Armored Combat:Inspecting equipment - Sample armor inspection

Sample armor inspection

General

1. See Equipment standards - Armor for minimum armor standards.
2. The inspection outlined below is an example for armored combat with rattan, and includes combat archery.
3. It does not necessarily include checks for additional requirements that your kingdom might have added.
4. A checklist might be helpful as you do the inspection until you have done so many that it becomes second nature.
5. The fact that one of the requirements is not mentioned on this checklist does not mean that you should not notice if it has not been met.
6. Armor is hot, not to mention heavy. If possible, find shade or other protection from the elements in which to hold the inspection or, at least, for the fighters to stand in while waiting to be inspected.

Leg armor

1. Check that the front and sides of the knee are covered. If you are concerned about coverage during combat, have the fighter flex their knees (either a deep knee bend or raise one knee at a time) and see that the knee remains covered.
2. Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Groin

Ask the fighter if they are wearing the appropriate groin protection. It is up to the combatant to know what they need to wear. Do not attempt to check for it physically.

Kidneys and floating ribs

Check for kidney and floating rib armor. Kidneys are located in the back, at the bottom of the rib cage, not down on the hips.

Arms

Elbows

1. Check that the point and sides of each elbow are covered. If you are concerned about coverage during combat, have the fighter flex their arm to confirm that the elbow remains covered.
2. Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Hands and wrists

1. Check the gauntlet and/or basket hilt to see if the combination covers the required area (the hand, fingers and thumb, and one inch of the forearm).
2. Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Head and neck

1. Before the fighter puts their helm on, inspect the interior for:
   1. broken welds, loose rivets, and internal projections that could cause injury,
   2. the presence and condition of padding or a suspension system. Padding and suspension systems degrade over time with use and wear and will need to be repaired or replaced.
2. Have the fighter put their helm on and assume their normal fighting stance.
   1. Check that the larynx and cervical vertebrae are covered. If it appears likely these areas will not remain covered when the fighter moves, have the fighter turn or tilt their head to typical combat positions to see that the required protection remains in place.
   2. Check the face guard and eye slots do not have openings greater than 1 inch (25.4 mm) that would allow a weapon to penetrate.
   3. Verify that the faceguard will not hit the fighter's face by putting your hand on the front of the helm, and have the fighter push against it. A gentle touch of the tip of the nose to the face guard at maximum pressure is undesirable, but not grounds to disqualify the helm.
   4. Check that the chinstrap is secured by lifting the helm gently.

Shield

1. Check the rim for exposed sharp edges. (For this purpose, a 90-degree angle is a sharp edge.)
2. Check the rest of the shield for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that it is faulty.
3. Check for bolts that extend more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) past the nut. If found, these should be covered by tape, padding, or an acorn nut.