Thrown Weapons Target and Stand ideas

Thrown Weapons Target and Stand Ideas

Here is a place to share target and stand ideas. Maybe we can add tourney and event ideas later. It's all good. Please share your experiences.

Types of Targets

Wood is used for the majority of thrown weapons targets, especially the axe and knife targets, but that is not a requirement. It is just usually the most pragmatic choice. Wood has a grain and the direction the grain is aligned will affect how easily a weapon sticks in it. Trees grow as straight upward as they can and the wood grain aligns with the direction of growth. Trees also have growth rings because the tree grows differently during summers and winters. Looking at a cut piece of wood and seeing growth rings or parts of growth rings tells you that you are looking at the "end grain" where the grain of the wood is aligned in the same direction as your eyes. Boards are cut out of logs to be long. The ends of the boards is the "end grain" and the 4 sides of the boards is the side grain. The end grain does not have an orientation and any weapon trying to separate the wood fibers far enough to capture the weapon and "stick" can easily do so. Side grain does have an orientation and sticking a weapon can get more complicated. When the side grain is vertically oriented, the weapon trying to stick has to be aligned with the grain or there is more resistance.

Targets are the things we are actually trying to hit and stick with our weapons. They can be categorized into different types. A log target is made from a log. Most of the time it is going to be a round section that has been cut off the end of a log, called a round. Rounds, because of their size, usually have to be supported on a stand of some kind. Rounds need to be thick enough to withstand a heavy axe slamming into them over and over. A 4 inch thick slab will split very quickly and have to be discarded. A 12 inch thick round will last a much longer time but it is also much heavier. Each marshal has to decide for themselves in accordance to their physical abilities, and the weight and space capacity of their transportation.

Block targets are made from squared-off, commercial timbers that have been cut into individual blocks. The blocks can be grouped together or used singly. Sometimes the blocks are mounted in a group onto another board to cover a wider area. Sometimes they are used alone, either fixed in place on something else or hanging freely in the air. A novelty block target with skate wheels was used for a ramp target.

Wall targets are made from commercial lumber. They differ from the block targets mounted in groups because the grain of the wood is presented to the thrower on the side and their weapons need to align with the direction of the grain to have the best chance of sticking.

Cardboard can be used occasionally, especially layers of it. See the example below.

Targets and stands together

Sometimes you have a target that can be attached to any stand or you have a stand that can support several kinds of targets. The selections in this section are for targets and stands that either have to go together or were made at the same time and it's hard to separate out the pictures.

Dealla and Kryss

Dealla and Kryss have worked together so closely for so many years that it is hard to separate out who has done what. Here are some of the things they have done.

This is the oldest one we have made.

This is the oldest thrown weapons target and stand that Dealla and Kryss put together. It was originally built around 2003. Yes, it is wayyyyy over-engineered. It is hugely heavy, long, and bulky, but it has lasted nearly 21 years now. The target is made from treated 6 by 6 deck support post that was bolted together with all-thread bars.

Targets alone

Here.

Target Stands

Here.

Special Targets

The free-swinging block targets were developed in 2018 and were used in a couple of events and for the Known World Thrown Weapons Champions Tourney at Pennsic in 2019.