It's been years since I've thrown a hawk, and I'll be receiving one shortly. How many paces should you be from the target to allow it to rotate?. Thanks jim c.

try 7 and then adjust from there

It depends on several things--such as the length of the hawk handle, head weight and your natural throwing arm, but I use 5 paces (your pace length is another variable. If you read the old literature there is a passage referring to the 1770s that states that the hawk throwing distance was 5 paces.

Thanks for the info, I remember the handle is suppose to be the length between your knuckles and your elbow. I should get the hawk this week.
Take care all. jim c.

I just got one after years off too - I just practiced til I got it right.

I have found that the best place to start is around 7 paces(just walk easy don't stretch). The next thing is to remember to throw not toss the hawk. Throwing like you would throw a baseball works the best.

Question? other than "because" why would anyone want to throw a hawk? right after you do your out of ammunition!!!!!!!!sort of like when you fire you rifle,if you missed you are now blessed with a very long,expensive club.But unlike a missed rifle shot,with the hawk you have just armed the other guy and he might not miss!!!!!!!!!!!!Always thought, when I watched the old movies,why not get close and see how many times you can cuff the other guy before he gets to sick to carry on or loses interest.Just asking,retorically in a way.See you on the otherside.

I always thought the same thing. I'd much rather have that hawk in my hand than on the ground or stuck int he back of someone else.

thet's what our "silent weapons" instructor taught us in basic--jist afore he whirlt around 'n thunked thet shingle-hatchet o' his'n inna post at th' back o' th' stage. only one feller i know thet c'd throw a knife er hawk fer percentages in a tite spot, 'n thet's my bizness partner. sez he started by throwin' sack needles when he wuz a kid, ef thet tells ye ennything 'bout how old a coot he be! he's prolly also th' only fast-draw competitor thet whupped bob munden every time they went head-ta-head, back in th' day. ef ever i wuz in a shootin' scrape er a all-out scuffle, he'd be my choice fer back-up, an ef i had him 'n ol' pale rug both, i'd jist sit back 'n take bets 'n sell popcorn! mind yer topknots, now! windy

quote:

why would anyone want to throw a hawk?

I agree. In combat, one would want to hang onto one's weapons to the bitter end. The only thing I can figure is that throwing the 'hawk and knife was a form of "mountain man darts". Strictly for recreation, self amusement and, of course, gambling. From what I read about rendezvous, those old buckskinners would bet on 'most anything, including "I bet I can stick my 'hawk in that there tree stump, and you can't". What do you all think?

That being said, I start at 7 walking (not striding) paces and adjust from there. Let the hawk handle slide out of your hand like it was a wet icicle.

At a training seminar put on by U.S.Army Col. Dave Grossman, the author of On Killing and On Combat (two books I highly recommend). I asked him about throwing knifes or tomahawks in combat. He thinks it was common in the years before repeating arms for such things as knifes & tomahawks to be thrown at a fleeing foe, but not in face to face combat.

There are numerous period accounts in the 18th cent of throwing hawks (not so much on knives), but most [not all] of the quotes I have read refer to Indians doing the throwing. It was apparently pretty common, appears to have been done to deflect a charge, break up a group of assailants or down a fleeing foe. It was also a common 'game' among whites, which suggests that they contemplated doing it in combat--just like target contests were to keep sharp for when it really counts...