Equestrian:Equipment standards - Weapons and other equipment

Equipment standards - Weapons and other equipment

General

1. All armor and weapons equipment must be inspected by a warranted marshal prior to engaging in equestrian activities.
2. Weapons constructed other than as set out below may be approved on a kingdom-level basis for use in crest combat or mounted combat.
   1. Construction methods for these weapons vary; therefore only weapons equivalent to the weapons described below can be used.
   2. If there is a question regarding equivalency, the Kingdom Equestrian Officer will make the determination.
3. Lanyards on weapons are not allowed. You must be able to quickly and safely abandon your weapon.

Skill-at-arms and mounted games

General

All weapons

1. Weapons must be of a size and weight that allows them to be used safely and controlled by the person wielding it.
2. Hand-held weapons must be made of non-brittle materials (e.g. metal, wood, synthetic simulators).
3. Shafts (for hand-held and thrown weapons) must be sound and without major cracks, and not have any burrs or rough surfaces that could cut or give splinters to an unprotected hand.

Thrown weapons

1. Spears, javelins and axes may be used in mounted thrown weapon activities.
2. Throwing daggers may not be used.
3. Mounted thrown weapons used solely against targets are not required to be blunted.

Spears and javelins

1. Spears and javelins may be equipped with metal tips. Tips must be firmly attached to the shaft.
2. Targets - soft targets are required for spears/javelins.

Throwing axes

1. The handles of all axes must be firmly attached. Axes with sliding heads are not allowed from horseback.
2. Targets - hard targets are permitted for axes.

Ring lances and standards

1. Lances used to spear rings or for tent pegging may be equipped with metal tips. Tips must be firmly attached to the shaft.
2. The rings must be attached to the standards in such a way as to release easily without pulling down the standard or causing the lance to become entangled.

Quintain

1. Lances used to strike a quintain or knock-down targets must have blunted tips. Tips that provide some friction to minimize sliding on the target, such as rubber or leather, are recommended.
2. Lances must be made of impact resistant materials. (e.g. hardwood dowels, fiberglass spear shafts)
3. Quintain targets may spin, fall, or otherwise move in any manner that does not pose a significant risk to the horse.

Crest combat

Crests

1. Must be at least 5 inches in height.
2. Must be constructed so as not to present an undue hazard if a rider lands on it, or a horse steps on it.
3. Must be attached in such a way so as to be easily dislodged by a minimal force blow. Velcro or similar methods are recommended

Boffers

1. "Boffer" weapons must be used in this activity.
2. Base material must be schedule 40, 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, 3/4-inch (19 mm) PEX pipe, or 1-inch (25.4 mm) rattan. When using HDPE or PEX pipe as the core, both ends must be capped.
3. Minimum 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) closed cell foam padding over all striking surfaces.
4. Minimum overall diameter of 1 1/4-inch (32 mm)of the striking surface.
5. If quillons are used they should not extend more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) beyond the hand when held.
6. Thrusting tips are not allowed in crest combat.

Mounted archery

1. All archery equipment should be consistent with pre-17th century archery in looks and function.
   1. Modifications for safety are excepted.
   2. Carbon fiber arrows of neutral colors are allowed.
2. Fiberglass bows and armored combat arrows and rapier combat arrows meeting Society standards and construction are allowed.
3. All arrows must be inspected by the user prior to each use.
4. The use, carry or handling of crossbows while mounted is prohibited.

Combat weapons

Mounted combat

1. Sturdier "boffer" style weapons or tourney batons are used.
   1. Boffer sword
      1. Base material may be 3/4-inch (19 mm) PEX pipe or 1-inch (25.4 mm) rattan.
      2. When using PEX pipe as the core, both ends must be capped.
      3. Minimum 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) closed cell foam padding over all striking surfaces.
   2. Tourney baton (behourd)
      1. 1 inch (25.4 mm) rattan core covered with 17 lb (7.7 kg)-density urethane foam.
2. Swords/batons must have a minimum diameter of 1-1/4 inches (32 mm) of the striking surface.
3. Swords/batons must have a hand guard, such as a basket hilt, quillons, or equivalent.
4. Maximum weight must not exceed 4 pounds (1.8 kg).
5. Thrusting is not allowed in mounted combat.

Rossfechten

1. Rawlings™ synthetic blades (or equivalents) that replicate period swords are acceptable.
   1. This includes the Rawlings™ longsword, "short sword" (i.e. arming sword) and basket hilt sword.
   2. These blades are constructed with blunt tips, so no additional thrusting tip are required.
2. Other weapons (lances, pistols, etc.) under the experimental program must only be used in accordance with that program.

