The year was 1976, America’s Bicentennial. Two hundred years of American history. A sense of hope and expectancy was in the air.

And to celebrate, Harry McEvoy designed Model No. 76, the Tru-Bal Throwing Dirk.

This knife is perfectly balanced so it can be throw equally well from the handle or the blade. The knife is symmetrical, and it flares out gently at the hilt, as if the knife had sprouted wings to guide it to its target.

Look at the knife closely and you might imagine a medieval thief with a pair of Throwing Dirks concealed under his leather gauntlets, ready for a bar fight or any other kind of criminal mischief.

Like all Tru-Bal knives the Throwing Dirk is handmade of super-tough, specially tempered spring steel for a lifetime of rugged use.

It is 13 1/2″ overall in length, 2″ wide, 3/16″ thick and it weighs 15 ounces — the same weight as the Bowie-Axe throwing knife.

Includes a heavy, handcrafted leather sheath and complete instructions for throwing.

This knife is brand new from the factory. It is handmade by Stephen D. McEvoy, son of the founder of the Tru-Balance Knife Company, Harry K. McEvoy.

Catalog Description (from when I bought it in the early 1980′s) :

Model 76 THROWING DIRK was designed by Harry McEvoy in honor of America’s Bicentennial. Like all Tru-Bal knives it is handmade of super-tough, specially tempered spring steel for a lifetime of rugged use. Thrown equally well by handle OR blade, it comes with heavy, handcrafted leather sheath and complete instructions for throwing. This is a true professional throwing knife — a real collector’s item you will be proud to own and throw! It is 13 1/2″ overall in length, 2″ wide, 3/16″ thick and it weighs 15 ounes — same weight as the Bowie-Axe throwing knife.