You don't need to spend a lot to have a throwing knife. Twenty dollars and two hours will buy the basement-workbench craftsman a throwing weapon of substantial utility. This project doesn't really require a workbench, either.

Living in an apartment, I do most of my handiwork out on my landlady's driveway or patio. Impromptu working conditions will more than suffice for the purposes of this endeavor.

Step #1: Purchase a large, hunting bowie (see photograph #1) from the Smoky Mountain Knife Works (http://www.smkwknife.com/), the Sportsman's Guide (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/catalog/), the Edge Company (http://www.edgeco.com/cgi-bin/catalog) or from any number of other cutlery catalogs available. These bowies distinguish themselves in two ways. One, they cost less than twenty dollars per item. Two, they're produced in Pakistan (hence the price).

Step #2: Remove the bowie's scales, pins and hand guard, and mill, cut or file off the knife's pommel notch (see photograph #2).

Step #3: At this point, you have two choices. For all intents and purposes, the knife is finished. You can wrap electrical tape around the handle area and begin throwing or, to produce an item that is both functional AND pleasing:

1. Purchase one or two pieces of quarter-inch sole leather from a shoe-repair outlet.
2. Purchase some rivets--or other, similar fastening devices--from a hardware store.
3. Trace the shape of the knife's tang onto the rough side of one of the leather pieces. Do this once for each side of the knife.
4. Cut, whittle, grind and sand the leather down to the tang's outline.
5. Using the existing rivet holes in the knife's tang as a guide, drill matching holes in the shaped leather pieces.
6. Fasten the leather pieces to the knife with the rivets you purchased.
7. Dye the leather handle scales...should you feel so inclined. The final result should resemble mine (see photograph #3).

Contact Larry at: madinmd@hotmail.com .