Safety Guidelines
Personal & Unit Conduct
1. All individuals are responsible for carrying out the safety rules. Copies shall be distributed to all individuals, especially to those attending an event with the Appins for the first time. Copies shall be made available as needed.
2. When “killed” or “wounded” during an engagement, lie still; do not rise, fire, or strike at anyone after you have fallen.
3. When charging an enemy who does not give way, stop and do not press him. When charged by an enemy who does not stop, give way.
4. Never come into physical contact with an enemy unless the unit commanders have approved a prearranged scenario.
5. Never disturb an artillery crew unless the unit commanders have approved a prearranged scenario.
6. Do not fire or strike at an enemy that is too close; fall down or run away.
7. Officers, both your own and the enemy’s, are carrying out the plans for the battle. Do as they instruct you.
8. Stay with your unit; do not move off on your own.
9. Be quiet and listen to your officers.
10. Be safe. Use common sense. Be aware of others on your flanks and front. Elevate or oblique your fire as needed or directed.
11. No firing in camp at any time, unless needed or directed.
1. All small arms shall be modern reproduction flint arms. The lock, stock and barrel must be in safe and usable condition.
2. All weapons shall be inspected prior to taking the field by safety officers appointed or assigned for said duty.
3. The gun must remain in the half-cock position when it is suspended by the trigger.
4. All arms must have a firmly attached metal flashguard so attached that it cannot become loose and slip down in action. A leather hammerstall must also be provided on the frizzen.
5. Powder horns may be carried, but may not contain powder. Small priming horns containing no more than 1 ounce of priming powder, preferably with a self-closing plunger-type valve spout may be carried safely in a pouch or pocket.
6. During any exercise, when there are persons in the line of fire, rammers are not to be drawn from the pipes.
7. Pistols may be carried, but not used during an engagment.
1. All loading must be done from individual paper cartridges.
2. The load shall not exceed 120 grs. of black powder (2 fg).
3. The cartridges shall be of sufficient thickness to prevent their easily breaking or taking fire.
4. There shall be no stapling of cartridges. They shall be folded or twisted at the end.
5. Cartridges shall not contain any fillers or any other material. All cartridges shall contain the appropriate amount of black powder only.
6. No live cartridges or loose balls are to be carried, except at a live shoot. A unit commander may issue a single round ball to one man for public display, but this must be recovered before any battle demonstration.
1. Edged weapons must be properly sheathed.
2. Polearms must be carried upright.
3. Generally speaking, no edged weapon may be drawn on the field and may not be brandished or thrust at anyone, unless it is part of a pre-arranged demonstration.
4. Bayonets may be fixed and charged during an engagement only if this is agreed upon beforehand. Any unit commander may veto their use. Only one officer on each side shall have authority to order fixed bayonets. they may only be used by formed troops, who must always march and never run with them. they may not be used by light infantry.
