Kingdom of Calontir

CALONTIR

MISSILE WEAPONS

HANDBOOK

A. S. XL

H.L. Thomas of Colonge

Archer General of Calontir

Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook

Table of Contents

Preface……………………………………………………… 3

I. Structure of the Marshallate…………………………….. 4

II. Warranting Procedures (MIT)…………………………. 5

III. Reports……………………………………………….…..6

IV. Archery Participants…………………………………… .7

Children (Minor) Participants………..…………………. 8

V. Range Layout……………………………………..…….10

VI. Range Operation………………………………………..11

Rules of the Line……………………………….……12

Archery Courtesy……………………………..… ….13

Inspections…………………………………………..14

Running the Range………………………………….15

VII. Equipment…………………………………………….17

Marshal’s Equipment… ……………………………17

Archer’s Equipment…………………………………18

Targets………………………………………………19

VIII. Resolution of Grievances………………………………20

IX. Glossary of Archery Terms…………………………….25

X. Marshal In Training Form………………………….…27

XI. Archery Orientation and Sign off Form………………28

XII. Rules of the Line (Handout)………………….………31

CALONTIR MISSILE WEAPON HANDBOOK

Except as indicated below, this handbook may only be copied in its entirety. Report forms included in this handbook may be reproduced as long as each form remains unaltered. The Rules of the Line and Archery Orientation forms may be reproduced alone as long as the rules are kept whole and unaltered.

This is the 6^th edition of the Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook, a collaborative work of Mistress Lynette Dave’jean and H.L. Thomas of Cologne. It is a document based upon the hard work and efforts of the previous Archer Generals. Those being Duke Lorell of Shrewsbury, Master Chidiock the Younger , Baron Tristan Rory De Jorgez and Lord Clovis ap Llewellyn Cathmor, Lord Siegfried Stanislaus, Master Kazimierz Verkmastare, H.L. Nakano Tadanasa Zenjiro and Mistress Lynette Dave’jean. My thanks to these good gentles for their work on the past Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook. Please send any comments, ideas or recommendations to the Archer General. Date of publication: August, in the 40^th year of Our Society.

The Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook is not an official publication of the Society for

Creative Anachronism, Inc., and does not delineate Corporate policy. It does however delineate the rules and procedures for conducting missile weapons activities within the Kingdom of Calontir, which is a branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.

The Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook is available through the Archer General’s office or the Calontir Archers Website, at the addresses listed in The Mews.

Throughout this publication, the use of the terms archer/archery shall refer to any gentle using a bow, crossbow, or thrown weapon. The use of the terms he/him refer to all archers regardless of gender.

This edition of the Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook was published during the Reign of Their Royal Majesties Semjaka & Xorazne

Calontir Missile Weapon Handbook

Structure of the Marshallate

The Archer General –

1. By Kingdom Law the Archer General is a deputy of the Kingdom Earl Marshal.

2. Duties: Responsible for the training and appointment of all Archer Marshals in the Kingdom. Shall maintain and enforce rules for the promotion and safe conduct of archery /thrown weapons within the kingdom. Shall maintain an Archery Orientation system for the archers. Shall have a system of reporting by the Archer Marshals, and shall provide a periodic summation of these reports to the Kingdom Earl Marshal, and the Society Deputy Earl Marshal (Society Archer General) for Archery. Shall coordinate with the Lillies Archery Autocrat for classes to train archery marshals within the kingdom. Shall promote research into archery equipment, attire, and competitions. Shall coordinate with other Kingdom Archer Generals (or appropriate title) to promote Inter-Kingdom archery events and competitions. May hold regional archery practices. May warrant Archer Marshals of the Field. May remove from the archer warrant list. May relieve group archer marshals of their office. May grant Special Dispensations for minors.

Regional Deputies to the Archer General –

1. Requirements: Must be a Warranted Marshal appointed by the Archer General. Must be a paid member of the Society.

2. Duties: Monitor training of Marshals-in Training within the region. Main point of contact for all reports and correspondence. Review and monitor reports of all marshals within the region and forward to the A.G. quarterly. Promote archery within the region. May hold archery orientation sessions. Make recommendations to the A.G. on warranting of marshals and revocation of warrants. Monitor the conduct at archery attended and report to the A.G. May grant Special Dispensations for Minors with the approval of the Archer General.

3. The Archer General will act as the Regional Deputy for those regions that have no regional deputy.

4. Archery Regions- The Kingdom of Calontir shall be divided into five Archery

Regions: North, South, Central, East and West. Each marshal within that

region shall send their periodic and event reports to their Regional Deputy.

Deputies At Large to the Archer General –

1. Requirements: Must be a Warranted Marshal. Paid member of the Society. Appointed by the Archer General.

2. Duties: Same as the Regional Deputies with the exception of monitoring, reviewing and forwarding regional reports.

3. All former Calontir Archer Generals are automatically Deputies at Large providing they have turned in an Agreement to Serve.

Special Deputies to the Archer General –

1. Requirements: Appointed by the Archer General for specific projects or matters . May or may not be a Warranted Marshal. Must be a paid member of the SCA with access to the kingdom newsletter.

2. Duties: Special projects as designated by the Archer General. May conduct

inspections, orientations and other marshalling activities only as qualified by other titles or warrants.

Appointments of Regional Deputies, Deputies at Large and Special Deputies will be announced in The Mews or the Calontam list.

Marshals of the Field – All Warranted Marshals are Marshals of the Field.

1. Requirements: Must maintain current membership in the SCA with access to the Kingdom newsletter and/or the archery website. Must have completed the requirements for Warranting.

2. Duties: Those who are not Group Marshals will assist the Group Marshals with inspections, teaching (Orientation), practices and events. Must submit the required periodic personal activity reports.

Group Marshals – Deputy to the Knights Marshal within each branch of the kingdom. A group that has SCA archery practice must have a Group Archer Marshal,

1. Requirements: Selected by the group Knights Marshal. If there is no group Knights Marshal, or if the Knights Marshal does not select a group archer marshal, the group Seneschal may select the group archer marshal. Must be a paid member of the SCA and have access to the Kingdom newsletter and/or website. If not a Warranted Marshal, must become a Marshal-in-Training and work towards a warrant.

2. Duties: Responsible for setting up periodic group archery practices. Tracks and records archery orientations of all archers within the group. Submits annual Domesday report for the group as well as regular quarterly group reports. Also provide information quarterly to the group Knights Marshal and/or Seneschal and the A.G . May hold other offices.

3. Even through group Archer Marshals are deputies to the group Knights Marshal, the kingdom Earl Marshal has given the Archer General the authority to relieve group Archer Marshals of their offices.

