A.    Armored Participants

• All participants on the field during adult armored combat shall meet the Armistice minimum armor standards for a fully armored combatant. This includes, but is not limited to, combat archers, siege engineers and other combatants.
• It does not include marshals, water-bearers, or chirurgeons. All authorized combatants and warranted marshals shall disguise, cover, or remove modern corporate logos and sport gear unless the gear is necessary for medical reasons. Special attention should be paid to appearance and the atmosphere of a medieval event should be maintained.
• Required armored areas must stay covered during typical movement.

B.    Helms

• Helms shall be constructed from steel which has a thickness of no less than .0625 (that is, 1/16) inch (1.6 mm), or of equivalent material. Alternative materials, such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, or like materials, are permissible as long as the material is structurally equivalent to 0.0625-inchthick steel. The mass of the helm is an important part of the protection. As such, no titanium, fiberglass, aluminum, or other ultra-light materials may be used unless they meet the equivalent mass, strength, and weight of steel which has a thickness of no less than .0625 (that is, 1/16) inch (1.6 mm). Proof of construction technique, materials, and equivalency must be provided to the Armistice marshal for approval during Armistice. If a spun-metal top is to be used in the construction of the helm, it shall be a minimum of 0.075-inch (14- gauge or 1.905 mm) steel. The process of spinning the top thins the metal, thereby requiring a heavier gauge.
• All joints or seams shall be constructed in one or a combination of the following ways, with all welds sound and rivets secure: 
  • Welded on the inside and outside.
  • Welded with a single bead that extends through both surfaces.
  • Lap joints welded or brazed at the edges of both pieces.
  • Helms will be riveted in their primary construction with steel or stainless steel rivets 1/8in (3.18mm) or greater in diameter and no more than 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) apart, steel, stainless steel, or brass rivets 3/16 in (4.76mm) or greater diameter and no more than 2.5 inches (63.5mm) apart or with equivalent riveting techniques. Screw- and pop-type rivets, along with other lightweight rivets, are not to be used.
• Face guards shall prevent a 1inch (25.4mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
• The face guard shall extend at least 1 inch (25.4mm) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
• Bars used in the face guard shall be steel of not less than .1875 (that is, 3/16) inch (4.8 mm) in diameter, or equivalent. If the span between crossbars is less than 2 inches (50.8 mm), .125 (that is, 1/8) inch (3.18 mm) diameter bars may be used.
• All movable visors shall be attached and secured in such a way that there is minimal chance that they will become detached or come open in normal combat use.
• There shall be NO major internal projections; minor projections of necessary structural components shall be padded. All metal shall be free of sharp edges. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of the helm, unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.
• All parts of the helm that might cause injurious contact with the wearer’s head shall be padded with a minimum of .5 inch (12.7 mm) of closed-cell foam or equivalent padding or shall be suspended in such a way as to prevent contact with the wearer during combat. Similarly, parts of the inside of the helm that might come in contact with the wearer’s neck or body should be padded.
• All helms shall be equipped with a chin strap or equivalent means to prevent the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting the wearer’s face during combat. An equivalent might be, for example, a bevor or a chin-cup suspension system. A “snug fit” is NOT an equivalent. The chin strap shall be, at a minimum, .5 inch (12.7 mm) in width and shall not be placed in the helm in a manner that could strangle the wearer.

C.   Eye Wear

The lenses of all eyewear shall be constructed of shatterproof industrial safety glass or plastic. Ordinary glass lenses are prohibited. The wearing of contact lenses or “sports glasses” is strongly recommended.

D.   Neck Armor

The neck, including the larynx, cervical vertebrae, and first thoracic vertebra must be covered by one or a combination of the following and must stay covered during typical combat situations, including turning the head, lifting the chin, etc.:

• The helm
• A gorget of rigid material
• A mail or heavy leather camail or aventail that hangs or drapes to absorb the force of a blow. If the camail or aventail lays in contact with the larynx, cervical vertebrae, or first thoracic vertebra, that section must be padded with a minimum of .25 inch (6mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent
• A collar of heavy leather lined with a minimum of .25in (6mm) of close cell foam or equivalent

E.    Body, Shoulder, and Groin Armor

• The kidney area and the floating ribs shall be covered with a minimum of heavy leather worn over .25 inch (6 mm) of closed-cell foam or equivalent padding.. More coverage is strongly suggested.
• Testicles must be protected to a standard equivalent to that provided by an athletic cup, secured by straps, or worn in a supporter or fighting garment designed to hold the protection in place.
• Non-Newtonian padding such as Zoombang will be considered only as padding for meeting armor requirements.

