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The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department’s Mission
for its Historic Parks and Programs is to provide visitors with
quality presentations of life in the 18th century back country
North Carolina. At the core of this mission is the philosophy
that “hands-on” experiences teach by letting the
visitor feel that he/she has literally touched a piece of history.
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Black
powder and edged weapons need to be used with the greatest of
care and concern at all times. During a large-scale reenactment,
these concerns are magnified. The following rules address these
concerns to insure the safety of visitors and reenactors alike.
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1. Spectators – As you are aware, black powder is volatile
and dangerous. Spectators should NEVER be allowed, under any
circumstances, to handle black powder.
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2. Storage – Powder
should be stored in containers that provide both security and
weather protection. A locked storage box is required. The storage
should be accessible ONLY to your unit.
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3. Cartridges – All
cartridges are to consist of paper with (preferably) 3F powder
and may be either folded, tied, or taped (masking tape) to secure
them. Cartridge sizes are as follows:
• Musket 100 grains maximum.
• Rifle 60 grains maximum.
• Pistol 50 grains maximum.
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Please have your rounds rolled prior to the event.
However, if you must roll rounds, make sure you are isolated from sources
of heat and flame and NEVER leave materials unattended. You are
not allowed to carry live rounds on the park property. Possession
of live rounds will result in removal from the site.
• Make sure to keep black powder in any form away from ignition
sources (fire, spectators’ cigarettes, etc.).
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1. Restrictions – you may allow visitors to touch firearms,
but NEVER let the visitor control the weapon. ALWAYS be sure
you maintain control.
• NEVER, ever let a visitor handle a weapon that is loaded
or even primed.
• NEVER let visitors fire weapons or “flash pans”.
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2. Required
Safety Devices – You musket/rifle
is required to have the following:
• A leather hammer stall.
• A flash guard.
• Functioning half-cock position.
• When available, pistols are required to have the same
safety devices as muskets/rifles. If any of the above are not
present and/or functioning, you CANNOT fire your weapon within
the park.
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3. Security – You are responsible for
the security of your weapon(s) at ALL times.
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1. Spectators – Edged weapons are particularly dangerous
to children and visitors. NEVER let a visitor handle ANY edged
weapon.
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2. Safety Devices – Any edged weapon
must be kept in an appropriate sheath or cover at all times.
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3. Security – You are responsible for
the security of your weapon(s) at ALL times.
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1. Firing Distances – You should NEVER discharge your
weapon closer than 25 yards from an opposing line.
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2. Critical
Distances – In addition
to firing distances specified, you should NEVER maneuver closer
than 15 yards to an opposing line or unit. This is both for
safety and command/control reasons. (Units may maneuver closer
than 15 yards, but ONLY if agreed upon and rehearsed in advance).
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3. Aiming Points – You should NEVER,
under any circumstances, aim your weapon directly at a fellow
reenactor. Weapons should ALWAYS be elevated to fire over the
heads of an opposing line.
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4. Edged Weapons Restrictions – While
wearing edged weapons is permitted, only personnel in command
positions are allowed to use them, and only in appropriate
command functions. The fixing of bayonets is NOT allowed on
the battlefield. Bayonets are only to be fixed during specific,
pre-
approved demonstrations.
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5. NEVER have your weapons loaded except
when given the command by a Commander.
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6. Pistols – Pistols
are only to be used on the battlefield by appropriate units/individuals
(i.e. Dragoons). The Field Commanders MUST be informed it your
unit plans to fire pistols on the battlefield.
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7. Misfire Procedure – If
your weapon misfires, you are required to secure your firelock
(i.e. dump your powder), and then fully reload your weapon. To
facilitate this misfire procedure, no cartridges are to be rammed
down during the tactical.
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8. Ramrods – Ramrods are NEVER
to be used on the battlefield.
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9. Hand-to-hand Combat – Under
NO circumstances are you to take or pretend to take a weapon
from a fellow reenactor. (See Battlefield Conduct, paragraph
2).
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10. Use of black powder and edged weapons during any and all
tactical demonstrations is restricted to registered participants
no younger than 16 years of age. Those who are registered and
are younger than 16 may serve as participants but are restricted
to serve in a capacity that does not require them to use or carry
weapons.
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1. General Information – Any firing of weapons for demonstration
outside of the battle scenario must be pre-approved by the Park
Director/Manager or Park Safety Officer.
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2. Demonstration Site – Any
approved demonstration must be held in the battlefield area,
with visitors on the opposite side of the rope line. No demonstrations
are allowed in the camp(s) at any time.
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3. Spectators – You
are responsible for maintaining a distance of 25 feet from the
visitors (and any other demonstrators), and for warning visitors
of the flash and noise the guns produce.
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1. Before Inspections – Prior to any safety inspection,
all firelocks should be secured (i.e. dumped out), to insure
there is no powder in the barrel.
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2. When Required – Safety
inspections of your firearms are required before firing in any
demonstration: including the battle and any unit or individual
demonstration. Safety inspections will also be performed at the
end of such demonstration.
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3. Inspection Procedure – All
units are expected to follow these guidelines in addition to
their own unit safety procedures:
• All units will inspect the following:
• Flashguards.
