Perfect Point Stainless Throwing Star Review

A throwing star was originally known as a shuriken.  This word translates literally to hidden hand blade. The west recognizes shuriken as throwing stars and sometimes ninja stars. The throwing star is a Japanese concealed weapon that was used as a hidden dagger to distract or misdirect.

Originally, the shuriken came in a variety of forms; some were manufactured but others were improvised out of tools when needed. One of the characteristics that the two separate forms of these stars were that the edges of the shuriken were sharpened, so that they could be sued to penetrate skin and even open arteries.

These stars were normally only used as a supplementary weapon to the sword or other go-to weapon. Even though these tools were known to be the back-up weapon, they often played an important role in battle. These tools were known to be used as a nuisance and even sometimes a distraction. The aim was to get them to the more exposed parts of the body: the eyes, face, hands, or feet. One myth that was believed when these were first being originally used was that the opponent had been cut by an invisible swordsman. This was because the star could be thrown in a way that slashed the opponent in a glancing blow before traveling on or becoming lost. Plus, these stars could be used as a handheld weapon when fighting in close combat.

Another common way to use these stars would be to embed them in the ground, which would then injure the advancing enemy. These stars are simple to throw, so adventurous users would wrap them in fuses before lighting them and throwing them. This allowed the star to travel further and more easily before catching the surroundings on fire. Another way these stars were used for convenience, instead of using the sharp edges, was to wrap them in a cloth that was soaked in poison, then lighting the cloth and throwing it. The technique would be to cover a large area in a cloud of poisonous smoke.

Some attackers would even coat their stars with poison and left in an obvious place to be picked up. whoever picked up the star would be poisoned and die. A sneaky way to use this tool was to bury it in dirt or animal feces, which allowed it to pick up plenty of disease or bacteria. Then, when someone would step on it, or pierce themselves with it, the bacteria would be transferred into the wound and they would die later on because of tetanus infection.

Although these tools are simple weapons, they have been used for a variety of purposes and have significant historical value.

Today, modern throwing stars are most often made of stainless steel and are commercially available in many knife shops in Europe and North America. They are illegal to own or carry in many countries and in the United States, certain states do prohibit them. This means that it is your responsibility, as the user, to know your local knife laws before purchasing this tool. BladeOps does not take responsibility for consequences.

This Perfect Point Throwing Star is a hira-shuriken, which is the style of throwing star that most people think of. This style of throwing star are constructed from thin, flat plates of metal. In the more traditional days, these were also made form things like coins, carpentry tools, spool, and even nail removers.

This style of throwing star does have a hole in the center and possess a fairly thin blade that has been sharpened mainly at the tip. The characteristic hole is because when they used to be made from old coins and washers, the tool already had the hole. However, it did prove to be convenient for the user because the weapons could then be strung on a string or dowel in the belt for transport, and the hole also had aerodynamic and weighting effects that aided the flight of the blade.

There are plenty of forms of hira-shuriken today and they are now usually identified by the number of points the blade possesses. This specific throwing knife has six sharpened points. This is the Perfect Point 90-16 Stainless Throwing Star with a satin finish.

The Blades:

The entire star is made out of stainless steel. Although there is a wide variety of steels used across the cutlery industry, most of them can be reduced into two classifications. You either have a stainless steel or a high carbon steel. Because this star is made out of stainless, we will be going over the pros and cons to having a stainless steel. For starters, a stainless steel has to have a minimum of 10.5% chromium content by mass, although most do have around 12%. The high chromium content helps the blade resist rusting and corroding and staining, which is where this category of steel got its name. The high chromium content is also what differentiates the stainless steels from the high carbon steels. Unprotected carbon steels rusts readily when exposed to the combination of air and moisture. Stainless steels contain sufficient chromium to undergo passivation, spontaneously forming a microscopically thin surface film by reacting with the oxygen air. This passive film prevents further corrosion by blocking oxygen diffusion to the steel surface, which prevents corrosion from spreading into the bulk of the metal. However, because stainless steel has a higher chromium content, the blade is going to be softer than a high carbon star would be. The softness means that sharpening will be much easier than a high carbon knife, but it also means that they are going to lose their edge more quickly than the harder, high carbon blades.

Another benefit of the stainless steels is that they are tougher than a high carbon blades. This means that the blades will not rust or chip easily. That in mind, just because a stainless steel is less prone to rusting, it can rust, so you will need to make sure that your star is dry before putting it in its sheath. And lastly, stainless steels look good for a very long time. Maintenance is easier with a stainless steel blade, so you can just focus on using it, instead of worrying about keeping it sharp.

