Rotačka Throwing Star

Because knife-throwing training required long-term practice and the continuous maintenance of this skill, the ROTAČKA throwing star was designed for military needs in 1985 by Aquacentrum Praha. It was intended for units of field, deep and special reconnaissance of the ČSLA and was to serve as a means of silently eliminating the enemy. Training with the throwing star was simpler and faster than with knives.

Effective use in throwing was expected up to 7 metres. The star could also be used as a spike, or when disassembled, the individual parts could be used to make spikes for spring traps or spears. The advantages of this weapon, beyond the quick training, were its simple construction, easy maintenance and low transportation demands.

Approximately 2,500 pieces were to be produced and the price of one star was 253 Kčs.

The star consists of two rhombus-shaped arms, a bolt, a nut and pertinax washers. The arm thickness of the star is 4.5 mm. At the end of all arms the surface is roughened for easier grip and to reduce the risk of slipping during the throwing motion. This roughening exists in two variants — variant 1 roughened with dots and variant 2 roughened with transverse grooves. Before use, the arms are rotated perpendicular to each other and secured by tightening the central bolt.

Over the years, the greatest weakness proved to be the pertinax washers, which with age begin to crumble and disintegrate.

The star was supplied with a natural leather holster with a snap fastener bearing the manufacturer's name Koh-i-noor.

Copies of the Rotačka star exist. These are mostly Polish copies, but there are now several knifemakers in the Czech Republic who have also produced these stars. One even produced a run of 100 pieces sold on a Czech online weapons shop. How to identify the original:

• Surface and material — copies are often more precisely finished and shiny, while the original is rougher, made from flat bar stock.
• Holster — original holsters show signs of age, the leather is yellowed and impressed by the star.
• Markings — the snap fastener of copy holsters lacks the manufacturer's name Koh-i-noor.
• Washers — on copies they are black (different material), on originals reddish (pertinax).