At each scenario, the marshal-in-charge must arrange for the inspection of ALL equipment to be used in combat. This in no way relieves the combatants themselves of their responsibility for following the equipment standards. Ultimately, each fighter is responsible for the condition and safety of his or her armor and weapons at all times. Including periods between rounds, individual battles, and day to day periods between battles at a multi-day event. However, the marshal’s inspection is intended to provide a second pair of experienced eyes and an outside, unbiased point of view. Equipment that was perfectly serviceable at the beginning of the previous event could have broken since, and even the most experienced fighter has forgotten some piece of armor.

As a marshal, you are NOT guaranteeing or certifying that anything is completely safe, and that its use is not without risk. The primary responsibility for the safety of weapons and armor remains with the fighter in all cases. You are inspecting to see whether the items comply with our published standards or not. If they do, they may be used in our combat activities — otherwise they may not. The purpose of our rules, standards and inspections is to reduce the chance of injury for those who participate. Even with those rules and standards, all combat activities can lead to injury.

Marshals will inspect against the published rules for the scenario (rattan, foam, unarmored historical, other).

The inspection outlined below is merely an example, for purposes of illustration as described for regular Armistice rattan combat without combat archery, siege weapons, or hand thrown weapons.

• Armor inspection must be done with all the armor on the body of the fighter who is going to wear it.
• Weapon inspections, the primary test is safety. If you, as a marshal, do not believe that the weapon is safe, do not let it be used on the field.
• When in doubt, ask the prospective user if he or she would be willing to fight against the weapon. If not, it should not be used regardless of whether it meets all other requirements.

Leg Armor:

• Check that the front and sides of the knee are covered. 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. Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Groin:

• ASK the fighter if they have remembered their cup or groin protection. DO NOT EVER attempt to check for it physically.

Kidneys and Floating Ribs:

• Check for kidney/rib armor. Kidneys are located in the back, at the bottom of the ribs.

Elbows:

• Check that the point and sides of each elbow are covered. Have the fighter flex their arm to validate that the elbow remains covered. Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Hands and wrists:

• Check the gauntlet and/or basket hilt to see if they cover the required area (fingers, thumb and up to one inch of the forearm). Check for signs that the equipment is faulty.

Neck and Head:

• Have the fighter assume a normal fighting stance. Check that the larynx and cervical vertebrae are covered. Have the fighter turn or tilt their head to see that the required protections remain covered.
• Check the faceplate and eye slots for greater than one-inch openings that would allow weapon penetration.
• Put your hand on the front of the helm and have the fighter push against it. Ensure that their face does not hit the faceplate beyond a gentle touch of the tip of the nose.
• Lift gently on the front of the faceplate to make sure that the chinstrap is secured. (DON’T jerk it upwards).
• Have the fighter remove their head protection and inspect the interior for: broken welds, or internal projections that could cause injury. The presence and condition of padding or a suspension system to prevent contact with the wearer during combat.

Shield:

• Check the rim for exposed sharp edges. (a 90-degree angle IS a sharp edge.) Check the rest of the shield for sharp edges, projections, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that it is faulty.

Swords:

• Check that they meet the minimum diameter of 1.25 inch or [31.8mm]).
• Check that the ends are taped and that there are no exposed cuts in the rattan.
• Check the quillons or basket hilts for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs of risk due to damage.
• Check the preferred hand restraint system for cuts or weakened areas.

Thrusting Tips:

• Check that they have the minimum cross section. Push on the end to verify the required amount of resilient give. Check that the tip is constructed in such a manner that it cannot be forced more than .5 inch (12.7 mm) into a legal faceguard.

Mass Weapons:

• Check the padding for the proper amount of give.
• Check the preferred hand restraint system for cuts or weakened areas on singlehanded mass weapons.
• Consider the total mass of the weapon.

Pole Weapons:

• Check the thrusting tip, if any, for the proper amount of give.
• Consider the total mass of the weapon.
• Check that the weapon meets the relevant length restrictions.