful knife tips the scales at 240 g. In my opinion, an optimal weight for No Spin. The length is the same for both and is 245 mm. The height of the blade is at most 30 mm, and on the handle, 28.5 mm.

Then the knife's handle has a distinct difference between the top side, which is almost straight, and the bottom side, which has a curve. This allows you, as a thrower, to choose how much "kick" you want against your index finger when throwing no spin.

Material

Several French manufacturers have stuck to Swedish steel. Throwingzone uses Hardox 450. Hardox belongs to a group that is sometimes called "wear steel". Typical areas of use are dozer blades, teeth for excavator buckets, dumper bodies, and the like. That is, tasks that require a very tough and robust material. Thus also well-suited for throwing knives.

The material is Hardox 450 and the thickness is 8 mm in this version.

In general, it is very durable, and the rest depends on hardening and heat treatment. Then, it can be added that in this specific case, there are a couple of additional factors. One is actually the cutting as it is done with a laser, and here there are some extra cuts to take into account due to the hole in the blade. How hot the material gets and how it affects durability in the long term can be considered. The risk of the steel becoming brittle is always there when it is heated. Especially when there is not much material left closest to the tip.

Should an accident happen and the knife cracks or even breaks for that reason, it can be safe to know that Throwingzone provides a lifetime warranty on its products.

To Throw

Like many others, I started throwing no-spin with knives that are handle-heavy. They have advantages such as helping to stabilize themselves in the air to a certain extent. But at the same time, after a few years, I can now experience that they do not feel as dynamic as a more neutrally balanced knife. That is one of the reasons why I am exploring alternatives.

However, the Pathfinder is not the first knife that pulls in that direction that I have thrown with. I have previously used, among others, Biting Metal Bug Osetr, Acejet Appache, and Excalibur, and models from Zitoon such as No Reload and The Devil's Claw. They are all fairly neutrally balanced. 

Pathfinder is really good for precision throwing

This is another step in the exploration of this type of knife. Pathfinder is as thick as the devil's claws but much lighter. Exactly the characteristics I was looking for. Especially after panicking at the Swedish Championships last year, when several knives fell off the board during the warm-up because the combination of slightly harder targets/heavier knives was not entirely successful. It made me change models at the last second, and that is not a recipe for success in general.

Some of my first throws and impressions of Throwingzone Pathfinder almost a year ago

In addition, the tip of the Pathfinder is aggressive, so the penetration ability is very good. This is despite the fact that the knife belongs to the thicker category. This means that you can also use this knife against plank targets, that is, the type that is often found in long-distance and silhouette throwing. From experience, I have also sharpened them a bit. 

- Rotational Throwing

Pathfinder is comme si comme ca in this area, perhaps a Frenchman would say. By that I mean that, of course, it works, especially since the knife has good balance, but it is still a fairly short knife and the design of the tip means that it is not particularly well suited to gripping there. It is simply too pointed.

But if you, as a thrower, still want to throw a few throws from time to time with rotation techniques, this model will not put any obstacles in the way, but it is clearly noticeable that it is not made for that.

- Half Spin

For being a no-spin knife, the Pathfinder is not particularly good for half-spin techniques in my opinion. The contrast is clear, as this type of knife usually is. This is especially true for knives with the center of gravity shifted towards the handle, such as Arrow-like models. They and daggers are usually particularly well-suited for the task. Especially if they have narrow blades that are easy to grip.

But the Pathfinder is, first of all, neutrally balanced and, in this context, relatively short. Even there, the conditions become less optimal for this type of technique, even if the latter is most important at slightly longer distances. This is especially true for underhand throws.

However, what makes me not like throwing half half-spin with this model is the hole in the blade. It is found exactly where I want to place my thumb from several distances. It forces me to either hold very far out on the tip or move my hand far up, almost into the handle. It does not give the options I am looking for. The hole also makes the "release" feel strange as the distinct insides of the blade hole slide against the fingers.

So the Pathfinder is not suitable for this type of throwing. Of course, it is possible, as very few objects with a tip are impossible to throw, but my recommendation is to not do it, as it is not very fun. 

- No Spin

But everything Pathfinder is not when it comes to varying rotation techniques; they make up for it when it comes to throwing no spin. Of course, that is what the knife is designed for. To be the optimal knife for that purpose, in Henry's opinion.