F. Hand and Wrist Armor:

The outer surfaces of the hand, to one inch above the wrist of both arms and including the thumb, must be covered by one or a combination of the following:

• A rigid basket or cup hilt with enough bars or plates to prevent a blow from striking the fingers or the back of the hand. If a basket or cup hilt, shield basket, or center- grip shield is used, a vambrace and or partial gauntlet shall cover the remaining exposed portions of the hand and wrist.
• A gauntlet of rigid material either lined with .25 inch (6 mm) of closed-cell foam or equivalent or designed to transfer potentially injurious impact to the surfaces being grasped.
• A gauntlet of heavy leather lined with .5 inch (12 mm) of closed-cell foam or heavy padding. (Note: An ice hockey glove is considered to be the equivalent, but looks blatantly modern; their use is discouraged.) Street hockey gloves are NOT equivalent, as the padding is lighter than a regular ice hockey glove. Street hockey gloves and similarly padded gloves will be treated only as padding.
• A side strapped shield with a shield basket or equivalent.
• A shield alone is NOT sufficient, since it covers the back of the hand, but not the fingers, thumb, or wrist. However, a side strapped shield alone may be considered an equivalent to full hand protection only if no part of the hand or wrist is within 4 inches (10.2 cm) of the edge of the shield while the shield is in use.
• Combat archers, siege engineers, and those using a thrown weapon, need only a half-gauntlet made to the above standards for gauntlets but without finger protection.

G.   Arm Armor

The elbow point and bones at either side of the elbow joint must be covered by a rigidmaterial underlain by at least .25 inch (6 mm) of closed-cell foam or equivalent padding. This armor shall be attached in such a way that the elbow remains covered during combat. A shield alone is sufficient on a side-strapped shield, if the padded elbow is 4 inches (10.2 cm) or more from the edge of the shield during typical use.

H.   Leg Armor

• The kneecap, including the area one inch (25.4 mm) above and below it, and both sides of the knee joints, must be covered by rigid material, lined by at least .25 inches (6 mm) of closed-cell foam or an equivalent padding. This armor shall be attached in such a way that the knee remains covered during combat.
• Combatants should wear footwear that provides adequate protection and support for the terrain and activity of combat.

I.      Shields

Shields shall be edged with leather, padding, or other covering or constructed in such a way as to minimize damage to rattan weapons or other fighters.

• No bolts, wires, or other objects may project more than .375 (that is, 3/8) inch (9 mm) from any part of a shield without being padded. Rounded shield bosses are not considered to be projections.
• Shields may be constructed with leg(s) so that they can act as freestanding pavises during melee combat.
  • The leg(s) used to keep the pavise standing must be at least 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) in diameter or 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) square and be well attached.
  • Pavises are destroyed by a single hit from siege engine ammunition. Combatants behind the pavise are not killed. The pavise must then immediately be removed from the field or dropped flat.
  • A pavise can be carried in a manner which does not require hand control (such as by a shoulder strap). In this case, the fighter is not allowed to actively block with it, nor can they use their own weapon, and if struck by a hand weapon, the blow is counted as if the pavise was not there.

1.   Bastons for the list shall be of rattan and shall be greater than 1 inch and one quarter in the entirety of their striking edge.

• They may have a stabbing tip of the same diameter as the blade 1 1/4 inches, and a progressive resistance of ½ inch it shall be secured soundly to the weapon by tape or other means that will not injure an opponent.
• Single handed weapons not designed to be used as a backup shall have a lanyard or other device designed to secure the weapon to the hand of the user.
• Quillions, pommels and basket hilts alone may be allowed to be material other than rattan and these areas shall never be used for striking.
• None shall wield a punch knife. Flails are right out!
• No single-handed weapon may have a thrusting tip on both ends, nor may they have one upon the pommel of a sword.

