# Any legal limiitations on owning a flaming pitch tossing catapult? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916 "2003-12-19T05:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/21 "2003-12-19T15:36:59Z")
In Russia, flaming pitch catapult outlaws YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/22 "2003-12-19T15:45:47Z")
Tell you all something. Let’s have a _ **Flaming Pitch Tossing Dope Fest** _ at my house. I have 150 acres of land out back and my land is of course, private property. Most people here know I like to tinker with cool projects. My wife makes a killer Lasagne and I’m in for a good spectacle. What will we need for counter weights? I only have large slabs of granite! Who’s in? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/23 "2003-12-19T15:51:16Z")
“Approximately 100 people staged an impromptu demonstration outside the embassy, when the ambassador emerged from the door, a riot broke out; police officers moved in, deploying CS gas and rubber flaming pitch tossing catapults.” ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/24 "2003-12-19T17:30:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Let’s have a Flaming Pitch Tossing Dope Fest at my house. I have 150 acres of land out back and my land is of course, private property. 150 acres of private property, and the owner not only will allow but is actively encouraging the construction of instruments of flaming flying burning destruction and their use? Count me IN!!! Where do you live, Phlosphr? I’ll be there tomorrow. q;} ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/25 "2003-12-19T17:36:53Z")
Connecticut - and one of my back fields is almost 600 yards long… The Flaming Pitch Tossing Catapult won’t go further than that right? Otherwise we get into town land and a bunch of bureaucratic muck de mucks… I’m starting a thread on the necessities needed for the FPTCDF, in mpsims. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/26 "2003-12-19T18:12:08Z")
> [@](#): > > The Flaming Pitch Tossing Catapult won’t go further than that right? Otherwise we get into town land and a bunch of bureaucratic muck de mucks… How 'bout we station our battery at the town’s edge and toss the projectiles back _towards_ your house? That should keep us outta Dutch with the local constabulary if we overshoot. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/27 "2003-12-19T18:43:00Z")
You can’t shoot it towards my house…you may hit my treehouse! No away and into the back field is good! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/28 "2003-12-19T19:36:39Z")
Heck, my automobile is an “infernal machine.” ---
**Author:** ![SeekingTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@SeekingTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeekingTruth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/29 "2003-12-19T19:44:30Z")
This just gave me an idea. I’m gonna build one of these bastards, set it up next to the house, and spread the rumor that I COULD launch flaming pitch if I wanted to. That’ll get these damn kids to keep the car stereos down. Philosphr, we have a hunting cabin here in No Dak on 500 acres. Closest neighbor (forget the town) is 7 miles away. Let’s just have it here. I’m sure the tourism dept would give me a plaque for the money brought in. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/30 "2003-12-19T19:57:00Z")
Sure! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/31 "2003-12-19T20:38:52Z")
“Infernal Machine” is the best band name I’ve heard in months. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/32 "2003-12-19T20:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SeekingTruth \* > \*\*This just gave me an idea. I’m gonna build one of these bastards, set it up next to the house, and spread the rumor that I COULD launch flaming pitch if I wanted to. That’ll get these damn kids to keep the car stereos down. > > Philosphr, we have a hunting cabin here in No Dak on 500 acres. Closest neighbor (forget the town) is 7 miles away. Let’s just have it here. I’m sure the tourism dept would give me a plaque for the money brought in. 😉 \*\* Would those of us in the rest of the USA need passports for No Dak? Is that anywhere near Ko Dak? Can I buy film there? Anyway it would make a heck of a video, at night of course. Better than the Trebouchet on Northern Exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/33 "2003-12-19T21:49:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Like the ones in the beginning of the movie “Gladiator”. Just wonder if I could build one of these and test it in my backyard so long as the balls of flaming pitch stayed on my side of the fence? Who has to power to say I can’t do this if it’s not proscribed by law? \*\* Where does one get balls of flaming pitch–Flaming Pitch R Us? **Astro,** why not pull out all the stops and just get a battery of Tomahawk missiles? Slather some flaming pitch on them and it says “Go to Hell!” to the Amway salesman in no uncertain terms. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/34 "2003-12-20T01:29:09Z")