I can't say that they are the ultimate knife as I haven't tested them all, but I can assure you that they are very, very good. What can be considered the best is also something that varies greatly depending on your personal technique. No one model suits everyone exactly the same. That is also why there are quite a few different looks to throwing knives. 

Details that affect are, for example, your grip, how much side-arm or over-the-shoulder you throw, how high or low your "release" is, and how much force you use. But also whether you throw with a lot of index finger kick or more with a slide technique, and so on. There are many factors to take into account.

Then the distance also plays a role. Should the knife be used mostly for precision throwing at shorter distances or used to try to break records in long-distance throwing? Or do you imagine an all-round knife good for most things?

Some of the earliest throws with the Throwingzone Pathfinder. I have since honed my technique

With that in mind, I would say that the Pathfinder is good for most types of no-spin throwing, but that it doesn't suit me perfectly when it comes to long distance. Now, it may sound a bit paradoxical when I actually won the Swedish Championship in that discipline this year with this particular model. But it's more because I'm relatively confident in Walk Back distances (3 to 7m), and the distance to win this year wasn't that much more.

But in that discipline, I probably want a slightly longer knife and maybe a back-heavy one anyway. I'm not quite finished with that process and will probably come back to the subject.

But for precision throwing, the Pathfinder is really cool. The feeling of having a knife that feels powerful but still light is palpable when you try it for the first time. I appreciate having a solid surface for the index finger to rest against when I'm going to push, and you'll find that here. If you master the technique, this model flies very straight at short distances and is easy to calculate parabolas at longer distances. Then you still miss, but that's another question and not the knife's fault.

Then the tip is just as effective as it looks. There aren't many targets that this knife doesn't get into. Even the "Plank," which is perhaps the most difficult of disciplines, when it comes to that part. But I've sharpened my knives a bit. Not much, but I've narrowed the part that makes up the edge in relation to how they were originally sharpened. It gives a slightly thinner tip but even better penetration if the targets aren't perfect. As a thrower, you don't want to miss points because knives and axes don't stick.

Conclusion

My personal development in no spin has led me on an exciting journey. It started with me mainly using back-heavy knives to move towards more neutrally balanced ditons. I also have throwing knives in different dimensions, from three to ten millimeters thick, but I still prefer to throw with no-spin knives that are 8 mm thick. Although I must admit that there are contenders that only measure 6 mm.

In that respect, the Pathfinder is, of course, perfect. What I am looking for is the large surface area that is available for the index finger, at the same time that I do not want the weight that is often associated with that thickness. As I said, knives over 260 g are not my favorites. Especially not when you are going to practice. One throw is fine and even a hundred, I usually say, but not a thousand throws. Then the arm will eventually fall off. The risk of tennis elbow and other injuries increases significantly.

Pathfinder is the knife that is the reigning Swedish champion

But some World Cup medals, including a gold, were also won this year with Pathfinder.

I spoke a little about successes at the beginning, and by that I meant, among other things, that I have just finished a Swedish Championship in sport throwing, where Pathfinder helped me defend the title as Swedish champion in no spin with a gold in Walk Back. This was complemented by two more golds in Silhouette and Long Distance Throwing, respectively. Earlier this summer, a silver and a gold were won from the U.K.A.T. World Championships in the Czech Republic with the same knives.

In other words, I have learned to handle them quite well, even though I am far from finished or fully trained.

Throwingzone Pathfinder is recommended for anyone who wants one of the best throwing knives available for no spin

This should prove that these are really good throwing knives. It is rather with the thrower that the limitations are found. With that, I can only say that the Pathfinder is among the best no-spin knives I have tried. Then the question is whether I would recommend them to a beginner or not. It is difficult because there is a certain bias. Maybe not because it is not the easiest model to throw, but that is the honest answer. On the other hand, it is good to have something really good to start with because it makes the process easier. So I changed my mind, buy them!

The price directly from Throwingzone is currently 140€ for a set of three knives or 50€ if you want to buy a spare knife

Throwingzone

Specifications:

Steel: Hardox 450

Length: 240 mm

Width: 30 mm

Thickness: 8 mm

Weight: 240 g

Point of Balance: 14/10 cm from tip/handle

/ J - Multiple Swedish champion and U.K.A.T. gold medalist in no spin

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Recension Throwingzone Pathfinder

 

Inledning

Redan i presentationen av Pathfinder så skrev jag något om att man som knivkastare ofta är på väg mot något nytt. Med det avsågs att jag endast tränat knivkastning fyra år och därmed inte hunnit pröva tillräckligt många modeller för att vara helt säker på vad som passar mig bäst. Särskilt inte som jag ägnar mig åt alla discipliner och varianter jag kommer i kontakt med. 

