Hawk & Knife
Hawk and Knife is range sport that consists of throwing a tomahawk and throwing knives a short distance and sticking the blade into wood, often times with a particular target that you are trying to hit. The Hawk and Knife ranges are open and available for competition during our monthly shoot weekends (first Saturday of each month) as well as during specially designated times during the Alafia River Rendezvous each January.
Equipment Requirements
Tomahawk shall have no more than a four inch overall blade width and shall have a wooden handle.
Knife shall be of a design typical for throwing (no kitchen utensils). Max width of knife blade 2.5 in. Overall length of knife shall not exceed 16 in. and handle shall not exceed one third of the overall length. No machete styles allowed. The knife must have a handle, leather slabs preferred, no straight metal devices.
If you are interested in learning to throw a tomahawk and throwing knife but don’t have equipment, we can provide you one to try!
History
In the May 1987 Florida Frontiersmen monthly newsletter, it was reported that club member Bob Klaus made a motion that was seconded by Dave Sipes to hold monthly competitive Hawk and Knife matches with ribbons and medals to be awarded. The motion passed without dissent, and Bob was to head up the matches.
By 1990, Pete and Polly Arragon ran the Hawk and Knife events at the monthly meetings and at the Alafia at Charley Knight’s ranch. This event was growing and was extremely popular. At the monthly shoots, an unofficial, fun, nighttime throw by candlelight was added, and bragging rights were the only reward.
Steve and Jean Knight were the next to take over Hawk and Knife. At the Alafia, a dedicated range area was added with multiple hawk blocks as the match was growing more popular. They were well known for their unusual targets and competitions. Jean also added an afternoon session just for children to learn to throw a knife and hawk and to participate in a junior age competition. Steve and Jean continued to be range officers after the 2001 move to Homeland until Val and Tony Galantino took over the event at the Alafia. The Hawk and Knife competitions were held near the front stockade for a few years, until a permanent range was added next to the Gun Ranges in 2005.
Additional Hawk and Knife Chiefs were: Jim Lee and Sons with Piper Bob – 2009–2012; Jim Lee and Sons with Terry Harris – 2013; and John Henderson – 2014–2018
In 2019, BJ and Darcie Neeson began the new era of Hawk and Knife at both the monthly shoots and at the Alafia River Rendezvous. At the Alafia, the 3–day event has over one 100 people competing each day. The Neesons have added many improvements to the range that include more blocks, a roof over the throwing area, a practice wall, as well as fun and challenging targets.
The Steve Knight Memorial Throw was added to the Alafia roster of Hawk and Knife events by Jean Knight in 2018. Jean and Larry Clark host this event on the first Monday of the Rendezvous. It is a wonderful way to warm up for the Alafia’s 3–day Hawk and Knife competition.