The Combat Archery Marshal-in-Charge is Mistress Zoe Akropolitina.
CA2 – East Kingdom is Master Vopiscus Rufius Donatus
CA3 – Midrealm is Master Nyilaa Kazmer

Combat Archery Inspection Point will open on Wednesday, July 29 at 9:00 AM. Daily
Hours will be from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM during peace week through Sunday, August 2. During war
week, inspection point will be open 1 hour prior to battles that include CA and close
until post battle inspections. Point will remain open on Thursday between the castle
battle and the CA siege battle. Ammunition inspection for the following battle will be
done at CA point. Change of hours will be posted outside of point and on the social
media page.

All combat archery rules, equipment and procedures not specified here will default to
current Society rules.

PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES
These items are specifically prohibited at Pennsic War 53:

  1. Hand slings.
  2. Stone bows.
  3. Small pistol-style crossbows.
  4. Forward- or rear-style pistol grips.
  5. Combat archery crossbows which utilize a mechanical advantage cocking lever.
    (“Goat’s foot”, “cord and pulley” and “belt and claw” systems are a few examples.)
  6. Repeating crossbows.
  7. Split prod design for crossbows utilizing a center shot system (an individual prod
    on each side instead of a solid one).
  8. PVC bows or PVC crossbows.
  9. Non-Society-period sights, spring/flipper rests, plunger buttons, stabilizers,
    clickers, or modern release aids.
  10. Compound bows and compound crossbows.

NO experimental combat archery equipment (bows and crossbows) or ammunition
(arrows and bolts) will be permitted for use at Pennsic War 53.

All kingdoms of the Known world are encouraged to send CA marshals and MIT’s to
do service at CA point. There will be a sign in for Service Challenge War Points. If
you are CA curious or working on your marshal warrant please join us and we will be
happy to help in your training. We will need CA marshals on the field as well.

Mistress Sarah of the Sea will be holding a series of training classes for inspectors.
These are voluntary, we will post times and places.

Everyone working CA point will be asked to participate in a brief orientation to
review paperwork and the inspection process. Inspectors will then be issued a Pennsic
War 53/Combat Archery Inspector badge, Wear this badge anytime you inspect CA
equipment or ammo. Inspectors can choose to inspect only specific categories of bows
and ammunition. While it helps to be a CA Marshal in your home kingdom, it is not
required.

All combat archers are asked to PLEASE check, sort and repair your ammunition
before bringing it to Inspection Point. We reserve the right to return ammo to its
owner if it is evident it has not been pre-checked.

INSPECTION PROCESS
All armor inspections will occur at the Armor Inspection Point.
Please bring your current authorization card to CA point at the time of your bow
inspection. All initial Combat Archery weapon and ammunition inspections shall
occur at the Combat Archery Inspection Point during posted hours.

All bows will be inspected and must meet society minimum standards. They will be
recorded and marked with a sticker by an authorized inspector or marshal.
After initial inspection, ammunition will be sprayed as proof of inspection. No
additional spraying will be required. Ammunition shot will be collected, reinspected
and laid out for retrieval by the owner.

Fails will be taken to the marshals tent and can be retrieved there.
Any ammunition shot but not marked as inspected will be confiscated and the owner
will lose the privilege to shoot for the remainder of Pennsic.

There will be no inspections between consecutive heats of the same War Point.
Tubular ammo may be inspected by the owner and reused immediately. Collection
and inspection will occur at the end of every scenario.

All combat archery ammunition must be labeled to clearly identify the owner, branch
and kingdom. It must be legible at every inspection at Pennsic.

Inspections will cease at the start time of any battle and resume after at CA point.
Please remember we need help gleaning at the end of all battles.
The Pennsic Combat Archery Marshal-in-Charge, their deputies, and approved
designees may inspect all Combat Archery equipment and ammunition to the above
“Pennsic standard”, which supersedes any kingdom-level standard. Any decision may
be appealed in the usual manner.

RULES SPECIFIC TO COMBAT ARCHERY

  1. On the Field
    • As with any weapons form, an archer may yield to an opponent.
    • Courtesy taps from an opponent should be accepted by the combat archer.
    • Any shot hitting a legal target area squarely is good, however you may not call your
      opponent dead, and no fighter can call a combat archer dead.
    • Targeting of the back of a fighter is prohibited.
    • Archers are engaged with everyone on the field from the call of lay on.
    • The range of an archer is from when the ammunition clears the bow.
    • Combat archers must remove ammunition from the bow string when a hold is called.
    • Crossbows may remain cocked. Archers may nock at “Make Ready” and fire at “Lay
      on”.
  2. Bow/Crossbow using Fiberglass Shafts
    • A hand bow shooting fiberglass arrows must not exceed the Society maximum pull at
      35- pound pull at 28-inch draw.
    • The handbow must be designed/constructed to safely draw 28 inches or it cannot be used in SCA combat.
    • A crossbow shooting fiberglass bolts must not exceed the Society maximum 600 inch-pounds rating.
    • Any bow/crossbow that is allowed to shoot fiberglass ammunition may also use any tubular ammunition approved for use at Pennsic.
  3. Bow/Crossbow using Tubular (Sil-o-Flex or Equivalent) Arrows
    • A handbow that measures over 30 pounds pull and less than 50 pounds pull is
      considered a heavy handbow and may only shoot tubular ammo. A heavy handbow
      must be marked with a 4-inch wide band of red material (tape, cloth, etc.) that goes
      completely around the upper limb of the bow.
    • A crossbow that measures greater than 600 inch-pounds and less than 1000 inch-
      pounds is considered a heavy crossbow and may only shoot tubular ammunition. A
      heavy crossbow must be marked with a 4-inch-wide band of red material (tape, cloth,
      etc.) that goes completely around the right-hand side of the prod as viewed by the
      archer.

POST-BATTLE SORTING
After every Pennsic battle, ALL Combat Archery participants are required to help
collect ALL arrows and bolts and bring them to CA point for reinspection.
All ammunition that has been shot will be inspected and laid out for retrieval by the
owner. All fails will be inside the tent for retrieval.

This process has been successful at Gulf Wars and will speed everyone’s return to their
loved ones. Everyone on the field is assumed to be honorable.
Violations of the rules will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

Notes:

  • If you are unable to help with the sorting/inspecting process, you must designate someone to take care of your ammo in your place.
  • Do not abandon your ammunition. If it be held by the marshals there may be service required to retrieve it.

OVERPOWERED AND NON-INSPECTION WARNING
Anyone using fiberglass-shafted ammunition in a heavy bow or heavy crossbow will
be banned from all fighting activities for the rest of the Pennsic War and will be
subject to other disciplinary action via the proper Armored Combat Violation Review
procedure.

Likewise, ANY use of uninspected ammunition or weapons on the battlefields of the
Pennsic War will prompt immediate removal from the battlefield and will be subject
to other disciplinary action, including a potential fighting ban, via the proper Armored
Combat Violation Review procedure.

NOTES:

  • Please play responsibly.
  • Help clear the field after battle – many hands make light work.
  • Thank the marshals, both CA and otherwise. They give freely of their time so YOU can play.
  • Volunteer – consider becoming a marshal-in-training. You can find no better place to “see it all” than at Pennsic.

Welcome home!