Rapier:Equipment standards - Missiles

Equipment standards - Missiles

General

1. All projectiles (rubber bands, thrown weapons, arrows, or bolts) must have a mass no greater than 1 lb (460 g).
2. Projectiles (other than combat archery ammunition) must have a minimum diameter of 1/4 inch (6 mm) in any direction during flight.
3. The striking surface of a projectile must be made of a material with at least 1/4 inch (6 mm) give.
4. No part of the projectile, including the support material underneath the padding, can be sharp.
5. Certain types of projectiles can be disallowed from specific scenarios at the marshals' discretion. For example, ball type projectiles, such as small rubber balls thrown by hand or from a sling, may be unsafe on rigid flooring as they may pose a slip hazard to combatants, but may be safe for use on grass and soft dirt.
6. Material that could flake off when hitting an opponent must not be used on striking surfaces.

Combat archery ammunition (arrows, bolts)

General requirements

1. All ammunition must be marked in a way that clearly identifies the owner, their branch, and kingdom in a language identifiable in the region where the event is taking place.
2. You must not use any metal in the construction of any ammunition.
3. All ammunition has a maximum length of 28 inches (711 mm) from the back of the head/blunt, to where the string rests on the nock.
4. Your ammunition is allowed to have fletches as long as they are securely attached and made of a soft material.
   1. Fletches must not project more than 1/2 inch (12 mm) from the shaft.

Ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) ammunition

General requirements

1. Ammunition must have a fiberglass shaft and a blunt of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW).
2. Ammunition may have an anti-penetration device (APD), either commercially manufactured or of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
3. Armored combat - rattan light ammunition with UHMW polyethylene blunts meet the requirements for combat archery ammunition for rapier and cut and thrust.

Fiberglass ammunition shafts

1. Fiberglass used in ammunition must be:
   1. Solid pultruded fiberglass of between 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) and 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) diameter.
   2. Able to withstand significant "bending" pressure without breaking.
2. The shaft must be covered with a sturdy tear-resistant tape, such as strapping, electrical, or duct tape, from behind the blunt to the nock or to the front of the anti-penetration device (APD).

Blunts

1. General requirements
   1. All arrows and bolts must have a blunt.
   2. All blunts must be securely attached using tape, glue, cable ties, etc. The method does not matter as long as it is securely attached.
   3. One piece of sturdy tear-resistant tape, such as strapping, electrical, or duct tape, must extend over the blunt and be securely attached to the shaft on both sides.
   4. Attachment of the blunt is tested by grabbing and pulling on the blunt with moderate force while twisting it slightly. If it detaches or moves lengthwise along the shaft, then it fails. (Twisting around the shaft is okay.)

UHMW polyethylene blunts

1. UHMW polyethylene cores are constructed of at least 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) diameter UHMW polyethylene rod with a hole drilled in it to accept the shaft.
2. The shaft hole must be at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) deep, and there must be at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of polyethylene in front of the shaft.
3. At least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) and at most 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) of foam padding must be added in front of the UHMW core. This padding must have progressively resistant give and be at least the same diameter as the blunt after taping.
   • Progressively resistant give - as pressure is applied directly to the material, it will compress gradually and without bottoming-out or bending to the side to expose the face or side of the blunt.
4. The side of the head must also have foam padding that provides progressively resistant give that extends from the tip of the padding to at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) over the UHMW core that brings the total diameter of the head to at least 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) after taping.
5. The front edges of the blunt must be rounded over.
6. All sharp edges must be eased.
7. As long as all other requirements are met, the blunt is allowed to have material removed for aerodynamic or weight-reducing purposes.

Anti-penetration devices (APDs)

If APDs are used, they must comply with the requirements listed in the Armored Combat (Rattan) handbook.

Other arrow or bolt designs

All other designs or manufacturing techniques for arrows or bolts must be approved in writing by the Society Marshal's office before use. Contact the Deputy Society Marshal for Combat Archery Rapier for technical details for submission and testing of experimental missiles.