[Ansteorra-marshals] Rawhide swords

[Jay Rudin]

There are only two possible answers to this question:
"Yes, they were approved for use in Ansteorra by former Earl Marshal X, or for general SCA use by Society Earl Marshal Y. Please contact him for more details."
"No, they have not been approved for use in Ansteorra."

If no specific named Earl Marshal or Society Earl Marshal has approved them, , then they haven't been approved. Who else could have done it?


As to flexibility: I haven't tested two swords made from similar rattan, one covered with rawhide and one not covered. Therefore, of course, I have no answer. Similarly, anybody else's answer must be either:
"I don't know; I haven't tested them."
or 
"Here are the methods of my test, and here are the results."

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

-----Original Message-----
>From: Earl Marshal <kingdom at marshal.ansteorra.org>
>Sent: Feb 24, 2016 4:19 PM
>To: Discussion list for all Ansteorran marshals <ansteorra-marshals at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Subject: Re: [Ansteorra-marshals] Rawhide swords
>
>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