I think one of the first things that pops into our heads when we hear someone lashing a knife onto the end of a stick for a spear is that they are going to chuck it hundreds of feet and take out a buffalo or some such thing. In reality you'd be crazy to try something like that.

When you affix something like the ratweiler or other large knife you place too much weight forward. Most true spear and arrow points that primitive peoples use are small in size. The reason is that they are easy to throw or shoot and don't alter the flight of the spear or arrow dramaticaly.

If I had to lash my knife to use as a spear it wouldn't be for throwing. Rather I have always envisioned it to extend my reach. For example if I were to trap a rather large or dangerous game animal I'd rather lash my knife to the end of a 6 or eight foot branch and dispatch it from a safer distance by jabbing and stabbing.

Spear throwing requires practice and experience to make it successful. I've never really tried to do it with any seriouseness and I probably never will. I don't have the strength in my arms to make the spear fly with any respectable distance.

Another thing to consider is that it might be dangerous to carry a sharpened spear with you. If the ground you're traversing is diffucult the risk of injuring yourself on a sharpened stick might be too great. You may be better off with a 6 foot stick that's rounded on the end to reduce the rish of injury. Then it's a simple matter of lashing the knife when its time to hunt. It literally took me a minute to affix the Ratweiler to the stick, 4 minutes with the Yard Guard, and I spent 10 minutes with the RD-7.

To be honest if I were to be placed in some survival situation that forced me to rely on primitive weapons to acquire food and protection I'd fashion a bow to dispatch game. Then if necessary affix my knife on the end of a stick to stab them from a distance.