Armored Combat:Glossary - Weapon

Weapons

Striking surface

Because of the nature of our activities and the ability of our weapons to break during use, the "striking surface" of a weapon is to be considered throughout the entire striking portion. ie. the entire blade or head of the weapon, not only the outside "skin" or layer. This includes all interior construction materials and parts no matter how "deep" inside.

Approved rigid plastics

HDPE piping is currently the only rigid plastic approved for the striking surface of a weapon.

Bow

A projectile launcher consisting of a material held under tension by a string. Also referred to as a Handbow.

Crossbow

A projectile launcher consisting of a bow (called a prod) being mounted to a stock, with a lock mechanism to hold the string at full draw and allow its release via a trigger.

Flail

A weapon with a striking surface attached to the handle via a flexible arm or pivot.

Handle

the gripping area of a single handed weapon, two handed sword, great sword, or bastard sword that is covered by a gauntleted hand(s) or basket hilt during normal combat. Handles can be less than 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm).

Haft

The haft is defined as the section of a weapon or spear not used for striking and not covered as a handle defined above.

Laminated rattan

Two pieces of rattan, each being at least 1.25 inch (31.8 mm) in diameter, attached to one another by tape or other method of binding. Note that use of glues, epoxies, or adhesives, which substantially reduce the flexibility of the rattan, is prohibited.

Missile weapon

Projectile weapons including, but not limited to, bows and arrows, crossbows and bolts, thrown weapons, and siege engines/siege munitions.

Polearms

Hafted weapons, generally long, designed to be wielded with two hands (e.g., glaives, halberds, etc.).

Progressively resistant give (as used in discussions of thrusting tips)

As pressure is applied directly to the thrusting surface, it will compress gradually, without bottoming-out or bending to the side enough to expose the end of the blade, haft or blunt/core of the weapon to which it is attached.

Quillons

Cross-guards of a sword.

HDPE pipe

High-density polyethylene water service pipe materials meeting ASTM D2239 (and minimum of 1 inch (25.4 mm) inner diameter) or ASTM D2737 (and minimum of 1 1/4 inch (31.8 mm) outer diameter) and manufactured of PE3408, PE3608, PE3710 or PE4710 resin, or equivalent. The material is approved for various uses throughout the rules in pressure ratings ranging from 100 PSI to 200 PSI. Please check the standards in the appropriate area of the rules for what is allowed. Siloflex is an example brand of this type of piping.

Spears

Hafted weapons designed for thrusting only; also called pikes.

Single-handed mass weapons

Maces, axes, war hammers, or other weapons designed primarily to crush or punch holes (on account of the weight of the real weapons), rather than primarily to cut (on account of sharp edges on the real weapon). Maximum length for single-handed mass weapons is 48 inches (1220 mm).

Slider

A tube or similar device that wraps around the shaft of a spear and is held in one hand, allowing the spear to slide through it. Use of sliders is prohibited.

Split rattan

Rattan of at least 1 1/4 inch (31.75 mm) diameter which has been split in two and applied to a weapon such that the striking surface of the split piece retains a cross section of 1 1/4 inch (31.75 mm). Split rattan construction does not place the split rattan directly against the non-split haft of the weapon, but rather spaces the split off of the haft to allow give in the head by flexion of the split of rattan.

Swords

Single- or double-edged, bladed cutting weapons (including swords with thrusting tips).

Two-handed cutting or smashing weapons

Includes two-handed swords, great swords, bastard swords, polearms, and similar weapons.

UHMW polyethylene

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene - A wear-resistant plastic with outstanding impact strength.