Equipment for Combat Archery

Revised / Reviewed January 27, 2013

1. Bows
2. Crossbows

Bows

1. Bows must be powered by the flex of the limbs .
2. Can be a laminated modern recurve, longbow, Mongolian, or other historical style in good repair.  No compound bows are allowed.  No non-period sights, spring/flipper rests, plunger buttons, stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release aids may be used.
3. Poundage should be marked on the bow by the manufacturer. If not, the draw should be checked with the appropriate draw testing equipment and by a qualified Marshal. 
4. Handbow's power is measured at 28 inches (71 cm).  If the bow is not made for 28 inches (71 cm) draw, then it cannot be used in SCA combat.  You cannot use a bow that was made for 26 inch draw, overdraw it to 28 inches and consider that a 28 inch draw, because it will NOT be legal to use. 
5. Bows shooting sil-o-flex or equivalent (tubular) shafts must be a minimum of 35 lbs. to a maximum of 50 lbs. of pull at 28 inches of draw and are considered Heavy bows.
6. All Heavy bows must have the top limb marked with 4 inches of red material (red duct tape, bright red leather piece etc.) to show them as a "Heavy Bow".  This is very important when both light and heavy bows are in the same battle.

Crossbows

1. Crossbows must be powered by the flex of the limbs .
2. Must be soundly constructed traditional, non-compound style in good repair and may not have a modern pistol grip.
3. Only a qualified marshal should check the poundage using the proper testing equipment.
4. A heavy crossbow must not exceed 1000 inch-pounds and no less than 600 inch-pounds.   Crossbows are measured by inch-pounds, which is calculated by taking the poundage of the bow measured at the lock, multiplied by the distance (in inches) from the front of the string at rest, to the front of the string when in cocked position).
5. All Heavy crossbows must have the right prod marked with 4 inches of red material (red duct tape, bright red leather piece etc.) to show them as a "Heavy Crossbow". This is very important when both light and heavy bows are in the same battle.

The following has been proposed for inclusion in the new Middle Kingdom Marshal's Handbook, to help clarify an ongoing question. Until the new handbook is in print, it is not approved. (Update 5/21/09)

6. A Light crossbow of at least 500 inch pounds may be used to shoot approved tubular ammunition in the Middle Kingdom.

PROHIBITIONS

The following are not allowed in a combat archery environment in the Middle Kingdom:

• Hand slings.
• Stone bows.
• Small pistol style crossbows
• Forward or rear style pistol grip/s
• Combat archery crossbows which utilize a mechanical advantage cocking lever (sometimes call a “Goat’s Foot”)
• Chinese repeating crossbows or repeating crossbows of any type
• Split prod design for crossbows utilizing a center shot system (an individual prod on each side instead of a solid one)