Armored Combat:Equipment standards - Handheld weapons

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Equipment standards - Handheld weapons

Definitions

Handheld weapons
Handheld weapons are those that are used for striking your opponent while you are holding the weapon. They are used in tournament and melee combat.
Handheld weapons fall into four categories:
  1. Single-handed swords
  2. Single-handed weapons with a head (mass weapons)
  3. Two-handed weapons (mass weapons)
  4. Spears
Mass weapon
A weapon with a head for striking, or a two-handed weapon (except spears).
Head
The portion of the weapon used for striking that is substantially larger than the haft or shaft.
Handle
The handle is defined as the gripping area of a single-handed weapon, two-handed sword, great sword, or bastard sword that is covered by a gauntleted hand(s) or basket hilt during normal combat.
Haft
The haft is defined as the section of a weapon not used for striking and not covered as a handle defined above.
Pick head
A pick head is defined as a narrow protrusion perpendicular to the haft.
Cutting edge
As our weapons are made very blunt for safety, we mark a "cutting edge" to indicate proper orientation.
Thrusting tip
A padded tip on the end of a weapon intended for thrusting to reduce the impact of strikes in line with the haft.
Striking surface
Because of the nature of our activities and the ability of our weapons to break during use, the "striking surface" of a weapon is the entire striking portion, blade, or head, of the weapon, not just the outside "skin" or layer. This includes all interior construction materials and parts.
Progressively resistant give
As pressure is applied directly to the surface, it will compress gradually, without bottoming out or bending to the side enough to expose the end of the blade, haft or blunt/core of the weapon it is attached to.

General

  1. Handheld weapons must attempt to represent a weapon used pre-17th century.
  2. Before combat at each and every SCA event, including training and pick-ups, you must make sure that a warranted armored combat marshal inspects and approves any armor and weapons you will use.
  3. No metal, granular or liquid material, or non-approved rigid material is allowed to be used in the construction of single or two-handed weapons (including spears), with the exception of the hilts, guards and pommels.
  4. Mechanical devices known as "sliders", which are used to guide or propel spears, are prohibited.
  5. All weapons must have all cutting edges and thrusting tips marked in a contrasting color.
  6. The striking surfaces of all weapons, including the tip, must be wrapped in a manner that allows no splinters to protrude.
  7. All thrusting tips and striking heads must be securely attached to the weapon.
  8. The edges and tips of all striking surfaces must be rounded.
  9. No part of a weapon can have sharp edges or protrusions with cross-section of less than 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) in diameter.
  10. Guards, pommels, hooks, etc., must be firmly and securely affixed to the weapon haft.
  11. No part of a weapon that is likely to contact an opponent during combat is allowed to be able to penetrate more than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in to a legal face guard.
    1. Combat archery shafts are allowed to be thinner as long as the head and tail meet this criterion.
  12. Rattan must not be treated in any way that will substantially reduce its flexibility (e.g., treated with wax, resin, fiberglass, rawhide, etc.).
  13. If a weapon has a head:
    1. The head must not be constructed of only rigid materials.
    2. The head must be firmly and securely attached to the haft.
    3. The head must allow at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of progressive give between the striking surface and the weapon haft.
    4. Semi-rigid ultra-lightweight shaped foam heads, or split rattan construction techniques do not require 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of progressive give, as long as their construction provides striking characteristics similar to an unpadded weapon constructed of a single piece of rattan.
    5. Pick heads must be made from a flexible material. Rattan cannot be used in the construction on the pick head.
  14. Users should take extra care when constructing mass weapons to ensure that they are able to control the weapon and not inadvertently generate excessive force.
  15. No weapon can have a cutting and/or smashing surface at both ends.
  16. No weapon can exceed 6 pounds (2.73 kg).
  17. No flails or similarly jointed or flexible weapons with a striking surface attached to the handle via a flexible arm or pivot.
  18. No "punch weapons" or thrusting weapons that have the blade or tip more perpendicular than parallel to the grip.
    1. To ensure that the punching force is not directly behind the striking surface, the entire grip area on the haft of a weapon with a head must be below any and all portions of the striking surface.
    2. No shovel handles on any thrusting weapon.

