Armored Combat:Equipment standards - Handheld weapons - General

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.