Conventions of combat - Use of weapons and defensive equipment

Definitions of weapons

There are five standard types of weapons in SCA rapier:

Dagger: A bladed weapon with overall length up to 28 inches (710 mm).
Single-handed sword: A bladed weapon held in one hand with an overall weapon length of up to 58 inches (1470 mm).
Two-handed sword: A bladed weapon held in two hands (or one hand, if the other hand is empty), with an overall weapon length of up to 60 inches (1520 mm).
Spear: A weapon with a rattan shaft and rubber head with a maximum length of 9 feet (2750 mm).
1. For single tournament combat, spear is considered non-standard and you are allowed to decline to face it without forfeiting the bout.
Ranged weapons and missiles: Weapons that are thrown or weapons that propel missiles through the air, including combat archery, throwing weapons such as foam axes or knives, and/or mock-gunnery gear (such as rubber band guns). You are only allowed to use ranged weapons in scenarios where the marshal has announced that they can be used before the scenario begins.

Thrust: The tip of the point of your blade makes contact with your opponent.
Draw cut: The edge of your blade is placed upon your opponent and you draw the blade back toward you while maintaining contact.
Push cut: The edge of your blade is placed upon your opponent and you push the blade away from you while maintaining contact.
Tip cut: The point of your blade is placed upon your opponent and moves across their body.
Percussive cuts (not allowed in Rapier): The edge of your blade makes contact with your opponent in a chopping motion.
1. Placing a blade on your opponent and then drawing or pushing, is not considered percussive.
Ranged weapon/missile strike: A strike from a ranged weapon or missile is taken as a thrust from a bladed weapon.

Valid blows with a dagger, single-handed sword, or two-handed sword are:
1. Thrust - Allowed in all kingdoms
2. Draw cut - Allowed in all kingdoms
3. Tip cut - Optional. Kingdoms can choose to allow tip cuts.
4. Push cut - Optional. Kingdoms can choose to allow push cuts.
Percussive cuts are not allowed in rapier combat.

The only valid blow with a spear is a thrust.
For single tournament combat, spear is considered a non-standard device. You are allowed to decline to face a non-standard device without forfeiting a bout.
You must not "set" this weapon by bracing the base in the ground or against your foot or body, or locking your back arm.

You are allowed to use defensive objects like bucklers, cloaks, sticks, and other objects that adhere to the rules of defensive equipment to parry, deflect, or immobilize your opponent's weapon.
You must not strike your opponent with a defensive object.
You are allowed to throw a cloak or other similar, soft object onto your opponents' weapons, body, hands and arms, but are not allowed to deliberately try to cover your opponent's face or to cause them to trip.
You must not use a defensive object to bind your opponent's weapon to their body, even temporarily.
You are allowed to use your sword, dagger, spear, defensive objects, and any body part to parry and deflect. If your movement causes your opponent's weapon to make contact with you that is equivalent to a valid blow, you must take the blow the same as if you had been struck.
You are allowed to grasp your opponent's blade with an empty hand, so long as you do not exert pressure to bend the blade. If the blade moves or twists in your hand, your hand has been cut and disabled.

The use of ranged weapons is forbidden in any situation where spectators and non-involved combatants cannot be separated from the potential line of fire by more than the effective range of the weapons to be used.
Ranged weapons designed to be thrown must be thrown in such a way as to not injure the opponent.