Fencing:Inspecting A Combatants Arms And Armor

Appendix - Inspecting a Combatant's Arms and Armor

This outlines a basic overview of the key points of an inspection. The items to check, listed below, are not meant to be comprehensive for every item in the rules. Marshals are encouraged to use their best judgement to conduct any aspect of an inspection more thoroughly.

Inspecting Arms

Inspecting Bladed Weapons

Inspect the overall weapon

• Check that the overall length is within the acceptable range.
• Check that the weapon is in good repair; i.e. doesn't seem like it will fall apart with a parry.

Inspect the blade

• Check for nicks that can cut an opponent. You can do this visually or by running a gloved hand along the edges of the blade. Run your hand in both directions but do so lightly - by its very nature a potentially harmful nick can injure you. If the blade has substantial nicks, they will need to be filed or sanded before the weapon can be used.
• Look down the length of the blade to look for kinks. Weapons with kinks consistent with fatigue cannot be used.
• Check the flexibility of the blade. If in doubt, check the weapon for flexibility using a 6 oz (170 g) weight and a ruler.
  • You can create a 6oz weight of a variety of materials. One of the easiest is a collection of thick washers, pre-weighed to 6 oz. Tie the washers together with a piece of wire or string, and create a loop from that wire or string so that you can use it to hang the washers on a sword tip.
  • To test a sword, clamp or hold the sword on a rigid surface, such as a table, so that it doesn't move at the handle end. Place a ruler vertically behind the tip, and note where the tip is. Then hang the weight and note how far the tip deflected down. Turn the sword over and repeat.

Inspect the tip

• Check the tip visually for cracks, bulging, or discoloration, or any other signs that the sword is starting to punch through the tip.
• Frequently, it isn't possible to ascertain the internal components of the tip. For example, if the tip is made of leather, it may not be possible to tell that the leather is thick enough. Ask the combatant about the construction of the tip to check that they are familiar with the rules and that their tip construction is in compliance.
• If the tip appears not to meet the requirements, it needs to be replaced before the weapon can be used.
• Check that the tip is unlikely to come off during combat, by pulling on it.

Inspect quillons, pommel

• Check that the quillons and pommels do not have sharp or pointed ends.

Inspecting Defensive Objects

• Check for any major splinters, nicks, or features that can injure an opponent.

Inspecting Projectile Weapons

• Check the striking surface for size and yield.
• The draw of a bow and a rubber band weapon can be checked with a scale such as a fish scale or an archer's tool. A ruler will also be needed for a cross bow

Inspecting a Spear

Inspect the head

• For rubber spears, check that the tip is flexible, and returns substantially to its original shape within three seconds
• For metal spears, follow the inspection methods for a metal bladed weapon
• Check that the head is well affixed to the haft

Inspect the haft

• Check that the haft is the appropriate diameter and material
• Check that the haft is free from dangerous burrs or protrusions

Inspecting Armor

• When inspecting a combatant's armor, you may not be able to see every part of armor. In these cases, ask the combatant about their armor and to determine if they know the rules and are, per their assertion, armored accordingly.
• You may ask a combatant to move themselves or a body part, for example going into an "en garde" position so that you can ascertain that there is sufficient coverage in their armor.
• If a part of the inspection requires you to touch the combatant, for example to check for proper mask fit, ask for and receive their permission before you do so. If the combatant does not permit inspection, they may not pass inspection.

Overall

• Verify what type of combat the combatant is planning to participate in. Check that the combatant has the appropriate level of protection on the appropriate parts of the body for that category of combat.
• It may be necessary to ask the combatant what their penetration resistant armor is - for example, it may be a combination of a doublet and underarm gussets sewn into their undershirt. If you cannot see the undershirt in this scenario, ask them if they're wearing it.
• It may be necessary to ask the combatant to adopt a pose common to combat, for example a lunge, in order to ensure that their penetration resistant armor does not gap.
• Ask the combatant if they are wearing the appropriate groin protection and rigid protection on any vulnerable body part. It is up to the combatant to know what they need to wear.

Inspecting Masks

• Check that the materials of the mask meet the rigid material standard, and are without excessive rust or dents that weaken the material.
  • If there is concern about the face mesh of a modern fencing mask, it should be tested using a standard commercial 12kg mask punch. Marshals doing the testing shall be trained in the use of the punch. The Kingdom Fencing Marshals may elect to designate certain deputies to administer such testing.
• Check for a snug fit that is unlikely to result in the mask or a part of the mask contacting the combatant's head or face.
  • Check the mask off the head. Look inside for any substantial (i.e. > 1/8 inch) protrusion and check that there is sufficient padding or an adequate suspension system to keep the combatant's head from contacting any rigid surface.
  • Check the mask on the combatant. It is frequently necessary to push or pull on the mask to ensure it doesn't contact the combatant. Tell the combatant what you are going to do as you work through the inspection.

Inspecting Gloves

• Gloves are to be made of abrasion resistant material. Most gloves in practice are made of leather. Check for any significant openings, breaks, cuts, etc that could permit a blade or abrasive cut. Note that when sewing leather together, small gaps may appear at the seams which are structurally sound.
• Check that there is sufficient overlap between the gloves and the shirt that there are no gaps in reasonable arm/hand positions.
• For Cut & Thrust Combat, check that the hand protection (combination of glove and/or sword or defensive object) is sufficiently padded or has adequate rigid protection. If their gloves only have padded protection, remind them that they may not fight with or against a two-handed weapon.
  • Ask the combatant to hold their weapon or defensive object as they would in combat.
  • Identify the location of one inch past points of the wrist of the combatant.
  • Verify the combined protection covers the back of the hands, fingers, and area on the wrist identified above from percussive cuts from normal and reasonable angles that will occur in a fight are protected. i.e. is there a straight line, approximately 4 inches long, into which a sword may make edgewise impact on any part of the back of their hands, fingers, or wrist?
  • A shield alone may be considered an equivalent to full hand and wrist protection only if no part of the gloved hand or wrist is within 4 inches (10 cm) of the edge of the shield while the shield is in use.