Gil Hibben Competition Triple Thrower Set - Large

For the record, I've only been throwing knives for about 2 weeks. I had picked up a cheap set of 2 knives about 15 years ago, tried to throw them, failed and put them in a closet. Recently, I got back into it and built myself a big wooden target in the backyard and have figured out some degree of accuracy. But, I got tired of throwing and retrieving only 2 small knives so I ordered 2 sets of these Gil Hibben 12" knives so I would have 6 more. I especially wanted something larger than the 6" knives I'd been using.These knives are definitely bigger. They are 12" long and about 3/4 of a pound. When you hit the target they provide a very satisfying "thunk". They are well built and sturdy and easier to throw than my old, smaller pair. And in fact, after throwing these for a while and then trying my old set again, my skill had noticeably improved. After about 5 days of throwing they remain in pretty good condition. There have been a couple of nicks to the blades here and there, but these were easily remedied with a small metal file.The only complaints I have about these knives are:1. The sides of the blades were a bit sharper than I would have liked. The first time I threw them by holding the blade I cut my fingers. I have fixed this by filing down the edge of the blades, but it was a bit of a hassle to have to do that. Makers of throwing knives should know that we don't need to be able to cut through a steak with the edge of the blade. The point is the point, so to speak.2. They are a bit bigger and heavier than I really like. I think if I could get a similar knife but about 10" long it may be perfect. There is a set just like this only 8" long, but that may be a bit too small for my tastes. While I'm throwing with my right hand, I like to hold the other knives in the set in my left so I can quickly "reload". The combined weight of 5 of these knives in my left hand is just a little awkward. Not a big deal, but a personal preference.3. The sheath that comes with these knives is very nice, and appears to be made of sturdy leather, but it only holds two of the three knives. I guess if you're holding one knife and have the other two sheathed it makes sense, but as it is you're not able to hold all three knives in each set in the same sheath at the same time.These are relatively minor quibbles, though. All in all I'm very happy with these knives and they have definitely helped me improve my skill in throwing. Despite my minor complaints, I would happily recommend this set to anyone.

Update: Ignore any good things I said about these knives below ... I broke two on consecutive throws. Both of the two that broke hit poorlyu when thrown from 5 meters (two spin distance) on the edge of a hard wooden target and snapped in the exact same weak spot. Those decorative holes in the middle introduce a fundamental stress just waiting to crack.old review:The photo is a side by side of the Smith & Wesson SWTK10CP and the Hibben Competition thrower. I started throwing (5 months ago) with and now own 6 of the S&W throwers and I just bought the pricier set of Hibbens as an upgrade. The S&W knives are inexpensive enough that I didn't have any qualms about buying an extra set after deciding that I like throwing knives. But after getting just a bit more into it, decided to step up one notch. :)What do you get when you pay 60% more? 2 inches more knife is the obvious, but the handle comfort of the Hibben is far and away superior. Out of the box I threw the Hibbens with no grip issues at all. The S&W knives I had to file down the inside and outside edges after cutting my fingers, but even so, they still give me blisters when I throw by the handle.The down side of the Hibbens is that is that if you want to throw a half spin (or 1.5 or 2.5 spins , etc) the blade edge is much sharper than the S&W. Although less "pointy" than the S&W, the Hibben knives are less comfortable to hold by the tip. Maybe even a little scary although I've tested and it's not like they'll cut paper, they aren't that sharp, but still they are a bit too sharp to grab. So I may end up doing some filing the Hibbens also.A minor problem with the Hibbens is that the blade and handle are similar enough in appearance that you actually have to "look" at the blade when you are picking it up. I mean, no one is going to ever mistake the handle end of the S&W thrower for the blade end. But I did exactly that with the Hibben. And it is just edgy enough to make you flinch but not actually cut you...probably, although the stabby part could do some damage if you're really being cavalier.Some knife competitions require the knives you throw be 12 inches long, so if that matters to you these HIbbens do meet that criteria. And although they are heavier than the S&Ws, I didn't find them to be overly heavy. They have a nice solid feel to them that I like.If I had it to do over again, I'd probably still do the same thing just because of the price, but instead of buying a second set of the S&Ws. I would have stepped up and bought the Hibbens.Having 6 identical throwers is nice, mostly. Obviously you don't have to retrieve them as often , and less obviously, it's easier to develop a consistent throw. But if you are throwing 6 knives all at the same target, once you get good enough to hit the same spot, you're not going to be happy with the metal slivers and shavings the knives will give each other, which you will discover as you pull the knife out of the target. (Yes I bought a new tweezers). Nor will you enjoy the way the knives bounce off each other ruining your "score" as 6 knives attempt to cluster in on one spot. So if you do decide to get 6 knives (not a bad choice) ... first get yourself a second target, you'll thank me later. :)

Knives do feel heavy and indestructible. But, handcrafted in China. One broke in half last weekend. Not sure if that's suppose to happen :)

I don't know why these knives are priced so high and shown off so much, it's not a bad product, but they don't stand up to the elements all that well. I bought 6 knives, broke 1 after 1 year, another after 2 years, now I have 4 of them. Not saying they are complete garbage, but I've better made knives with less "show offiness"Good heavy knife for someone just learning to throw knives, can find way better throwing knives for the price they're charging.

These are really solid and heavily built knives. They are well balanced and can be thrown with success even by neophytes. However, I would recommend a lighter knife for beginners.

They have some weight to them, and are very well balanced. By far one of the best throwing knife set I purchased throughout the years.

Beaux couteaux pas tous le même poid ?

These things are awesome, for the price they are way more knife than expected. Once you figure out your distance they stick really well. Have been throwing them for over 9 hours total and they still have a decent edge.