The Principality of Insulae Draconis

Building your own Armour
Light Weapons Armour and Weaponry

Sir Michael DeLacy

Heavy weapons fighting, or rattan, is not the only form of combat within the Society for Creative Anachronism; other forms, which fall under the category of "light weapons" include boffers, shanai, period fencing, and missile. All of these forms of combat require less armour than rattan, and most require different abilities than strength and endurance, which allows the thrill of competitive combat to be shared by those who do not fancy the more physically demanding aspects of rattan.

In this article, I will give an introduction to the different kinds of light weapons combat practised in the SCA, with a very brief description of the weapons and armour used in each. For more detailed information, consult the Known World Handbook, or the Principality Marshal. One of the main differences between heavy and light weapons combat is that while heavy weapon combat assumes both fighters to be wearing armour, and thus requires a minimum force of blow for a good shot, all light weapon combat assumes both combatants to be unarmoured, and in "civilian dress"; thus any blow, even a very light one is considered good. The legal target areas in most forms of light weapons combat are the same as in rattan; no blows on or below the knees, not hits from behind, etc; the exception to this is missile combat, where all of the body is legal target.

Boffers

Boffer combat is the lightest of the light weapons, and usually consists of a soft foam club wrapped in duct tape. It is very safe, and is often used by children, and by drunken knights. The armour requirements are minimal; usually no armour at all is worn, although some form of eye protection is recommended, particularly for the smalls. Boffer swords are somewhat similar to the latex weapons used by many live role playing groups, but they aren't near as pretty.

Shanai

Shanai is the next step up, and derives its name from the split bamboo sword used, which is used by some martial art forms for training. These are available at most martial art supply stores, and are mostly harmless, but capable of giving a nasty bruise if used with too much force. The weapons are, in most cases, assumed to be single edged katanas as used by Japanese samurai, although "westernised" shanai can be made as double edged hand-and-a-half swords, and padded shields can also be make and used. In any case, blows are delivered with the edge only - NO THRUSTING.

Period Fencing

This form of combat simulates the duelling style of very late period combat (late sixteenth and early seventeenth century), i.e. Dumas, the three Musketeers and Cyrano de Bergerac. It is a very fast, very flashy form of combat involving lots of swashbuckling and flair (if done properly). It is similar to competition fencing, but is much less formal and ritualised, and seeks to re-create the actual combat style with greater realism; thus such niceties as right of way and strip fencing are thrown out the window.

The weapons used vary from kingdom to kingdom; foils and epees being the most common, although sabres and in some kingdoms schlogger blades are used. Foils are very thin and fast, and fairly cheap and easy to obtain. Epees are somewhat more rigid and sword-like, but have a tendency to snap. Schlogger blades are about as heavy as an epee, but are much stronger and have a more realistic weight; also their cross section is that of a proper sword blade, and thus is much more resistant to breaking than an epee, which has a lower blade with a V-shaped cross section.

Many companies specialise in making blades, and many also offer a range of beautiful and period hilt designs which can be fitted to them. Special daggers can be made for parrying, as well as cloaks, mugs, candelabra or whatever else comes to hand. This is a very fun and challenging form of combat.

Missile Combat

Missile combat in the SCA is done with bows, crossbows and javelins. The bows used are either recurve, longbow or flatbow style, and must be under 30 lb. draw weight at 28". Crossbows must be under 30 lb. draw weight at the nut. The arrows fired are fitted with a special head, much like a rabbit blunt, often covered with a layer of foam padding. The wood shafts of the arrows must be taped with a layer of fibre tape, to prevent shattering, and the heads must be firmly glued and taped on. A special type of head, known as a Markland blunt is used when shooting at rattan fighters; this has a wider head so that it cannot pass through facegrilles.

The entire body of your opponent is legal target, and direct fire is permissible, although shooting at someone at a range of less than 10' is forbidden.

Javelins are often made from some lightweight plastic tubing, with a padded tip like that used on a rattan polearm. Javelins are often fitted with flights of leather or fabric to help stabilise them in flight.

Armour

Armour requirements for light weapon combat vary from kingdom to kingdom, so make sure to check with your local marshal before you decide to spend money on kit, but basically, you will need the following: Head; a fencing mask, or equivalent, covering the front and sides of the head, with some form of padding over the back of the head. The neck must be covered with at least some form of thrust resilient padding, such as padded fabric or medium weight leather; this must cover down as far as the collar bone.

Body: must be covered in at least a heavy fabric, such as denim, wool or trigger; quilted fabric or leather is preferable, particularly for archery and fencing.

Hands: must be covered by leather gloves.

Arms & Legs: must be covered by at least a layer of fabric (no skin must show) For those with an aversion to pain, elbow and knee pads are advised, particularly for archery and shanai.

The Naughty Bits: must be protected by a sports cup or some form of groin protection. Ladies should have breasts covered by at least heavy leather. Light weapons in the SCA are generally used on their own in special light weapon tourneys or wars. Because the armour requirements are virtually identical, the weapons can often be mixed in a battle; archery and shanai is particularly fun (and very appropriate to a Japanese weapon style), and archery and fencing can also be fun, if a bit odd. Fencing and shanai is right out - the fencing blades tend to carve up bamboo rather rapidly. A light weapon war is great fun; minimum armour and lots of running about in the woods, dodging arrows - sort of like medieval paint ball.

Missile light weapons are also used occasionally with rattan in some large wars. The act as skirmishers and scouts, and can fire their bows and javelins at the rattan fighters, who take the blows as they would any ordinary thrust. Special care must be taken that the archers don't get clubbed. To this effect, all "non contact" fighters must wear a 6' white diamond on the front and back of their headpieces, and must stay clear of the rattan fighters; if a non contact fighter comes within 10' of a rattan fighter, he is considered dead!