Marshals-in-Training –

1. Requirements: Contact their Regional Deputy in writing with names, address, phone number and local group. Turn in a completed Agreement to Serve form to include SCA membership number. Begin training under a Warranted Marshal. Training will be monitored by the Regional Deputy. Complete the Marshals-in-Training educational process form.

2. Duties: Inspect weapons and run the line at practices and events under the supervision of a warranted marshal. May assist in conducting archery orientations under the supervision of a warranted marshal. Must submit required quarterly personal activity reports while in training.

Marshal-in-Charge –

1. Requirements: The archery Marshal-in-Charge of an event is a deputy to the autocrat for that event. Not necessarily the group marshal of the group hosting the event. Does not have to be a warranted Marshal of the Field, but if not, must have a Marshal of the Field to approve the range set up and the competitions, to run the line and send a report to the Archer General.

2. Duties: Arrange for site/range. Plan missile weapon activities. Arrange for equipment. Arrange for additional marshals/constables as needed. The Archery Marshal-in-Charge shall oversee all operations of the range from open to close. Runs/supervises missile weapon activities. Is responsible to submit all related paperwork and the event report within two (2) weeks of the event to the A.G.

Constables- Those persons designated by the Archer Marshal-in-Charge at the event or practice to assist with the safety and operations of the range. Constables do not have to be a warranted marshal or marshal-in-training. The Constable should be an experienced archer familiar with the rules and operation of the missile systems being used. Constable is a temporary title for a specific event, practice or competition.

REPORTS

Reports – All reports should include the name(s), address, and phone number of the reporting marshal as well as the date of the event.

Distribution – The report should be sent to the Archer General and a copy of the report should also be sent to the Regional Deputy. Group Marshals must also give a report copy to the group Knights Marshal for forwarding to the group Seneschal. Canton group marshals must send a copy to the Baronial group marshal. A copy of all reports should be kept in the reporting marshal’s files.

Report Forms – The Agreement to Serve, MIT Education Form, Archery Orientation Form, the Injury/Incident reports are on the Calontir Archery Website and included in the Handbook.

Periodic Reports -

1. Personal Activity Reports – Required from all Marshals of the Field, all Marshals-in-Training. Due from Marshals of the Field 1 April (Winter Report) and 1 October (Summer Report). Marshals-in-Training must send activity reports quarterly, due 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January. Include your membership number and expiration date. List the events, practices, and demo you helped with. Include a brief description of your activities at those events, inspections, orientations, running the line, hosted competition or demo, or training. Also include any preparations for these activities, i.e. making targets or setting up the range or clean up activities. Also include any complaints or recommendations.

2. Group Quarterly Reports - Required from all Group Marshals. Due no later than 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January. Give the name of the group and a description of the state of archery in the group over the past quarter. Include the frequency of practices, and the number of archers that regularly attend practices. Include a description of any events or demos held by the group that included missile activities.

3. Domesday Report – Required from all Group Marshals. Due no later than 1 January. Should contain the same information as the Quarterly reports, summarized for the year. Should also have a listing of each archer within the group. Include the names (SCA and modern), address, phone number, and email address if applicable. Give an indication of the level of activity and indicate whether the archer is a Marshal of the Field or a Marshal-in-Training.

4. Event Report – Required from the Marshal-in-Charge of an event. Due within two (2) weeks of the event. List names, address and phone number, email address of the Marshal-in-Charge and the name of the group hosting the event. If the Marshal-in-Charge was not a warranted marshal, give the name of the Warranted Marshal of the Field who approved and ran the missile activity. List all Marshals of the Field and Marshals in Training that assisted. List the number of archers that participated and their names in each of the missile activities. Bow, Crossbow or Thrown Weapons. Summarize the missile activities as well as the top three or four finishers in each competition. Include Injury/Incident Reports if necessary. A copy of the score sheets is optional. If the score sheet is not included, a listing of participating archers is requested to track activity levels.

5. Injury/Incident Reports – Required from the Marshal-in-Charge at the event, practice, or demo where there is a missile weapons related injury or incident. The report form must be used and must be fully completed. These reports must be immediately sent to the Archer General and two copies to the Earl Marshal at the address/email address in The Mews.

6. Archery Activities – For an archery activity to be considered an official SCA activity it must be sponsored by an official branch of the kingdom (Barony, Shire, Contact Group).

Participants -

1. Waivers – All archers must have executed proper waivers to participate in missile activities. Members of the SCA with blue membership cards already have waivers on file at corporate level. Non-members attending events or regional practices will have filled out a waiver at Troll. No other waivers are required or permitted (except for children’s waivers).

2. Archery Orientation – All participants new to archery/missile weapons should attend an archery orientation session, before beginning SCA practice to obtain an understanding of safety requirements and archery terminology.

3. Minors – Minors under the age of 18 may participate in missile weapon activities with the below listed restrictions according to weapon type. Minors must have one of the following:

- Blue membership card, or

- Parent or Court Appointed Legal Guardian at the archery line giving consent to participate, or

- Parent or Legal Guardian on site, and the minor is carrying a copy of the Minor’s waiver, or

- Adult on the archery line responsible for the Minor (One adult to one minor on the archery shooting line).

Bow Activities – Minors 14 years of age or older may use a bow without parental supervision. Minors under the age of 14 must have Parent or Court Appointed Legal Guardian with them on the archery line within arms reach. The parent/guardian may not be involved in any other activities while watching the young person. While there is technically no lower limit for bow activities, the Marshal-in-Charge should remove from the line anyone that he feels is either not physically capable of safely following the rules of the line and the commands of the line marshal.

Crossbow and Thrown Weapons – Minors 14 years of age or older may use a crossbow or thrown weapons as long as a Parent or Court Appointed Legal Guardian is with them within arms reach. The parent/guardian may not be involved in any other activities while watching the young person. Persons under the age of 14 years may NOT participate in crossbow or thrown weapons activities.

Special Dispensation – It is possible for minors to get Special Dispensation to participate without the normally required parental supervision, or to participate with thrown weapons even though below the age of 14 years. This dispensation requires the Dispensation Form with the signatures of the parent and six recommending warranted marshals. The Archer General, a Regional Deputy, or a Deputy at Large can approve the Dispensation. A copy of the Dispensation Form will be given to the minor/parents to present to any line marshals.

4. Participants must be in suitable physical and mental condition, i.e. not intoxicated, under medication, or excessively tired. Participants should be properly attired with loose clothing or long hair tied out of the way of the bowstring.

Types of Activities –

1. Local Practices – When archers of a local group get together under the name of the SCA to practice archery. If a warranted marshal is not available to run the Local Practice, a Marshal-in-Training may run the practice as long as a Warranted Office of the local group is in attendance. No reports are required from Local Practices (except Incident/Injury reports). IKAC scores may be recorded at Local Practices.

