<html>
<body>
At 10:38 PM 10/8/2007, you wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I have a question. I have a
leather half gauntlet with<br>
steel plates on the back of the hand and the wrist. <br>
Can this be declared as a parrying or defensive device<br>
if the opponents blade hits the steel. I know it<br>
would be a valid shot if it hit the leather.<br><br>
Goldweard</blockquote><br><br>
It would depend on the circumstances of the bout. <br><br>
Here's what the Corporate Rapier Rules
(<a href="http://sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/rapier/rapier_handbook.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/rapier/rapier_handbook.pdf</a>)
say on the matter:<br><br>
"A. In judging blows, all fighters are presumed to be wearing common
civil attire of the period, not armor.<br><br>
B. Tourneys may be held which define areas of the body as if armored, and
to what degree, so long as all the participants are made aware of these
special conditions prior to the start of combat."<br><br>
And here's what the Ansteorran Rapier Rules
(<a href="http://rapier.ansteorra.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://rapier.ansteorra.org/</a>) say:<br><br>
"A. In judging blows, all fighters are presumed to be wearing common
civil attire of the period, not armor. For the sake of definition, the
standard for civil attire is assumed to be lower stocks (hose), upper
stocks (pants), a shirt, a doublet or doublet/jerkin combination, and
shoes (not boots). No blow may be discounted because of actual clothing
or equipment worn unless agreed upon ahead of time.<br><br>
B. The entire body is target for the delivery of blows.<br><br>
C. Tourneys may be held which define areas of the body as if armored, and
to what degree, so long as all the participants are made aware of these
special conditions prior to the start of combat."<br><br>
So unless you're in an armor-as-worn tourney, you can't arbitrarily
declare that your gauntlet is proof against rapier shots. You *might* be
able to have it considered as such in a regular tourney, if your opponent
and the marshals are agreeable. You can probably play with it that way at
fighter practice--basically, tell your opponent :"Hi, I've got this
new toy I want to play with, do you mind?"<br><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>-Tivar
Moondragon<br>
</body>
</html>