The Armour Archive

Has anyone ever tried using a wooden hilt on an SCA Rattan sword. I use full gauntlets, so my hand is protect. Would the marshals have any problems?

Watt

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Watt:
<B>Has anyone ever tried using a wooden hilt on an SCA Rattan sword?
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've seen quite a number of people use carved wooden hilts (typically consructed from hardwoods such as oak, maple, etc.) on SCA rattan swords.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
<B>I use full gauntlets, so my hand is protect. Would the marshals have any problems?
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You'll have to assure that the wooden hilt meets the armour and weapon standards of your kingdom - that will probably mean that the ends of the hilt must be at least 1 1/4 inch square. As a consequence, your carved hilt is likely look quite a bit more "clunky" that the cast brass or aluminium hilts such as available from Mandrake or other suppliers.

If you carve it, you will need to take care to assure that none of the "detail" can be easily broken and become a hazard for you or your opponent.

-Keith/Austin.

it sounds like a nice piece of chip carving would look nice.

I made a Roman pommel and guard for a friend of mine out of maple. It turned out pretty nice and he has had many compliments on it.

I created one a few years ago and it worked fine. It does have to be legal in regards to you kingdoms requirments.

I was thinking of making some new wooden viking crossguards/pummels for my new swords.

(^_^)