2. Joint Practices – When two or more Local Groups get together under the name of the SCA to practice archery. Event Reports may be sent in but are not required. Otherwise the same as a Local Practice.

3. Regional Practices – Called and scheduled by a Regional Deputy. Must be

Hosted by an official branch. The Regional Deputy will either run the practice or ask the Group Marshal to host the practice and be the Marshal-in-Charge. Troll is required. If a site fee is charged, non-members must pay the surcharge. Event Reports are required within two (2) weeks of the practice.

4. Kingdom Level Events - Marshal-in-Charge must be approved by and is a

Deputy of the Event Autocrat. King’s Companie of Archers Tournament (KCoAT) is the kingdom level archery event. Event report is required within two (2) weeks.

5. Demos – Demos are like local practices in that there are participants right off

The street with no idea of what they are doing. Demos are also events in that there could be large numbers of people, who are not known by the overseeing marshals, shooting at the same time. Demos thus require special consideration. An SCA Demo is held by an official SCA branch and follows the SCA rules. If the SCA participation in the activity is not sponsored by an

Official SCA branch then the SCA name cannot be used. If it is SCA branch sponsored, the rules of the line apply. There must be a warranted marshal in charge of the missile activities at a demo.

6. Supervision on the Line – The goal at a demo is often to get the participant on

Line, allow him to shoot, and get him off the line in short order. Because there is often not enough time to determine a participants’ skill with a weapon system or to familiarize him completely with the rules close supervision is needed. To this end, if there are more than a few participants shooting/throwing at the same time the Marshal of the Line should have one or more constables assisting. No less than one constable for every two participants. The constables will brief the participants in the safety rules and coach them in the use of the weapons system. The constables will then closely supervise the participant for as long as he is on the range.

7. Constables –It is preferred that each constable is an experienced archer.

It is the responsibility of the Marshal-in-Charge to ensure that every constable is familiar with his duties and confidant and forceful enough to control a participant on the line.

8. Waivers – Before a Demo contact your group Seneschal for the most up to date requirement for waivers.

9. Minors – All age restrictions apply for minor participation at demos. Parent or Court Appointed Legal Guardian must be within arms reach of minors under 14 years shooting bow, and minors 14 – 18 years shooting a crossbow or throwing weapons. The parent/guardian can be involved in no other activities while watching the young person.

10. Range Safety Interventions – The Marshal-in-Charge, the Archer General, the event Autocrat, or the group Seneschal may permanently shut down archery at an event. (The Crown, the Kingdom Seneschal, and the Earl Marshall of course may shut down any archery activity.) Within 24 hours of such an incident a phone call to the Archer General followed by the “Incident Report” form.

11. Anyone, whether marshal or archer, upon seeing an unsafe practice or situation should call “HOLD”. The unsafe situation should then be brought to the attention of the Marshal-in-Charge.

12. If there is a disagreement between the Marshal-in-Charge and another marshal or an archer about whether a particular situation is unsafe or not, the Marshal-in-Charge has the say in the matter. The other marshal/archer may bring the matter to the attention of the event Autocrat. If the Autocrat does not satisfactorily resolve the disagreement it may be brought to the Seneschal of the hosting group. An Incident Report must be filed with the Archer General.

13. The Marshal-in-Charge, the Autocrat, and the Seneschal may/should consult with senior archery marshals and Deputies to the Archer General that are present. However, within the Archery Marshallate only the Marshal-in Charge and the Archer General may shut down the archery at the event. The event Autocrat and the hosting group Seneschal may also shut down the archery at an event.

RANGE LAYOUT

Range Layout – All Missile Weapons Ranges shall consist of four parts; Behind the line, The Line, The Range and the Safety Zone.

Behind the Line – All spectators should remain a minimum of 15 feet behind the Line at all times. Spectators shall not stand within 20 feet behind a person throwing weapons. Spectators shall refrain from interfering with the Marshal or the participants. Participants shall remain 5 feet behind the Line until commanded by the Archer Marshal to

“approach the line”.

The Line – Generally parallel to the target area. Archers will straddle the line with one foot in front off the line and one foot behind the line. This ensures that no archer is endangered by getting in front of another archer. Archers may NOT stand closely together while shooting on the line. For thrown weapons, the line is the forward limit for the thrower who stands fully behind the line. Participants throwing knives should stand at least 15 feet apart but may be as close as 8 feet. Those throwing axes and spears should stand at least 15 feet apart but may be as close as 12 feet.

The Range – From the line to and including the target. No one shall enter the Range while the line is open for archery or throwing weapons. Archery ranges for bow and crossbow run anywhere from 20 yards to 150 yards and beyond. May be closer from 20 yards for special shoots or for minors. The range for knife throwing is usually 12 feet or more. The range for axe throwing is usually 15 to 20 feet or more. Spear throwing ranges generally run between 10 to 20 yards and may be longer for distance competitions.

The Safety Zone – The safety zone lies on either side of the range and behind the target. The zone begins at both ends of the firing line and extends forward and outward at a 45 degree angle to a point even with the target, then straight back from the firing line past the target to a distance beyond the target equal to the distance from the line to the target. The distance behind the target may be shorter if there is a permanent backstop (i.e. archery netting) or a hillside behind the target to limit the flight of overshoots. The safety zone shall be free of persons, animals and obstructions that would obscure observation from the line. In case of clout or flight shoots (distance shooting), consider the weight of the most powerful bow in the competition in determining the far edge of the safety zone.

Physical Safety Considerations – Check the range for areas where the archers may have difficulty walking while retrieving or looking for arrows. Slick or muddy spots or slopes can lead to turned ankles or bad falls. Shade near or at the shooting line is needed on hot summer days. Look to protect the equipment as well. A stony bluff behind the target butts will protect bystanders but will not be healthy for arrows. A ravine, gully, creek or lake behind the butts will make arrow retrieval difficult.

Range Operation – No missile weapon activities shall take place unless a range has been opened by a Warranted Marshal who shall remain in charge of the Line until the Range is closed or the Line is taken over by another Warranted Marshal.

RULES OF THE LINE

1. ARCHERS MUST ALWAYS REALIZE THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF THEIR WEAPONS!!!!!! The bow is made to pierce a target with an arrow. The axe, knife and spear are meant to cut or stick into a target surface. These weapons do not care if the target is hay, foam, wood or flesh. Improperly used equipment will injure, maim, or even kill. That is why all rules of the line are to be followed explicitly.

2. The Archery Marshal-in-Charge of the line is the sole judge of a range’s safety. It is the Marshal’s responsibility for any mishaps that may occur. Therefore you will follow the rules and schedules set up for the practice or competitions and follow all instructions given by the Marshall. It is absolutely imperative that you do not change the shooting conditions of the field until given permission by the Marshal.