Men att de här skapelserna från franska Throwingzone ligger bra till råder det ingen tvekan om vid det här laget. Särskilt inte som jag nått viss framgång med dem. Några små invändningar har jag men de skall jag redogöra för senare. Men de blev snabbt tävlingsmodellen för No Spin. Det kanske ger en fingervisning om vad jag tycker om dem. 

Utseende och mått

Pathfinder ser inte riktigt ut som alla andra men är inte helt unika då det finns fler modeller på marknaden som har lättats på olika vis. Mer ovanligt är det emellertid på kvalitetsknivar. Ofta hittas de detaljerna på rätt billiga kastknivar som säljs via Amazon och liknande. Där handlar det bara om utseende och därför borras det några hål här och var för att någon tycker att det adderar till coolhetsfaktorn. Det sker ofta utan större finess och resultatet blir därefter. De försvagar mest kniven.

På Pathfionder finns det en helt annan eftertanke bakom designen. Hålen i bladet respektive handtaget är förstås till för att lätta kniven men även för balansens skull. 

Throwingzone Pathfinder

Utseendet är tämligen aggressivt med en spets som lovar mycket. Den effekten förstärks inte minst av det urholkade bladet vilket i sin tur gör att  man riktigt ser tjockleken på godset. I det här fallet är det 8 mm. Knivarna finns även att få i en lättviktsversion för den som föredrar det. De är endast 6 mm tjocka. De väger enligt uppgift 180 gram. Det vill säga något mindre än vad jag vanligen föredrar.

En spets med synnerligen god penetrationsförmåga

Den här kraftigare kniven får vågen att stanna på 240 g. En i mitt tycke optimal vikt för No Spin. Längden är densamma för båda och är 245 mm. Bredden på bladet är som mest 30 mm och på handtaget 28,5 mm. 

Sedan har knivens handtag en distinkt skillnad mellan ovansidan som är närmast rak och undersidan som har en buk. Det gör att man som kastare kan välja hur mycket "kick" du vill ha mot pekfingret när du kastar no spin. 

Material

Flera franska tillverkare har fastnat för svenskt stål kan konstateras. Throwingzone använder sig av Hardox 450. Hardox tillhör en grupp som ibland kallas "slitstål". Typiska användningsområden är schaktblad, tänder till grävskopor, dumperflak och liknande. Det vill säga uppgifter som kräver ett mycket segt och robust material. Således även väl lämpat till kastknivar. 

Materialet är Hardox 450 och tjockleken 8 mm i det här utförandet

Generellt är det mycket hållbart och resten beor förstås på härdning och värmebehandling. Sedan kan väl tilläggas att i det här specifika fallet tillkommer ytterligare ett par faktorer. En är faktiskt tillskärningen då den sker med laser och här finns det några extra snitt att ta hänsyn till i och med hålet ibladet. Hur varmt materialet blir och hur det påverkar hållbarheten på sikt kan man fundera kring. Risken för att stålet blir sprött finns alltid när det hettas upp. Särskilt när det inte är särskilt mycket gods kvar närmast spetsen. 

Skulle olyckan kan vara framme och kniven av det skälet spricker eller till och med går av kan det vara tryggt att veta att Throwingzone lämnar livstids garanti på sina produkter. 

Att kasta

Som många andra började jag kasta no spin med knivar som är baktunga. De har fördelar som att de till en viss del hjälper till att stabilisera sig själv i luften. Men samtidigt kan jag nu efter några år uppleva att de inte känns lika dynamiska som en mer neutralt balanserad kniv. Det är bland annat av det skälet jag utforskar alternativ.

Pathfinder är emellertid inte de första knivar som drar åt det hållet som jag kastat med. Jag har tidigare använt bland andra Biting Metal Bug Osetr, Acejet Appache och Excalibur och modeller från Zitoon som No reload och The Devil's Claw. De är alla rätt neutralt balanserade. 

Pathfinder är riktigt bra för precisionskastning

Det här här ytterligare ett steg i utforskningen av den typen av knivar. Pathfinder är lika tjocka som djävulsklorna men rätt mycket lättare. Precis de egenskaper jag var på jakt efter. Särskilt efter att ha fått panik på SM förra året då ett antal knivar ramlade ur tavlan under uppvärmningen för att kombinationen lite hårdare tavla/tyngre knivar inte var helt lyckad. Det fick mig att byta modell i sista sekund och det är inte ett framgångsrecept rent generellt. 