If Hans Blix wants a look, just go ahead and let him. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/35 "2003-12-20T01:47:38Z")
[How 'bout a flaming john](http://asylum.apocalypse.org/pub/u/zonker/fpp/html/trebuchet.html) (Not as tasty as a Flaming Moe) > [@](#): > > Mr. Kennedy has been studying and writing about ancient engines of war since his days at Sandhurst, Britain’s military academy, some 30 years ago. But what spurred him to build one was, as he puts it, `my nutter cousin'' in Northumberland, who put together a pint-sized trebuchet for a county fair. The device hurled porcelain toilets soaked in gasoline and set afire. A local paper described the event under the headline `Those Magnificent Men and Their Flaming Latrines.’’ > [@](#): > > With surprising grace, the grand piano sails through the sky a hundred feet above a pasture here, finally returning to earth in a fortissimo explosion of wood chunks, ivory keys and piano wire. Nor is the piano the strangest thing to startle the grazing sheep this Sunday morning. A few minutes later, a car soars by - a 1975 blue two-door Hillman, to be exact - following the same flight path and meeting the same loud fate. Pigs fly here, too. In recent months, many dead 500-pound sows (two of them wearing parachutes) have passed overhead, as has the occasional dead horse. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/36 "2003-12-20T02:46:53Z")
Here ya go: [Flaming Pitch R Us](http://www.salemdist.com/Telescope.html), only $15.50/kg. They even offer a choice of hard, medium, soft, or very soft; although you can just buy hard, melt it, and make it as soft as you want by adding turpentine. Can I come to Pitchfest too? Will there be any [goats](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41020)? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/37 "2003-12-20T02:50:16Z")
Sure go ahead and build a trebuchet and throw almost anything except any kind of flaming or flammable material. And be sure it is not going to cause damage you will ber responsible paying for. * * * “Beware of the Cog” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/38 "2003-12-20T16:03:54Z")
A friend used to own a farm which had a river as one border. The river (more of a big creek except in Spring) had wide sandbars and he used to have big (100-guest) outdoor BYO parties every summer on the sandbar. The highlight of each party was a bonfire. Make that a BONFIRE. He’d make a teepee of logs & lumber 5-10 ft in diameter & 10-15 ft high. A suitable supply of diesel was used to ensure a good light-off. 50 foot flames were not uncommon, at least until all the diesel was consumed. And every time he had to have a more outlandish way to light it off. One year he/we built a trebuchet about 10’ tall. The missile was a roll of toilet paper soaked in kerosene. We set up about 100’ back from the teepee & opened fire as it were. The first shot was waaay long, the second had good range, but was left of target. The third hit just short of the teepee & bounced up into it. Massive fireball ensued, followed by much drunken regaling. Sadly, this was before the widespread use of digital cameras. [Here](http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/lastchance/images/BONFIRE.JPG) is a picture of another party a couple of years later wherein the bonfire was started with a flaming arrow shot from a bow. Again kerosene soaked TP provided the “pitch”. The photo is fish-eyed and the shooter is aiming away from us as well as across the scene; the actual distance from shooter to bonfire is about 50 ft. Take this picture and double it and you’ve got an idea of the scene with the trebuchet and flaming “pitch”. I recommend it highly for anyone living rurally enough to pull it off. Just don’t forget to bring the beer; lots of it. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/39 "2003-12-20T17:00:56Z")
How about a 1920’s Death Ray Flaming Pitch Catapult? ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/40 "2003-12-21T02:11:48Z")
Wouldn’t a flaming pitch tossing catapult qualify as a “920’s Style Death Ray”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916.md?page=3)