EQUIPMENT STANDARDS

A. General Standards

1. Each thrower has the final responsibility for the proper care and safe use of their weapons,  and for knowing and following the thrown-weapon rules.
2. A thrower shall not knowingly use unsafe equipment.
3. If a thrower is unsure of the safety of their equipment, they shall request the assistance of a  Thrown-Weapons Marshal in inspecting their equipment.
4. The Thrown-Weapons Marshal assisting in the inspection shall make a reasonable attempt to  locate any unsafe conditions or violations of Kingdom rules and inform the thrower of what is  found and how to correct it.
5. The inspection by the Thrown-Weapons Marshal may not find all equipment faults and is  conducted as a service to all the throwers on the line. It does not remove the throwers’ primary  responsibility for the safe condition of their own equipment.
6. Any equipment observed by a Thrown-Weapons Marshal to be unsafe shall not be used until  it is made safe and re-inspected by a Thrown-Weapons Marshal.
7. Equipment and safety standards vary greatly depending upon the type of thrown weapon and  the techniques that are used to throw the weapon. All inspections and decisions should be  made with the following considerations:

a) How will the user be throwing the weapon? For example, will a knife be thrown by the  handle or the blade?  
b) Is the weapon designed to be thrown?  
c) Is the weapon sturdy enough to be thrown?  
d) How sharp is the blade?  
e) How balanced is the weapon? If the weapon is so unbalanced that it would be  awkward to swing, the thrower should demonstrate that it can be thrown safely.  
f) Is the weapon either excessively light or heavy in weight?
g) Is the weapon either excessively short or long?  
h) Is the handle or shaft taped? Tape is not an acceptable fix for a handle with a major  crack. If the handle or other parts of the weapon cannot be inspected due to tape or  other coverings, even if used solely for grip purposes, it should be failed.

 

B. Knives  
1. Throwing knives should be of a size and weight that allows them to be thrown safely and  easily.  
2. The handle of the knife (if any) should be firmly attached.  
3. The throwing surface should be free of burrs or protrusions that can cut or injure an  unprotected hand upon release.  
4. The weapon’s edge must be dull enough not to cut the hand if it is thrown by the blade.

C. Axes  
1. Axes should be of a size and weight that allows them to be thrown safely and easily.  2. The handles of all axes should be firmly attached.
3. Some axes are designed to allow the head to slide up a tapered handle and pressure-fit on.  The heads will come off if they are pushed toward the butt of the handle. When the axe is used,  the head is forced into place and seats tightly. The inspecting marshal should ensure that the  head does indeed seat tightly and will not slip over the taper.
4. The haft cannot have any major cracks.  
5. The haft cannot have any burrs or rough surfaces that can cut or give splinters to an  unprotected hand upon release. 
 
D. Spears  
1. Spears may not be excessively long or heavy.  
2. Spearheads must be firmly attached to the shaft of the spear.  
3. The shaft must be sound and without major cracks.  
4. The shaft cannot have any burrs or rough surfaces that can cut or give splinters to an  unprotected hand upon release.  
The following items may only be used with the Thrown-Weapons Marshal’s permission and if  the range has been set up to allow for their use: 
E. Plumbata (Roman Throwing Darts)  
1. Plumbata should not be overly long (usually under 24”)  
2. Tips and weights should be firmly affixed to the shaft of the plumbata.  
3. The shaft should be smooth enough not to give splinters to an unprotected hand upon  release.

 
F. Slings  
1. Slings shall be of any natural material. These include leather, cloth or woven fibers.  
2. Slings must have a restraining method for the hand, such that the sling cannot fly out of the  hand. A loop that goes around a finger or wrist is best. A disc or toggle that is held in the hand is  also allowed. 
3. Slings must not have any rips, tears or fraying in the material.  
4. Payload to be thrown with a sling should be of “soft” material. Cloth balls stuffed with rags,  and bean bags are examples of “soft” payloads. These may be thrown at normal thrown  weapons distances using normal safety zones. 

G. Specialized Thrown Weapons  
1. Specialized throwing weapons are any weapons that have been designed with more than one  impact surface to increase the chances of the weapon sticking in the target. Because they come  in a variety of shapes and sizes, they must be judged for safety by the Thrown-Weapons Marshal  on an individual basis.

II. RANGE SAFETY

A. Range Set-Up  
1. Safety is of primary importance. The range will be identifiable at all times. Rope, tape, poles,  etc., may be used to mark off the range and the safety area.
2. The throwing line is the closest position from which a throw can be made.
3. A hard target is any target made of materials that provides a solid resistance. This includes,  but is not limited to logs, plywood, etc.
4. Hard targets for knives and axes should be at least 10 feet away from the throwing line (down range).  
5. Hard targets for spears should be at least 20 feet away from the throwing line (down range). 
6. Soft targets for spears should be at least 10 feet away from the throwing line. A soft target is  any target made of materials that do not provide solid resistance. This includes, but is not  limited to, hay bales, Styrofoam, etc.
7. The minimum distance for plumbatas is 30 feet.
8. The minimum distance for slings is 20 feet.
9. A six-foot separation (on center) for targets is minimum.  
10. Ten feet is required between the outer targets and the safety ropes.  
11. The entry to the range area is to be at the back of the side of the range (not coming in  behind the throwers) and preferably on the side where the marshal can see it best.  
12. There will be at least 15’ behind the longest throwing distance. If throwers are going to be  allowed to throw from the 20’- 30’ distance, the back of the range should be at least 45’ from  the targets. 
13. There will be at least 40’ behind the targets for overthrow. 