2.   The striking edge shall be clearly marked upon all weapons bearing an edge.

• Maces, hammers, and bludgeons need not mark edges, but should have the face made for war and striking clearly marked. This includes weapons of two handed varieties. Weapons of less than 38 inches may not exceed 3 lbs.
• The edges may be marked with tape (excluding aluminum tape) that is of simple solid colors. Duct tape, hockey tape, gaffer tape are all acceptable; as is the use of raw hide to cover the striking area of the weapon. No modern print tape logo or pattern shall be allowed on weapons. No flames, no cartoon characters, no modern patterns of any kind. Solid colors only or the weapon fails. The colors should contrast to mark the edge clearly. Gray and black contrast well, red and blue. Green and white for example, yellow and orange might be a less contrasting combo for example.

3.   Poleaxes, glaives, partisans, halberds shall all mark clearly the striking face and blade edges.

• They shall be greater than 5 feet and less than 7 feet and shall be made to wield with 2 hands.
• They shall have stabbing tips of 2 inches and a progressive give of that tip of 1/2 inch. Stabbing tips shall be secured soundly to the weapon by tape or other means that will not injure an opponent.
• Weapons used in 2 hands may have a butt spike as well as the cutting head. The haft as well as the blade shall not be able to pass through the eye slot of a helm. They too shall be constructed of rattan cane.
• Lanyards are not required on weapons justly wielded with 2 hands. Polearms may contain blades constructed of split rattan, so long as the pieces are securely fastened to the haft.
• The weapon shall not be excessively flexible.
• The head shall be firmly and securely attached to the haft. The head shall allow at least 1/2 inch of progressive give between the striking surface and the weapon haft.
• Semi-rigid ultra-lightweight shaped foam heads and laminated or split rattan construction techniques do not require 1/2 inch of progressive give, so long as their construction imparts striking characteristics similar to an unpadded weapon constructed of a single piece of rattan.
• A pole arm from a single piece of rattan must have a clearly marked edge. No weapons shall have a shovel-style handle .They may not have 2 striking heads.

4.   Pikes and cut lances for the haslitude on foot may be between 7 and 9 feet, and shall not exceed 9 feet.

• Spears may have a stabbing tip of 2 inches and progressive give of ½ inch.
• They MAY NOT be used for the haft to strike and as such the haft may be of hard wood or the fiberglass. Striking with the head in the manner of a slash is forbidden.
• No smashing or cutting head may be upon a spear or pike.
• The butt end of the shaft shall be smooth and free of cracks or frayed fibers. The butt shall be taped over or otherwise sealed. Fiberglass spears shall be constructed with pultruded fiberglass shafts with an outside diameter of no less than 1 1/4 inch and no greater than 1 5/16 inch.
• Minimum manufacturer specified wall thickness shall be 1/8 inch and the minimum measurable wall thickness shall be 3/32 inch.
• The end of the shaft which will have the thrusting tip attached must be covered with a schedule-40 PVC cap with an interior diameter the same as the outside diameter of the shaft 1 1/4 inches.
• The thrusting tip will then be attached over this cap.

5.   Except for the hilts, guards and pommels, no metal or non-approved rigid, granular, or liquid material may be used in the construction of single or two-handed weapons.

• No part of a weapon shall have sharp edges or protrusions with cross-section of less than 1 1/4-inch in diameter. Guards, pommels, hooks, etc., shall be firmly and securely affixed to the weapon haft.

1.   During inspection, all equipment must have its poundage and draw physically measured with a ruler or other metered device and poundage scale.

2.  Marshals must calibrate their bow scales regularly to be accurate at either 35 measurements obtained with commonly used, standard spring-type scales can vary over time.

3.   No compound bows, nor compound crossbow prods are allowed.

4.   No non-period sights, spring/flipper rests, plunger buttons, stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release aids may be used.

5.   Bows/Crossbows must be powered solely by the flex of the limbs.

6.   If both Light and Heavy bows/crossbows, by the standards as defined below, are on the field at the same time, then all Heavy bows/crossbows must have their upper limb (or one limb for crossbows) covered with at least 4 inches (10 cm) of red material (tape, cloth, etc.).

7.  Handbows:

• A handbow’s power is measured at 28 inches (71 cm). If the bow is not designed to be drawn at 28 inches (71 cm), then it cannot be used in Armistice rattan combat.
• Light handbows measure 35 pounds (15.9 kg) or less at 28 inches (71 cm).
• Heavy handbows measure 50 pounds (22.7 kg) or less at 28 inches (71 cm).