Några av mina första kast och intryck av Throwingzone Pathfinder för snart ett år sedan

Till det skall läggas att spetsen på Pathfinder är aggressiv så penetrationsförmågan är mycket god. Det trots att den tillhör det tjockare gardet. Det gör att man kan använda den här kniven även mot plankmål, det vill säga den typ som ofta återfinns i långdistans- och siluettkastning. Vis av erfarenheten har jag dessutom vässat dem något.  

- Rotationskast

Pathfinder är comme si comme ca på det här området skulle kanske en fransman säga. Med det menar jag att det förstås går, särskilt som kniven har god balans men det är ändå en rätt kort kniv och spetsens utformning gör att den inte är särskilt väl lämpad för att greppa där. Den är för spetsig helt enkelt. 

Men vill du som kastare ändå kasta några kast då och då med rotationstekniker så sätter inte den här modellen några käppar i hjulet men det märks tydligt att den inte är gjord för det. 

- Half Spin

För att vara en no spin-kniv är Pathfinder inte särskilt bra till halvrotationstekniker i mitt tycke. Kontrasten blir tydlig då den här typen av knivar annars brukar vara det. Särskilt gäller det knivar med tyngdpunkten förskjuten mot handtaget till som Arrow-liknande modeller. De och dolkar är vanligen extra väl lämpade för uppgiften. Särskilt om de har smala blad som är lätta att greppa. 

Men Pathfinder är för det första neutralt balanserad samt i sammanhanget relativt kort. Redan där blir förutsättningarna mindre optimala för den här sortens teknik även om det sistnämnda mest spelar in på lite längre distanser. Särskilt gäller det underhandskast. 

Det som emellertid gör att jag inte gärna kastar half spin med den här modellen är förstås hålet i bladet. Det återfinns precis där jag vill placera tummen från flera avstånd. Det tvingar mig att antingen hålla mycket långt ut på spetsen alternativt flytta handen långt upp, nästan in på handtaget. Det ger inte de valmöjligheter jag söker. Hålet gör dessutom att "släppet" känns konstigt då de distinkta insidorna av bladhålet glider mot fingrarna. 

Därmed passar inte Pathfinder mig för den här typen av kastning. Det går förstås då ytterst få föremål med en spets är omöjliga att kasta men min rekommendation är att låta bli då det inte är särskilt roligt. 

- No Spin

Men allt Pathfinder inte är när det handlar om varierande rotationstekniker tar de igen när det skall kastas no spin. Det är naturligtvis det som kniven är designad för. För att vara den i Henrys mening optimala kniven för just det ändamålet. 

Jag kan inte säga att de är den ultimata kniven då jag inte testat alla men jag kan intyga att den är mycket mycket bra. Vad som kan anses vara bäst är dessutom något som i högsta grad varierar beroende på din personliga teknik. Där finns inte en modell som passar alla exakt lika väl. Det är också därför det finns rätt mycket olika utseenden på kastknivar. 

Detaljer som påverkar är exempelvis ditt grepp, hur mycket side-arm respektive över axeln du kastar, hur högt eller lågt ditt "släpp" är och hur mycket kraft du använder. Men även om du kastar med mycket pekfingerkick eller mer med en slide-teknik och så vidare. Det finns många  faktorer att ta hänsyn till. 

Sedan spelar även avståndet roll. Skall kniven nyttjas mest för precisionskastning på kortare avstånd alternativt användas för att försöka slå rekord i långdistanskastning? Eller tänker du dig en allroundkniv god för det mesta? 

Några av de tidigaste kasten med Throwingzone Pathfinder. Jag har sedan dess slipat på tekniken

Med det i bakhuvudet skulle jag säga att Pathfinder är bra till de flesta typer av no spin-kastning men att den inte passar mig helt optimalt när det gäller långdistans. Nu kan det låta lite paradoxalt när jag faktiskt vann SM i den disciplinen i år med just den här modellen. Men det hänger mer på att jag är  relativt säker på Walk Back-distanser (3 till 7m) och att avståndet för att vinna i år inte var så mycket mer. 

Men just i den disciplinen vill jag nog ha en något längre kniv och kanske baktung ändå. Jag är inte helt färdig med den processen och lär återkomma till ämnet. 

