Fencing notes:Weapons And Defensive Equipment

Swords and daggers

Curved blades - 1 January 2024: Added the wording and diagram from 2020 Society rules about curved blades.
One blade only - 1 January 2024: Added requirement for bladed weapons to only have one blade as per Society rules.
Fibreglass blades - 22 October 2023: Approval has been granted by the Board of SCA Inc for a variance to use fibreglass blades in Lochac on an ongoing basis. They were removed from use at Society in 2020, but we retain the need for them due to weapons legislation in Australia.

Blunt size - 1 January 2024: Blunt size has been increased to 10mm from 9mm to make it consistent throughout the handbook.

Steel spears were no longer not permitted for fencing combat after 31 December 2021, at the direction of the Society Marshal.

Spears may have a head at each end - 1 January 2024: Clarification that spears may have a spear head at each end, as there was confusion under previous rule wording.

Rubber tubing - 1 January 2023: Added rule about diameter of rubber tubing used for rubber band ammunition (6mm) to align with Society fencing rules.

Non-standard defensive equipment: Previous language around non-standard defensive equipment was open to interpretations. A change was needed to assist in clarity while also protecting fencers from potentially advanced tools. A blanket approval for these items would have allowed barely-authorised fencers to use a tool which could be safe in the hands of an expert, but not a newer fencer. The wording used is a mid-point compromise between banning for safety, and blanket approval. "Non-standard" defensive items require the marshal and opponent to agree to their use.