B. Range Procedures and Commands  
1. The Thrown-Weapons Marshal will call the throwers to the line.  
2. The Thrown-Weapons Marshal will look to see that all is clear down range.  
3. The Thrown-Weapons Marshal will look to see that nobody is directly behind the throwers, in  the path of the swing, or in the arc traversed by the swing.  
4. The Thrown-Weapons Marshal will call out "range clear" or the equivalent, and wait  momentarily for any responses given.  
5. If all is clear, then the order "throw when ready" or the equivalent will be given.  
6. When finished, the throwers are to put down any weapons in hand, step back from the line  and wait until the order to retrieve is given.  
7. When all throwers are finished, the Thrown-Weapons Marshal will call "weapons down" or  the equivalent and wait for compliance.  
8. When all weapons are down, then the Thrown-Weapons Marshal will give the command,  "retrieve weapons" or the equivalent.

Range commands (along the lines of): 
“Clear down range” 
“Clear behind” 
“The line is clear” 
“You may throw when ready” 
“All weapons expended – weapons down” 
“You may retrieve” 
“HOLD”

The hold command means just that; to immediately stop all action and lay your weapons  down. Failure to respond to a hold is grounds to ban a person from the range. A hold  may be called by anyone when they see a problem and will be immediately obeyed. The  marshal running the line will then correct the problem and then, and only then, allow  throwing to resume. Only the marshal can release the hold.

C. Rules of the Line 
1. Side-arm throwing of weapons requires an adequate safe zone and the Marshal-in-Charge’s  permission.  
2. Throwers must ask the Thrown-Weapons Marshal for permission before filling in on the line.  
3. All throwers on the line must throw from approximately the same distance at designated  targets.  
If individuals wish to throw from different distances, use the following guidelines: a. Have everyone on the line move to the farthest distance. 
b. When the range is called, allow the thrower(s) who wish to throw at that distance  throw at their leisure. 
c. When done, have all of the throwers on the line move forward to the next position. d. Have throwers throw their next volley. 
e. Continue this pattern until everyone is done. 
4. Do not throw until commanded to do so.  
5. Do not retrieve until commanded to do so.  
6. If "hold" is called, the throwers should put down their weapon(s) and step back from the line.

7. The throwers should step aside or back once they have completed throwing.

8. Do not throw weapons that have not been inspected.  
9. Any weapon that strikes or is struck by another weapon should be inspected by the thrower  after each round of throwing.  
10. Do not stand or walk behind throwers on the line.  
11. Never throw a weapon when anyone is down range. 
12. Throwers should always be aware of what may be in the path of their weapons when they are swung and/or thrown. 
13. Just before each throw, look behind to ensure that it is clear. Do not swing weapons  aimlessly or in a careless manner.  
14. To avoid damage to weapons, Thrown-Weapons Marshals will allow any target stick to be  scored and retrieved before throwing another weapon. The thrower must wait until weapons  are retrieved and notify the marshal that a partial score for the round is needed and how many 
weapons remain to be thrown. If a thrower does not wish to retrieve and a second weapon is  thrown and knocks the first weapon out before scoring, the first score does not count. 
Other throwers who have retrieved all of their weapons must step back from the line, place  weapons down and wait until all other throwers have thrown the allotted number of weapons for that round. Follow the instructions of the Thrown-Weapons Marshal to either start another  round or to leave the range.  
15. No bare feet are allowed on the thrown weapon range.  
16. The front foot of the thrower must be either behind or touching the line at release for that  distance to be scored. Throwers may not step beyond the line at any time when throwing.  
17. Do not throw at a target containing other people’s weapons without their express  permission. 
18. Remove only your weapon from the target unless you have express permission to remove  someone else’s. 
19. Stay alert. Weapons can and will bounce back from the target if mis-thrown. 
20. Be aware of sharp points and edges of weapons when handling and/or removing weapons  from target. 
21. Remove weapons by “worrying” them out. DO NOT YANK THEM OUT. 
22. When a weapon breaks or just touches a dividing line between two scoring zones on a  target, it should be scored in the thrower’s favor.  
23. At the discretion of the Thrown-Weapons Marshal, throwers are allowed to change weapons  within a given competition (i.e. – axe style 1 at short distance, and axe style 2 at longer  distance.)  
24. At the discretion of the Thrown-Weapons Marshal, throwers may throw multiple weapons  at the same time, either from one hand, or one in each hand.