Men för precisionskastning är Pathfinder riktigt häftig. Känslan att ha en kniv som känns kraftfull men ändå lätt är påtaglig när man testar den första gången. Jag uppskattar att ha en rejäl yta för pekfingret att vila emot när jag skall trycka till och det hittar du här. Behärskar du tekniken flyger den här modellen mycket rakt på korta avstånd och är lätt att beräkna parabel på längre distanser. Sedan missar man ändå men det är en annan fråga och inte knivens fel. 

Sedan är spetsen precis så effektiv som den ser ut. Det är inte många tavlor som den här kniven inte sätter sig i. Till och med "Plankan" vilken kanske är den svåraste av grenar när det kommer till den biten. Men jag har vässat mina knivar en smula. Inte mycket men jag har smalnat av den del som utgör eggen i relation till hur de ursprunglingen är slipade. Det ger en lite klenare spets men ännu bättre penetration om inte tavlorna är perfekta. Som kastare vill man inte missa poäng för att knivar och yxor ramlar ur måltavlan. 

Sammanfattning

Min personliga utveckling inom no spin har lett mig in på en spännande resa. Den startade med att jag nyttjade främst baktunga knivar till att röra mig mot mer neutralt balanserade diton. Jag har även kastknivar i olika dimensioner från tre till tio millimeters tjocklek men föredrar fortfarande att kasta med no spin-knivar som är 8 mm tjocka. Även om jag måste erkänna att det finns utmanare som endast mäter 6 mm.

I det hänseendet är förstås Pathfinder perfekt. Det jag söker är nämligen den tilltagna yta som finns för pekfingret att ta spjärn emot samtidigt som jag inte vill dras med den vikt som ofta är förknippat med den grovleken. Som sagt, knivar över 260 g tillhör inte favoriterna. Särskilt inte när man skall träna. Ett kast går bra och även hundra brukar jag säga, däremot inte tusen kast. Då ramlar armen av till slut. Risken för tennisarmbåge och andra skador ökar markant. 

Pathfinder är kniven som är regerande svensk mästare

Men även några VM-medaljer inklusive ett guld bärgades i år med Pathfinder

Jag talade lite inledningsvis om framgångar och med det avsåg jag bland annat att jag precis avslutat ett SM i sportkastning där Pathfinder hjälpte mig att försvara titeln som svensk mästare i no spin med ett guld i Walk Back. Det kompletterades med ytterligare två guld i Siluett respektive Långdistanskastning. Tidigare i sommar bärgades ett silver och ett guld från U.K.A.T. VM i Tjeckien med samma knivar. 

Med andra ord har jag lärt mig att hantera dem tämligen väl även om jag är långt ifrån färdig eller fullärd. 

Throwingzone Pathfinder rekommenderas till den som vill ha en av de bästa kastknivar som finns för no spin

Därmed torde det vara bevisat att det här är riktigt bra kastknivar. Det är snarare hos kastaren begränsningarna återfinns. Därmed kan jag bara säga att Pathfinder är bland de bästa no spin-knivar jag prövat. Sedan är frågan om jag skulle rekommendera dem till en nybörjare eller ej. Den är svår då viss bias föreligger. Kanske inte då det inte är den mest lättkastade modellen är det ärliga svaret. Å andra sidan är det bra att ha något riktigt bra att börja med eftersom det gör processen enklare. Så jag ändrar mig, köp dem!

Priset direkt från Throwingzone är för närvarande 140€ för ett set om tre knivar alternativt 50€ om du vill köpa till en reservkniv. 

Throwingzone

Specifikation:

Stål: Hardox 450

Längd: 240 mm

Bredd: 30 mm

Tjocklek: 8 mm

Vikt: 240 g

Balanspunkt: 14/10 cm från spets/handtag

/ J - Flerfaldig Svensk mästare och U.K.A.T.-guldmedaljör i no spin

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Ny kniv - Zitoon Knives L'albatros

Jag förmodar att det är ovansidan på bladet som bidragit till modellnamnet, L'albatros. Det är trots allt en rätt maffig fågel, en av de största flygande fåglar som finns lite beroende på hur man räknar.* 

Även den här kniven från franska Zitoon Knives ger ett maffigt intryck. En kniv med pondus helt enkelt. Inte så lång men väldigt kraftfull kan det sammanfattas. 

