How do you check the safety of your LARP weapons?
Every time you're going to use your LARP weapons, you need to check them to make sure they're safe to use. At some LARP events, you may need to have your weapons checked by a designated weapon inspector. However, it's always good to know how to check the safety of your LARP weapons yourself as well.
Surface inspection
Although the latex layer on LARP weapons is mainly for aesthetic purposes, it's important that the latex doesn't dry out too much, otherwise the underlying foam can dry out too. When the latex layer shows many cracks or tears, it can also damage the underlying foam when water can reach the foam.
Carefully look from one end to the other over the latex layer on your weapon. Small amounts of peeling, cracks or bubbles are nothing to worry about. If you see a lot of this kind of surface damage, make sure you're extra careful during the rest of the safety check.
If you see large cracks or the fibreglass core sticking out of the foam, the weapon is not safe to use.
Pay special attention to weapons with crossguards in that part of the weapon. Crossguards can be prone to cracking.
Core placement and foam thickness
Most LARP weapons, with the exception of throwing weapons, have a fibreglass or carbon fibre core. This core is layered between foam, which is then finished with latex.
The fibreglass core is the most dangerous part of the weapon when a weapon is damaged. When fibreglass breaks, it's extremely sharp and can cause serious injuries.
Therefore, it's absolutely crucial that the core is not off-centre. There must be 1.5 cm of foam on all sides of the core on the striking surfaces, that is, the part of the weapon with which you hit someone. On non-striking surfaces, the foam must be 1 cm thick.
If the core is not properly aligned in the weapon, the foam layer on one side of the weapon may be too thin.
To check whether the core is not centred, gently squeeze along the length of the weapon. If it feels like the core is not in the centre of the foam, the weapon is not safe to use. If you feel that the foam layers are not thick enough, the weapon is also not safe to use.
Don't squeeze too hard on the weapon, as this can actually damage the foam or cause it to come loose from the core.
Bonding
The foam that is placed around the core is bonded to the core to keep the foam in place. Over time, the foam layers can come loose, giving the core too much room to move and eventually sticking out of the foam.
To check if the layers are still properly bonded to the core, squeeze gently again along the length of the weapon, at roughly hand-width intervals. If you feel the layers moving at any point along the weapon, the weapon is not safe to use.
Again, don't squeeze too hard, as this can damage the weapon.
Handles
The handle of any LARP weapon or shield must be securely attached at all times. If there's any movement in the handle, this can lead to dangerous situations.
Shield handles in particular are prone to coming loose, as they generally have smaller attachment points.
To check if your weapon or shield handle is secure, hold the handle in one hand and the length of the weapon in the other. Gently twist the handle. If you feel movement in the handle, the weapon or shield is not safe to use.
Don't twist the handle too much, as this could cause the handle to come loose, which is the opposite of what you want.
Throwing weapons
Throwing weapons must never have a solid core. They must also not have sharp edges and must be larger than an eye socket. Also make sure that throwing weapons are not too heavy, as the impact can still cause injury.
To check the safety of throwing weapons, first check if they're flexible by gently squeezing them. If it feels like they have a solid core, you can't use them.
Run your hand over the entire surface of the throwing weapon, from one end to the other, to check for sharp edges or points. If there are, the weapon is not safe to use.
Finally, check the size and weight of the weapon.
Arrows and bolts
Arrows and bolts pose more safety risks than most close-range weapons. They can have considerable impact and the impact can damage the projectile even after one use. There's also always the risk that someone other than the intended target gets in the path of the projectile and is hit in the head.
The key requirements for arrows and bolts are that they have fletches, that the shaft is securely attached and that the overlap at the tip is soft and thick.
To check the safety of the projectiles, you first need to check how many fletches are on the projectile and whether they're securely attached. Arrows should have 3 fletches and bolts should have 2 fletches. If the fletches come loose at any point, they need to be re-glued, otherwise the projectile is not safe to use.
Wooden shafts must bend evenly and without cracks bend. To test this, hold one end of the shaft with one hand. Hold the tip of the other end between your thumb, index finger and middle finger and gently apply some tension to the shaft. If it bends unevenly or cracks, the shaft is not safe to use.
Fibreglass shafts must not show loose fibres or cracks. If you're not sure whether the shaft has a crack or is just an impurity in the material, you can use the method to check wooden shafts and also check the fibreglass shaft.
Aluminium shafts must be able to bend and must not show visible kinks. Otherwise, the shaft is not safe to use.
The arrow tip must have sufficient overlap and be securely attached to the shaft.
To check the safety of the arrow tip, press the tip overlap frontally. If air escapes from the foam, the foam has open pores and is therefore safe to use. The tip overlap must not be covered or sealed with latex.
The width/diameter of the arrow tip must be at least 5 cm.
To test whether the arrow tip is securely attached to the shaft, hold the shaft in one hand and take the arrow tip in your other hand. Gently and carefully twist the arrow tip anti-clockwise. If the arrow tip rotates, it's not safe to use. Don't use too much force when twisting the arrow tip, as this could actually cause the arrow tip to come loose.
Press your thumb against the arrow tip from the location of the shaft. You should feel a cube or cylinder shape where the shaft is glued in. The arrow tip must not move up while you're pressing on it, otherwise it's not safe to use. You should also be able to feel a similar cube or cylinder on the other side of the arrow tip. This is to prevent the shaft from sticking out of the tip.
Armour
Your armour must be designed so that you, any other LARPers and their weapons don't get hurt or damaged. The most important thing to check is whether there are sharp bits on your armour, such as burrs, sharp rivets, nails or pointed parts that are really sharp.
You can check this easily by eye and by carefully checking the surface of your armour with your hand.
Shields
In addition to your shield handle being securely attached, there are a number of other things that need to be checked before you use your shield.
If your shield has a solid core, there must be at least 3 cm of foam and padding on all edges. The edges must also be rounded. You can check this by gently pressing along the edges, just as you would check the foam on a weapon.
A shield with a hard core also needs a minimum of 1 cm of foam or padding on the front to catch any bolts.
Before using your shield, always check that all bolts are securely tightened. If not, tighten them with a screwdriver.
The wooden base of the shield must be thick enough to prevent splinters. Plywood must be at least 1 cm thick. MDF can be 6 mm thick, as MDF is more rigid and also heavier.
If there are pointed parts on your shield, they must be made of foam and not of hard material like wood or metal.
Shields are defensive objects, not weapons and must never be used as weapons!
