HOW TO WRAP A COLD STEEL TRUE FLIGHT THROWER WITH PARACORD!
I wrote this web page because I purchased a few throwing knives and wanted a better paracord wrap on the handle. After searching the internet for quite some time, I found that there isn't a really good web page with graphics for this technique. So I came up with my own wrapping technique and decided to post it here. Several people have sent me e-mails since I posted this page with suggestions such as soaking the paracord in water before wrapping, but I've found that this really isn't necessary.

Here's a great way to wrap some throwing knives with paracord. This may only work with certain brands of knives because of the hole placement in the handles. I recently bought a pair of 'Cold Steel True Flight Throwers' which came factory wrapped with olive drab paracord. I love paracord because it's cheap, strong, mildew resistant, stretchable and cheap. The only problem with these knives is the way they were wrapped. The cords on these knives were simply tied in an overhand knot. The knot on the bottom makes it hard to throw and the knots look very non-professional. I've searched the web high and low, and haven't been able to find a good way to wrap this knife with paracord. After trial and error, I've come up with a simple and effective way to wrap the knife and eliminate both knots! I've tried to carefully outline each step with a photo and detailed description to help you copy this technique. It makes a great paracord handle that, so far, is tight and won't come undone. Good luck and let me know of any suggestions you may have!
(Send suggestions and paracord wrap variations to cchardwick@yahoo.com)
Here's the factory wrap (top) and my custom wrap (bottom):


Here's a closer view. The factory wrap has two ugly knots. The bottom factory knot is rather uncomfortable when throwing. My custom wrap allows for a good, reliable grip:


First, cut off one of the factory tied knots:


Then unwrap the factory paracord:


Until you are down to the bare metal:


Now take new paracord, with an end melted off, and put it through the second rear-most hole. Put the end of the cord in the middle of the handle of the knife. I like black paracord since it matches the finish on the knife:


When you wrap, be sure you don't twist the paracord or it won't sit flat on the knife. This paracord is twisted and should be taken off, untwisted and re-wrapped:


Pull the paracord as tight as you can. Every wrap or two, push the cord together as tight as you can. If you know of someone with stronger hands, have them wrap the cord. The tigher the wrap, the better the end product:


Use both hands to tighten the cord from side to side and top to bottom as you go. I find that it's better to tighten from top to bottom more often (as shown in the photo below). If you have three or four wraps before tightening top to bottom, it may be difficult to get them close because they don't slide on the knife very easily:


Wrap over the end of the cord that is under the wrap. Be sure the cord under the wrap is in the middle of the knife (from side to side) as you wrap around it. Also be sure that the end has been melted and that there is a slight melted 'pea' on the end. This will help to hold it secure and keep it from coming undone:


Keep wrapping very tightly all the way to the top of the handle:


Leave about 8 inches of slack in the cord and cut it with a knife. Burn / melt the end to keep it from fraying. I use a Brunton Helios lighter which gives a torch like flame and is perfect for melting paracord (not too good for lighting fires though):


Wait until the end has cooled - Don't burn yourself! After it's cool, put the end through the hole:


Here I didn't quite have enough slack on the end. A few more inches would have made the next few steps a little easier:

Make sure you have enough wrap on the handle so that it looks wrapped full but not too full:


Now loosen what you just tightened, all the way back to the cord under the wrap. If you went through to the opposite side of the handle (no cord under wrap), you can go to about half way down the handle. Put the end of the cord under the loose wrap:


Now, organize the wrap so you don't have it overlapped:


Then pull the extra slack to the top of the handle and work it around the wrap until you have a loop at the lowest end of the 'loose' part of the wrap.

Here comes the hard work again. Wrap as tight as you can and every wrap or so, pull the cords together to get a nice tight wrap. If you wrapped good the first time you should have enough cord to get a good wrap and it shouldn't be twisted:


Keep wrapping very tight all the way to the top:


Then pull the slack out of the cord to the middle (pull tight!):


Then cut the cord with a knife. Leave enough that can be heat sealed:


You should have just a little fuzz ball of cord sticking up:


Next, put a butter knife above the fuzz ball to keep the flame from touching the wrapped cord and melt the fuzz ball with a lighter. Keep most of the flame on the butter knife and away from the wrapping or you will melt the whole mess. You can put the knife on the other side and melt from both / different angles:


After the end is cooled, use a butter knife to tuck the end under the wrapping. This can be a bit tricky so have patience, and try not to cut yourself with the thrower! It may be a good idea to put a towel around the sharp end for this step:


Be sure to use a butter knife without the serrated edge so you don't cut your paracord. Try to tuck the end under the wrap that will make the undertucked cord stretch out as much as possible:


There you have it! A perfect, tight wrap for your throwing pleasure!:





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Site Posted on September 7, 2004
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