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Equipment
Requirements
Technical and Authentic Equipment
Requirements for HMB events

Historical Medieval Battle International Association

 This document is the Historical Medieval Battle International Organization (hereinafter
HMBIA) approved technical and authentic requirements for equipment used during
Historical Medieval Battle (HMB) events.

1. Only offensive and defensive equipment that has historical

equivalents academically proven to exist during the period of
the XIV–XVII centuries is permitted for use in HMB.

2. All edges of all hafted and bladed weapons must be rebated in

compliance with this document before each tournament.

Important!
Points must be rounded to a diameter of 20 mm before a tournament.

2.1 All blades must be rebated and have a thickness of 2 mm or more. This
requirement applies to the indentations of the blades.

3.
All shields (wooden, metal, leather, or woven) must be
modelled after a historical artefact and repeat the form of
the original in all three dimensions. A shield must match the
armour kit of the fighter in period and region.
3.1 The entire edge of a wooden shield must be covered with either: a band
of thick leather (not thinner than 2–4 mm), or with at least three, or more
layers, of fabric. A leather band must be glued, and also stitched, or riveted,
to the shield. The rivets must be neatly finished, the edge of the rivet should
not stick out.

3.2 The flat outside of wooden shields must be covered with leather or fabric.

3.3 The entire hems of metal shields must be rolled to the thickness of a
minimum of 4mm or more.

Important!
Metal shields must be of round shapes, based on a historical artefact and
repeat the form of the original in all three dimensions. Full-size metal shields
must match the kit in both region and period (for example: the XVI century
European, or Eastern, kits).

3.4 Punch shields must have the striking edge rounded to a radius of at least
70 mm, and measure at least 550 mm long and 300 mm wide.

3.5 All modern fastenings (screws, bolts, nuts, staples) must be concealed. On
the back of the shield, the bolts must be cut in one level with the nut, nuts
must be painted.

3.6 All images on shields must be stylized in correspondence with the region
and period of the whole kit.

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 2

 Important!
It is prohibited to decorate shields with images that are modern or/and derogatory.

3.7 There is the option to use rigid handles for shields with a central grip.

Important!
Additional straps are prohibited for all shields with central grip and boss,
except for bucklers.

3.8 For the category ‘Sword and shield’ the maximum shield dimensions are no
more than 750 mm tall and 620 mm wide, or in the case of round shields,
have a maximum diameter up to 700 mm.

3.9 For the category ‘Sword and buckler’ the maximum diameter of the buckler
is no more than 350 mm.

3.10 A rigid handle and additional straps are permitted for bucklers with a
centre grip and boss.

3.11 The weight of all shields must not exceed 5 kg.

4. A fighter is accountable for the quality, protective properties,

and durability of the defensive equipment they are using.
4.1 A fighter controls the security and reliability of their protective equipment,
sufficient level of protection it provides and must check it before the fight.

4.2 A fighter is ultimately responsible for their offensive and defensive equip-
ment, its quality, historical accuracy, aesthetic appearance, and compliance
with the requirements of this document.

4.3 A suit of armour must fully and securely protect the fighter’s spine including
the tailbone, sacrum, neck, and joints in any body position.

4.4 Textile adhesive tape of neutral colours is permitted for urgent reparations
during the tournament.

5. The list of offensive equipment and technical requirements is

as follows.
5.1 Bladed weapons:

• Single-handed: straight or curved, double-edged or single-edged swords

• Long or two-handed straight or curved, double-edged or single-edged swords

5.2 Hafted weapons:

• Single-handed

• Long-handled

• Two-handed

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 3

 Important!
Every weapon to be used at a tournament must be first approved for safety
by the representatives of the Marshals’ and Authenticity Committee for each
tournament separately.

5.3 Technical requirements for the permitted weapons can be found in the
table “TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HMB PERMITTED WEAPONS”.

5.4 The heads of all hafted weapons must be secured to the haft by several
methods (for example: wedges, straps, glue, and pins). Weapons with poorly
secured heads are prohibited.

5.5 Weapons heavier than the Technical Regulations prescribe are prohibited.
Weapons constructed solely for stabbing are prohibited. Long and two-
handed impact weapons are prohibited.

5.6 The weapon may have decorations modelled after the elements of the impact
weapon on the non-striking side. Any strikes with decorative elements are
strictly prohibited.

5.6.1 The hafted weapon may have rebated hooks on the non-striking
edge. Any strikes with decorative elements are strictly prohibited.

6. Protective equipment used in HMB is armour reproductions of

the High Middle Ages. All armour elements must be historically
plausible in proportions, construction, and appearance of the
original. Armour must:
6.1 Have academically acknowledged originals of the XIV–XVII centuries.

6.2 Be manufactured using historically plausible materials (for example: steel,

leather, textile, wadding, tow, and felt).

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 4

 6.3 Be constructed to fully and securely protect the vital organs and joints of
the fighter.

6.4 Function properly.

6.5 Adhere to the requirements for the thickness of the protective layers
(as listed later in this document).

6.6 Maintain the size and proportions of the original.

6.7 Have a historically plausible aesthetic appearance.

6.8 Show no signs of modern materials or manufacture techniques (for example:

nylon cords and straps, welded seams, plastic ties, synthetic materials,
unintentional heat tints, modern athletic gear).

7. All elements of the kit must comply with the current technical
and authentic requirements outlined in this document. A full
kit must be comprised of the elements of the same region and
within a 30-year time period.

Important!
30-year periods are defined by decades. For example: 1360–1390, 1380–1410,
1400–1430, etc.

