New Knives - Acejet Merlin Kiridashi

 Acejet is not an unfamiliar name here on the blog. Last time it happened, it was the Achilles model that was reviewed. I had a couple of objections to it, and they were mainly based on the size and the design of the tip. For some reason I don't know, Acejet has been quite modest when it came to the length of this type of knife. They haven't been that many in number either. First up were the Spinner Bowie and Maximus, closely followed by the aforementioned Achilles.

On the No Spin side, they have always been big with well-known models like Stinger, Excalibur and several variants of Raven, among others. In addition, they have added several variants of Bo-Shuriken to the catalogue

Acejet

But now Acejet has gone big and is also focusing on knives for rotational throwing. It is a significant expansion of the range. We are talking about fifteen new models, which are also available in both Spinner editions and regular versions, and in several different lengths. This gives a total of around fifty new variants.

The knives come wrapped in a Bandana as usual. Also included is a certificate of authenticity and a pair of playing cards with the Acejets logo.

My first encounter with these knives was this one called Merlin Kiridashi. 

Acejet manufactures all of its knives in Bohemia, a place not only known for its crystal glass but also for strong traditions in industry and technology. The material used in these knives, like most Acejet products, is a Czech spring steel called 14260. It has proven to be an excellent choice as it lasts very well. Should an accident nevertheless occur, Acejet has excellent guarantees.

Acejet Merlin Kiridashi

In terms of appearance, both the Merlin Kiridashi and its sister model, the Kiridashi, are quite extreme. They have features of both kitchen knives and daggers with long, thin blades.

The Merlin Kiridashi is available in two lengths, of which this is the longer, 14" or 35.5 cm. The thickness is 6 mm, and this gives a total weight of 330 g. It must be admitted that it feels lighter than when you first hold it in your hand. The balance is otherwise neutral.

The distinctive appearance gives me an idea of ​​how it might behave. For example, the thickness together with the really long and narrow tip is an excellent basis for brutal penetration, poor targets!

In addition, I wonder how the special handle works in practice. It has something of a pistol grip character, as it is usually called in folding knife circles. This means that it is curved in relation to the knife's intended centerline. What it can contribute in this context is that it provides an extra "kick" that enhances the rotation when thrown from the handle. The question is how much and how it affects the knife's properties. Another interesting question is whether there is a big difference between the feeling when thrown from the blade and the handle. They look quite different.

I intend to discuss that and much more in an upcoming review!

Acejet Official

/ J - agog

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Nya knivar - Acejet Merlin Kiridashi

Acejet är inte ett obekant namn här på bloggen. Sist det begav sig var det modellen Achilles som recenserades. Den hade jag ett par invändningar mot och främst var de grundade i storleken samt spetsens utformning. Av någon anledning jag inte känner till har Acejet varit rätt blygsam när det handlat om framförallt längden den här typen av knivar. De har heller inte varit så många till antalet. Först ut var Spinner Bowie och Maximus tätt följda av ovan nämnda Achilles. 

På No Spin-sidan har de alltid varit stora med kända modeller som Stinger, Excalibur och flera varianter av Raven bland andra. Därtill har de adderat ett flertal varianter av Bo-Shuriken till katalogen.

Acejet

Men nu har Acejet slagit på stort och hårdsatsar även på knivar för rotationskastning. Det är en rejäl utvidgning av sortimentet kan konstateras. Vi talar om ett femtontal nya modeller som därtill kan fås både i Spinner-utgåva samt vanligt utförande och dessutom i flera olika längder. Det ger totalt runt femtio nya varianter. 

Knivarna kommer som vanligt inlindade i en Bandana. Medföljer gör också ett äkthetscertifikat samt ett par spelkort med Acejets logga

Mitt första möte med de här knivarna blev den här kallad Merlin Kiridashi. 

