[Ansteorra-marshals] Rawhide swords

[Liam Gordon]

Issue 1: I have used rawhide for various purposes in my time in the SCA. I
have never seen rawhide become so rigid that it doesn't flex when it's dry.
I have rawhide at the house that I can bend and fold by hand. I don't
forsee this being an issue.

Issue 2: Again, rawhide, when dry is not rigid. There is still a flex to
it. The rattan will still be able to flex when encased in rawhide.

Issue 3 (from William Holder's email): I have a rawhide encased sword at
the house that has been waiting for a basket hilt. The edges have not
curled up. I don't see that as a reason to keep the swords off the field.
It is sewn together keeping the edges close together and tight to the
sword.

Hope this helps,

Liam
On Feb 24, 2016 16:19, "Earl Marshal" <kingdom at marshal.ansteorra.org> wrote:

> from the Earl Marshals' perspective, there are two rules I think bear
> discussion (entire section included below):
>
> 1. With the exception of the hilts, guards and pommels, no metal or
> ****non-approved rigid, granular****, or liquid material may be used in the
> construction of single or two-handed weapons including spears.
> 11. Rattan shall not be treated in any way that will substantially reduce
> its flexibility (e.g., treated with wax, resin, fiberglass, etc.).
>
> So therein lies my real queries.
>
> Does wetting down rawhide, wrapping it around a sword, and then allowing it
> to shrink and harden "substantially reduce it's flexibility"?
>
> or
>
> Is rawhide a non-approved rigid material?
>
> Thoughts,
> Jean Paul
>
>
>
>
> 1. With the exception of the hilts, guards and pommels, no metal or
> non-approved rigid, granular, or liquid material may be used in the
> construction of single or two-handed weapons including spears.
> 2. Primary weapons used single-handed shall have a wrist strap (or
> equivalent restraint) which will keep the weapon from leaving the immediate
> area of the user if released during any part of a bout or combat.
> Restraints are not required on hafted weapons used single-handed, or on
> single-handed back-up weapons.
> 3. Flails are expressly prohibited.
> 4. Mechanical devices known as “sliders,” which are used to guide or propel
> spears, are prohibited.
> 5. All weapons shall have all cutting edges and thrusting tips marked in a
> contrasting color.
> 6. The striking surfaces of all weapons, including the tip, shall be
> wrapped in a manner that allows no rattan splinters to protrude.
> 7. All thrusting tips and striking heads must be securely attached to the
> weapon.
> 8. The edges and tips of all striking surfaces shall be rounded.
> 9. No part of a weapon shall have sharp edges or protrusions with
> cross-section of less than 1.25 inch (31.8mm) in diameter. Guards, pommels,
> hooks, etc., shall be firmly and securely affixed to the weapon haft.
> 10. It shall not be possible to force into a legal face guard, any part of
> a weapon which may reasonably be expected to contact an opponent during
> combat more than .5 inch (12.7 mm). Rattan weapons may have a handle
> section which is less than 1.25 inch (31.8 mm), so long as it meets this
> criterion. Combat archery shafts may be thinner as long as the head and
> tail meet the criteria.
> 11. Rattan shall not be treated in any way that will substantially reduce
> its flexibility (e.g., treated with wax, resin, fiberglass, etc.).
> 12. No weapon shall exceed 6 pounds (2.73 kg).
> 13. No missile weapons intended to simulate firearms, slings, slingstaffs,
> nor atlatls can be used on the field of armored combat.
> 14. No “punch weapons” or thrusting weapons that have the blade or tip more
> perpendicular than parallel to the grip.
> 15. No shovel handles on any thrusting weapon.
>
> On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 3:52 PM, Liam Gordon <cenliamgordon2005 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > JP,
> >
> > I have looked at these types of swords, and I have been hit with these
> > types of swords. With the rawhide encasing the sword, it covers the
> rattan
> > better than strapping tape. The rawhide, for the most part, completely
> > encases the sword. If the sword fails and breaks, I think it will stay
> > inside the rawhide with no issues what so ever...
> >
> > I don't believe these need to be considered experimental at all...
> >
> > My thoughts on the matter.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Liam
> > On Feb 24, 2016 15:45, "Earl Marshal" <kingdom at marshal.ansteorra.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I'm curious if these weapons comply with our standard construction
> rules,
> > > or if they should be considered experimental.
> > >
> > > Thoughts?
> > >
> > > Jean Paul
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 6:36 AM, <sethrcagle at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > My group uses the rawhide covered swords, we took it from An Tir who
> it
> > > > seems like every other person has a raw hide covered sword. What do
> you
> > > > want to know? It's just a covering for the sword instead of using
> tape.
> > > >
> > > > Sven
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > >
> > > > > On Feb 17, 2016, at 12:11 PM, Earl Marshal <
> > > > kingdom at marshal.ansteorra.org> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > So, who's experimented with them?
> > > > >
> > > > > JP
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