[Andreas Auer]

We in Austria dont use Peace-ties...but we are not allowed Sharps...(Fairs as any other festival are considered a public event and therefor are no weapons allowed..(and a sharp IS a Weapon in Austrian Law) )so sharps in Austria only for a anounced demonstration for a lets say cutting Test. We as Reenactors get kontrolled more often by our Policemen, not because of enforcing the Law but plain curiosity...:-)

We don´t use ties for blunts and wasters, but only thing you have to take care of are the Guys with their Kilts on and their Claymore on the back...:-)

And YES taking over a Fair and converting these Vikings would be a good Idea.


Andreas

[JE Sarge]

I lived in Minnesota for a few years and even bought my first A&A there (an Oakeshott Sword). I like the MN faire, it was an enjoyable experience and we went frequently. I even used to carry my German Shepherd - which was really cool. The MN faire was not nearly as bad as the faires down here have gotten.

I always peace-tie. Some faires are strict, and other events don't seem to care. My fear is that someone would yank my blade free of the scabbard. I rig a 1/2" latigo strap with a small buckle though the back of my suspension that holds the sword in place. It's not even noticable because I dye the latigo to match the grip of whichever sword I am carrying. It simply looks like a larger riser near the guard of the blade.

I've seen people whip out sharps and brandish them here and there. I once see a guy take out a sharp and trip over a block while trying to pose for a picture. He nearly skewered his girlfriend. I've seen people wrestling to get swords out of back-hangers and ending up cutting themselves or nearly cutting someone else. Anytime I see something like this, I say something about it. I don't want anyone getting hurt or messing up the ability for people to carry swords to faires.

However, I'd not have a problem if they banned sharps at Ren Faires in the US. Something bad will eventually happen - which is why ALL weapons are banned at some faires. There are a huge number of nice looking blunts that can be re-gripped and have period scabbards made that would look just as nice and be safer.

[Sean O Stevens]

I've been to RenFaires in California, Georgia and North Carolina and never seen any issues with weapons. No one whiped out a sword or dagger or did anything with a blade that I have seen in nearly 20 years. I've only recently, in this last year, even heard any stories of that happening.

I wouldn't go to a Faire that didn't allow weapons... at least part of the fun for me is getting a chance to ware one of my swords. Can't do that often.

I think it would be a shame if they only allowed blunts... then I wouldn't be able to take my nicer swords.

[T Franks]

The Bristol ren faire by me allows peace tied swords. I was curious about their spear policy though, so I e-mailed them. They informed me that spears must be peace tied to the body. Forgive me if this sounds like a silly question, but how do you peace tie a spear to your body?

[Scott Hrouda]

[T Franks]

[JE Sarge]

Ask if you can just cover the edges - kind of like on the Hanwei axes. You might want to run that by them to see if it will fly - it would be a good alternative - if they allowed it. I have friends that have done this quite a few times and have gotten in just fine to events around here. I've even made a few of them myself.



Calling or emailing them is always going to get a blanket response. I'd just show up and see if the gypsy working the gate let it slide or not. I know around here, one day, you will see people walking around with unsheathed blunted claymores over their shoulder, polearms, and such all over the place. On other days, they are more strict with the rules - so just like in a good fight, luck has to be factored into the equations as well.

[Ed Toton]