CODE OF WEAPONS CONDUCT

adopted in Kurultai, March 11, A.S. XI (1977, C.E.)

This Code is to be used within the framework of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., for the express purpose of promoting the safety of everyone at a Society event. The justification for this outline is summed up in the phrase, “Accidents happen!”; we hope to minimize the chances of such accidents.

ALWAYS YELL “CLEAR!” WHEN DRAWING STEEL.

1. At meetings and events, unless the Autocrats have requested otherwise.
2. Weapons may be carried on your way to and/or from an event, either in costume or mundanely. If you are IN COSTUME, the weapons might be carried on your person, state laws permitting, as part of your costume. If you are NOT in garb, try to carry your steel in the same place as your costume, i.e., a suitcase, paper bag, car trunk, etc.
3. Sheath the edge of ANY edged weapon at all times.
4. Before carrying steel into any mundane situation check with the local Society group as to acceptability. Be sure that all weapons are securely peace bound (sic) to clothing and sheath.
5. Any weapon carried mundanely is YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. The Horde will advance whatever legal papers we can attesting to the nature of our organization, and that of the Society; this document is one of them. If necessary, the Dark Horde will take disciplinary action against offenders of the mundane law of the land; what is illegal for the country is illegal in Horde lands as well.
6. You, and you alone, are personally responsible for your own steel; if you lend it to someone else who misused (sic) or disregards any or all regulations stated herein, YOU can be answerable as well as the guilty party.

1. All edged weapons must be sheathed or covered when carried.
2. Be sure all weapons, especially small ones such as knives or daggers, fit tightly in their sheathes and will not slip out.
3. When dealing with mundanes, even in Society situations, be sure all weapons are secured, both to your person and in their sheathes.

1. If sheath is attached firmly to body, the only acceptable way display the blade is to PARTIALLY draw it YOURSELF from the sheath. The displayed portion of the blade is not to exceed 2/3 of the blade length.
2. If the sheath is not firmly attached to your body, the weapon, while still sheathed, may be passed to the examiner, if you so desire. Then the above procedure should be followed.
3. If you desire to clear the blade completely, seclude yourself from crowds; preferably with a wall at your back.

The same rules apply as with daggers and knives; however, because of their greater length, only display half of the blade.

If the blade is sharpened to a working edge, it must always be sheathed; unless during display, when the exhibitor is away from crowds.

An S.C.A. event and feast are not the same as a trip to your local favorite restaurant; neither are the implications involving knives. No matter what might be the case mundanely, a sheathed knife at an SCA event looks like a weapon, not just a utensil. Therefore, all knives drawn from concealment [sheath, pouch, etc.] shall be “cleared” before drawing. If the knife is already in the open, unsheathed for all to see, the clearing is not necessary, since the article is not really questionable in intent. Flagrant brandishing of an edged or pointed metal is, of course, beyond the pale of etiquette, not to mention illegal.