The Armour Archive

So, the Marshal of the Society has said that Kingdoms may set up halfswording experiments and TI has published an article on halfswording for the SCA. Has anybody tried it?

No.

(this is more of a bump)

I honestly hadn't had time to read the article...tho I did skim through the pictures of Rhys and Cet...

Is there anywhere on line that has the wording of what halfswording is allowed for now?

To the best of my knowledge the SEM has not authorized half-swording, he has authorized the KEM's to allow experimental programs. Mind you, I could very well be wrong. Check with your KEM. The notice I saw was very broad. From the President's Notes on the January 24, 2004 BOD meeting:

4. Half Swording with a single hand sword, the technique of grasping ones' own blade to parry a blow, is instituted as an experiment. Additionally, the attacker may grasp a Half Sworded Blade as if it were a pole arm. However, if the grasping hand is struck, the arm is lost according to the Target Substitution rule. All actions must use a gauntleted/fully armored hand. The Kingdom Earls Marshal are authorized to run this program at their discretion.

By consensus, Chairman Moore ruled that instituting combat experiments is within the authority of the Society Marshal.

"single hand sword" is a mistake, it was later clarified as referring to a single weapon. Note also the reference to the "Target Substitution Rule", which doesn't exist at the Society level or officially in many kingdoms.

I have been told that the East Kingdom KEM published something in a recent issue of the Kingdom newsletter, but I haven't been able to see this for myself.

So if you want to do this I would suggest approaching your KEM with a plan for an experiment.

I had wondered if the single sword thing was a mistake, it just didn't make much since to me.

I've been playing with it some.
Managed to frustrate the heck out of a friend of mine who is a pretty decent swordsman. He couldnt understand how come he was unable to kill me once I was legged and had only my longsword. His eyes got real big when I levered his shield open.
Would have been spectacular if my thrust had actually landed.

Halfswording is Experimental at this stage.
Used by permission of the KEM, MiC and your opponent.
All results should be reported back up the chain. (I have been bad about that)

I have found no more danger halfswording than you encounter in a pole arm fight, particualrly in regards to mixed weapons bouts i.e. sword and shield vs longsword. One needs to be mindful of thrusting, but when isnt this the case.

I"ve done quite a bit of it (I ran an experament in the East several years ago).

I have never found it to be significantly more dangerous then fighting with a pollax.

Keep in mind though, the primary use for halfswording is in armoured combat. For the most part the SCA fights like we are not or very lightly armoured, so it won't be as effective. Its still usefull, just not as much as it would be.

Now if you fight like you are armoured, it becomes quite effective.

jester wrote:To the best of my knowledge the SEM has not authorized half-swording, he has authorized the KEM's to allow experimental programs. Mind you, I could very well be wrong. Check with your KEM. .

Jester, You have the right of it. Check with your KEM's.

FYI - For those of you in Meridies, our Kingdom is not participating in the half-swording experiment.

Regards,
Ulrich von Brandenburg
DEM- Meridies

Interesting, why not?

a few observations on halfswording from a non-SCA perspective...
generally, if one is not fighting as if armoured, halfswording is a very bad idea. To wit, the force generation required of the opponent to significantly injure you is very little, therefore the action can be made fast and fairly uncommitted. Especially with paired longsword, if one grips at the half-sword without being close enough to breath on you, merely strike him with your superior reach. If you have the safety of armour to shed light blows, then you may halfsword more easily, but nonetheless, it is extremely unwise to assume a halfsword guard unless very close.
-Mag =)

Longsword is useful from time to time. We've had no big safety problems so far. It's even more useful when we are using plate as proof laws.

By the way, is the SCA using half-sword to make slashing blows. From time to time I hear comments that indicate they might be. I haven't seen any indication that it was used that way in period. Thoughts?

Noe wrote:Longsword is useful from time to time. We've had no big safety problems so far. It's even more useful when we are using plate as proof laws.

By the way, is the SCA using half-sword to make slashing blows. From time to time I hear comments that indicate they might be. I haven't seen any indication that it was used that way in period. Thoughts?

I've not really seen much evidence of half sword cuts or slahes either. Generally, half-swording was a way to increase the strength and accuracy of thrusts to the relitively small vulnerable areas of an armoured opponent. It also allows use of the sword in all manner of levering actions used to throw your opponent to the ground, hopefully stunning or disabling him before you can finish him off. This is what the period sources show, I'm not sure what the SCA is trying to do :^)


Matt Anderson
ARMA VAB

We have been officially half swording since the day we were told we could. With a little practice, it's just fine, the big boys have a tenancy to try to turn it into a 2 man scrum but with training and technique it's a quick fix. It does make the fight a lot more physical. I (310lbs) like to wade in a lot more than my wife (135lbs).