Latex weapons
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Latex weapons are facsimile weapons made of latex, and are the primary weapons used in live action role-playing games. Used in Europe for decades, latex weapons are now also in use in the US LARPing community. While homemade latex weapons can be somewhat unreliable depending upon the skill of the crafter, injection molded foam latex weapons produced by a manufacturer are much more reliable and safe.
Latex Weapons basically consist of:
- core made of fiberglass rod (carbon fiber is a superior, but more expensive substitute and for short weapons PVC electric tubing is a cheaper alternative)
- Foam (usually in three layers of about half an inch each)
- A few layers of latex
- Paintwork and design
- A silicone coating to make the weapon less sticky
External Links
An excellent guide for making these weapons can be found in The DIY Guide to LRP (http://home.clara.net/arianrhod/Aldebaran/DoItYourself/index.html)
Some sample galleries and weapons with detailed photos can be found on the Elbenschmiede (http://www.elbenschmie.de/)
Rampant Mouse (http://www.rampantmouse.com) US LARP-safe full-contact weapon retailer and wholesaler.