Society handbooks

Society Marshal's Handbooks

NOTE - The official and authoritative versions of these rules are the pdf versions held at www.SCA.org / Documents

Armored Combat (Rattan) November 2025	Armored Combat (Steel) July 2021	Cut and Thrust January 2026 Open for commentary
Equestrian April 2020	Rapier November 2025 Open for commentary	Siege October 2023
Target Archery July 2020	Thrown Weapons March 2026 Open for commentary	Youth Combat July 2024
Harnischfechten Experiment	Global rules

Current status of Handbooks

• Armored Combat (Rattan) - Nov 2025 edition, effective Dec 23, 2025.
• Rapier Combat - Version for commentary approved November 2025
  • Nov 20 thru Feb 20th: Rapier Handbook is open for commentary. This version has been approved by the BoD for commentary for 3 months.
  • Feb 20 thru March 30: Updates to the handbook will be developed based on the commentary.
  • April 1: New handbook with updates from feedback will be submitted to the BoD for final review and approval.
  • May 20: New handbook will be in effect (if approved during the April BoD meeting).
• Cut and Thrust Combat - Version for commentary approved January 2026
  • Jan 30 through March 30: Cut and Thrust Handbook is open for commentary. This version has been approved by the BoD for commentary for 2 months. Updates to the handbook will be developed based on the commentary, including from the Rapier Handbook commentary as most content is shared.
  • April 1: New handbook with updates from feedback will be submitted to the BoD for final review and approval.
  • May 20: New handbook will be in effect (if approved during the April BoD meeting).
• Thrown Weapons - Version for commentary approved March 2026
  • March 25 through May 25: Cut and Thrust Handbook is open for commentary. This version has been approved by the BoD for commentary for 2 months. Updates to the handbook will be developed based on the commentary.
  • June 1: New handbook with updates from feedback will be submitted to the BoD for final review and approval.
  • June 20: New handbook will be in effect (if approved during the April BoD meeting).
• Target Archery - In progress, expected early 2026
• Equestrian - In progress, expected spring 2026
• Siege Engines - In progress, expected spring/summer 2026
• Youth Combat - In progress, expected spring/summer 2026

FAQs on the rules, modernization project, and quick starts

For all handbooks:

• FAQ on Rules Modernization effort and Quick Start

For the 2025 Armored Combat Rattan Handbook:

• FAQ - new Armored Combat Rattan Handbook Part 1
• FAQ - new Armored Combat Rattan Handbook Part 2
• Cliff notes on changes - Armored Combat Rattan Handbook

For the 2025 Rapier Handbook:

• Cliff notes on changes - Rapier Handbook
• For a PDF copy of the proposed Rapier Handbook, click the PDF button on the page.

For the 2026 Cut and Thrust Handbook:

• Cliff notes on changes - Rapier Handbook
• For a PDF copy of the proposed Cut and Thrust Handbook, click the PDF button on the page.

For the 2026 Thrown Weapons Handbook:

Copyright

These handbooks are official corporate publications of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and recreating the customs, combat and courtesy of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., may print or photocopy these works in whole or in part for SCA use, provided that copyright credit is given and no changes are made to the text.

Heraldic images of kingdom arms and discipline logos are copyright of Biorn Atlason; used with permission from https://biornatlason.com/