Acejet tillverkar alla sina knivar i Böhmen, en plats inte bara känd för sitt kristallglas utan även för starka traditioner inom industri och teknik. Materialet som används i de här knivarna är liksom de flesta Acejets produkter ett tjeckiskt fjäderstål vid namn 14260. Ett utmärkt val har det visat sig då det håller mycket väl. Skulle olyckan trots det vara framme har Acejet utmärkta garantier.

Acejet Merlin Kiridashi

Utseendemässigt är både Merlin Kiridashi och systermodellen Kiridashi rätt extrema. De har drag av både köksknivar och dolkar med långa tunna blad.

Merlin Kiridashi kan fås i två längder varav det här är den längre 14" eller 35,5 cm. Tjockleken är 6 mm och det ger en totalvikt på 330 g. Det måste erkännas att den känns lättare än när man först håller den i hand. Balansen är annars neutral. 

Det distinkta utseendet ger mig en idé om hur det kan tänkas uppträda. Exempelvis så är tjockleken tillsammans med den riktigt långa och smala spetsen en utmärkt grund för grym penetrationsförmåga, stackars måltavlor! 

Utöver det funderar jag på hur det speciella handtaget fungerar i praktiken. Det har något av pistolgreppskaraktär som det brukar heta i fällknivskretsar. Det betyder att det är krökt i relation till knivens tänkta mittlinje. Vad det kan bidra med i det här sammanhanget är att det ger en extra "kick" som förstärker rotationen vid kast från handtaget. Frågan är hur mycket och hur det påverkar knivens egenskaper. En annan och intressant fråga är om det är stor skillnad mellan känslan vid kast från bladet respektive handtag. De ser rätt olika ut nämligen.  

Det och mycket mer ämnar jag diskutera i en kommande recension!

Acejet Official

/ J - förväntansfull

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - ANV Knives A400

To start at the "wrong" end, this knife exudes competence. Something about its appearance, material, and feel gives that impression. It doesn't hurt that it feels light, strong, and well-balanced once unpacked. But that is getting ahead of itself. However, it does give the knife certain expectations to live up to right from the start.

"Hardtask" is the basic name of this folding knife, which is an interpretation of a fixed-blade knife from Czech ANV Knives. I have previously reviewed several knives from them, most recently the fixed-blade M25, which I really appreciate.

From there, the step is not that far to this model called the A400. This folding knife is obviously aimed at outdoor life, especially as it even has a recess intended for use with fire steel. Of course, it is also possible to use the A400 as an "EDC" knife, although it may then be on the larger side. 

ANV Knives A400 BB

It can be said right away that this is not a small folding knife. The total length is almost 25 cm and the blade is 105 mm long. The thickness of the blade is more discreet with 3 mm, which gives the knife a total weight of 137 g, which is light for a knife with such a sturdy handle. It really fills the hand.

It is made of a three-dimensionally shaped G10 with a pattern that provides extreme friction and thus a great grip. I will probably have reason to come back to it in a later review. The material in the blade is Swedish in the form of Sleipner and the hardness is stated to be a full 60 HRC. The blade also has a DLC coating, which is one of the best available.

The A400 has a blade made of Sleipner steel with a DLC coating

The knife opens with a flipper but it turns out it can also be opened in other ways. I will tell you about that in due course. The lock is what ANV calls "A-Lock" which is simply their interpretation of a "crossbar" type lock. Here you have to use it a little differently than what I am used to because the handle is so long that you can't let the back end rest inside your hand as usual. But there are solutions for that too!

To carry the knife there is of course a clip and it is a reversible wire clip that allows the knife to sit very deep in your pocket. 

In terms of appearance, it is a fairly pure outdoor knife, completely dressed in black this time. Or not quite completely. There is a red dot on the lock bar and in the open back you will find contrasting spacers anodized to bright red. In addition, the knife, like all ANV folding knives, has a "lumidot", a self-luminous dot in the flipper itself.

Overall, a very exciting acquaintance and I can immediately say that there are small changes in the design that I already appreciate. Sometimes I think that ANV may have made it a little difficult for themselves when they designed their folding knives. Here it is more straightforward if you put it that way.