8.  Crossbows:

• Crossbows are measured by inch-pounds (”#), which is calculated by taking the poundage of the bow measured at the lock, multiplied by the distance (in inches) from the front of the string at rest, to the front of the string when in cocked position. A metric measurement of kilogram-centimeters (kg-cm).
• Light crossbows measure 600”# (691 kg-cm) or less.
• Heavy crossbows measure 1000”# (1152 kg-cm) or less.
• No crossbows may have a modern pistol grip.

9.  Combat Archery Ammunition:

• All ammunition must have the owner’s name (not initials) displayed clearly on it.
• No metal can be used as ammunition construction material.
• All ammunition has a maximum length of 28 inches (71 cm) from the back of the head/blunt, to the string acceptor on the nock.
• Optionally, ammunition may have fletches as long as they are securely attached and made of a soft material. Fletches may not project farther than .5 inch (12.7 mm) from the shaft if they are less than 1.5 inch (38.1 mm) thick.
• Light Ammunition (for use in light bows or light crossbows only) must consist of a fiberglass shaft, a blunt (either commercially manufactured or UHMW) and an APD(either commercially manufactured or HDPE).

10. Fiberglass Ammunition Shafts

• Solid pultruded fiberglass of between .25 (6.5 mm) and .375 inch (9.5 mm) diameter.
• Fiberglass shall be of a good quality, defined as significant ‘bending’ pressure as applied by a marshal not causing the shaft to break.
• The shaft must be covered from behind the blunt, to the front of the knock in a sturdy tear-resistant tape, such as strapping, electrical, or duct tape.

11. Commercially Manufactured Blunts:

• Allowed commercial blunts: Baldar, Fathead, and Fathead 2 only.
• All other designs or manufacturing techniques must be approved by the Armistice staff.
• Must be of a type designed for use on fiberglass shafts (.25 inch shaft acceptor), and can only be used with .25 inch or 6.5 mm shafts.
• Commercial blunts may have no additional modifications.
• Baldar-only rules: Only the original 2-piece mold Baldar Blunt is approved. Blunts must be attached in such a way that at least 50% of the blunt is visible and can be inspected (the parting line visible around the circumference of the thickest part of the blunt in the 2- piece molds). If no parting line is seen the blunt cannot be used. There should be no delamination along the parting line. This will be tested by Marshals by attempting to insert a fingernail with light force into the parting line. If the fingernail can penetrate the blunt, then it fails.

• Combat archers must take the field in at least the minimal safety armor required for all other fighters, they may wear an archer's gauntlet or demi upon their bow string hand and may carry a backup weapon to defend themselves as well if they wish to engage in combat beyond archery.
• Archers may not loose an arrow inside the range that the arrow must have to clear the bow. This is a danger TO THE ARCHER from bounce back as well as the melee combatant.
• Inside 10 feet an Archer may choose to surrender to a melee combatant. IF they choose to surrender (yield), they must take a knee and raise the bow over their head in their fully gauntleted hand and LOUDLY yell “YEILD” over and over. After the melee combatant leaves the area whether the melee combatant acknowledges them or not. After fighting has moved past the archer that has yielded, they can rise with bow over their head indicating that they are no longer in combat and return to the out-of-bounds side of their forces. IF an archer takes a knee or otherwise indicates that they have yielded and attempts to return to combat in bad faith, they will be pulled from the field by a marshal. Conversely melee fighters shall not strike an archer attempting to yield or that has taken a knee and held the bow aloft. They too shall be pulled from the field by a marshal. IF ARCHERS DO NOT WISH TO BE STRUCK THEY SHOULD YEILD. Melee combatants MUST ACCEPT THE ATTEMPT TO YEILD by a combat archer.
• IF an archer continues to attempt to nock arrows, or loose arrows while being closed with by a melee combatant within 10 feet they should expect to be struck with normal force as a melee combatant.
• Arrows MAY NOT be knocked during a hold if the archer has fired. Archers reloading during the hold may be pulled from the field by a marshal.
  Melee combatants shall not strike the bow or arrows in an attempt to break the weapons, Nor shall they strike archers with force in a manner that is excessive or unchivalrous.
• IF an archer exhausts the carried ammunition, they may leave the field to divest themselves of a hand bow and retrieve or draw a melee weapon. Crossbows may be slung if possible and melee weapons drawn.