It’s not uncommon to go on a date to an ax-throwing venue. What’s less likely is to pick up a new hobby that will take you to the world championships, but that’s what happened to New York Local 3 member Thomas Antoniello.
“The date itself didn’t pan out, but I’m glad I went,” said the journeyman wireman who works for Harrand Electric doing HVAC and communications.
A few years after getting into ax throwing, Antoniello took up knife throwing as well. He competes in both disciplines, and this year he placed first in knife duals, which is played with a partner, and third in the singles category.
“I enjoy it all, but knife throwing is more interesting,” he said. “It’s the harder of the two, which I like.”
With knives, players are aiming for a bull’s-eye the size of a bottle cap. Rounds can consist of three throws by each partner, ending with six knives on the board, sometimes with less than an inch between. It takes a lot of precision and strategy to figure where to throw, Antoniello said.
“You have to know when to play it safe, or you risk knocking one off the board,” he said. “There’s more chaos, but also more planning.”
Ax and knife throwing is another way for Antoniello to exercise his competitive streak, he said.
“When I throw by myself, I still get nervous. I don’t look at anybody; I just look at the ground,” he said. “It’s more fun with partners.”
Part of the fun for Antoniello and his throwing partner, Sebastian Arnold, is the trash talking. It’s something they’re known for as much as their skill, he said.
“It’s all in good fun — everybody knows we do it,” he said. “It makes playing against us more entertaining.”
Antoniello said he and Arnold approach each competition as if they’re playing against each other, and not the other team.
“It’s like a side game,” he said. “It helps with focus.”
The strategy paid off. At this year’s World Championship, held in Appleton, Wis., in April, Antoniello and Arnold took home the first-place prize in knife duals. They can also claim the designation of first team to ever win in the newly created category.
Out of 3,000 participants, only 128 qualified for the various classifications, and out of that, only 63 made it into all of them, including Antoniello.
Only 20 types of knives are eligible for competition, but Antoniello owns more than that — about 50 knives and roughly 30 axes. He’s become the go-to guy for friends and neighbors who need their blades sharpened.
Antoniello also does knife and ax profiling, which is shaping as well as sharpening, and he’ll craft handles out of old skateboard wood and do personalized etchings. He made an ax for his boss’s 14-year-old son, which went over very well, said Chris Fairbairn, owner of Harrand Electric.
Fairbairn said his son asked for a target so he could have his buddies over and throw axes and knives for a birthday party. Fairbairn called Antoniello for tips, and Antoniello offered to make Fairbairn’s son an ax.
“I was telling Tommy about my son’s passion for World War II history, especially the original fighter planes, and he asked me what my son’s favorite two fighter planes were. He engraved one on each side of the ax,” Fairbairn said. “I was amazed at the craftsmanship. Guaranteed you couldn’t buy a better custom ax anywhere else.”
Antoniello says people shouldn’t be afraid to try ax or knife throwing.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s not as dangerous as people think,” Antoniello said. “It’s also a good way to get your anger out.”
