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The boffer is the earliest known LARP weapon to be used, outside of wooden sparring weapons. Dagohir, the first Battlegame in America, was created in 1977 and used such weapons. They exist and are used to this day, being a cheap and relatively easy weapon build for many LARPs in America. A boffer in the traditional sense is typically a heavy weapon built on a PVC or fiberglass rod core, with pipe insulation (usually closed cell polyethelenecovered in duct tape, with an open cell tip for thrusting. This tip is completely covered in duct tape for an air tight seal, and then poked with sharp pins, to allow to act as a air bladder when thrusting (thus the open cell foam is not the only thing absorbing the blow). Modern day boffers often replace the duct tape covering for cloth, as well as layering the foam so that the glue seam between layers of foam is not on the striking edge. The thrust tip has mostly stayed the same, with the duct tape air bladder being the most important element of tip longevity. Boffers are usually pretty easy to repair, and can be an isolated repair - in contrast weapons with a chemical coating cannot usually be repaired when foam degradation occurs.

The first Latex weapons were probably created in 1986 by the British company Second Skin. Latex weapons by and large are built via sandwiching and glueing layers of foam (sheets of closed cell polyethelene - "Plastazote" being chief of these) together around a weapon core (typically solid fiberglass rod). Methods of reinforcement differ between builders; some "anti-shear" technology can be as simple as a "bullet" of kevlar tape at the end of the tip. After creating the blockish weapon "blank", it's then carved/shaped into the final form of the weapon. At that point, the coating is applied to the surface of the weapon (typically Latex, hence the name), which also reinforces the weapon integrity as a whole. Colors can be mixed in with the latex, and typical painting techniques apply to adding the visual dynamic that Latex weapons are known for. A sealer coat is applied after the latex, adding further strength and helping seal off the latex to touch, which causes an allergic reaction to some.

Most Latex weapons are built in Europe, with new shops popping up in India due to the growing popularity of the LARP hobby in mainstream and media (Iron Liege weapons were featured in the movie Role Models). While gaining popularity in the United States, there has been much debate to the safety of that type of weapons in combat here. Very few Latex weapons are built to thrust, and a core popping loose of it's foam coverings in a stab maneuver is outright dangerous. It is important to note that thrusting is generally not allowed in European games, so it's a non issue there.

The first foam injected weapons made for mass production was probably X-Calibur weapons, which has since closed shop. Foam injected weapons are generally a type of closed cell polyethelene foam that is injected by expensive equipment and then forms (instead of extruded as a sheet) in a mold in the shape of a weapon. A weapon core is inserted into the mold before the injection process, so that the foam forms around the core and bonds to it. While some "flutes" and other reinforcement techniques can be applied to the core, so that the foam can be "anchored" internally, weapons of these type cannot be reinforced, as adhesives and reinforcement layers, generally adhered to the core or the weapon, cannot be added to the mold matrix. As the foam cures, a skin forms on the outer layer of the foam - this "skin" is slightly tougher than the rest of the foam. Some weapons under this method rely on this skin to be the outer layer of reinforcement after being painted. Pigments, metallic dust and the like could be applied to the interior of the mold, and would end up being integrated into the skin. (Note : metal powders are often associated with being a health hazard, without a sealer coat such dust can rub off the skin of the weapon and onto the skin of the wielder.) Such weapons are not made currently, as the lack of coatings as durable as latex made the weapon much more fragile and breakdown occured much faster. Additionally, the core's "bond" with the foam is intrinsically weak, and after substantial use the core often seperated internally from the weapon, accelerating the overall weapon failure.

The second type of foam weapons that are used with a molding process is two part polyurethane, sometimes called cold foam. Mixing two different chemicals (and sometimes a catalyst agent), the mixture is poured into a mold, and then shut. The foam continues it's reaction, and expands to form into the mold, creating skin as in the polyethelene example. Polyurethane usually comes in different "weights", the lighter weights being very soft and progressing to really hard. The same use and problems exist with such weapons as the polyethelene ones, being that the bond to the core is weak or non-existant, the foam itself is very brittle and will crack and fall off in chucks in use. More importantly, the foam's density is heavier than that of polyethelene, and the overall weapon wieght could increase dramatically. Only once company, Calimacil, has created a formula based of this method that suffers almost none of the drawbacks of using off-the-shelf polyurethane, other than hitting substantially harder (because of weight) than a latex weapon of the same type. The high level of detail achieved is the overall goal of using both these molding methods, in conjunction with that of mass production. The skill levels required by mold-makers is on par with a traditional Foamsmith (those that carve the shapes out of foam), but the use of said molds to create a weapon is a precise but less knowledge-based excercise.

A hybrid weapon is one that incorporates a combination of cloth covered weapons and latex weapons, with the cloth covering striking areas of the weapon. Certain foams and densities are used when building such weapons, especially in striking areas. The overall goal is a weapon that has a higher visual look than traditional boffers, but matches the safety elements inherent in the design philosophy. A few American companies currently exist that build with this method, Wynar's Fine Beatin' Implements (specializing in heavy weapon builds), LARPonry and Iron Liege. A true hybrid is one where the look is similar enough to the latex weapon build. So similar in fact, that a version could be built using a single density polyethene and coated in latex, resulting in a weapon hardly discernable from a tradtional latex weapon. Since the hybrid involves elements of most builds, it is the hardest to implement correctly.

For a certain price, a Custom Builder may elect to rebuild a weapon, shield, or latex armor built by another manufacturer, using the Iron Liege Method. Certain weapon brands may be excluded from this, as the cores of certain brands are not up to the standards of Iron Liege. If you are an owner of latex or another type of weapon that needs some serious attention, this is a way to go about it (as of this writing, no manufacter will rebuild your weapon for any cost). Most elements of an Iron Liege weapon can be incorporated, including rebuilding the handle surface, adding such details as Asian braiding, balancing the weapon, or even adding a thrust tip. Note that adding a thrust tip usually involves rebuilding the whole blade. The fewer elements that are being re-done, the lower the cost will be. Stripping a weapon down to bare core and rebuilding it as an Iron Liege weapon would cost far more that a custom weapon of the same type, and would not be covered under our warranties.

Note that the Re-Blade Policy also does not count towards IL Refurbished weapons.

A Custom Order is for a single or line of product that is built to the Iron Liege MethodFor price quotes on Custom orders or Custom LARP Designs, select a Custom Builder from our page of the same name on the website, and email them. Each Builder has their own artistic style, and will fullfill a certain need or look in different ways. Note that Custom prices are much higher, and that a deposit is required to begin work on a commission. It is the policy of Iron Liege that before such work commences that the Custom Builder and Customer have worked out the details of the commision. At no point afterward can the commission be modified. Backing out of the agreement before the full price has been paid may result in legal action.

All original Iron Liege Product from the Veteran's Tier, Epic Tier, or Legendary Tier can be rebladed for the cost of $30 (plus shipping costs) for as long as the orginal purchaser owns it. Note that a custom weapon inherently is covered by the Re-Blade Policy.

• This policy is void if purchased by a company or corporation
• This is non-transferable, and void where it involves use by more than the original owner (i.e. an entire Plot team, NPC duty, etc.)
• This policy does not cover rebuilding other elements of the weapon, only the blade or striking surface of the weapon (this DOES include rebuilding an entire axe or hammer head, but not the shaft or handle)
• The weapon is not eligible if the core is damaged in any way.
• The weapon is not eligible if it has been modified in any way shape or form (including painting, coating, etc.)