- Safety Regulations -
These
Safety Regulations are a guide from our parent organization, 1st Division ANV,
and is what we will adhere to for safety issues.
We will
be adding a safety check list at a later date, "under construction".
This
manual is written as a guideline for the protection and well being of
reenacting participants within the 1st. Division A.N.V. Units falling in with
the ANV will be held to these guidelines. There are the minimum standards
acceptable. Battalion Commanders may exceed these guidelines at their own
discretion.
Contents
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1.1 The term WEAPON shall be defined as any and
all devices designed to fire a powder driven projectile or blank charge and all
bladed weapons such as, but not limited to swords, sabers, bayonets, lances and
knives. Whether a weapon is actually functional or loaded makes no difference.
1.2 The term ACCOUTREMENTS shall be defined as
any and all issued type military goods taken onto the field. These items
include, but are not limited to cartridge box, cap box, bayonet and scabbard,
belt haversack and canteen.
1.3 The term FIELD shall be defined as the area
in which drills and battles take place.
1.4 The term ORDNANCE OFFICER/ SGT. Is the
person selected by the individual Battalions to perform the task of inspecting
and clearing the weapons as safe. He will report to A.N.V. Headquarters for
safety meetings, and is responsible for turning in the daily "WEAPONS
INSPECTION FORM"
1.5 The term CHIEF OF ORDNANCE refers to the
senior Ordnance Officer at A.N.V. Headquarters.
1.6 The term SOLDIER refers to an A.N.V. unit
member, who carries a "black powder" weapon onto the field. The
minimum age to carry a "black powder " weapon is 16 years old.
2.1 Every member of the ANV, military or
civilian, who desires to carry a weapon, loaded or unloaded shall participate
in weapon inspections.
2.2 Safety inspections will be conducted prior
to all battalion formations by company officers. A battalion weapons inspection
will be held before moving onto the field.
2.3 Battalion Staff weapons shall be inspected
by the Ordnance Officer/Sgt.
2.4 Any weapon found to be questionable for any
reason will be failed. It will NOT be carried in any battalion formation or
activity until repairs are made to the weapon, and it has been re-inspected. A
permanent record should be kept by battalion Ordnance , listing reason of
failure, owners name, unit and serial number of the weapon. The Chief Ordnance
Officer may ask to see this record.
2.5 Each Company Ord. Sgt. will keep a permanent
list of his Company's weapons. This list will include the owner's name, weapon
description and serial number.
2.6 The Chief Ordnance Officer can, at anytime
request that a man, company or battalion, re-inspect their weapons.
WEAPONS AND ACCOUTREMENTS
3 RIFLES, MUSKETS AND
CARBINES
3.1 Only proper weapons of the period will be
allowed. No Hawkins, Plains or modern weapons, ammunition are not permitted.
3.2 All weapons will be clean and free of
obstructions. Weapons will be inspected in the following manner.
3.2a The company (battalion) will be formed up
at "open order". Bayonets are fixed and rammers are sprung.
3.2b The Ordnance Sgt. goes to each file, and as
he does so the file member will "smartly" present his weapon to the
Ord Sgt.
3.2c The Ord Sgt. will gently raise and drop the
rammer, listening.for the clear "
3.2d He will then check the bayonet locking
device (ring). If the bayonet is of the type that uses the front sight, and the
front sight is not present, the bayonet cannot be used
3.2e The stock will then be checked for cracks.
3.2f The half-cock will be checked by applying
pressure to the trigger. The hammer should also be checked for side to side
movement.
3.2g The nipple will be checked for deformity
and cracking.It must also be checked to see if it is
properly seated and not loose. Check vent screw if nipple has one.
3.2h The Max load for a .577 or 58cal weapon is
60 grains of ff / fff black powder. The Max load for a 69 or larger caliber
weapon is 80 grains of ff / fff black powder.
3.3 Weapons will be capped off before moving to
the battlefield. Do not cap or discharge weapons in camp.
3.4 Breech loading Carbines will be inspected in
the same manner as Rifles except,(a) with the action open a visual check must
be made of the interior of the barrel, or (b) a ramrod or such device is
inserted into the barrel, and the barrel probed in its full length and the
device seen to emerge at the other opening of the barrel.
3.5 The max load for a carbine is 60 Grains ff /
fff black powder.
All pistols must be inspected to carry on the
field! No exception! Inspection will be carried out by the Battalion ordnance
officer.
4.1 Pistols will only be carried by Officers, NCOs, Cavalry Troopers,
Artillerists and others at the battalion commanders discresion.
4.2 No more than 2 pistols will be carried by
one person, unless that person is a Cav Trooper.
4.3 All pistols will be carried in a proper
military holster with a flap capable of being fastened.
4.4 Pistols will be inspected by the battalion
Ord Officer , he will keep a daily log that will list the names of the persons
who's weapons have been checked. The Pistols will be inspected in the following
manner: Pistols will be inspected in camp before the Division forms up for
battle.
4.4a Pistols will be unloaded, cylinder will be
removed from frame, barrel will be removed if possible. These parts will be
handed over to the inspector.
4.4b The cylinder will checked to make sure
light can be seen through the nipples while looking
through front of cylinder. Nipples will be checked for condition.
4.4c The barrel will be checked for obstructions
by (a) looking down the barrel and seeing light at the other end or (b) using a
piece of wooden dowel, which is placed in the barrel and allowed to go through
the entire length of the barrel. The dowel is the preferred method.