3. The archery range is divided into four parts, behind the Line, the Line, the

Range up to and including the Target and the Safety Zone. No participant shall take the line or go forward of the line unless cleared by the Marshal.

4. Archers will straddle the line when using bows and stand behind the line when using thrown weapons.

5. No arrow shall be nocked (placed on the string in a firing position), crossbow cocked or thrown weapon readied and aimed until the Marshal has given the command to do so.

6. Archers may begin shooting only when the Marshal gives the command to “loose/fire/shoot”. Thrown weapons may be thrown only after the Marshal has given the command to “throw” and the Thrower has checked behind him for persons in the danger area behind him.

7. No shooting/throwing shall be done when the Range and the Safety Zone is not clear of all persons and animals. In case of thrown weapons, the area 20 feet behind the thrower must also be clear.

8. A call of “HOLD” means exactly that. No arrow will be loosed or thrown weapon thrown after this call is made until the Marshal clears the Range and gives the command to “Resume shooting/throwing”.

9. Archers with bows will point the bow downward and slowly ease the tension on the bow then take the arrow knock off the string.

10. Archers with crossbows will tilt the crossbow to one side to allow the bolt to drop out of the track to the ground or remove it from the track, then un-cock (un-brace) the crossbow.

11. Participants with thrown weapons will slowly lower the throwing arm towards the ground while holding the weapon. …………Then wait for the Marshal’s instructions. DO NOT step back from the line. The danger may be behind you. If the thrown weapon or arrow/bolt has been released at the time the “HOLD” is called, do NOT try to catch the missile weapon. Let it continue in its course down the range.

Note that ANYONE upon seeing an unsafe situation (persons wandering onto the range, for example) should call “HOLD” then notify the Marshal of the cause for the hold.

12. When you have finished shooting/throwing, step back from the line and place

Bows down or on a bow rack.

13. When instructed by the Marshal to retrieve arrows/weapons, leave the bow

Behind the line and retrieve only your own missile weapons. If it is necessary to walk behind the target or backstop to retrieve arrows, notify the Marshal that the Range is not clear. Notify the Marshal when all persons have returned to the line. The Marshal shall visually confirm that the area behind the Target is clear before continuing.

14. Never retrieve arrows or thrown weapons until the official score keeper has

recorded your score.

15. Watch for arrows on the ground (dead wood) while walking to and from the target. Pull buried arrow for safety, but leave the arrow sticking in the ground where it landed so it can be located by the archer.

16. Do not distract those on the shooting line, neither the participants nor the

Marshals. No horseplay on the line. Participants should be serious when

shooting. Exchanging bows, clowning around, constant abuse of another

archer (both verbal and physical) will result in your being asked to leave the

shooting line. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Inappropriate or

unsafe behavior on the Line may result in being banned from that particular

range or event. .

17. Be aware of the condition of your equipment, during use, equipment may become unsafe. Marshals of the Field are able to detect many problems with your gear you may not know exist. The Archer Marshal-in-Charge is the final authority on the safety of all Missile Weapons and no weapon or equipment judged unsafe may be used on the Range at any time.

18. Archery is a fun SCA activity. Social interaction is a big part of SCA archery

And welcome on any range. But remember do not distract those on the shooting line. It is dangerous and will be strictly forbidden.

ARCHERY COURTESY

There should be NO archery activities during an official court. i.e. Crown Tourney etc. It is not correct to hold archery activities while There Most Royal Majesties of Calontir are holding court. If the Crown is in attendance on the archery range such as Lilies War ALWAYS remember to show the Crown your respect before continuing to shoot in the competition. When the Crown approaches the line or the archery area, please stop and acknowledge their presence by a tilt of the head or a more formal bow etc.

Each archer on the shooting Line should be aware of the archer on either side.

Be aware of the bow / crossbow and do not cant your bow/crossbow (angle the bow/crossbow) in the space of the archer on either side of you.

The Marshal-in-Charge will not allow the shooting line to have an excessive number of archers shooting at the same time. It is better to have two flights

(two shooting lines) than to crowd each other for space. Archers and the Marshal-in-Charge are responsible for the safety of all.

During any competition (one to one competition or head to head shooting)

on the shooting Line it is considered to be correct behavior to extend a hand in friendship to the one you are shooting against and to wish them well during the competitions. Again remember to show respect to the Crown if present.

WEAPONS INSPECTIONS

1. Weapons Inspections – Before it can be used on the range, all equipment must be properly inspected by a Marshal of the Field or by a Marshal in Training (MIT) under the supervision of a Marshal of the Field. Inspections should be performed at least 15 feet away from the Line. Marshals of the Field may inspect their own equipment. Minors with Special Dispensations must present the paperwork as proof of the status.

2. Bows – Bows must be SCA legal with no illegal additions. Have the archer string the bow before inspection. The bow should be free of cracks and gouges.

Cracks - Laminated bows sometimes have small cracks in the fiberglass running up and down the limbs. This condition is not serious unless the crack goes through both the wood and the fiberglass. Bows that have cracks that go across the limbs should be rejected as they are unsafe and can or will break. Have the archer draw the bow then slowly release the tension. Watch the back of the bow and the sides for any cracks that may show up under tension. Small cracks should be marked at the ends and watched. If the problem has worsened after two to three test arrows, fail the bow. If it is stable, check the bow periodically throughout the competition or practice.

Warped - -Bows should not be excessively warped. Laminate recurve bows have this problem. Sight down the bow string to see if the bow limbs are parallel. If one or both limbs are excessively twisted from the perpendicular then the bow is unsafe. Have the archer draw the bow and slowly release the tension twice (Never dry fire a bow). Repeat the above inspection. If the string is not in the grooves on the limbs then the bow is warped. On many bows the warping is constant, i.e. the string returns to the same place on the bow after each shot. Such bows are usable. On others, however, the string creeps closer to the edge of the bow with each shot. These bows are dangerous and must be failed. Eventually the string will slip over the edge of a limb, resulting in a violent and destructive reversal of the bracing.

Bow Strings – Bow strings should have no more than one or two frayed or broken strands. The serving on the string should be secure and not unraveling. The string should not be kinked or knotted. Strings should be of the proper length for the bow. Do not fail a bow for an improper string length unless the bow is being over stressed. Do advise the archer to replace with a new string of the proper length.

Nocks – Nock points should be tight and preferably placed over the protective serving. Check to make sure that the nock point has not cut into the string when it was installed.

3. Crossbows - Crossbows must be SCA legal and does not exceed the maximum allowed poundage of 150 pounds. The string should have NO broken strands. Check especially where it rubs along the stock. Check also on the string loops where they rub against the prod tips for excessive wear. Remember to check for excess play in the release mechanism (trigger) that inadvertent release may occur. Inspect for metal fatigue in the prod. This is indicated by a pattern of surface cracks in the metal.

