MK Marshal's Handbook - Weapons

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See Marshal's handbook

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, 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: Siloflex and Siloflex equivalents are 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 and 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.

• Laminated rattan: Two pieces of rattan, each being at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) in diameter, attached to one another with a short overlap by tape or other method of binding. Maximum length of the overlap shall be 18 inches (85.7 cm) or half of the length of the added rattan, whichever is shorter.

Note that use of glues, epoxies, or adhesives, which substantially reduce the flexibility of the rattan, is prohibited.

• Missile weapon: any weapon which is intended to deliver a blow without being held in the hand (e.g., arrows, javelins, quarrels, or various soft projectiles from catapults).

• 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 or haft of the weapon to which it is attached.

• Quillions: cross-guards of a sword.

• Siloflex: A brand-name polyethylene tubing made from PE3408 resin and conforming to ASTM D2239 standards. The material is approved for various uses throughout the rules in pressure ratings ranging from 75 PSI to 200 PSI. Please check the standards in the appropriate area of the rules for what is allowed.

• Siloflex equivalent: other tubing or pipe, typically made for drinking water applications, made from polyethylene resins with the ASTM classification of PE 3408 and produced to the ASTM D2239 standard. 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 (122cm).

• 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 1.25 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 1.25 inch (25.4 mm). Split rattan construction does not place the split rattan directly against the nonsplit 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, greatswords, bastard swords, polearms, and similar weapons.

• UHMW: Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene – A wear resistant plastic with outstanding impact strength.