Armoured Combat notes:Melee Weapon Standards

Rattan Weapons

General

Crossguards and tsuba - July 2021

A clarification from Society Armored Combat Marshal that tsuba must also not be able to be forced more than 12.7mm into a legal faceguard. Crossguards etc tend to make incidental contact with faceplates during binds.

Striking surface (A clarification via Society Earl marshal) - October 2013

Because of the nature of our activities and the ability of our weapons to break during use the "striking surface" of a weapon is to be considered throughout the entire striking portion, blade, or head, of the weapon, not only the outside "skin" or layer. This includes all interior construction materials and parts no matter how "deep" inside.

Please note that this means materials such as 'chopping board' plastic may not be used for the construction of weapon heads.

Single-handed Swords

Construction requirement for Polypropylene ('polypro') swords - June 2015

All polypropylene swords in use in Lochac must either;

1. have at least 3 layers of fibre tape ( that has the lengthways fibers, not cross hatch tape), run along both blade faces over the tip of the sword; or
2. webbing belt or a leather strip along the blade face and over the tip.

This measure is designed to prevent the end of the stick flying off in the event of breakage.

Prohibition on madus between 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Society rules added a rule that prohibited single handed weapons under 1.22m from having both a thrusting tip and a butt spike (you could have one or the other, but not both), to prohibit madus, as "The madu was not a weapon of individual combat during the SCA’s period of study, and therefore it is excluded from SCA Armored Combat." This rule was removed two years later.

Polypropylene rod as alternative to rattan - September 2012

As per the announcement from the SCA US and the changes to the Society Marshals' Handbook in May 2012, polypropylene round rod of a diameter no greater than 31.8mm is now permissible as an alternative to rattan for single handed weapons within Lochac.

Maximum weapon weight - 2007?

It may have been a typo in the 2009 Lochac Fighters Handbook, but the Society rules state that the maximum weight for single-handed weapon is 2.27kg (5lbs), not 2.73kg (6lb)

Siloflex - May 2005

Siloflex is a brand name and is not available in Australia or New Zealand. The approved equivalent for Lochac is OD 32mm (approx ID 25mm), medium density, black polyethylene water pipe, 12 bar pressure rating.

Single-handed Mass Weapons

Rubber weapon heads - October 2013

The 'Acorn roller' rubber mace heads are legal for use in Lochac.

The rubber 'Talhoffer' pole axe heads are legal for use in Lochac.

Maximum weapon weight - 2007?

It may have been a typo in the 2009 Lochac Fighters Handbook, but the Society rules state that the maximum weight for single-handed weapon is 2.27kg (5lbs), not 2.73kg (6lb)

Two-handed Weapons

Reduction in max length for two-handed weapons - July 2024

To ensure consistency between kingdoms, the Society armoured combat rules were changed in October 2023 to reduce the maximum length for two handed weapons (particularly spears) to 2.74m (9 feet). Lochac was one of only 6 kingdoms in the Known World that permitted the use of 12 foot spears in their kingdom rules.

Quarterstaves - June 2018

The use of quarterstaves for combat in the SCA is not expressly forbidden in the 2018 Marshals Handbook, so that statement has been removed from the rules. The rules continue to prohibit weapons from having a cutting and/or smashing heads at both ends.

Fibreglass spears

End caps - July 2024

A Society rule change in October 2023 allows for other materials to be used for the end caps on fibreglass spears, which removed issues with the legality of commonly used commercially available tips being used safely across the SCA.

Thrusting tips

Low-profile Thrusting Tips

Reduction in thickness for trhusting tips - July 2024

A Society armoured combat rule change in October 2023 reduced the minimum thickness of low-profile thrusting tips on single-handed weapons to 12 mm. This was successfully used in Trimaris for 10 years with no issues.

High-profile Thrusting Tips

Towball caps - June 2001

Duke Eringlin, Society Marshal gave Lochac a dispensation to use 46mm towball caps.

2-inch Mandrake tips are not allowed on wespons greater then 2.28m - July 2024

A Society rule change in October 2023 prohibited the use of 2-inch Mandrake brand thrusting tips on all weapons over 7 1/2 feet. The tips can fold and penetrate the bar grill of a helmet. The manufacturer advises that they were not designed for use on weapons like spears.