4. Arrows/Bolts – Arrows or bolts must be SCA legal and should be

spined correctly for the bow. The Marshal should inspect a sampling

of each set of arrows or bolts.

The shaft should be free of cracks or deep gouges. Bend the arrow a

little while rotating it between your fingers. This will cause any

cracks to open up that otherwise may not be visible. If the paint or

varnish is cracked, but not the wood, it is okay to shoot it.

The fletches should be securely attached and in good condition. No

More than half of each fletch should be missing.

5. Tips and Nocks – Tips and nocks should be securely fastened. Target

tips should have enough point to stick in the target without bouncing out. Nocks should not be cracked or broken. Bolts must have a target or field tip.

6. Knives – Knives must be Calontir legal. They should have a sharp

point but dull edges. The handle/hilt must be securely fastened such

that it won’t fly loose on impact.

7. Axes – Axes must be Calontir legal. Check the axe for cracks or

splinters in the handle. Grasp the axe by both ends and apply pressure

by pressing the center against a solid object, i.e. the edge of a table or

stump, or against a tree. Minor damage may be repaired with tape or

binding. The head of the axe must be securely fastened, usually with

wedge in the top of the handle, or with bolts passing through the head

and the handle. The blade must be sharp enough that the axe sticks in

the target rather than bouncing out.

8. Spears – Spear heads must be Calontir legal. Like the axe, inspect the handle for cracks and splinters, and the head to see if it is securely fastened. The tip doesn’t have to be especially sharp as it should be used only against soft targets.

RUNNING THE RANGE

1. A warranted Marshall must be in the Line and involved in no other activity to open the range and allow Missile Weapon activity. A

Marshal-in-Training may run the line under the supervision of a warranted

Marshal. One marshal may run the line alone if the number of archers does not prevent him from observing all of the archers (usually 10 archers)

On the range. It is preferred to have two Marshals, one at each end of the

shooting Line of archers. For Thrown Weapons, there must be a marshal/

constable for every two throwers.

2. The Marshal-in-Charge will give the commands to let the archers know

When to approach the line, brace (cock), nock, ready a throw, loose/shoot/throw, when the line is closed, when it is safe to retrieve and when the line is opened for shooting again. The following commands or a reasonable equivalent should be given:

a. “Archers may approach the Line.”

b. “You may straddle the Line.” / “Put both feet on the line”.

c. “The range being clear, you may nock an arrow (make ready to throw.”)

d. “You may loose at will (throw).”

e. “Bows down, the range is closed. You may retrieve your arrows/weapons.”

Commands c and d may be combined to “The range being clear, you may nock an arrow and loose at will”. With a small number of experienced archers the commands may be abbreviated to “The range being clear, you may take the line and begin shooting.”

3. Do not allow archers to shoot/throw at a “FULL” target:

a. Too many arrows in one target at the same time will make scoring difficult and may result in damaged arrows. Based upon the number and skill of the archers, the number of arrows fired, and the distance to the target, the marshal must determine how may archers may fire before arrows must be pulled. Archers may be divided into a different “flights” (second shooting Line) to facilitate shooting and scoring.

b. A knife, axe or spear that is thrown into another knife, axe or spear can

damage equipment or bounce off in an unpredictable direction injuring by-

standers. A thrower who sticks a thrown weapon in a target should hold. On the marshals command he should retrieve that weapon before throwing any others into the same target. Experienced marshals may modify this based upon the size of the target area in relation to the weapon and the closeness of bystanders.

Practice – Many archers get their only practice at local practices or sometimes at

joint or regional practices. Practices must be run according to the Rules of the Line. Range limitation, safety and the number of archers must be considered before deciding to hold an “Open Practice” at an event.

Competitions – With the large variety and types of competitions possible at events, the Marshal-in-Charge must thoroughly explain the rules and scoring for each competition. The Rules of Line must always be followed. This can become difficult when shooting in other than a typical range setting. Distance shoots and walk-throughs have their own potential problems. Common sense and a tendency towards safety are needed.

Space Requirements – While many competitions can be shot on a simple 40 yard range or even on a 20 yard range, some competitions have special space requirements. Clout shoots, flight shoots and archery golf need large open fields. A walk through can be done in a field, but works best if you have a path or a trail winding through a wooded area. Look at the area available and plan your competitions to maximize what the autocrat has given you to work with.

Scoring – Pre-made score sheets can save time at the day of the competition. These can be simple as lined or graph paper, or complex sheets with the scoring method on them. All archers in a competition should understand the scoring before the competition begins. Scoring can be done by the archers themselves or by assigned scorekeepers. The more complicated a shoot is, or the farther it is from the typical shoots, the more reason to use a scorekeeper who full understands the scoring system. If archers are scoring their own shots, it is best to have a second archer confirm the score as the points are tallied. Even the best of us can and do make mistakes.

Equipment

Marshal’s Equipment-

Archers will look upon the Marshals not only as the safety person in charge of the range, rather as the person who can fix anything.

a. Something is needed to mark the firing line. The can be a simple stake, or an arrow stuck in the ground. A rope or tape along the line is better, as this gives the archer something to look down at between his feet. Staking the line down will help prevent it from being moved the archers or by the wind.

b. While many competitions don’t require exact measured distances, a measuring tape can come in handy. A 30 foot tape will give you 10 yard increments. A 100 or 300 foot tape is easier to use. A rope knotted at 5 yard increments can be used to measure the target range then used to mark the line. Exact distances are required for some shoots i.e. and IKAC or Royal Rounds.

c. Some ranges will require ropes and signs or safety tape to mark the danger areas. Old arrows stuck in the ground will hold ¼ inch rope or common clothes line in their nocks pretty well to make a visible barrier. Marking off the range does not relieve the Marshal-in-Charge of the responsibility of visually confirming that the range is clear before allowing the line to be opened. The marshal should walk the bounds of the range to identify and close off all access routes into the range.

d. A box or case of some type will be handy for carrying report forms, score sheets, Rules of the Line, clip boards, pencils, and tape or target pins. A stopwatch, digital watch or second hand will be necessary for timed rounds. Binoculars are great for those cutthroat competitions such as a grinder to determine if that arrow close to the line actually scored or not.

e. A bow-stringer, string axe, extra fletches, tips and nocks with glue, and nocking pliers as well as a taper tool will come in handy for those little emergencies.

