Thrown Weapons

Thrown Weapons
Thrown Weapons Marshal badge
Also known as
Crazy Throwers
Focus
Weaponry
Hardness
Non-contact
Related arts
Archery, siegecraft
Associated awards
The Order of the Yew Bow The Order of the King's Missiliers
Website
[1]

Thrown Weapons

Thrown Weapons is a martial activity within the SCA that uses human muscle power to hurl dangerous things at hapless, unsuspecting targets.

The administrative website for Atlantian Thrown Weapons can be found at http://thrown-weapons.atlantia.sca.org/ New and old marshals use this page to input their information, event reports, classes, etc.

Equipment

Thrown Weapons in the SCA for many years has consisted of axe, knife, and spear. In the past few years, slings and Roman plumbata have been added to the thrown weapons ranges in Atlantia.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

General Equipment Standards

Each thrower has the final responsibility for the proper care and safe use of their weapons, and for knowing and following their Kingdom’s thrown-weapon rules. A thrower shall not knowingly use unsafe equipment. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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:

• How will the user be throwing the weapon? For example, will a knife be thrown by the handle or the blade?
• Is the weapon designed to be thrown?
• Is the weapon sturdy enough to be thrown?
• How sharp is the blade?
• 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.

• Is the weapon either excessively light or heavy in weight?
• Is the weapon either excessively short or long?
• Is the handle taped? If a weapons handle has been taped or reinforced, it must have been done for a reason. Ask the owner about it. Give it extra attention; make sure that it is structurally sound and safe. Duct tape is not an acceptable fix for a handle with a major crack. If it cannot be inspected due to coverings, it should be failed.

Axes

Must be an axe, hatchet, tomahawk, or other type of chopping implement. May be made of metal and wood or all metal. Must be safe to hold, throw, and remove from the target.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

Axes should be of a size and weight that allows them to be thrown safely and easily. The handles of all axes should be firmly attached. 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. The haft cannot have any major cracks. The haft cannot have any burrs or rough surfaces that can cut or give splinters to an unprotected hand upon release.

Knives

Knife rules in Atlantia are pretty simple. We do not require people to wear gloves when they throw the knife by the point.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

Throwing knives should be of a size and weight that allows them to be thrown safely and easily. The handle of the knife should be firmly attached. The throwing surface should be free of burrs or protrusions that can cut or injure an unprotected hand upon release

Spears

Spears are long wooden shafts that may or may not have a metal spear point.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

Spears may not be excessively long or heavy. Spearheads must be firmly attached to the shaft of the spear. The shaft cannot have any burrs or rough surfaces that can cut or give splinters to an unprotected hand upon release. The shaft must be sound and without major cracks

Slings

Slings must be made of a period material. No paracord, no nylon or polyester materials. Sling ammo must be soft/compressible, not hard/rigid.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

Slings shall be of any natural material. These include leather, cloth or woven fibers. The 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. Slings must not have any rips, tears or fraying in the material. 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.

Plumbata

Plumbatae are short, weighted throwing darts that Roman soldiers used in combat. In Atlantia we do not allow a free-swinging, fingertip grip to throw the plumbata.

From the THROWN WEAPONS MARSHAL’S HANDBOOK:

Plumbata are Roman Throwing Darts. Plumbata should not be overly long (usually under 24”). Tips and weights should be firmly affixed to the shaft of the plumbata. The shaft should be smooth enough not to give splinters to an unprotected hand upon release

Ranges

Thrown weapons ranges are measured in feet, not yards. A thrown weapons range has a target or a line of targets for people to throw at. There may be special targets set up for special throws within the parameter fence. Thrown weapons ranges have the special property of having a large area that the throwers can position themselves in different parts of that area to throw.

Targets

Tagets are usually made of wood, but this is not a requirement. The requirement is that they do not damage the weapons thrown at them and they don't create additional safety issues. Wooden targets must have their legs attached, not friction fit in place.

More target and stand ideas can be found at Thrown Weapons Target and Stand ideas

Ranks

Royal Round Ranks

Thrown Weapons are still in the process of creating ranks for our throwers.

Competitions

Tourneys

Many events have TW tourneys. They vary widely and are usually huge fun.

Night Throw

A night throw is an after-dark event involving illuminated targets. Glow sticks are frequently used with excellent results.

Night throw ready to go at Pennsic is 2018.

Novelty throw

A novelty throw is a non-standard throw that may involve creative and unusual challenges or targets.

Fish shaped knives, throwing a big pile of knives at one target, and Spearing an eggplant are some of the many novelty throws that have been done in Atlantia.

Royal Rounds

Royal Rounds are different for some of the thrown weapons forms. Go to the Royal Round page for full information. [2]

Thrown Weapons Royal Champion

The Thrown Weapons Champion is a new competition for Atlantia's Throwers. Atlantia has had TW champions before, but we are currently trying to create a tradition of having the last royal champion create the tourney for the next year.

External Links

• SCA Thrown Weapons Handbook page: [3]
• SCA "Welcome to Archery and Thrown Weapons" page: [4]
• Atlantian Thrown Weapons official page: [5]
• American Knife Throwers Alliance: [6]