Turkey
feathers
Hard wood
Lead band
A DART
CIRCA
1920
Darts were originally
made from wood.
For added weight a
metal “strap” was
wrapped around the
barrel.
DARTS DATA
1) The weight specified on the packaging of steeltip
darts in this catalogue is for one pointed dart barrel
only. It does not include the weight of the shaft
and flight.
2) The average speed of a dart hitting a board is
around 64kph (40mph).
3) In tournament play a player is only allowed 9 practice
darts (3 shots) before commencing a match.
4) In tournament play the longest time a player may
be allowed between throwing individual darts is
3 minutes. This allows for a player to replace or
repair damaged darts equipment.
5) In tournament play the maximum allowable dart
weight is 50 grams.
6) In tournament play the maximum allowable dart
length is 12 inches (30cms)
The true origins of darts are lost in the mists
of time. Legend has it that King Henry VIII of England
instructed his archers to practice their skills all the year
round, so that they were always ready for battle.
Taking into account Englandʼs unfavourable weather,
some archers took their skills indoors. They threw cut
down arrows at the end of upturned beer barrels in the
inns and taverns of the Middle Ages.
History does not tell whether this “indoor archery”
proved beneficial in combat, but the skills of the modern
day players make a connection through the passage of
time to their historical darting forefathers.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DARTS
1314 - “Darte” was first referred to in journals of the time, but this is
probably not the game of darts as we know it today.
1620 - Legend has it that the Pilgrim Fathers played a form of darts on the
Mayflower, as they travelled to America. They allegedly threw short
arrows into the butt or base of a wine barrel.
1896 - Brian Gamlin is credited with the ‘invention’ of the numbering sequence
of the modern standard dartboard.
1906 - A Yorkshireman patented an all metal barrel.
1908 - The throw line (oche or hockey) was established by placing
three foot high beer barrels end to end, which made a distance of
9 feet. The barrels were manufactured by S. Hockey & Sons and so
the expression “Toe the Hockey” was born.
1973 - Darts first shown on TV in England. In the
programme “Indoor League”, which ran
for 4 years, and 72 programmes.
1973 - Harrows Darts was founded.
1977 - The World Darts Federation standardised
the throwing distance at 7 feet
9 1 / 4 inches (2.37 metres).
1977 - Softip darts invented in USA.
1989 - On February 21st 1989, at Buckingham
Palace, London, Eric Bristow became the
first and only darts player to receive the coveted
Member of the British Empire award (M.B.E.). Bristow was awarded this
honour for “Services to Darts and UK Exports” by Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II.
2002 - TV Darts is firmly established as an International Sport, with it’s
broadcast throughout Europe, America, South Africa, South East Asia
and Australasia.
2005 - Eric Bristow inducted into the “Darts Hall Of Fame” as a founder member.
Produced in collaboration with Patrick ‘Doctor Darts’ Chaplin. www.patrickchaplin.com
STEELTIP DARTS
7
HISTORY
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