Conical friction (CF) joints subjected to impact-induced wave (IIW) loading are studied theoretically and experimentally. The system considered consists of a long, straight, cylindrical and linearly elastic rod which is impacted axially at one end, and which has a body attached by means of a CF joint at the opposite end. The conditions are such that the wave propagation is 1-D in the rod and can be neglected in the attached body, which is therefore treated as rigid. Slip and energy dissipation in the CF joint due to a single IIW load are determined as functions of four dimensionless parameters which represent the duration of the incident wave, the mass of the attached body, the behaviour of the CF joint and the initial slip due to a compressive preload. The conditions under which detachment occurs are also found. Results for repeated noninteracting IIW loads are derived from those obtained for a single IIW load. The theoretical results exhibit phenomena which may sometimes have a spectacular appearance. For example, four consecutive and identical IIW loads may have the effect of fastening, loosening, fastening again and, finally, detaching the CF joint. There is a fair agreement between theoretical and experimental results.