This document was taken from Appendix 4 titled "Technical Specifications - Minimum Safety Requirements for Weaponry" of The Vikings (NFPS) - Constitution and Rules.
a. No weapon, offensive or defensive, should have burred, jagged, splintered, or square edges, or be in an otherwise dangerous condition.
b. All weapons must comply with the safety rules outlined below and with authenticity requirements. The Landscab Armourer, Authenticy Thegn, or Combat Training Thegn may prohibit a weapon from being used at any event. The weapon must then be modified and re-inspected before being used again. A Drengr may be empowered to do the pre-battle weapon checks.
c. These rules do not include weapons that are used in certain scripted scenarios, e.g. javelins, sharp axes. However, these may only be used with the full approval of the Konungr or host Jarl, as appropriate.
These rules are not manufacturing limits but are the minimum dimensions allowed for edges and points, to be checked at pre-combat weapon checks.
a. Sword and Knife - Edges should have a minimum thickness of 2mm (0.0787"). In section this should be an arc of 180-degrees or shallower at 2mm diameter. An arc more eliptical than a semi-circle will be deemed sharp.
Points should taper down to no less than 180-degree arc (or shallower) with a diameter of 18mm (0.708") i.e. the size of a five pence piece (1994 currency). A knife of 254mm (10") blade length or less may have a point comprising of a diameter of 10mm (0.394") with an arc of 180-degrees or shallower.
b. Spear - Side edges as for sword and knife. The leading edge/point should comply with one of the following:
Sword, knife, and spear
There will be a total length allowance of 72mm (3") which may be slightly sharper, provided that it is to the rear third of the blade. This may be of no less than 1.5mm (0.059") and must be a shallow arc in section.
c. Axe - Hand axes should have an edge of 3mm (0.118") thickness with a 180-degree arc (in section) or shallower.
Two-handed axes should have an edge of 4mm (0.157") thickness with a 180-degree arc (in section) or shallower.
The safety of leading and trailing edges will be left to the warrior responsible for weapon checks at each show, subject to the final decision of the Society Armourer.
Please note, the safer you make a weapon, the less problems you will incur.
Weapons may not be made from stainless steel or aluminum for Authenticity reasons.
a. Sword and Knife - Must be made of a steel which is capable of being, and has been, hardened and tempered so that it will not form burrs in the manner of mild or unhardened steels. They must not be made from mild steel or be hard edge welded.
b. Spear - May be made from mild steel and may be hard edge welded.
c. Axes - May be made from mild steel and may be hard edge welded. It is recommended that axes be case hardened.
If a weapon fulfills the above requirements it will be allowed onto the field, subject to passing Authenticity checks.
If you feel that a weapon is safe but its design does not fulfill the above specifications, the Landscab Armourer may pass it as safe. But if he/shee is not present at a subsequent event to verify this decision then it may be banned by the warrior performing the safety checks at that event. Under these circumstances, the safety checker will have the final say.
The excuse "It's safe in the hands of an experienced warrior" will not be accepted because:
We do not have a test to assess your ability with a sharp, burred, or illegal weapon.
and
The answer "I agree, but unfortunately you are rubbish" may offend.