Scott & Deb's Place

Levels of Authenticity

If you mention authenticity many people immediately roll their eyes and start making reference to Nazi's. The overuse of hyperbole aside, there are some individuals who are rather rude about enforcing their views upon others. Still, one would think something distinguishes what we do from a Halloween party. We all have an interest in history. We just choose to emphasize different parts of it. In an attempt to show that authenticity isn't an all-or-nothing issue I decided to break it down into a number of commonly accepted distinctions.

I would hope that most of us could achieve Level 2 of authenticity. Level 1 is acceptable of 'newbies' but many expect more from older members. Level 0 is unaccepted by most everyone. People who try enforcing Level 5 on others may quickly find themselves given the label of authenticity nazi.

Note: This classification scheme is purely my own. That I know of, there are no authenticity classification methods in the SCA.

Level 0 - No attempt.

Garb: You come to the event in blue jeans, tye dye shirt, and sneakers.
Archery: You show up with a compound bow that is loaded with counterweights and water level sites.
Fighting: You put on your cousin's old football gear and swing at your friends with a metal pipe.

Level 1 - Attempt w/o knowledge or training.

Garb: You come to the event with a broadcloth tunic, black sweatpants, and modern leather shoes.
Archery: You bring a modern recurve bow with peep sites and aluminum arrows.
Fighting: Your armor is plastic or kydex with hockey gloves, and a rattan double headed axe.

Level 2 - Ten foot Rule.

Garb: Your garb is made of natural fabrics and designs in vaguely period patterns.
Archery: You bring a modern recurve sans sites and modern wooden arrows.
Fighting: Your armor is all leather and metal. It looks cool but does that Viking helm go with the breastplate?

Level 3 - Period materials, modern techniques.

Garb: Your garb is made from a period pattern and materials but you used a sewing machine and some interfacing to put it together.
Archery: You bring a longbow and period arrows but you're still shooting with a finger-tab using a mix of Arabic and English styles.
Fighting: Your armor is all the same period now but every weapon style is still like swinging a club.

Level 4 - Period material and technique.

Garb: Your garb is made from hand-woven cloth and thread you spun yourself. Your needles may be stainless steel but you sewed it by hand using a period stitch.
Archery: You made your own bow and arrows using modern tools. You shoot without finger-tabs when you can and you're starting to develop small calluses.
Fighting: You made your own armor using modern tools and you've started pelling on pumpkins with steel to get a feel for how a real blade swings.

Level 5 - Sheep to Shawl

Garb: You raised the sheep, sheered it with period tools, spun the wool, wove the cloth then sewed it together with a needle you cut from antler using a piece of flint.
Archery: You made your own bow and arrows using period tools. Your hands are covered with calluses from shooting without a finger-tab. Your neighbors keep complaining about their cats disappearing.
Fighting: You built a forge with a hammer and axe, used a rock to make an anvil, made your own tools, and made a beautiful suit of plate. You spend an hour after every fighter practice polishing the dents out of your armor.