But the basic requirements for a very good knife are here. You will read about that later!

ANV Knives

/ J - goes for (a) Czech Mate

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knives - Acejet Achilles Vintage Shadow

They say the third time's a charm. It remains to be seen if this is the best Acejet has released when it comes to knives for rotational throwing. Namely, it is their third model, together with Spinner Bowie, which was first out, and Maximus, which was released around the same time as this one. As the title says, it's called Achilles Vintage.

This model is available in three basic versions: Achilles, Achilles Spinner, and Achilles Vintage. The addition "Vintage" means that the knife has a leather-wrapped handle. It is available in three colors: white, as here, or black or brown.

Then there was another suffix to the name, and it's something I've featured before on my Raven IIs: "Shadow Steel." That's Acejet's name for this dark, slightly purple tone on the steel. It is not quite as black as some pictures make it appear. As I told you before, I'm a bit torn about it. It's pretty, especially when paired with a white handle like this, but the question is, how practical is it?

Acejet Achilles Vintage

The appearance is quite striking. Aside from the color combination, it's a dagger. Personally, I'm still torn between whether I primarily prefer that type of knife or Bowie knives for rotational throwing. Both types are represented among my competition knives.

In addition to color and shape, Achilles is remarkably thick, a whopping 8 mm. Even that is eye-catching.  A stock thickness of 5 or 6 mm is more common for this type of throwing knife. Otherwise, the knives tend to be too heavy.

Here, that problem has been solved in two ways. Firstly, the knives are quite small. They measure 30.5 cm in length, which is 12". A minimum measurement in some competition contexts. There are also rumors of a 13" variant, which is not available at the moment, however. The width is a maximum of 35 mm just before the finger guard and at the widest part of the handle including the leather. The finger guard or rather what symbolizes one is 43 mm wide.

The second is that the blade has a large cutout which is also reflected in the shape of the handle. It is through the latter that the leather is wrapped. 

The Shadow Steel version looks great with a white leather handle

A bit annoying is that under "full specifications" on the website, one of the most important measurements is not included, namely weight. It just says "Thanks to the holes in the handle and the blade, the ideal weight for long training sessions was achieved." That's something I'm happy to decide for myself, thanks!

Incidentally, the weight per knife is 325 grams according to my scale. To be honest, it is too little to be optimal for a rotational knife, in my opinion. Achilles really feels very light when you play with it a bit. It will be interesting to see if my first impressions hold even after the knife has been properly tested. Namely, I have my suspicions about certain proportions and how they might behave.

The material is Acejet's usual 14260 spring steel. Here transformed into "Shadow Steel". That said, it's nice, especially paired with a bright leather handle. But it has a tendency not to be seen in leaves and grass and in addition wears away with a lot of use. However, I fell for the look in this case.

I intend to come back to this knife in a couple of ways. Both in some form of "throwing report" with some film clips and in a full-fledged review, of course!

Acejet Knives

/ J - the real knife-throwing chef

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

New Knife - ANV M25

The new year must be inaugurated with a new knife. And not just any knife, but a new product from Czech ANV Knives. Something that doesn't happen too often. By that, I mean that this is not one of the fast-moving models that otherwise dominate parts of the market. Instead, this is a knife that has been released after a substantial development period.

Incidentally, it is a collaboration with the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment from Strakonice. It is also from them that the name originates.

From Acta non verba Knives comes this military knife

You can immediately tell when you hold this knife that it is very well made and that a lot of thought has gone into the design. The balance is superb and the M25 just feels very natural to hold and every grip you can think of works, possibly except "ice pick grip" but there's a reason for that.

That's how it is with the whole knife, there are reasons for most of it, which concretely means that it hides small subtleties here and there despite its seemingly simple exterior.

ANV M25

The materials are also of the highest quality. The handle is made of a couple of solid pieces of Micarta that have been milled and provided with a pattern that gives a very good traction. They are then screwed into place with a pair of sturdy stainless steel screws.

