Section 4: Equipment Requirements and Specifications
4.1 Apparel requirements
All equipment used by competitors must be approved by the armorer at gear check prior to the start of the tournament, and any item that does not fit the following criteria or is deemed unsafe by the staff will be disallowed, and an appropriate substitute must be found. There can be no skin exposed.
4.1.1 Jacket - A minimum of 350N rated fencing jacket is required. If the jacket is not rated at a minimum of 350N, then a 350N or higher rated plastron(s) that protect the chest and armpits must be worn under the jacket.
4.1.2 Pants - Minimum of 350N-rated fencing or HEMA knickers or pants, and long socks that do not expose any skin are required. All skin must be completely covered, and there must be complete overlap between the pants and jacket at all times, even when lifting arms.
4.1.3 Mask A fencing mask with back-of-the-head protection is required. The back-of-the-head protection can be integrated, or it can be a separate add-on to the mask. Masks must be in good repair and free from large dents, rust, or other damage that compromises the integrity of the mesh. Masks are subject to a punch test and masks that fail the test may be disqualified.
4.1.4 Gloves:
Longsword, Sword and Buckler, Polearms: Heavy proective gloves made for HEMA tournament usage are required. i.e. lobster style mitten gauntlets, sparring gloves, hard plastic fingered gauntlets (e.g. Gabriel gloves) etc. Steel/aluminum gauntlets are also acceptable but must be approved by the armorer. Addendum for Sword & Buckler: Lightweight gloves are acceptable for the buckler hand, but padded gloves at a minimum are recommended.
Rapier: Padded or leather light gloves are acceptable for rapier; a minimum of lacrosse level protection require for the Dagger/off-hand glove.
Saber: Padded or lacrosse gloves or similar. Light gloves are acceptable provided the guard sufficiently protects the hand.
Smallsword: A light leather or olympic fencing glove.
4.1.5 Additional Required Protection for Longsword, Sword & Buckler, Rapier, Saber & Polearms:
- Neck protector
- Elbow protectors
- Forearm Protectors
- Knee Protectors
- Shin Protectors
- 350N plastron (underarm protector) for the sword arm - Smallsword only
NOTE: Neck and joint protection is not required for smallsword.
4.1.6 Recommended Protection:
- Rigid chest protector
- 350N (or higher) plastron (required for the sword arm in smallsword recommended for all weapons)
- Groin protection
4.2 Weapon requirements for all Categories:
All weapons will be subject to a flex test by the armorer to determine safety, and are subject onsite to approval or denial by the tournament organizers/bout committee.
4.2.1 Longsword: Participants must use a steel fencing sword appropriate for competition. Single or double ring hilts are allowed, strikes to the ring may be called as a hit to the hand. Blade length must be a maximum of 105 centimeters from the cross guard, have a maximum of 14.5kg flexibility, be in good repair with no jagged nicks or gouges and free from active surface rust, with no s-curve in the blade. A slight bend is acceptable. All blades must be tipped with rubber, leather, bullet casing, or tape, even if the weapon has a rolled or spatulated etc. tip. All weapons will be subject to a flex test by the armorer to determine safety.
4.2.2 Smallsword: Participants must use a weapon with a smallsword or foil guard, and with an epee or foil blade no more than 90 cm (a standard size 5 Olympic blade). Pistol or orthopedic style grips are not allowed. The blade must be completely free of burrs or heavy nicks. Blades must be free of s-curves or hard, dangerous bends (a slight bend is acceptable.) The tip must have a rubber blunt over the point if it is a dry blade, unless it is affixed with a dummy electric point. Doublewide/”musketeer” style epee blades are not allowed unless the flex is equal to that of an olympic style epee blade and may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
4.2.3 Saber: Participants must use a weapon with a historical saber, spadroon, or baskethilt guard, and with a blade no more than 97 cm, and a weight of no less than 600g and no more than 900g. The blade must be flexible, completely free of burrs or heavy nicks. Blades must be free of s-curves or hard, dangerous bends (a slight bend is acceptable.)
4.2.4 Rapier: Participants are required to use a flexible rapier simulator designed specifically for historical rapier fencing. The blade must be flexible on the thrust, blunt, and completely free of burrs or heavy nicks. Blades must be free of S-curves or hard, dangerous bends (a slight bend is normal and acceptable). Blade length must be between 90 – 115 cm (including the ricasso of the blade). Modern fencing weapons (foil, saber or epee) are not allowed; however, rapiers with double-wide or "musketeer" style epee blades are allowed permitted they pass the flex test. Blades must be capped with a rubber blunt or leather wrapped over the point and affixed with tape, even if the blade has a nail head or rolled point. The final decision as to whether a weapon is acceptable or not lies with the tournament staff. Hilt design can be any reasonably historical style from the 16th to 17th century. No blatant fantasy designs are allowed.
4.2.5 Dagger (when allowed): Participants are required to use a flexible dagger simulator designed specifically for historical rapier fencing. The blade must be flexible on the thrust, blunt and completely free of burrs or heavy nicks. Blades must be free of s-curves or hard, dangerous bends (a slight bend is normal and acceptable). Blade length can be no shorter than 20 centimeters and no longer than 45 centimeters. All blades must be capped with a rubber blunt or leather wrapped over the point and affixed with tape, even if the blade has a nail head or rolled point. The final decision as to whether a weapon is acceptable or not lies with the tournament staff. Hilt design can be any reasonably historical style from the 16th to the 17th century. No blatant fantasy designs are allowed. Cold steel synthetic parrying daggers are acceptable.
4.2.6 Sword and Buckler weapon: Participants will use a steel single-hand arming sword, sidesword, or messer intended for HEMA use. The style of sword should represent a historical one handed weapon from the 14th to 17th centuries. Complex sidesword guards are allowed, but baskethilts that fully enclose the hand are not. The weapon must be a sword designed for use in one hand (Longswords held in one hand are not allowed). Blade length may not exceed 97 centimeters from the cross guard. The weapon is expected to be in good repair, filed down with no jagged nicks or gouges in the blade that could rip an opponent’s protective gear, and no dangerous bends or s-curves in the blade (a slight bend is acceptable). All blades must be tipped with rubber, leather, bullet casing, or tape, even if the weapon has a rolled or spatulated etc. tip. All weapons will be subject to a flex test by the armorer to determine safety.
4.2.7 Buckler: Participants may use a buckler that is steel, wooden, hardened leather or synthetic. The buckler may not be larger than 18” in diameter. The buckler may not have any dangerous protrusions on the face (such as spikes or anything designed to catch a blade). The buckler must be in good repair free of jagged edges. The buckler, by definition, is a gripped weapon, not strapped or tied to the arm in any way. A buckler that has a strap attached is not necessarily disallowed, but a fencer using the strap to affix the buckler to their arm or body will be immediately disqualified.