Archers’s Equipment –

a. Bows – Bows may be wood, fiberglass, wood/fiberglass laminate, or something similar. Typical SCA bows are recurve bows or longbows. Compound bows (type with pulleys) are not allowed. Breakdown bows, with a metal riser section and fiberglass or laminate limbs are currently legal, but may be disallowed in a sponsored competition (In a sponsored competition, the sponsor can make whatever restrictions he wants). Arrow rests are allowed but must be fixed, not adjustable (Traditional longbow competitions may not allow arrow rests). No sighting devices such as pins, crosshairs or peep sights are permitted. Ranging marks on the upper limb are allowed. No clickers, kissers, stabilizers, weights, or additional accessories to aid stability are allowed. Wrist slings are allowed. Thumb rings, finger tabs and gloves are allowed. String releases are not allowed. Bow quivers (quivers attached to the bow) are not allowed.

b. Arrows – Arrows must be wooden shafts with feather/fur fletching. Plastic or bone nocks or wood self nocks are allowed. Target tips or field points should be used (unless the target is specially designed to take that bodkin point). An archer should have at least 12 matched arrows for competition. It is also recommended that an archer have 3 to 6 blunt tip flu-flu arrows for Popinjay type shoots and at least 3 Judo tipped arrows for “roving” shoots. Arrows must be spined or matched to the weight of the bow being used. Be wary of borrowing lighter spined arrows from a fellow archer. These could blow up on release.

c. Crossbows – Crossbows should have a wooden stock and a metal or fiberglass prod fastened to the front with bolts, U-bolts, Sinew or a combination there of. No prod may have a hole in it. The strings may be Dacron or other similar materials. Fixed rear and period sights are allowed. Like bows, stabilizers or weights to aid stability are not allowed. Crossbows may not have a draw weight of over 150 pounds.

d. Crossbow Bolts – Bolts like arrows should have wooden shaft and feather/fur fletches. They should have a metal target point (tip). Bolts

should also be properly spined to the weight of the crossbow.

e. Knives – The knife weight must be suitable for the target. This is to be determined by the Marshal-in-Charge. Knives must have a handle end. Double bladed knives and throwing stars are not allowed.

f. Axes – Axes can be single or double bladed with a wooden, metal or fiberglass handle no more than 18 inches long. A modern woodsman’s axe may be used with the handle cut down. Tip spikes and butt spikes (spikes sticking out of either end of the handle) are not allowed.

g. Spears – Spears must be Calontir legal. The blade may be fastened to the shaft either with a spike that fits into the shaft or by having a sleeve that the shaft fits into.

Targets / Butts -

Archery Butts - Any material that allows penetration and sticking of arrows and crossbow bolts without excessive blow through or bounce back is an acceptable material.

1. Tightly packed backed hay or straw bales work. Excelsior bales are more expensive but will stop arrows and bolts from the heavier bows and crossbows. To use bales, stack bales horizontally on top of one another, with the strings facing forward. Stack another two or three bales behind these to hold them secure. It helps to tie them together. If the bales are to be a permanent butt cover them when not in use to protect them from the weather. When the front bales get soft from use, rotate the rear bales to the front. Under windy conditions, bales may have to be stacked two deep.

2. Cardboard boxes tightly packed with cardboard, carpet or newspaper will make a temporary target butt. The cardboard does not hold up well and will need constant replacement and repair. A cardboard box stuffed with a least 6 or 7 layers of carpet scraps to the front with cardboard or newspaper filling the box, should stop 150 pound crossbow bolt. Stuffing a box with plastic trash or grocery bags also works well. Covering these with burlap helps keep a “period” look to the range.

3. Some commercial butts available are the closed cell foam butts and the round packed straw butts. When purchasing a butt make sure it is large enough for whatever target you want to place upon it. If it does not have something to hold it up, you can build a tripod of 2 x 4 s to hold the butt securely. Note that not all commercial butts will stop the heavier crossbow bolts. Please cover modern targets with cloth such as burlap.

Targets –

1. Typical targets are flat pictures or drawings on paper. These should be glued to cardboard before using so they will hold up longer. Covering the back of a paper target with duct tape can greatly extend the life of that target. Round targets and animal targets are commercially available. Drawn and colored targets of any subject are easy to make. Use a school, office or commercial copier to make a transparency of the picture you want. Use an overhead projector to shoot that onto the paper or cardboard on the wall and trace the design. Scoring of paper targets- Cutting the line means the paper line must be torn not bent or just touching the line.

2. Three dimensional targets add some variety to archery. Commercially available animal targets look great but can be expensive, Old stuffed toy animals work well. Boat dock foam can be cut to simple shapes. Paper Mache sculptures may be filled with expandable foam. You are limited only by your imagination. Decide ahead of time whether you want this target to be shot up with target points or just knocked over with the blunt tips.

3. Interactive targets give instant results when struck by the arrow. Balloons taped/pinned to the front of a cardboard target are simple to use. Clay skeet pigeons on a wire shirt hanger stands are also simple to use but more to clean up. Knock down targets on a hinge are more complicated to make but are more durable.

Thrown Weapon Targets -

1. Axes – Stumps make good axe targets. Stump faces from 12 to 24 inches in diameter are a practical size for targets. Softwoods are preferred. Elevate the stump so that the axe is not being thrown into the ground. Place it so that the end of the stump, not the side, is the target. Brace the stump securely so that it will remain in place even after repeated hits with an axe. A good distance for axe throwing is 15 to 20 feet. Because each axe has its own rotation period, let the thrower stand back from the line as far as necessary (for safety) for a proper throw.

2. Knives – Softwood stumps also make good targets for knife throwing. Knives may be thrown at targets made of laminated cardboard, or even cardboard backed by a hay bale. Be advised that a throwing knife with no thickness to the handle can disappear in a hay bale. Knives should be thrown no closer than 12 feet and have the distance increased for the rotation of the knife.

3. Spear – Spears are best thrown at soft targets so the blade doesn’t bend or the shaft doesn’t break. Multiple layers of cardboard will work as a spear target. A cardboard box with horizontal layers of packed cardboard also work well as a target. A hay bale or stack of hay bales with a cardboard face makes a good spear target. A good distance to throw spears is 10 to 20 yards. When spears are thrown for distance, typically score the spears that stick in the ground.

Knives, Axes or Spears are usually scored only if the weapon hits and sticks into the target. A variation might be 1 point for hitting the face of the target and another if the weapon sticks.

Archery Regions – The Kingdom of Calontir shall be divided into five Archery Regions: North, South, Central, East and West. Each marshal within that region shall send their periodic and event reports to their Regional Deputy.

PROCEDURES FOR DISPUTES AND/ OR GRIEVANCES

Disputes: Usually the individuals are more than willing to correct any problems, or breaches of the rules, which a marshal brings to their attention. This is the desired solution: get the problem fixed. However, occasionally a Marshal requires some action. In the event you find it necessary, here is how you shall proceed.

1. Point out the violation and ask the individual to correct it.

2. In the case of a safety issue do not allow the individual to continue to

use missile weapons until the problem is solved.

3. In the case of violation of the rules on the range, ask the individual to

leave the field, and do not allow the individual to resume until he or

she has cooled off. Remove anyone from the range who has lost his

or her temper.

