Rapier:Inspecting equipment - Sample inspection for bladed weapons

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Sample inspection for bladed weapons

Overall inspection

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

Blade

  1. 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.
  2. Look down the length of the blade to look for kinks. Weapons with kinks consistent with fatigue cannot be used.
  3. Check the flexibility of the blade. If in doubt, check the weapon for flexibility using a 6 oz (170 g) weight and a ruler.
    1. You can create a 6 oz (170 g) weight of a variety of materials. One of the easiest is a collection of thick washers, pre-weighed to 6 oz (170 g). 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.
    2. 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.

Tip

  1. Check the tip visually for cracks, bulging, or discoloration, or any other signs that the sword is starting to punch through the tip.
  2. Frequently, it isn't possible to ascertain the internal components of the tip. For example, if the tip is made of leather, it might 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.
  3. If the tip appears not to meet the requirements, it needs to be replaced before the weapon can be used.
  4. Check that the tip is unlikely to come off during combat, by pulling on it.

Quillons and pommel

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