• Hammer stalls.
• Functioning half-cock position.
• Cracks in the stock.
• Any other items that the unit safety
officer deems appropriate.
• All firearms will be searched using the ramrod.
• All cartridge boxes will be inspected to insure that the rounds
are safely stored and properly constructed.
• All edged weapons will be inspected for the proper sheath/covering
and for the proper security.
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Each Unit Commander is responsible for seeing
this is done, or appointing someone to do so. This person will
report his unit’s
status to the Park Safety Officer and prepare his unit’s
troops for inspection as required.
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1. Unit Responsibilities – Units are responsible for the
following while on site:
• Full safety inspections before and after all demonstrations
and tactical exercises.
• Storage and security of their cartridges.
• Security and control of their weapon.
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2. Individual Responsibilities – While
on site, the individual reenactor is required to:
• Have his weapon clean and equipped with the appropriate
safety devices.
• Secure all cartridges issued to him.
• Maintain control of his weapon at all times.
• Report any safety violations to his Unit Commander
or Park Staff.
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1. Who to inform – If you observe a violation, you should
inform a Unit Commander, Field Commander, or Park Staff.
• On the battlefield, either Field Commander can stop the
battle at any time for a safety violation.
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2. Consequences of
Safety Violations – If
a safety violation occurs during the battle and is sufficiently
serious that its consequences would cause immediate harm; the
entire battle will be stopped.
• Units or individuals may be denied participation in the
battle, removed from the battlefield, or removed from the site
by Park Staff for violation of safety regulations.
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Supplement to:
• Safety Regulations at Tannenbaum Historic Park and City
of Greensboro Reenactment Sites.
• Tannenbaum Historic Park Policy Manual.
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In addition to the Park Safety
Regulations regarding Black Powder, etc., the following regulations apply specifically
to artillery:
1. Maximum Load – 1 ounce C-Grade black Powder per 1¦2
inch bore size.
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2. Firing Critical Distances – NEVER
maneuver the gun closer than 30 yards from an opposing line.
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3. Aiming Point – Of course, elevate
the gun! NEVER aim directly into the opposing line.
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Attached
are the Artillery Demonstration Checklist and Cannon Inspection
Checklist of the Continental Line. These guidelines have been
adopted by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department.
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Continental
Line Artillery Guidelines
The Tube:
[ ] The tube is clean and free of rust or corrosion.
[ ] No sign of external damage or strain.
[ ] Inside of tube is clean and relatively smooth.
[ ] No internal signs of damage (bulges, pits, ets.)
[ ] No sign of corrosion damage at breach.
[ ] The vent is clear and of acceptable size.
[ ] No signs of cracked or bending around the trunnions.
[ ] No signs of weakness at the chaplets on bronze tubes.
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The
Carriage:
[ ] Wheels are tight and free of rot and infestation.
[ ] The Body of the carriage is free of rot and infestation.
[ ] No pieces or parts are missing, cracked, bent, or broken.
[ ] Wheels move freely.
[ ] None of the iron work is loose.
[ ] Tube rotates freely on its trunnions.
[ ] Trunnion caps fit snugly and are properly keyed.
[ ] Lids of ammunition boxes and limber chests fit snugly
and are free of loose powder.
[ ] Wheel hub does not gouge the end of the axle tree.
[ ] Linch pin is not digging into the wheel hub.
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Equipment:
[ ] All necessary equipment is present.
[ ] Sponge is in good condition and is fitted to the bore.
[ ] Rammer head is secure and free of cracks.
[ ] Small items are in good condition (linstock, thumbstall,
buckets, etc.).
[ ] Prongs of the worm are sharp and not bent.
[ ] The Gun Book is kept up to date.
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Continental Line Artillery
Guidelines
Before:
[ ] The Gun has been inspected, and bore is clean of any
foreign material.
[ ] The carriage is in good condition and all keys are
secured.
[ ] The accessory equipment is in good condition – sponge
head is in good, rammer and sponge head are secure on staff,
etc.
[ ] Sponge head fits bore snugly, but not too tight.
[ ] Ammunition boxes are clean and free of loose powder.
[ ] Necessary equipment on hand to handle a misfire.
[ ] The required number of personnel on hand to fire the
piece.
[ ] The gun is situated safely in relation to the public.
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During:
[ ] The crew is following the approved manual with each
person where they are supposed to be at any given moment.
[ ] The sponge is adequately damp, but not soaking wet.
[ ] The Rammer is wearing gauntlets, but they are not so
stiff and heavy as to cause fumbling.
[ ] The sponge head does not contact the ground at any
time; as to prevent grass, sand, etc. from sticking to it.
[ ] If there is a misfire, it is handled safely and appropriately.
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After:
[ ] After firing, the piece is wormed and washed out, and
dried.
[ ] All weapons, explosives, and accessory pieces are accounted
for.
[ ] The demonstration area is inspected carefully for smoldering
residue.
[ ] The sponge head is thoroughly rinsed out and dried.
[ ] All remaining cartridges are promptly returned to the
proper storage areas.
[ ] The gun is secured and equipment stored properly.
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Rev.
08/2006
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