4. If you need support, call on (in order):

a. Any other marshals who are present (especially the Marshal-in-Charge).

b. A Regional Deputy, or Knight Marshal

c. The Archer General and/or The Kingdom Earl Marshal

d. The local Seneschal

e. The Kingdom Seneschal

f. The Crown

5. If the violation cannot be stopped, convince the Marshal-in-Charge

and the local seneschal to closed the range.

GRIEVANCE PROCESS

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

RESOLUTION OF GRIEVANCES

From the Society Marshal's Handbook 1992 edition
Amended, June 2005 – Syr Tarl Wintersson – Earl Marshal of Calontir

The grievance procedures system outlined below was created on the basis of advice received from the SCA Corporate Attorney. Essentially, he recommended that there should be a clear-cut mechanism to deal with combat-related complaints which could not be resolved using the traditional courtesies that exist among fighters and the marshallate. He felt that the mechanism should provide for internal regulation and resolution of grievances which would be explainable and understandable to a mundane court of law, should SCA Combat-Related Activities ever be a matter of concern in the civil courtroom.

For these reasons, the 'Marshal's Court', the 'Report System', and the 'Quarter Court' have been created. These mechanisms exist as a grievance procedure should they ever be required. It is not necessary that these grievance procedures be written as a legal document, but rather to provide a fair, common-sense hearing of the complaints and a means for resolving the conflict. They are not intended to supplant the more traditional and generally informal mechanisms for handling complaints (i.e.: discussion among the involved parties; peer pressure; and intervention of the Crown or the Crown's representative). Nor are these procedures intended to weaken or limit any of those traditional and common-sense methods for resolving complaints. Specifically, the power of the Crown is presumed not to be affected by the Courts, except in that the Crown would be included in the formulation of the Court system. The Court system as established is expected to be necessary only when all other mechanisms have failed to satisfy the parties involved. This, hopefully, will be fairly rare.

Of course, those kingdoms which so choose may use the system outlines below as their primary vehicle for resolving conflict related to SCA Combat, if they wish.

1. There are three structures established to deal with grievances which may not be resolved using the traditional methods of the Society. The first two of these are the “Marshal Court” and the “Report System”. Appeals of decisions or actions of either of these two may be made under the auspices of the “Quarter Court”. These structures are outlines below in their standardized form: Kingdoms may make adjustments and additions to reflect their history and culture.

B. MARSHALS COURT

In Calontir, A Marshals Court will be held at each event where SCA Combat Related Activities occur. The Marshal In Charge of the event should convene the court at the end of the days martial activities. In the case of an event that spans several days (such as a war), a Marshals Court should be held each day. The Marshal In Charge may also choose to convene a Marshal Court at any time during the days activities to deal with a situation as it occurs, as needed. A Marshals Court provides for the resolution of grievances between SCA Combat Related Activities Participants and/or the marshallate.

1. Complaints about a participant related to SCA Combat-Related Activities must be made to the Marshal-in-Charge of the event.

A. Complaints may be either written or verbal.

B. If written they must be signed by the complainant.

C. If verbal, the Marshal-in-Charge should make a written record of the gist of the complaint, and note who made it.

D. Complaints should be made in a timely manner, as soon after the originating incident as possible

2 The Marshal-in-Charge shall present the complaint to the individual against whom the complaint has been filed (the defendant), and discuss it with that individual.

3. The Marshal-in-Charge may make any additional inquiries he/she deems necessary concerning the complaint, to discover if the complaint has merit.

A. If the Marshal-in-Charge finds that the complaint has merit, the defendant and the complainant shall be informed that a Marshal's Court will be convened at the event, and when it will be held.

B. The Marshal-in-Charge shall then make the arrangements to hold the Marshal's Court. The Court shall be composed of at least:

i. The Marshal-in-Charge, who shall be the Head of the Court. If the Marshal-in-Charge feels that he/she has a conflict of interest, he/she shall choose another Authorized Marshal who is currently warranted to be the Head of the Court.

ii. A member of the Chivalry, chosen by the Head of the Court or the Chivalry present. Should there be no member of the Chivalry present, or if they feel that they all have a conflict of interest, the Head of the Court shall select an experienced fighter as a replacement.

iii. An individual chosen by the defendant.

C. The Court shall review the complaint, and may seek additional information from witnesses or involved parties.

D. The defendant shall be given an opportunity to present his/her side of the story, and may call witnesses or involved parties to speak on his/her behalf.

E. The Court shall reach a decision regarding the complaint by majority vote of its members. The Court may decide:

i. To remove the defendant from the List for that Event, and to confiscate the defendant's Authorization Card.

ii. To remove the defendant from the List for that Event.

iii. To warn the defendant that he/she may face disciplinary action should the problems which led to the complaint continue.

iv. That there were mitigating circumstances which led to the complaint, and

that disciplinary action is not necessary.

v. That the defendant was not guilty of any action which requires disciplinary

action.

F. The Head of the Court shall see that a 'Marshal Court Report'(with the Authorization Card, if it has been confiscated) is forwarded to the Earl Marshal, with a copy being given to the defendant.

G. Appeals of any decisions of the Court by the complainant or the defendant shall be made to the Crown or the Quarter Court. Any decision of the Marshal Court shall remain in effect until reviewed by the Crown or the Quarter Court.

C. REPORT SYSTEM

This system provides for the resolution of grievances through the Earl Marshal. It requires the Earl Marshal to take an active role in the enforcement of the rules and supervision of the Marshallate. The Earl Marshal may authorize the Knight Marshal of a principality to make use of this system within a principality.

1. Complaints about a participant related to SCA Combat-related Activities may be made directly to the Earl Marshal.

A. Complaints may be either written or verbal.

B. If written they must be signed by the complainant.

C. If verbal, the Earl Marshal should make a written record of the gist of the complaint, and note who made it.

D. Complaints should be made in a timely manner, as soon after the originating incident as possible.

1 The Earl Marshal shall present the complaint to the individual against whom the complaint has been filed (the defendant), and discuss it with that individual.

2 The Earl Marshal may make any additional inquiries he/she deems necessary concerning the complaint, to discover if the complaint has merit.

3 If the Earl Marshal finds that the complaint has merit, the defendant shall be put 'on report', for a
specified period of time (usually three to six months), and shall inform the defendant of this fact.

4 While the defendant is "on report", no further disciplinary action will be taken unless additional
complaints are received.

5 If the defendant returns to acceptable levels of conduct during the report period, no further action shall be taken, and the individual shall be given a 'clean slate'.

6 If additional complaints are received and found to have merit, further disciplinary action (such as the revocation of authorizations) by the Earl Marshal is recommended. This decision may be appealed to the Crown or the Quarter Court.