4.4d The pistol is now reassembled, the safety
checked, and the action inspected for proper function.
4.4e When the pistol has past its inspection it
will be recorded in the Ord. Officers Book.
4.5 Spare cylinders must be carried in a proper,
period leather case and worn on the belt. Spare loaded cylinders carried by
Infantry, are not to be capped until the cylinder is in the pistol.
4.6 The Max load for a pistol is 30 grains of
fff black powder.
4.7 When loading pistols, owners will load in
pairs, each watching the other for errors.
4.8 No wonder wads will be allowed, The
preferred method of loading is as follows. fff black powder and then a packing
such as "cream of wheat" or "corn meal" followed by
greasing the end of the cylinder. Other safe methods will be considered.
It is highly advised by Col. Taylor that all
officers do not draw their swords in combat. They can be drawn in parade only.
5.1 Bayonets must have a working locking mechanism. If the bayonet uses the front
sight of the rifle, the sight must be there or the bayonet will not be fixed.
5.2 Bayonet blades must be totally covered, with
the tip covered in metal, or if of a Confederate type, it must have a wooden
plug at bottom, and leather of the scabbard stitched all the way down. File
scabbard tips to blunt them to a more round shape at the tip.
5.3 Swords must be of proper period type and be
in good serviceable condition.
5.4 Carrying large belt or sheath knives into
battle is discouraged. If they are carried they must be tied into their
scabbard. It will not be taken out at any time on the field.
6.1 Canteens will be of the proper type,
constructed of wood, tin, or steel. No glass bottles, padded or not, slung or
carried in the haversack is acceptable.
6.2 Canteens will be carried on the field and
they will be full of water. Water only is highly recommended.
6.3 Cartridge Boxes will be of the proper type.
Cartridge box tins are strongly recommended by the Divisional Safety Officer.
Most events require tins in boxes. At no time will caps or cartridges be
carried in pockets.
6.4 Cap boxes must be of the proper type, with a
flap that can be secured
7.1 No live rounds with projectiles are allowed
at any time in camp or on the field.
7.2 Projectiles used for display in camps or for
living history must separate from the cartridges. NEVER store projectiles in
cartridge box.
7.3 Cartridges will be made of plain paper. No
newspaper materials can be used, "too thin." No writing or lettering
is allowed. No Penny wrappers or paper with staples ECT will be accepted.
7.4 Wadding should not be used unless
specifically required for that type of weapon. Do not put paper in the barrel
or stamp the gun on the ground to pack powder!
7.5 Cartridges will be inspected for
authenticity and size.
7.6 Wonder wads will NOT be used. See 4.8 for
pistol loading information.
7.7 Small arms Maximum loads:
577,58 cal 60 Grains ff
69-75 cal 80 Grains ff
Carbines 60 Grains ff
Pistols 30 Grains fff
8.1 Any weapon that fails while on the field
must be inspected by the Ord. Sgt before it is used again.
8.2 It is recommended that if a soldier buys a
new part for a weapon , he should have his Ord Sgt. install, or check the
installation of the part, before the weapon is used.
9.1 All weapons will be treated as loaded at all
times.
9.2 Any weapon that "hits" the ground
must be cleared by the Ord Sgt. before the weapon goes back into line.
9.3 Any soldier that has a misfire will
immediately inform a Sgt. who will retire, behind the officers, with the weapon
and try to clear it. If the weapon cannot be cleared, it MUST not be used for
the remainder of the battle.
9.4 Weapons will not be GROUNDED on the field,
after they have had their pre-battle inspection..
9.5 Two band rifles will be used at the
discretion of the Battn. commanders.
9.6 Cartridges will not be laid on the ground
for"instant" use. Dropped cartridges will be inspected for debris before
being used.
9.7 NO ramrods will be drawn on the field by
soldiers. The exception to this rule are the Ord Sgts. They can use the ramrod
to prove a weapon clear after retiring 10 paces.
9.8 Percussion caps will NOT be carried in the teeth
to speed up loading.
9.9 When loading on the field, proper loading
procedures will be followed, The spent percussion cap is never removed before
the powder is put in the barrel.
9.10 Bayonets will not be fixed on the field.
Except A: To stack arms before battle. B: After the battle and after weapons
are cleared.
9.11 No smoking in the ranks.
9.12 No Person will take a hit with a loaded
weapon.
9.13 When taking a hit, do not throw yourself
backward.
9.14 Weapons will be cleared on the field before
returning to camp. Whenever possible the individual Battns. will form and clear
as units.
9.15 No firing at troops at less than 30 feet.
9.16 At no time will mounted troops be fired
upon at close range, and never shoot close to or directly at an animal.
9.17 There will be no hand to hand combat unless
previously arraigned.
9.18 No tampions on the battlefield.
10.1 The artillery will follow their own safety
guidelines as put out by the Chief of ARTILLERY.
10.2 At no time will troops fire their weapons
within 25 ft of an Artillery piece or limber chest .
10.3 Troops will not move through Artillery
positions without permission from the Battery Commander.
10.4 Approach all Artillery positions with
caution, Watch for signals warning of a misfire or a loaded piece.
10.5 It is necessary that all Officers and NCOs
are aware of what the different Artillery signals mean. And can act on this
knowledge.
10.6 No one will touch an Artillery Piece
without the permission of the crew.
10.7 No smoking within 25 ft of an Artillery
position
Adopted: April 3, 1999
Major Dean Owen
Chief of Ordnance
Updated
for 4th Regiment / 1st Battalion use: Febuary 10, 2002
