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Ansteorra's Heavy Rapier Rules

I. WEAPONS

A. BLADES - Rapier blades shall be practice schlager blades with an oval cross section, hereafter H.R. blades. The blade end must be blunt, the blade length must be at least 33" from base to tip (not including the tang) and all blades must be at least moderately flexible. Blades with a diamond cross section are not allowed. No other rapier blades (foil, epee, etc.) may be used against H.R. blades.

B. GUARDS/HILTS - The minimum guard for a rapier shall be a simple crossguard. Swept and cage hilts are allowed.

C. TIPS - Approved tips are soft rubber rabbit or bird blunts and test tube stoppers (size 00). A constructed leather tip may also be approved for use by the marshalate on an individual basis. A tip may not be made entirely of tool dip or tape, though either may be used to attach a tip.

D. SECONDARIES - Secondary weapons allowed in H.R. shall include ring daggers and those secondaries allowed in Ansteorran Rapier Combat.

E. NON-STANDARD SECONDARIES - Non-standard secondaries shall be governed by the Ansteorran Rules For Rapier Combat concerning Non-standard secondaries.

II. ARMOR

A. STANDARD ARMOR - Armor as required by the Ansteorran Rules For Rapier Combat shall be worn for H.R. Combat with the addition of a gorget. The minimum gorget for H.R. Combat shall cover the neck from above the adam's apple to below the sternal notch, shall have no gaps that will admit an untipped schlager blade and must otherwise meet the standards for a heavy weapons leather gorget (see Participants'/Fighters' Handbook).

B. ADDITIONAL PROTECTION - Additional protective gear such as elbow and knee pads may be worn if it does not impair the fighter's ability to call a blow. Items that replace standard protective gear, such as helms worn in place of a standard fencing mask, must be approved by the marshals on an individual basis.

III. VALID BLOWS

A. CALIBRATION - Calibration will be offered before each bout. During calibration the fighters shall agree on the minimum pressure required for a valid blow and the maximum amount of pressure that may be used. Pressure should be sufficient to allow fighters to easily feel a blow but should not cause undue discomfort and may be limited at the discretion of the marshals.

B. VALID TARGET AREAS - The entire body is a legal target with one exception; thrusts that go through a cage or swept hilt to hit a hand are not legal. It is legal to hit the hand if it can be done without thrusting through the cage or swept hilt. This prohibition against thrusting through the guard may be waived if both fighters agree to do so.

C. CUTS - Draw cuts are the same as those allowed in Ansteorran Rapier Combat except that only 3 inches of draw is required. Push cuts and/or tip cuts are valid if agreed to by both combatants during calibration.

IV. AUTHORIZATION

A. FIGHTER - A fighter must demonstrate the ability to fight with H.R. blades in accordance with the Ansteorran Rules for Heavy Rapier Combat to the satisfaction of two different authorizing marshals on two different days.

B. MARSHALS - Marshals will be required to complete the H.R. marshal training course before they are authorized to marshal this type of combat.

Signed into Kingdom Law by thier Majesties Mikael and Mikaela of Monmouthshire and the Earl Marshal Sir Barn Silveraxe on 03 August 96 (A.S. XXXI)