Throwing Knives

Throwing knives and tomahawks were used in war and in hunting for food.

Native American used instruments such as throwing knives to fight in their battles.  When Europeans arrived, the Native American Indians tried unsuccessfully, to use these throwing knives against the Europeans invasion into their territory. Warfare was not just a physical experience for the Native American tribes but also viewed as a spiritual experience. The killing of an enemy warrior was considered to be the least important part of battle. When Native American Indians fought with enemy Indian tribes their favorite weapons were throwing knives or tomahawks.

Some of the Indian fighting styles can be thought of today as forms of guerrilla warfare. For years, Fighting between the Europeans and Indians which took place over decades were in the end devastating for the Native Americans. The use of  throwing knives was thought to be especially cruel by Europeans and other’s that fought the Indians.

When horses were introduced to the Native American Indians, they became excellent mounted warriors. The introduction of the horse had a big impact on Native American cultures in the Great Plains of North America and was important to the skill of throwing knives. This new mode of transportation made it possible for some tribes to greatly expand their territories. The United States military fought with the Native American tribes which helped the US learn about the fighting skills of the tribes.

War chiefs were usually chosen to lead war parties because they had proven themselves in prior conflicts. Native American Indian's weapons of war not only included throwing knives but included clubs, hatchets, bows and arrows, lances, and sticks. Later they would become marksmen with guns. War parties used the element of surprise as one of their main weapons, as well as a concentrated force. If by chance they were outnumbered, retreating was not a dishonor. Retreat was a strategic move, often used to trick the enemy. Native American Indian warriors also made every attempt to remove their wounded from the field of battle and to recover their dead. The enemy dead were sometimes buried or left in the fields for the enemy to claim.