Heavy List,
Combat Archery and Rapier / Fencing

Heavy List Fighting
or Rattan Stick Fighting is a unique art and sport. Lords and Ladies of our Society engage in full speed, full force, un-choreographed martial combat. Due to the nature of the armour and weapons, combatants come out of these brutal "deeds of arms" unscathed and ready to do it again. Nowhere else will you be able to enter into contests of skill with the raw intensity that you can in the SCA.

After safety, honor is the most important aspect of heavy list fighting. Our combat system is one based upon recognition of blows received. Victory is never taken, but rather it is given by the man-at-arms in recognizing the worthiness and skill of their opponent. This culture of combat is one of great justice and trust, for it places weight upon the honor and integrity of all involved.

Armour in the SCA is fashioned after historical examples and made of a variety of materials--metals, leather, and plastic--with modern equipment hidden as much as possible. Whether one chooses to portray a Norman cnight, a Saxon thegn, a Norse huscarl, a Byzantine Cataphractos, an English esquire, or any other variety of man-at-arms is immaterial--in the SCA all of these coexist on the same battlefields and lists together.

Rattan--similar to a solid bamboo--is used to construct the wide array of weapons (sword, axe, spear, mace, poll-arm, the sword of war or great sword, dagger, and others) that are used by Armoured Fighters during combat. Instead of snapping and splintering, rattan fibers separate along the length. A worn out piece of rattan looks a lot like a broom. Most newer fighters choose to begin with sword and shield, but many branch out quickly into the use of one or more of these chivalric weapons, finding different pleasures and challenges.

Deeds of arms are conducted weekly, at practices, tournaments, melees, and wars. These are held inside and out, depending on the availability of an appropriate hall and the prevailing weather.

- Society Marshal's Armored Combat Page
- Field Battle (mpeg)
- Bridge Battle (mpeg)
- Fighter practice montague (mpeg)



Combat Archery
Crossbow men (and women); siege engines, trebuchets, onangers and ballistas; javelins, and more...

This is where archers dressed in the protective armor of our heavy fighters can get onto the battlefield and shoot at live combatants. Special equipment is used to prevent actual injury during combat. Large blunt heads for the arrows prevent them from penetrating helmets and low powered bows keep people safe on the field. Combat archery is more akin to armored combat than to target archery and is considered one of the many weapons form used for that activity.

- Society Marshal's Missile Combat and Target Archery Page
- Society Marshal's Siege Combat Page
- Primitive Archer Magazine article



Rapier / Fencing
Like in all things we do, safety is the first and foremost consideration. Also like in all things we do, embracing the romantic idea of chivalry and honorable behavior are the focus of our activities. Rapier Combat, or "Light Weapons" fighting is no exception.

Rapier fighters use epee, foil and shlager (a heavier rapier style metal blade). Unlike Olympic fencers, SCA Rapier Combat does not require the contestants to move on a strip. Instead, the fighters can circle each other attempting to cut and thrust (lightest touch counts in Rapier combat).

Also, the buckler (a small round shield), a "daggar" a cloak, or a second sword can all be used in the rapier duels.

- Society Marshal's Rapier Combat Page