Weapons Policy

[MissBubu]

Directly from the website:

Weapons Policy:
•The Festival bans guns on our premise   
•Swords, Knives, Dirks and Daggers must be completely sheathed and peace-tied.
•Axes, Claymores, Maces, Antique Firearms, Pikes and Halberds are NOT allowed on the Festival site.
•No drawing of any weapon at any time
•Must be 18 years or older to carry a weapon

Additional questions, please contact the Festival Office
for more information.  952-445-7361

[groomporter]

Claymores?
Does that mean any sword over a certain length?

[groomporter]

I wonder if they mean "No swords that are not sheathed, and no swords that are not strapped to your body with a baldric or belt" I admit even a sheathed "zweihander" could be a devastating impact weapon.

[escherblacksmith]

Huh, I missed that.  And I wore mine all day . . . not to mention the zwei or drei-hander that one guy was toting . . .

[groomporter]

There's a tall blond guy from Arms & Armor who dresses like a Landsknecht and walks around with a huge sheathed great sword over his shoulder

[groomporter]

I Emailed this to MAF

Someone pointed out to me that the weapons policy on the website says

"Axes, Claymores, Maces, Antique Firearms, Pikes and Halberds are NOT allowed on the Festival site."

A "claymore" is just one type of Scottish large two-handed sword, https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Claymore

I was wondering if is actually supposed to mean no swords over a certain length?

Or is it concerned with large swords being carried loose, not attached to your body? (-Since even a sheathed sword could quickly become a club if it's not attached to the person with a strap or belt.) In that case, can I suggest something like this wording? "Swords must belted or strapped to the body in some way, not carried loose."

[Toarmod]

There's a tall blond guy from Arms & Armor who dresses like a Landsknecht and walks around with a huge sheathed great sword over his shoulder

Ya, I believe thats the driehander that Esherblacksmith talked about. That is a big sword!

[groomporter]

That's what I think, He passed by our booth several times this weekend.

[MissBubu]

Question for the SS people here. I know we're not supposed to let in naked blades, and we're not allowed to wave them around unless part of a sanctioned street fight, so why is the guy at the forge (Anam Cara's old spot) allowed to let patrons play with a claymore on the street?

[groomporter]

Speaking of which, are they a new vendor, or were they some where else on site last year? I was on the craft jury this year and don't remember any weapons makers

[Storm]

I too am kinda confused by this policy. I saw a couple of Claymores out there as well as the guy totting around the Great sword.

[groomporter]

Part of it may be that it's  not being applied to participants. I know some of the claymores are regular participants like Escher, or were people with the Scottish groups in the "Highland Village" so they were unlikely to have been screened by the front gate staff the way armed playtrons are.
-Beyond that, it's not as if fairs are known for being consistent in their rules.

[DeadBishop]

Speaking of which, are they a new vendor, or were they some where else on site last year? I was on the craft jury this year and don't remember any weapons makers

I believe it's their second year out at fest.  They had a small half tent last year over at the end of the joust track.

[Will Gamwell]

Question for the SS people here. I know we're not supposed to let in naked blades, and we're not allowed to wave them around unless part of a sanctioned street fight, so why is the guy at the forge (Anam Cara's old spot) allowed to let patrons play with a claymore on the street?

The vendors are allowed to do that to promote/hawk their wares.  When Arms & Armor was down by the rocking horse, Dominic used to do the same thing (either with a claymore or a enormous pike).

In regards to how those rules apply to Participants, it is a case by case situation.  The guy who plays Robin Hood is the only person (outside of the archery tournament) that can have a strung bow on site.

There's a tall blond guy from Arms & Armor who dresses like a Landsknecht and walks around with a huge sheathed great sword over his shoulder

Ya, I believe thats the driehander that Esherblacksmith talked about. That is a big sword!

I believe his name is Tim and he has the OK from Festival Management to do that.  We harassaed him years ago about it.

[LadyFae]

It sounds to me that perhaps the gatekeepers are either not AWARE of the policy or (more likely) that they don't all know which weapons are banned.  They are taught to peace tie weapons but not taught exactly what is and isn't allowed.  Some know and some don't, hence the inconsistancy. 

[William_MacKean]

Let's also be realistic.  Back in the day, there was no way the guards would let people walk around with a claymore, battle axe, or other large weapon at a faire or where the King will be.  This is also the only significant faire that MAF allows non participants to be armed at.  KCRF is a no weapons faire.  Don't know about the Florida shows.

So let's think about that when we want so bad to show off the expensive toy we bought last year.

Time and place, my friends.  Time and place.

[escherblacksmith]

 When Arms & Armor was down by the rocking horse, Dominic used to do the same thing (either with a claymore or a enormous pike).
Ya, I believe thats the driehander that Esherblacksmith talked about. That is a big sword!

When was Arms and Armor over there?

[groomporter]

Yeah, as far as I know Arms & Armor have been over by the Irish Cottage for over 20 years.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

... Don't know about the Florida shows.

The Bay Area Ren Fest allows peace tied weapons and replica firearms.  Believe me, their pirates show up positively bristling with weapons.   

[Will Gamwell]

 When Arms & Armor was down by the rocking horse, Dominic used to do the same thing (either with a claymore or a enormous pike).
Ya, I believe thats the driehander that Esherblacksmith talked about. That is a big sword!

When was Arms and Armor over there?

Sorry, meant Starfire.