Swedish steel in the form of Sleipner is found in the blade. It is 3.5mm thick in this case. It is coated with a layer of DLC that both protects against corrosion and reduces reflections. It is, after all, a genuine military knife. It is also noticeable in the format. This knife is meant to be carried. The length is a modest twenty-four centimeters, of which the blade measures eleven centimeters. The weight is more than decent at 145 grams.

In addition, the case is made of Kydex and equipped with Molle-compatible fasteners. That is, they fit combat harnesses. But this means that the knife is flexible and can be carried any way you like on backpacks, belts, etc.

I can say that I immediately fell for this knife. It exudes competence and is of a format that I can imagine wearing whether I'm hiking or just spending time outdoors. 

ANV

/ J - starts the new year with fireworks

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Knife Review Acejet Spinner Bowie Silver Hunter

  

Introduction

I don't know anything about sales figures, but the experiment of entering the competition for knives aimed at so-called classic knife throwing seems to have been successful for Acejet. That considering that no less than two new models on the same theme have recently been released. They have been named Achilles and Maximus and have seen the light of day in the spring of 2023.

But already last year Acejet released this knife model, the Spinner Bowie and I have to say I had high expectations for it. Those who follow me know that I previously had a lot of good things to say about Acejet's products and achieved success with them also in a competition context.

Acejet Spinner Bowie Silver Hunter

But they have all been more or less typical No Spin knives, which means that this was a bit of terra incognita for Acejet as it was their first model dedicated to spin throwing. The question is how successful that venture was.

Appearance and dimensions

Spinner Bowie is a model that is available in a couple of different editions right from the start. On the one hand, there is a variant in dark steel that goes by the name Shadow Hunter or, as here, one in leaves and moss, a more easily found version in brushed metal. The addition to the name then becomes Silver Hunter instead. In addition to that, you can also choose the color of the leather pieces that make up the handle sides.

The sides are screwed in place with shiny Chicago screws. A good choice, but Acejet should know that they must also be provided with thread locking to stay in place. After a little vibration from some good hits, the screws loosen and the risk of losing them is obvious. Then the leather could be more substantial. This variant is only 1.5 mm thick. When I make similar handle sides myself, I use 3.5mm as a comparison.

The blades are fairly typical clip-point blades but slightly narrower than is usual for most Bowie knives

The look is otherwise a slim Bowie with its typical clip-point tip. The height of the blade is only three centimeters and the thickness is 6 mm. The Spinner Bowie knives are available in two different lengths of which the longer one measuring thirteen inches or 33 cm. The shorter one is 12" long or 30.5 cm. The reason for the lengths is, in addition to the fact that different throwers prefer different lengths of knives, also that certain regulatory systems stipulate certain measurements. This would therefore be approved under all regulations except one that I know of.

A hole that turns the knife into a so-called "spinner" you can rotate the knife around your index finger. Then this hole was quite rough which required some sandpapering to get comfortable

The finish is quite rough with some machining marks remaining but that's not something I worry about on a throwing knife. The marks that appear after throwing the knives for a while are significantly worse. For those who appreciate "patina" of their knives, knife throwing is an excellent activity.

Right from the start, the thin leather was a bit loose

Something that worsened during the throwing sessions. However, how much varies with humidity and it is possible to press the leather so it fits tighter

Then the knife has been provided with a detail that is also reflected in the name "Spinner" and that is the distinctive hole. Originally, those kinds of features on knife handles were meant to make them harder to knock out of people's hands while still protecting the finger a bit. On throwing knives, it is a pure "play function". It makes the knife more fun in that you can rotate the knife around the index finger. Something that is not quite as pointless as it seems. Juggling a bit with throwing knives reveals characteristics such as balance point and rotation speed.

Material

The steel is the same Czech spring steel that the majority of Acjet's products are made of. A material that has proven to be excellent most of the time. It is both durable and easy to regrind. Unfortunately, I have had to make use of that characteristic quite a bit on these knives. Among other things, the tips have been slightly reprofiled. In this case, it feels as if these knives are not hardened in the same way as, for example, the Stinger and Excalibur models. On the other hand, these tips are of a different model so that can also affect the outcome. In any case, the outermost part went pretty quickly.

