Armored Combat:Equipment standards - Handheld weapons - Spears

Spears

1. Spears must not have a cutting or smashing head.
2. All spears must have a thrusting tip that is a minimum of 2 inches (50.8 mm) in diameter/ cross-section and have 2 inches (50.8 mm) of resilient material in front of the end, which provides progressively resistant give without allowing contact with the end.
3. Total spear length must not exceed 9 feet (2.74 m).
4. Rattan spears must be constructed of rattan with a diameter of no less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8mm).
   1. Spears are not allowed to have a thinner handle.
5. Fiberglass spears must be constructed of pultruded fiberglass shafts with an outside diameter of no less than 1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm) and no greater than 1 5/16 inches (33.38 mm).
   1. Minimum manufacturer-specified wall thickness must be 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) and the minimum measurable wall thickness must be 3/32 inch (2.38 mm).
   2. The end of the fiberglass shaft which will have the thrusting tip attached must be covered with a schedule-40 PVC or equivalent non-metallic rigid material (end cap) with an interior diameter the same as the outside diameter of the shaft (1 1/4 inches (31.8 mm)) that will not allow the end of the fiberglass shaft to penetrate the foam of the tip. The thrusting tip will then be attached over this cap.
6. Fiberglass spear shafts can be spliced using a fiberglass rod or tube with a sidewall of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) of the same or equivalent material, having an outside diameter of 1 inch (25.4 mm) and a length of 8 to 12 inches (203 to 304 mm).
   1. Up to two splices are allowed per spear shaft.
   2. Each end that will be spliced must be cut square and clean of cracks or frayed fibers.
   3. The rod must extend at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) into each spliced end. One or both of these two methods must secure the splice:
      1. Epoxying both ends of the fiberglass rod before insertion.
      2. Epoxying one end of the fiberglass rod before insertion and thoroughly taping the splice over with fiber tape.
7. The butt end of the shaft must be smooth and free of cracks or frayed fibers.
8. The butt must be taped over or otherwise sealed.
9. If a weapon is completely taped, a marshal can require that one section be untaped enough to determine that pultruded fiberglass has been used in the construction of the shaft.