SCA Spear Heads

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 5:11 pm

Anyone think of a way you could design an SCA legal spear head that could be mass produced, like the rubber axe heads that have become quite popular over the past few years? Iâ€™d love to see a safe mass produced head as an option. Iâ€™ve been to events in several different kingdom events over the past few months, and Iâ€™ve realized the wide range of opinions out there about what acceptable compression from a spear. Within a period of 5 weeks I had the same spear labeled to hard by one kingdom, to soft by another, and just right by a third (the too hard was the last time it was used, so I know it hadnâ€™t softened with use, and it wasnâ€™t bottoming out). I had 2 different marshals on the same day come to different conclusions. I know how to make one that passes in the East, but Iâ€™d love to have one that could be just taped on and used anywhere, no endless maintenance.

I see several qualities necessary for a mass produced head.

1. It needs to be able to be simply strapped on, no extra effort, otherwise why not just make a regular head.

2. It needs to be fairly light, to much material and the tip gets to heavy.

3. Very durable. It should be able to stand up to several seasons of heavy use.

4. I should either come with hooks attached or allow hooks to be added fairly easily.

My thought was to have a 3 in wide disk on the top, maybe Â¾ of an inch thick, with a thin walled compression area underneath with small holes in the side to let out the air as it compresses, and a socket underneath for the shaft. Maybe add rubber lugs for hooks. Thatâ€™s my idea, Iâ€™m sure there is a better one out there.

Anyone else think a commercially available SCA spear head would be a good idea?

Asbjorn

olaf haraldson · Post by **olaf haraldson** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 5:31 pm

It would be rocking if it could be done. I'd buy two.

Destichado · Post by **Destichado** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 5:32 pm

I think it would be a great idea, but I'm a little unclear on how you'd go about mounting it. Would it be socketed? If so, what diameter? (I think just a smidge over the minimum would be good) And how would you attatch the pole in the socket? (I guess rivets are out

) But other than that, yeah, sounds like a good idea

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Tue Mar 27, 2001 1:06 pm

I was having the same questions about the details of socketing it. I've seen 2 or 3 different sizes of pultruded fiberglass, plus there is the schedule 40 pvc end cap to deal with. My thought was to either make 2 different sizes, or make a universal socket. The best design for a universal socket I could come up with would be a long thin walled socket that was split down the sides. That way any sized shaft and end cap could be used. Then just straping tape it to secure it. An intergrated locking device would be ideal, but I don't think you could keep the wieght or price low.

I mainly putting this out as an idea, hoping one of the SCA weapons makers on the board decides to look into the concept. I'd love to be able to buy an "instant head".

Asbjorn

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Given a willing opponent, I'd fight with full body targeting and grappling until a given number of blows were recieved or someone relents.

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Tue Mar 27, 2001 1:54 pm

Can I design it with an on/ off switch activating a cattle prod in the end for those gentles that don't acknowledge stabbing motions?

HELMUT

jagatei · Post by **jagatei** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 10:32 am

I have been playing with some designs for this idea. Basically what I had was a socket that fits a single size fiberglass (I was unaware that there were different sizes. I beleieve only one outer diameter is allowed in this kingdom). It basically is a schedule 40 pvc socket and endcap that would be placed on the bare shaft. I had a couple different designs for the head (rubber like the rathbone axes and a few durable rubber/foam type of materials) but none of them would satisfy the compression requirements for the head. Here we need three inches of progressive give for the thrusting tip. None of these designs would work for this. The only other design I could come up with that would work was basically making a giant UHMW blunt for the spear. It would have a plastic socket and cap with a nylon disk on top to support a padded tip. Unfortunately this design is more expensive and would last about the same as our current tips. Unless the rules change I dont know if anything more durable would be possible.

You could always try what I have seen someone in our kingdom do. They use those mini nerf footbals with the pointy end on one side cut off.

Constancius · Post by **Constancius** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 12:00 am

Design it to fit minimum diameter shafts up to almost 2". that way you could use it for both spears and swords. Have it slit down the sides and for the fastener use radiator hose clamps. Those are light and real cheap. You just have to put tape over it to protect the opponent.

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Constancius of Lincolnshire
Live and die with honor.

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Sun Apr 01, 2001 11:44 am

Wouldn't a socketed rubber coronel lance head be great? It could be made legal, and would look much more period than the Q-tip heads we use now. They could be made in 2" wide for rattan spears, and 3" for the fiberglass ones.

bela of kaffa · Post by **bela of kaffa** » Wed Apr 11, 2001 6:04 pm

and a laser pointer for easy targeting...
"Can I design it with an on/ off switch activating a cattle prod in the end for those gentles that don't acknowledge stabbing motions?"

but seriously, this is a good idea...how about a socketed end, able to be clamped and/or taped, with the spear "point being of some sort of rubber(ie,axe head type), hollowed out so as to have the proper amount of give...kind of like a socketed indestructable rubber playground ball...

bela

trample the weak, hurdle the dead...(seen on a women's rugby shirt)