D. QUARTER COURT

The Quarter Court primarily serves the function of an appeals court, handling appeals made by either the complainant or the defendant, or reviewing those cases in which a participant was removed from the Lists or had an authorization revoked. Secondarily, the Quarter Court may serve as an investigative body, to consider any matter brought before its members.

1. The Quarter Court shall be composed of:

A. The Earl Marshal, who shall be the Head of the Court.

i. If the Earl Marshal feels that he/she has a conflict of interest, he/she shall choose one of his/her deputies as a replacement

B. A member of the Chivalry, chosen by the members of the Chivalry.

i. Should the member of the Chivalry have a conflict of interest, he/she shall be replaced by another member of the Chivalry chosen by the Chivalry.

C. An individual chosen by the Crown.

i. Should the individual chosen by the Crown have a conflict of interest, the Crown shall select a replacement.

2. The Earl Marshal shall convene the Quarter Court as required to hear appeals, review cases, or to consider any matter brought by one of its members.

A. If convened, the Court shall review the matter before it and may seek additional information from witnesses or involved parties.

B. The defendant shall be given an opportunity to present his/her side of the story, and may call witnesses or involved parties to speak on his/her behalf.

3. The Court shall reach a decision regarding the complaint by majority vote of its members. The Court may decide:

A. To partially or totally clear a defendant of any charges or penalty given by the Marshal's Court or Report System.

B. To affirm the charges or penalty given by the Marshal's Court or Report System.

C. To augment the charges or penalty given by the Marshal's Court or Report System.

D. To recommend that a Kingdom Court (Court of Chivalry) be convened.

1 The Quarter Court may also consider issues such as interpretations of the rules, fighting conventions, etc., brought before it by any of its members.

2 When acting as an investigative body, the Quarter Court's power is limited to making
recommendations and remanding the decision to the appropriate Society office or body.

3 The Head of the Court shall see that the minutes of all court proceedings are taken and forwarded to the Crown and the Society Marshal. All decisions of the Quarter Court are considered final, but may be appealed to the Crown or a Kingdom Court (Court of Chivalry), subject to the provisions governing such courts in Corpora. Any decision by the Quarter Court shall remain in effect permanently, unless reviewed and overturned, augmented, or otherwise altered by the Crown, a Kingdom Court (Court of Chivalry) or Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc.

GLOSSARY

Arrow Rest – A small device attached to the bow that holds the arrow up and away from the bow. This reduces the drag on the arrow as it passes out of the bow.

Blow Through – When an arrow/bolt pass completely through the target face. Usually scored as a mid-range score for that particular target unless a spotter is used or the exact point of impact can be determined.

Bolts – Also known as quarrels, are specially constructed short arrows that are used only in crossbows.

Bow Limbs – The upper and lower thirds of the bow. The limbs are responsible for the spring action of the bow.

Bow Sights – External devices that are attached to the bow to aid in aiming. Bow sights are SCA illegal.

Brace – Brace is to fasten the string to the bow to ready the bow for shooting. also referred to as “stringing the bow”.

Brace Height – The distance (perpendicular to the string) between the bow string and the handle of the bow. Modern recurve bows will have a brace height of 8 ½ to 9 inches when strung with a bow string of the correct length.

Butt – The surface where the target face is placed and which stops the arrow/bolt.

Butt Caps – Similar to an arrow nock but without a groove for the string. The butt cap is used on bolts to absorb the shock of the string striking the bolt, and to prevent splintering of the end of the bolts during repeated firings. Not required.

Clickers – A mechanical device that “clicks” when the bow is drawn to the proper length. (SCA illegal)

Cocking – The process of pulling the string of a crossbow into a locked and ready to fire position.

Compound Bow – A bow that uses cams and pulleys to aid in the performance of the bow. (SCA Illegal)

Constabling – For archery and thrown weapons activities, the assistance with the running of the range or line while shooting or throwing is in progress.

Crossbow Stock – The rifle like (wooden) shaped body of the crossbow that holds the prod and houses the trigger mechanism.

Cutting the Line- When using lines for scoring, the arrow must break the line not bend or touch the line for the additional point.

Danger Zone – That area around the target in which a missile or thrown weapon could land. Also the area directly behind someone throwing a weapon.

Drawing – The process of pulling the bow string back toward the face into a firing position.

End – A designated number of arrows/bolts shot by an archer during his turn shooting.

Field of Fire – The area of the range in front of the participants in which arrows/bolts or thrown weapons will travel through or land within.

Firing Line – The designated line that participants use to determine firing position.

Fletches – The fins at the rear of arrows or bolts used to stabilize the projectile during flight.

Haft –Another name to refer to the handle of a thrown weapon.

Kisser Button – A disk placed on the bow string that is used to determine if the bow is drawn correctly. (SCA Illegal)

Nock – The v-shaped piece placed on the end of the arrow to keep iton the string before firing.

Nock Point – A plastic or brass ring placed on the string that is used to indicate the correct placement of the arrow.

Nocking Arrows – The process of putting the arrow into the bow in order to draw and fire.

Round – A designated number of ends will make up a round for competitions.

Serving – An over wrap of the string to protect the string at the ends and where the string has contact with the arrow or bolt.

Shelf – The lower part of the cut out portion of the bow. Arrows are shot off this shelf if the bow is not equipped with an arrow rest.

Sling – A loop of cord around the wrist and the bow to keep the bow in the hand while shooting.

Speed Round – An SCA term for an end, which is timed, during which an unlimited number of arrows may be fired, up to the designated time limit.

Spine Weight – The stiffness of the arrow. A heavier bow requires a more rigid arrow that will flex less than one spined lighter.

Stabilizers – Weights or rods placed on the bow that is designed to reduce the recoil and twist of a bow when fired. (SCA Illegal)

Static Round – An SCA term for an end of shooting, shot with a specific number of arrows and no time limit.

String Release –Mechanical devices that are held in the hand and clip onto the string for smooth release. (SCA Illegal)

Stirrup – An attachment on some crossbows that the foot is placed into to hold and steady the crossbow while it is being cocked or braced.

Tips – The front end of arrows and bolts. Tips come in different styles; target points, field points, broad heads (razor bladed hunting tips), blunt tips, Judo tips (three or more spread wire catches), etc. For SCA purposes we use only target and field points on regular targets, blunts and Judo tips on special targets or shoots.

Wedges – Small metal or wood pieces that are driven into the tops of hammers and axes to keep the head secure.

Weight for Bow – The amount of force built up when the bow is drawn to its specific draw length. This is measured in pounds.

MARCHAL-IN-TRAINING FORM

SCA Name:_____________________________________ Date:____________

Mundane Name:________________________________

Membership Number:___________________________

Group:________________________________________

Inspection of:

Bow & Arrows ______________________ ______________________