Zitoon Knives L'albatros

Nu är ju kanske just Albatrosser mest kända för sitt enorma vingspann och att de nästan aldrig landar. Två saker som inte riktigt stämmer överens med den här kniven. För det första landar den med eftertryck kan jag avslöja efter att ha provkastat. För det andra är spannet inte enormt, L'albatros är 33 cm lång. 

Men då tjockleken uppgår till 6 mm och bladet är brett så landar vikten på 485 g med läderhandtag och kring 460 g utan. Det gör dem faktiskt till bland det tyngsta jag har i samlingen.**  

Finishen är en av Zitoons vanliga vilket innebär borstat stål. På en kastkniv är det inte alltid lämpligt med några avancerade ytbehandlingar. De slits rätt hårt om man säger så. Åtminstone om de faktiskt används. Apropå används så hittas ett svenskt Hardox 450 som material. Ett stål som Zitoon använder sig av för det mesta. Det tillhör kategorin slitstål och hittas i diverse industriapplikationer som dumperflak, schaktblad och annat som tillhör tyngre maskiner. Ett hållbart alternativ således.

På hemsidan skriver Zitoon att Albatrossen är byggd för "competition and performance". Det jag direkt hålla med om men jag vill också tillägga att den är kniv med tämligen specifika egenskaper så den passar nog inte alla kastare. Vikt i relation till längd, totalvikt samt spetsens och ryggens utformning är vad som gör den unik. 

Jag återkommer till de detaljerna i en senare recension. 

Zitoon

/ J - bättre en albatross i hand än tio i luften

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

* Jag tänker då på vingspann kontra vikt. I skaran ingår fåglar som Stortrapp, Kondor och en hederlig Svan. 

* Pierre Cazoulat Woodpecker väger 460 g, Throwingzone Spinning Butcher 450 g, och Lanceur de l'âme Dague de Competition 410 g. 

Ny kniv - Zitoon The Pincher

Om de av mig senast presenterade knivarna från Zitoon Knives var eleganta trots sitt smått aggressiva utseende så är den här troligen familjens svarta får. Här har det draget gått från att diskret återfinnas i bakgrunden till att inte bara spela första violin utan att dirigera hela orkestern. The Pincher är därför allt annat än diskret kan konstateras. Den är visuellt brutal!

Zitoon Knives The Pincher

Det känns till en början som om  Pincher hamnar mitt emellan en  No Spin-kniv och en kniv avsedd för rotationskastning då längden endast uppgår till 26 cm. Till det kan en tjocklek på 6 mm adderas. Det som avviker är förstås höjden. Där ståtar The Pincher med hela 4,5 cm som mest över bladets tydliga knöl. Det är den i kombination med den speciella slipningen som ger den dess karaktär. 

Vikten uppgår till 320 gram och däri hittas också ledtråden till vilken typ av kastning kniven främst är tänkt för. Men det går utmärkt att kasta utan snurr också även om den då är i tyngsta laget, i alla fall för min smak. Men för den som ägnar sig åt No Spin med inspiration från R. Thorn går det troligen bra. 

Slipningen påminner förresten rätt mycket om en annan kniv i Zitoons modellprogram med det exotiska namnet Ra's al Ghul. Den är ännu mer extrem men även där hittas den nästan tantobetonade eggen och den rejäla falskeggen. 

Grunden är en slags Bowie med aningen förvridna proportioner och en tendens till sekundär tantospets i slipningen. 

Pincher är en lite kortare och mer kompakt kniv för rotationskastning

Den speciella slipningen och det svängda handtaget har faktiskt ett syfte och finns inte bara där för syns skull. Idén bakom modellen är just att åstadkomma en kniv specialiserad för "pinch-grip" och en variant på fattning är därför med eggen mot kastaren eller upp och ned om du så vill. 

Tanken är att den aggressiva spetsen skall hjälpa till att sätta kniven i tavlan även om kniven är något över- eller underroterad. Något som kan hjälpa till vid ett avgörande läge i en tävling till exempel. Det är stor skillnad mellan åtminstone några poäng eller en kniv på marken, inte minst känslomässigt. 

Nu återstår bara för mig att vänta på för knivkastning bättre väder så jag ta reda på om de teoretiska fördelarna gäller även i praktiken. Själv är jag mycket nyfiken och jag lovar att jag återkommer med en rapport i ärendet!

Zitoon

/ J - längtar efter (den riktiga) kastsäsongen

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre