Just get some chinese stars man. That's what I'd use. You see, swords don't have range really, you can throw them but they are not designed for that (they weight alot and are big).
The problem with things like knives and swords, if you throw them, you could wind up striking your assailant with the handle, not the edge part. The handle is probably round and made of plastic or wood, meant for fitting in your hand to grab the weapon, won't do much damage. If you throw something like that which might spin around in the air, the heavy end (which is generally the blade) might not wind up hitting them.
You'd have to buy special knives and train to use them right, takes skill.
With chinese stars however, they usually have at least 4 "spikes" protruding from them (a small circular inside with triangles coming out, like sharks teeth so to speak). There's no way you couldn't hit them with a sharp edge because they are too long.
On top of that, there's no law against carrying them around, or age limit! I don't think you need a concealed weapons permit for a knife unless it is over 8 inches long (but you can legally carry it at your side in the open if it is inside of a sheath). And even if you were "caught", you wouldn't get in nearly as much trouble as having a gun.
Bad part is, if you are carrying them wrong positioned towards your body, you could slip, fall, and kill youself (accidents Joeman) - which is why it is necessary to carry them properly. Also, you can cut your finger if you don't throw them right.
Only other thing is, they are not very effective in extreme CQB (like if someone's skin is inches from your body). You'd have to stab someone at that range because I don't see how you could throw something (and get any good momentum anyway). And there is nothing to hold the stars by where you could stab someone else without slicing through your own hand.
But somehow I don't think you'd be very successful pulling out a 4 foot sword and throwing it as someone 50 feet away from you