Approved Equipment for Smallsword Tournaments
Approved Equipment for Tournament Participation at SoCal Swordfight
All of the tournaments are considered to simulate ‘blossfechten’. In the interests of promoting a professional HEMA image, and to encourage fighters to respect the weapon simulators, heavy armor (breast plates, etc.) or fantasy-styled armors are not permitted.
All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.
The following equipment is required for all sparring tournaments:
- Masks with back of the head protection are required.
- Trachea protection that protects the throat from a direct thrust is required.
- Testicle protection is required.
- Rigid breast protection is recommended but not required.
- Hard elbow protection, that covers the 3 points of the elbow.
- Hard knee protection that covers the knee.
- No exposed skin will be permitted.
The equipment standards for the following are dictated by the weapon tournament:
- Gloves
- Jacket
- Shin/Forearm
All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.
Protective Equipment - Specific to the Smallsword Tournament
All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.
All equipment from the is required, in addition to the following:
- Leather fencing gloves or equivalent are required for the hands. Padded gloves are recommended for the off-hand.
- A protective torso garment is required. Examples include HEMA jackets (ie SPES/Superior Fencing), padded gambesons, light fencing jackets, and quality maille (mail). Approval is at the discretion of the director. The garment should be made out of thrust-resistant material.
Approved Weapons
All swords will be inspected before use.
Fencers shall bring their own swords. Blades shall be between 30’’ and 35’’ in length. Triangular style, schlaeger style, and foil styles are permitted. Historical grip styles only (no pistol grips).
Smallswords must have tips with a bright contrasting tip color (such as black tip with gold tape or vice versa). This is to enhance the ability of judges to see thrusted blows.
Smallsword blades from the following makers will be allowed, other blades will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and approved by the tournament director. This list may be updated as time goes on.
- Deltin
- Hanwei
- Angus Trim
- Castille Armory
- Darkwood Armory
- Danelli
- Kvetun Armory
- Blackfencer
- Absolute Fencing
- Zen Warrior
- Kraken