Shields

1. Shields must be constructed of sturdy materials, resistant to breakage and splintering.
2. Edges should be blunt and corners rounded.
3. Examples include shields made of wood with leather edging, bucklers made of metal.
4. Shield using riders must take care not to have excessive rein pressure or rein jerking.

Foam tip jousting lances

1. The lance must be constructed in three sections: the foam tip, middle, and base. The tip and the base will socket into the middle section.
2. Must be between 8 and 10 feet (2400-3000 m) as measured from the top (forward edge) of the rider's hand to the tip of the foam.
3. The foam tip:
   1. must be between 2-4 feet (610-1220 mm) in length,
   2. must extend at least 22 inches (560 mm) beyond the middle section,
   3. must not extend more than 2 inches (50 mm) into the middle section.
   4. Approved foams are expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) or extruded insulation foam, of 2 inch (50 mm) diameter and approximately 2-lb/cubic foot density.
4. The middle section consists of a cardboard tube with a 2-inch (50 mm) interior diameter and a maximum of a 1/8 inch (3 mm) side wall, and a minimum length of 4 feet (1220 mm).
5. The base section may be made of any non-brittle material with a maximum of 2 1/2 feet (760 mm) forward of the hand (as measured from the top of the hand to the forward end that is inside the cardboard tube). It is recommended the base section be carved from wood, and that at least 6 inches (150 mm) extends into the middle section.
6. A recommended lance construction would be a base with 1 1/2 feet (450 mm) in front of the hand, of which 6 inches (150 mm) is the 2-inch (50 mm) diameter extension into the tube, a 5-foot or 6-foot (1500-1830 mm) cardboard tube, and a 24-inch (610 mm) foam tip.

Wood tip jousting lances

1. Lances must consist of a base with a socket, a replaceable wooden tip, and a coronel.
2. Must be 8-10 feet (2.4-3 m) as measured from the top (forward edge) of the rider's hand to the tip of the coronel.
3. The base and socket:
   1. Should be shaped to a historical pattern, and made of non-brittle materials.
   2. Must measure no less than 60 inches (1520 mm) and no greater than 82 inches (2080 mm) forward of the grip to the end inside of the socket receiving the replaceable tip.
   3. The socket must be made of sturdy non-brittle materials, such as aluminum tube, with an interior diameter of at least 1 1/4 inches (32 mm).
4. The replaceable wooden tip must be balsa wood or fir, and be 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) in diameter and 36 inches (910 mm) in length.
   1. Balsa tips must "quartered" by being cut up the middle lengthwise for 24 inches (610 mm) and then rotated 90 degrees and cut up the middle lengthwise for 18 inches (460 mm).
   2. Fir tips must be spiral cut. The cuts must be at a 45 degree angle and usually 3/16 - 1/4 inch (4.75 - 6 mm) deep. Spiral cuts need to be deep enough to cause a break, but shallow enough that the tips won’t easily break when you handle them (1/4 inch (6 mm) works well). Cuts must not be less than 3/4 inch (19 mm) nor more than 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) apart. (A 45-degree angle will make the cuts about 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) apart.)
5. Coronel - The end of the tip must be securely covered by a cap at least 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) in diameter, and must be made of non-brittle materials such as rubber, copper, leather, etc.
   1. There should be no hard/sharp protrusions where horse contact could take place (i.e. metal shaped coronels).
   2. Suitable caps include commercially available urethane coronels, rubber furniture or crutch pads or suitably sized copper plumbing caps.

Jousting shield ("Ecranche")

1. The shield is the primary target for jousting. The shield should be appropriate to the period jousting you are recreating (i.e. kite shield for Norman-Saxon, ecranche for 15th c., grande guard for 16th c., etc.)
2. Shield sizes will vary depending on the period jousting, but will generally cover the left side of the rider's torso from the top line of the rider's shoulder to at least the natural waist when seated on the horse.
3. Must be made of similar material to the originals. This was typically wood (recommended is 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) plywood or equivalent). A metal grand guard is an acceptable alternative.
4. Must fit in a secure way and not have any sharp edges or protrusions.
5. Must be fashioned in such a manner that will not harm the horse or rider in the event of a fall.
6. Shields for foam jousting are recommended. Sizes vary, but generally an area of at least 168 sq-inches (~12 x 14 inches (300 x 355 mm) is recommended.
7. Ecranches for wooden lance jousting are required, and must be 12 x 14 inches (300 x 355 mm) or larger.