Draft:Throwflame

Throwflame, originally known as XMatter, is a flamethrower manufacturer based in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is notable for introducing handheld flamethrowers to the general public as well as for developing the first UAV-based and robot dog mounted flamethrower attachments.

The company and its products have been discussed in the public debate about the legality of consumer flamethrowers in the United States.

History
XMatter, now Throwflame, was founded by Quinn Whitehead in 2015. The company initially sought to provide flamethrowers for agricultural purposes, after its founder learned of the challenges faced by those seeking military surplus models for such purposes. The same year, the company introduced the X15, a handheld flamethrower with a range of 50 feet. This drew media and legislative scrutiny due to its unregulated status in many U.S. states.

In 2018, the company added the XL18, a flamethrower with an expanded range, to its product line. This model was initially developed for a government client and later made available to the public.

In 2019, Throwflame released the TF-19 WASP, a UAV-mounted flamethrower attachment, generating further media attention.

In 2023, the company introduced the Thermonator, an FPV robotic dog equipped with a flamethrower attachment. Some media sources speculated that the Thermonator may have inspired a proposal in the Massachusetts state legislature to ban the weaponization of robots.

Legal and regulatory status
In the United States, flamethrowers such as those produced by Throwflame are not federally regulated and are not classified as firearms. State laws regarding these devices vary, with some states implementing specific regulations. In the aftermath of media coverage of Throwflame's products, legislation to ban flamethrowers was proposed by US Representative Eliot Engel but was not ultimately adopted.

Throwflame has countered criticism about the legality and safety of their products by emphasizing the practical applications of their products, such as their use in remote agricultural burning and forest fire containment. However, claims about the use of the company's products for ecological conservation have been met with mockery and skepticism by some media commentators.