The tips needed to be resharpened fairly immediately after the knives had been in close contact with each other

Then you should know that this category of steel is hardly stainless. So there will be stains of various kinds and this applies both if you forget the knives in a damp environment and during use. It's enough to throw a few hours and your hands are damp from either heat or rain. But it is easily removed with either fine sandpaper and/or Autosol or similar products.

To Throw

As said, Spinner Bowies are knives geared towards classic rotation techniques. Then, of course, as with almost everything else, you can also throw No spin with this model. But it is really not optimal for the purpose so it is not recommended. As previously pointed out, AceJet has a long line of knives better suited to those techniques.

Right from the start it was felt that the Spinner Bowie is an easy-to-handle model that provides direct feedback to the thrower

The first impressions were that I had to readjust a bit in relation to other throwing knives of a similar type I use. In some way, it is noticeable that Acejet is used with other types of knives. Now it's not something bad, but just a characteristic that manifests itself in the fact that it feels like the knife is striving forward. It rotates quickly, which requires you to let that movement start a little later and thus closer to the target than usual. The knife still manages to get around.

Furthermore, the knife was unmistakably perceived as easy to aim with. Actually better in that area than my favorite knives. At least over a short distance. It was quickly established that the penetration is good. Something that is important so that you, as a thrower, do not have to use too much force and still be able to stick the knives. Too much raw strength often reduces precision.

The balance point is found fifteen centimeters from the handle or eighteen centimeters from the tip. In practice, it means right at the front of the ring. A fairly neutral knife in other words.

- Rotational

It is in this area that the knife's strengths are found, which goes without saying. Fairly immediately, the characteristics described above were noticed and they were reinforced over time. The Spinner Bowie is particularly nice at short distances such as three and four meters. Here they feel accurate and easy to throw.

At a short distance, three meters with a grip on the handle, you need to have a feeling that the knife should strive forward. If you do, it is solid and feels reliable. Let the knife do its thing and it will sit there in the target. The grip feels natural with the rounded rear end of the handle against the inside of the hand and does not need to be modified in any way.

The first throws with the Acejet Spinner from November 2022

From four meters and the first time you change the grip and hold the blade, a fairly firm grip is required to "calm down" the throw. Otherwise, the knife wants to over-rotate. But the belly of the blade is relatively similar to the rear end of the handle, whereupon the two grips resemble each other. Some throwers think that feature is important, but I personally don't depend on the knife being symmetrical that way.

It's fairly easy to get a nice grouping with the Acejet Spinner Bowie

From five meters I feel that the knife has to be thrown with a little more power than I am used to. But that could be because my reference knives are heavier and rotate slower. They require more arc than these knives which can be thrown quite straight at the target. However, the rotation must be controlled when doing so, as it is quite nimble as I said.

The pattern then repeats itself from six and seven meters and the knife is reasonably easy to handle even from those distances, although I prefer a little more weight from those distances. It gives more weight in the hit without requiring more strength while making the rotation slower.

- Half Spin

These knives are significantly better than most other Bowie-inspired throwing knives when it comes to semi-rotational techniques, be it 'Natural' or 'Military'. The reason is mainly to be found in the narrow blade, which is easy to grip around. I don't appreciate wide-bladed knives if I have to hold the blade. The Spinner Bowie almost feels like a dagger in this case. But it doesn't quite reach that level. The ring means there is a bit of side weight although it doesn't cause the knife to capsize in the air like some other knives tend to do.

Then, the length means that these knives, in combination with the above-mentioned characteristics, are excellent for underhand throws with half rotation. They turn slowly and majestically with this technique and it is desirable as it makes them easier to throw.

- No Spin

I think we'll skip this section altogether. That is, sure you can throw some No spin throws with this knife just to prove it works but it really isn't made for that and it shows.

