Rapier:Equipment standards - Metal bladed weapons - Blades

Blades

1. The blade must be made of steel and must be produced by a commercial entity and crafted for the purpose of competitive sword fighting.
2. Any blade with kinks or cracks must not be used.
   1. If a blade develops these defects and cannot be repaired, it must be retired.
   2. If a blade develops a sharp bend that can be re-curved and not redevelop for at least a day's use, it can continue to be used.
3. A blade must not be altered by grinding, cutting, heating, hammering, or other actions that could significantly alter the blade's temper, flexibility or durability.
   1. Normal combat stresses and blade care do not violate this rule. The following alterations are allowed:
      1. Altering the tang of the weapon
      2. Shortening a blade as long as it still meets the required flexibility
      3. Welding a nut or other blunt metal object designed to spread impact to the tip of a blade, so long as care is taken to prevent damage to the temper of the blade
      4. Filing the end of a blade to blunt the tip, or filing other parts of the blade to remove burrs
4. A blade must meet or exceed the required flexibility.
   1. The marshal will test flexibility by rigidly fixing the blade horizontally along its narrower axis, and placing a 6 oz (170 g) weight at the tip, then measuring how far the tip of the blade has moved downward.
   2. Any flexing due to the blade's weight itself is not counted in the flexibility standard.
   3. The blade must meet this standard in each of two directions (i.e. testing the flexibility of the blade along its flatter dimension, then turn the sword over, 180 degrees, and testing it again.)
   4. Dagger blades must flex at least 1/2 inch (12.5 mm).
   5. Single sword and two-handed sword blades must flex at least 1 inch (25 mm).