7.1 Stylised element is permitted if:

7.1.1 Authenticity Committee (specialists/officers) have approved its use.

7.1.2 It is enhancing a protective function of the kit during HMB tournaments.

7.1.3 Information about the material culture of the relevant period and/
or region is insufficient.

Important!
In rare cases when information on the material culture of the region or/and
period is insufficent it is possible to replace missing elements of the protec-
tive equipment with the analogues of the adjacent regions and/or periods
provided the kit looks proportionally correct and aesthetically pleasant. The
replacement must be approved by the HMBIA Authenticity Committee.

7.2 When the historically accurate suit of armour fails to comply with the
requirements of this document, a fighter must use additional layers of
concealed protection worn under a soft kit.

7.3 Modern protective elements with an independent fastening system are

permitted as a third layer of protection and must be concealed at all times.

7.4 All additional modern protective elements must remain concealed at all
times in all body positions.

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 5

 8. The head of a fighter must be protected with a metal helmet.
Its protective features should be equivalent to those of 2.5 mm
thick construction grade (for example: ST3 as by GOST, Grade
A in the USA, etc.) steel helmet. A helmet must protect the
face.

Important!
A helmet is identified as open-faced if it is possible to fit a bare fist between
the brim of the helmet and neck protective piece while a fighter maintains an
upright head position. Open-faced helmets are stritctly prohibited.

8.1 A helmet must have a quilted, or padded, coif inside, or a leather suspension
system with a quilted coif. The minimum thickness of the coif is 3 mm for
the quilted, and 5 mm for padded (while compressed).

8.2 A chin strap must secure the helmet to the head. If the construction of the
helmet excludes the use of the chinstrap, the helmet must be secured on
the head by other means.

Important!
A helmet may be secured to the backplate of the body protective element
with an additional strap for enhanced protective properties.

8.3 It is permitted to install additional bars to the eye slits of the helmet if the
construction is approved by the HMBIA Authenticity Committee.

8.4 If a helmet modelled after a historical artefact is not sufficiently protective, it

is encouraged to use additional rigid protective constructions made of metal
bars or plates if they are concealed under a chainmail or textile aventail.

Important!
All additional modern protective elements must remain concealed under a
suit of armour at all times.

8.5 An additional plate can be used on top of the chainmail elements of the
helmet. Its shape must be historically proven. Heater shield shapes are
permitted. Alternatively, an additional padded collar with the plates sewn
under, or inside of the collar, is permitted.

9. The body and the limbs of the fighter must be protected at

least with plates of metal. Chainmail elements can be used
as supplementary protection or as an articulation of the plate
elements.
9.1 A fighter’s equipment includes an under-armour layer protecting the torso.
It should consist of at least a layer of felted wool quilted with linen fabric.

9.2 Vertebrae of the neck and upper back must be protected with a metal plate

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 6

 with a padded or quilted layer (as a separate collar or an additional layer
of the aventail) . Riveted chainmail can cover the element and its padding.

9.3 The spine including the tailbone must be protected by plate elements of the
armour with the layer of padded or quilted protection. The thickness of the layer
must be over 3 mm for quilted and 5 mm (compressed) for padded elements.

Important!
It is recommended to use modern protective elements; for example cycling,
snowboard, and other spine protectors, as the third layer of protection hidden
under the gambeson, or its alternatives..

9.4 The crotch area must be protected by the elements of the kit or modern
protective elements hidden under elements of soft kit at all times.

10. Gauntlets or plate mittens must protect hands. Chainmail can

be used only as a supplementary element or for the articula-
tion of the plates.
10.1 Protection of the hand holding a shield with metal plates means that a fighter
can continue fighting after a shield loss. Alternatively, a shield hand must
be protected by the elements of the soft kit and quilted mitten from all
sides. Soft protection for hands must consist of at least two layers quilted
together; for example felted wool and linen.

10.2 Plate elements must protect elbows and knees. If plate joint protection
is missing in the material culture of the region, the replacement must be
hidden under other elements or in soft kit.

10.3 Cuisses and greaves can leave the back of the leg open. In this instance,
soft kit consisting of at least one layer of the dense fabric must cover the
open areas.

10.4 Metal plate sabatons must protect the feet of a fighter.

10.5 Modern boots are prohibited, especially if outsoles have deep lugs.

Important!
Flat rubber sole shoes are permitted to replace historical shoes. Modern out-
soles with deep lugs are prohibited.

11. Tabards (surcoats) should be historically plausible in colours

and construction and match the suit of armour in the time
period. Modern and derogatory images are prohibited. It is
advised that the coat-of-arms follows heraldic rules in shapes
and colour use.

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 7

 12. Explanation of the terms:
• Historically plausible/authentic: material or an item modelled after
a primary source. Historically plausible materials and elements of
equipment approved for use by the HMBIA Autheniticty Committee
can be found on the website: hmbia.info

• Stylization is an item without a historical prototype, albeit constructed

in the overall style of the kit with its aesthetic and functional features.

• A primary source is textual or visual evidence; for example: images,

paintings, illuminations, statues and other documented sources and
their combinations, that establish the authenticity of an item. A pri-
mary source is mandatory for less known, or new items, within the
HMB community. A decision on the historical accuracy of the item can
be made only based on primary sources.

• The rolling of the hems is a treatment mechanically increasing the

thickness of the hem.

• A striking edge of the weapon is an edge touching the opponent at the

moment of the strike.

Detailed information can be found on hmbia.info and in appendices.

Technical and Authentic Equipment Requirements for HMB events 8