Conclusion

In order to form an opinion and give a fair picture of these knives, some time was needed. They were acquired in October 2022 and thus did not have enough throwing time at the end of last year to be sufficient as a basis for review. But now the season has really started and I have more throws under my belt, so to speak.

Acejet released the Spinner Bowie in 2022

One small detail that I feel could be improved, especially considering the price range, is the finish. As it is now, it is a bit rough. Some edges, especially those on the inside of the rings were almost sharp and needed a round of sandpaper to work satisfactorily. This also applies to the edges of the backs of two of the knives. Nor was the leather of top quality either in terms of the material or the way it was attached.

I can cope with that. But as a maker of my own handles, I know that it is definitely best to glue them in addition to attaching them with screws. Especially if the leather is this thin. Creases tend to occur as it is now. However, it can be added that thinner sides make the grip in the handle more similar to that in the blade if that is what is being sought. So it is not only to the detriment.

Then it must be admitted that the hardness on these knives is perhaps a bit on the soft side. I don't have any numbers to back that observation up but have noticed that the tips are very easily damaged on an oblique hit or in contact with other knives or a rock. This means that all knives have reprofiled tips by now. In return, this is something that happens when you train a lot if you don't have access to a perfect training area. Read, three separate targets and preferably soft material in front and around.

Acejet Spinner Bowie is, in addition to a luxurious beginner's knife, also an excellent competition knife

But that is still secondary. Throwing knives get their scars and wear their history visibly. It gives them character. More important is how they behave when thrown and that's where the Acejet Spinner Bowie is pure precision instruments. This especially applies to shorter distances.

The solid feel makes this a good beginner's knife for those who want to devote themselves mainly to rotational throwing with elements of Military Half Spin in various variations. Should you feel the slightest doubt about quality and warranty, I can reassure you by saying that I have so far not managed to break an Acejet knife despite occasional veritable abuse. This also includes a lifetime warranty on the products.

Then quality knives are not cheap, these cost at the time of writing €316 or $349. But for that, you get knives that both work as advanced entry-level knives for those who have decided or just want to upgrade their knives and maybe compete. 

AceJet Official

Specifications:

Steel: 14260, Czech Spring Steel

Length: 330 mm

Width: 30 mm

Thickness: 6 mm

Weight: 390 g

Point of Balance: 15/18 cm from the back of the handle/tip

/ J - saying..."support your local knife thrower"

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

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!

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Review AceJet Excalibur D2

The reviews of throwing knives are piling up here on the blog and that has its natural explanation. I'm practicing a lot at the moment. The fine weather that prevails at the moment invites to it. Around here it has been unusually nice for the season. 

AceJet Excalibur D2

The knives I will present today come from Czech AceJet and are of course designed by Adam Čeladin. These creations are named Excalibur. A name that commits. Then it only remains to be seen if the knives live up to their mythical name. To test it, I have since I got them in January managed to throw about 8000 throws with this set.

Appearance and dimensions

AceJet is one of the brands that is rapidly expanding its range and therefore this model is now also available in several versions. The origin was a knife with the same appearance but made in spring steel. It measured 24 cm in length with a thickness of 8 mm. Since then, this and several other models have been released in a "Breaker" version, which means that an already massive thickness has been increased further to 10 mm and the length to 28 cm, which gives an increase in weight from 240g to 360g. A noticeable difference in other words.

In the middle of the two is this model that measures 25 cm in length or more exactly 10 inches and with a thickness of 8 mm. It gives a weight of 255 g. A slightly longer and thus slightly heavier basic model in other words.

8 mm thick will not break easily. The material is D2

The man behind these knives is per usual with AceJet, Adam Čeladin. In this case, the inspiration is probably a traditional dagger of some historical kind, one might think. Excalibur is reminiscent of a stylized one. To resemble the sword it is named after, the blade would probably have had to be longer. Otherwise, the knife is very symmetrical as can be seen and there is a rudimentary finger guard. It certainly fulfills a function as well, however, it has nothing to do with protecting anything. Like all good throwing knives, these lack sharp edges. 