Single-handed weapons

Weapons used in one hand must have the following requirements:

  1. Single-handed weapons must be constructed of one of the following:
    1. rattan
    2. rattan-cored high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping
    3. natural polypropylene round rod (maximum diameter: 1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm)
  2. Single-handed weapons must have a wrist strap (lanyard or equivalent restraint) when used as the primary weapon. This will keep the weapon from leaving the immediate area if you let go during any part of a bout or combat.
    1. This requirement can be waived during melee combat if it is safe to do so.
    2. Restraints are not required single handed back-up weapons.
  3. A single-handed weapon must be not less than 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) in total diameter (including tape) along its entire length. This excludes the handle which can be thinner.
  4. Rattan-cored high-density polyethylene (HDPE) weapons must be constructed using tubular HDPE materials meeting ASTM standard D2239 or the international equivalent.
    1. The HDPE must have a pressure rating of 160 PSI or greater.
    2. The external diameter must be at least 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm).
    3. The tubing must have at least 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) walls.
    4. The inner core of rattan must fill the interior of the tubular material entirely.
    5. The condition of the inner core needs to be checked regularly.
  5. When thrusting tips are used on single-handed weapons they must have at least the same diameter as the shaft of the weapon they are mounted on and have at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of resilient material in front of the rigid tip of the weapon.
  6. Total weapon mass must not exceed 5 pounds (2.27 kg).

Two-handed weapons

Weapons which can be used with one or two hands must have the following requirements:

  1. The weapon must be constructed of rattan of not less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm) in diameter (including tape) along its entire length.
    1. Two-handed swords, great swords, and bastard swords are allowed to have a thinner handle area with a diameter less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm).
    2. Polearms are not allowed to have a thinner handle.
    3. Polearms are allowed to contain blades constructed of split rattan, as long as the piece(s) are securely fastened to the haft.
  2. The weapon must not be excessively flexible.
  3. When thrusting tips are used on rattan weapons with length less than or equal to 7 1/2 feet (2.286 m):
    1. they must be at least the same diameter as the shaft of the weapon they are mounted
    2. they must have 1 1/2 inches (38.1 mm) of resilient material in front of the rigid tip of the weapon, thereby providing progressively resistant give. (Note: Pressing with the thumb into the center of the thrusting tip is not an adequate test. The give must be across the entire face of the tip.)
  4. 2-inch Mandrake brand thrusting tips are not legal on weapons longer than 7 1/2 feet (2.286 m).
  5. Weapons exceeding 7 1/2 feet (2.286 m) must not be used for cutting or smashing and can only be used for thrusting (see Spears).

Spears

  1. Spears must not have a cutting or smashing head.
  2. All spears must have a thrusting tip that is a minimum of 2 inches (50.8 mm) in diameter/ cross-section and have 2 inches (50.8 mm) of resilient material in front of the end, which provides progressively resistant give without allowing contact with the end.
  3. Total spear length must not exceed 9 feet (2.74 m).
  4. Rattan spears must be constructed of rattan with a diameter of no less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8mm).
    1. Spears are not allowed to have a thinner handle.
  5. Fiberglass spears must be constructed of pultruded fiberglass shafts with an outside diameter of no less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm) and no greater than 1 5/16 inches (33.38 mm).
    1. Minimum manufacturer-specified wall thickness must be 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) and the minimum measurable wall thickness must be 3/32 inch (2.38 mm).
    2. The end of the fiberglass shaft which will have the thrusting tip attached must be covered with a schedule-40 PVC or equivalent non-metallic rigid material (end cap) with an interior diameter the same as the outside diameter of the shaft (1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm)) that will not allow the end of the fiberglass shaft to penetrate the foam of the tip. The thrusting tip will then be attached over this cap.
  6. Fiberglass spear shafts can be spliced using a fiberglass rod or tube with a sidewall of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) of the same or equivalent material, having an outside diameter of 1 inch (25.4 mm) and a length of 8 to 12 inches (203 to 304 mm).
    1. Up to two splices are allowed per spear shaft.
    2. Each end that will be spliced must be cut square and clean of cracks or frayed fibers.
    3. The rod must extend at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) into each spliced end. One or both of these two methods must secure the splice:
      1. Epoxying both ends of the fiberglass rod before insertion.
      2. Epoxying one end of the fiberglass rod before insertion and thoroughly taping the splice over with fiber tape.
  7. The butt end of the shaft must be smooth and free of cracks or frayed fibers.
  8. The butt must be taped over or otherwise sealed.
    1. If a weapon is completely taped, a marshal can require that one section be untaped enough to determine that pultruded fiberglass has been used in the construction of the shaft.
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