[Ansteorra-marshals] Rawhide swords

[Gene Hosey]

IT IS LEATHER, LEATHER WAS APPROVED IN SWORDS BY SOCIETY BEFORE I STARTED TWENTY YEARS AGO



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> On Feb 24, 2016, at 6:15 PM, Jay Rudin <rudin at peoplepc.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
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