The knives come in AceJet's most used finish, a coarse satin. At the time of writing, this particular model is not available in their new "Shadow" version, which is blackened knives. Nice to look at but also damn easy to lose if you throw somewhere other than a dedicated area, read "a forest". 

The knives are sharpened like a traditional dagger, ie symmetrically. Despite this, Excalibur has chisel tips, they are flat the last three millimeters and do not end in a needle tip.

Material

Apart from the fact that these knives are one centimeter longer than the original, it is material-wise that they differ most from them. In this case, AceJet has given up the spring steel they normally use in favor of D2.

The tips hold well even if they in this picture are freshly sharpened with file and sandpaper after direct contact with each other and concrete slabs

I'm not really sure whether I think it's an upgrade or not. Certainly, D2 is slightly less prone to rust than spring steel. It is not tougher according to the theory, possibly it is more impact resistant, it is more than I can tell. 

On the other hand, in practice, it seems that the tips are slightly more durable than AceJet's other knives. Probably because they are a little harder, it is at least my guess after a number of close contacts with concrete slabs, asphalt, and each other. But whether it is due to the type of steel or hardening is difficult to say.

The regular knives are not bad in that respect either. Like I said before, the only thing that can destroy an AceJet knife is another knife. The knives are easily maintained with simple tools. I use a metal file, sandpaper, and a diamond sharpener.

To throw

Like the Appache-model I previously reviewed from AceJet, Excalibur is designed for allround throwing. That is knives that are very good for those who have not decided whether it is No Spin or rotation techniques that are most relevant or want to do both styles. I can immediately reveal that these knives can handle both main areas with bravura. But that does not mean that they behave exactly the same in all techniques. Excalibur has its clear advantages and disadvantages, I have noted.

A bit of weight towards the rear makes the knife excellent for both half-spin techniques and no spin

The balance point of these knives is found 14 cm from the tip and 11 cm from the end of the handle. This means that they are a bit back-heavy, even if the appearance tricks the eye a bit. The weight ends up in the handle just behind the finger guard. But with more normal proportions with a blade longer than the handle, the weight would have ended up at the blade base instead.

Rotational Throwing

The first thing that can be noted is that Excalibur is better for rotational throws than you might think at first glance. Especially as they are designed by a master of no spin with those techniques in mind. But as I said, the balance is more neutral than it seems. The weight is also enough for the knife to stick with some force. Then the extra centimeter in length is sympathetic and helps to calm down the flight a bit. Simply put, longer knives rotate more slowly and if they are heavier, they flutter less when they fly. However, it's not an absolute truth and there are plenty of exceptions.

Sometimes you are forced to group next to Bullseye instead of hitting it. A photo of an old target

Excalibur is surprisingly good for rotational throws and I then grab the knife quite far out and angle it slightly forward in the throwing direction

With that said, Excalibur spins pretty fast anyway. This means that to ensure that you stick the knife in the target, it should be thrown fairly calmly and in a controlled manner, as if it were a larger knife. I grip the handle quite far out, not too hard, and am careful with the "backswing" to get the right rotation from three meters. From four meters, with grip in the blade, it is even more important not to use too much force. This will inevitably lead to the knife over-rotating. It manages to get around anyway is my experience.

If you get this far, the knives are very accurate. They fly fairly straight and you do not have to "lob" so much. This makes the throwing path easy to calculate.

Half Spin

It's in this area that this knife excels. This might be the best model for the military half-spin I have tried. At least it's one of them! The longer handle and the trick of moving the finger guard further down on the knife make the knife easy to grip correctly. Then, of course, you always have to correct for what distance you are throwing from. The extra width right where the finger guard is located is as made to place a thumb on. The relatively narrow blade also makes it easy to grip around while the thickness feels a little more hand-filling, so to speak.

