Melee Weapon Specifications

This page is intended to be a central repository for all up to date weapon specs. If you have any quesitons regarding specifications, please contact the amroury team.

General Notes All weapons to be used in combat must be blunted and conform to the specifications below. All metal components musty be free from sharp burrs and rust. All wooden components must be free from splits, splinters and rot. In the event of any damage to blades, shafts, or heads coming loose, the weapon must be immediately retired until it is made safe. In addition to the safety specifications, all weapons must conform to the Society Authenticity Rules.

Seax

Illustration of a seax

Spear

Illustration of the parts of a spear

Spear Specifications

	Overall Length		Shaft Diameter		Blade Length[1]		Wings Permitted
	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max
1H Short Spear	1.20 m	1.80 m	19 mm	-	100 mm	180 mm	Yes
2H Long Spear	2.00 m	2.50 m	25 mm	-	100 mm	600 mm	Yes

^{[1] Blade length does not include the socket. Measurement should be taken from where the socket begins to widen to form the blade.}

Spearheads must be of socketed construction and be securely attached with a rivet.

Rivets must go through both sides of the socket and be closed at both ends, a preformed rivet or nail may be used. They should be closed tight to the socket, with no sharp edges nor anything that can snag.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

The spine of diamond or cross profile blades must be blunted to no less than 2.0mm semicircular profile.

The tip of the blade should reach a minimum contact surface area of 100mm2 before reaching a depth of 5.0mm. Please see Fig. 1.

The contact surface of the tip must be a minimum of 3.0mm thick.

The tip must have at least one axis (thickness, width or diameter) larger than 10.0mm, semicircular arc or shallower.

Tips that curve in both thickness and width, including spheres, are limited to 10.0mm diameter, semicircular arc or shallower. This is because even though they do present the contact area at depth, the initial point of contact is more concentrated.

The sides of a flared tip should have a minimum depth of 5.0mm.

Transitions between widths and thicknesses on the blade should be smooth with nothing that can snag.

All corners and edges must be rounded. Dimensions should accommodate the loss of contact area due to rounding off.

Flared tips may be built up with weld, but spearheads with ball bearings, discs or any other separate additions welded to the tip of the blade are not permitted.

Blades must be solid, not thin sheet folded or welded to form a hollow box section.

Wings must have edges of not less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile. Tips and corners must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin). Wings may be welded on.

The shaft of the spear must not bend excessively due to the weight of the head when the spear is held horizontally at the butt end.

The species of wood for the shaft is not specified. Ash is recommended. Straight grain that runs along the shaft is recommended. Coppiced poles are ideal, but can be difficult to obtain.

The shaft should be smooth with no splinters.

Spears used in one hand must have the entire hand within the middle third of the weapon's length. It is recommended that visible marks are placed on the spear to facilitate this.

Apart from the spearhead, no other metal allowed. No metal collars by the head nor any other additions such as caps or spikes at the butt end. A portion of the shaft below the head may be wrapped in leather, rawhide or twine. Any such wrapping should be glued or stitched, not tacked.

Spearhead may be made from mild steel.

Please note these are the minimums allowed. Please do consider buying or making blades with larger contact points, there will be fewer queries and issues.

Notes on Use:
1H Short Spear – Battlefield Safety Assessment (Short Spear) required for use. Short Spears that also conform to Metal Headed Javelin specifications may be thrown, Display Javelin (Metal) Assessment required. When thrown, the only permitted target is the opponent’s shield.
2H Long Spear - Specialist 2H Long Spear Assessment required for use.

Hand Axe

Illustration of a hand axe

Long Axe

Illustration of a daneaxe

Minimum Length: 1.20 m
Maximum Length: 1.70 m

The length is defined as measured from the Butt to either the Stop or the uppermost point of the Head, whichever is the longer.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

Blade points and corners must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin).

The head may be fitted from either end, i.e. can be either “top” or “bottom” hafted. The head must be securely fitted with no significant movement.

Wedges must be made of wood.

Apart from the blade, no other metal components are allowed. For example, but not limited to, collars, studs, wedges and end stops.

The shaft should be smooth with no splinters.

A portion of the shaft below the head may be wrapped in leather, rawhide or twine. Any such wrapping should be glued or stitched, not tacked.

The axe head may be made from mild steel.

Shield