The Armour Archive

Hi all,

Im in the process of expanding my collection of one hand weapons for SCA use, and now that i've got my axe done im thinking about making a mace my next project. Im at a bit of a loss for what to use as the mace head though. While i really like the rubber flanged mace heads ive seen, i can't really justify spending that on a weapon currently(my klappvisor comes first!), and since i haven't met a fighter locally that uses a mace(that i know of) i haven't got any other examples to go by. I was thinking that i could do a cylindrical mace head by wrapping the top of the rattan shaft with several layers of scrap leather, but thats the only idea i've come up with that seems like it might work. Anyone out there have any suggestions?

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Otto von Aachen
Kingdom of the Outlands, Canton of Hawks Hollow

I've currently made a couple different maces, one of the more a hammer than a mace, but the concepts are the same. I used a thick pipe foam (the stuff they put around metal poles on jungle gyms at McDonalds) as a base (about an inch or so thick, but fairly squishy with not much of a memory) and attached clackers on top of those. I've made a heavy mace and I've made a quick mace, and both times, after trying them out without clackers, my friends told me to add them to make sure the blows were counted.
I've also heard of people Just ducktaping rolls of toilet paper to rattan and BOOM, instant mace. Havent played with them, but I suppose it depends on the mass of the person pushing the mass weapon.

I've heard of people using those rubber wedge door stops coupled with clackers--should make a decent flanged mace look-alike, and has the mass.

I have made two maces. One used a toilet paper roll, and the other uses a softball. I got rid of the TP mace head for the softball head. Much better. Really easy to make.

Take one softball and mark a circle the diameter of the shaft. Take a dril with a small drill bit and drill about half way through to the center of the ball, all the way around the circle. Get the holes as close together as possible. Next take a philips head (+) screwdriver and knock the spaces out from in between the holes. then knock out the center piece that's left. Insert the shaft, then take strapping tape and tape the hell out of it.
Take the mace out side and swing it a couple of times to make sure that the ball doesn't go flying. Add your padding, duct tape the hell out of it. Now go find a pell and have fun with it.

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Constancius of Lincolnshire

animis corporibusque

One way that I do is to use an army sleeping mat cut to 1 1/2 inches wide, length as needed. For this I only use two actual strips to a side as by the Drachenwald rules there only has to be progressive give to the mace heads. This is then duct taped straight onto the Rattan and you are done. For Myself I have never had a need for the use of clackers, although this could also be that until recently these were not allowed in our kingdom. Remember that if you are going to use a mass weapon it WILL fight different that that of a sword your reaction time will vary slightly as well as your calibration. IN my opinion a flanged type mace is one of the best ways to go especialy with a thrusting tip .

Elias

I put about 10-15 layers of denim around the shaft then fixed 4 half tennis balls around it, lots of fiber tape and duct tape. It hits well and had a good weight.
-T