The penetration ability of Excalibur is very high

Throwing with half a rotation is almost instinctive with Excalibur. This applies to normal throwing if I may call it that. This refers to overhand throwing with the dominant hand from a distance of 3-6 meters. But Excalibur is just as good to use when throwing backhand or underhand. I only use my nondominant, left hand, on rare occasions so far. When I do, it is hardly the knife that is the limitation. But it works too.

This knife is extremely good to use for military half-spin

In addition, the knife works well both with more "slide" -emphasized techniques where you aim with the handle and let the knife slide out of the grip of its own weight and techniques where you control the rotation more with pressure from the thumb. I use the latter at slightly longer distances. That is four meters and up.

But there are also disadvantages associated with this look or rather the design. The finger guard, no matter how small, stops you from placing the index finger on the side of the knife. This means that if you use instinctive half spin, you are limited to putting your finger at the blade. It does not feel natural at all for me and therefore I completely avoid that technique with these knives.

No Spin

If instinctive half-spin felt unnatural, this variant of instinctive throwing is all the more enjoyable. The slim yet thick handle gives an almost square profile that makes it easy to get a good grip and the 8 mm thick knife provides plenty of contact area for an index finger to push against. The shape of the knife also guides towards the right grip. But here you have to think about what technique you use.

Variation in terms of targets. In no-spin throwing, it is the thrower who constitutes the limits, not the knife

You do not get a deposit for these soda cans

Excalibur can be used with different no spin grips

The balance point is located just behind the finger guards and when the finger is put there, it works well for "slide" techniques where you let the knife slide out of the grip when released. That grip is also good when you use a "push" technique where you press with your index finger but only IF the distances are long. On the shorter distances, up to 4 meters, at least I want to grip Excalibur with my index finger much further down on the handle to get a good and consistent throw. But I experiment with both grips.

Conclusion

It must be said that I was a bit skeptical about whether D2 was really an upgrade in terms of material when it comes to throwing knives. Had it been folding knives, that is another question. But in this case, other properties are sought. There is no sharpness to be kept. Then, of course, impact resistance is one of them, but toughness is even more important. Rust resistance is downgraded even though there are stainless steel throwing knives. Then I exclude the cheapest knives on the market that are always made of some more or less stainless material.

But in practice, it turned out that at least these knives were perceived to have slightly harder and more durable tips than my previous knives from AceJet. This is despite the fact that these are significantly pointier in shape than, for example, Appache. So maybe the material is a step up anyway. Or just a sideways step, "the jury is out" as the Americans say. However, the slightly increased length is sympathetic. Especially as the knives are quite good to use for rotation techniques as well and in that case a centimeter makes a difference.

However, it is when it comes to half-rotation techniques and then mainly military half-spin that this knife really comes into its own. There, Excalibur is not only good but excellent. It does not get much better than this!

It should be added that it is really good even for no spin. Sure, Excalibur is not as damn good as the model Stinger when it comes to this discipline, but it does not fall far behind.

AceJet Excalibur D2 are excellent knives for those who can't decide or do not feel like limiting themselves to one style of knife throwing

Overall, I am therefore very pleased with these knives. Especially as I'm improving my underhand throws thanks to them. The feeling is that it is possible to achieve what you want with these knives.

I often say that you have to "trust the knife" when throwing. If you do your part, it will take care of the rest. The limitations are not in the material but in the thrower. It's always a nice feeling.

AceJet Excalibur is definitely a knife to take a closer look at for those who like to vary their knife throwing but whose focus is on half-rotation techniques and especially military half spin, and no-spin. 

Since we are talking about premium knives, the price is not low. A set like this requires a price of 290 €/315$ directly from AceJet. The knives can also be purchased individually if desired. The knives are made in Bohemia, Czech Republic, and come with a lifetime warranty.

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: D2

Lenght: 25,3 cm/ 10"

Width: 19,5 mm handle/ 28,5 mm "guard"

Thickness: 8 mm

Weight: 255 g

Point of balance: back heavy, 14/11 cm from handle/tip

/ J - the enthusiastic thrower

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