The star has been finished satin. This finish involves sanding the blade in one direction with increasing degrees of a fine abrasive, which is usually a fine sandpaper. A satin finish shows the bevels of the blade, showcasing the liens of the knife, while reducing its reflective glare. The finer the abrasive and the more even the lines; the cleaner the satin finish blade looks. A nice satin finish does take time, which means that it will increase the cost of the knife. This finish is the most popular finish that you are going to find in the cutlery industry and gives you a very classic look. The classic look is ideal for a throwing star that has such a rich history. You also know that your throwing star is not going to go out of style.

Each of the six points on this throwing star has been carved into dagger blade shapes. The dagger point blade style is all about the point. This style of blade is a double-edge blade whose main and absolute purpose is about stabbing. Each of the points is composed of 2 symmetrical sharpened blades that taper to a very thin sharp point, which pierces easily into soft targets. The two sharp edges reduce the profile of the knife and let it cut in on both sides equally. These characteristics are what make it a great option for self-defense, even if you are in close combat situations. These six points are going to sustain a lot of damage when used properly. Unfortunately, the points are weaker because of how fine and sharp they are, so if this star is used on hard targets, they are prone to breaking.

Of course, in the middle of the star is a round hole. Surrounding the hole there are small characters that add history and aesthetic to the throwing star.

 

The Specs:

The overall diameter of this throwing star is 4 inches. The overall thickness of the throwing star is 0.04 inches. This knife weighs in at 2.5 ounces, with a sheath that weighs in at 1.9 ounces.

 

The Sheath:

The sheath that comes with this throwing star is made out of nylon. A nylon sheath is a sheath material that is commonly used when it comes to knife sheaths. Nylon sheaths are often compared to leather sheaths, because those are two of the most used materials. Just like leather, nylon sheaths are going to be tough and strong. Unlike leather, nylon sheaths are resistant to rot and mildew. Because of this, and because of how the fibers are arranged, they are also not as vulnerable to water as leather sheaths. Because of these few characteristics, they make for an excellent sheath if you are going to be in a humid environment or near water often. Plus, nylon sheaths are not going to be easily scuffed or torn, which means that they are going to be durable and great for long-term use. Unfortunately, nylon sheaths do have their drawbacks. This sheath is not going to last as long as a leather sheath would and it does tend to lose its shape over time. This means that while the sheath will always function, the throwing star is not going to fit as snugly inside of it after time and use. Nylon also proves to be one of the least expensive sheath options that you can get with. There are actually a large variety of different types of nylon sheaths made in various ways, so reviewing the sheath in higher depth proves to be complicated.

 

The Pros of the Perfect Point Throwing Star:

• The throwing star can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
• This is a very lightweight tool.
• The stainless steel is easy to sharpen.
• The stainless steel is hard to rust or corrode.
• The stainless steel is very tough.
• The satin finish cuts down on reflections and glares.
• The satin finish gives a very traditional look to the throwing star.
• Extremely sharp dagger style-points.
• Nylon sheath is durable and not prone to being scuffed or torn.
• The nylon sheath is lightweight.
• The nylon sheath remains intact and not rotting when subjected to humidity or water.
• Nylon sheaths are very tough.
• The nylon sheath is inexpensive, which does keep the cost of the overall star down.

 

The Cons of the Perfect Point Throwing Star:

• The throwing star is mainly used as a backup weapon, or an entertainment tool. Other than that, it does not serve a wide variety of purposes.
• Because of the quality of the stainless steel, you will have to sharpen the blade more often.
• The points may break off if subjected to tough pokes.
• The nylon sheath does have the tendency to lose its shape over time.

 

Conclusion:

Perfect Point offers a vast array of products–from tactical knives to throwing knives, swords, novelty items and seemingly everything in between. With an emphasis on providing the best quality product at a competitive price point, Perfect Point is slowly making a name for itself throughout the industry. Each model boasts impressive balance and appropriate contouring for a secure hold to allow for an effective throw. This model features a 6-pointed body in a satin finish and the black button-snap nylon sheath offers a convenient belt carry option. The stainless steel body and points will be durable, not prone to staining or rusting, and live a very long life. The points are extremely sharp, which means that they will be able to inflict plenty of damage when used correctly. However, it also means that the points on this star may break off if used to pierce through hard and tough materials. Pick up the Perfect Point throwing star at BladeOps.