Society for Creative Anachronism

The Society is a recreation (note the spelling) history group. It is the largest group in the world that does period fencing and armored combat. Fencing and fighting rules are geared towards safety rather than realism. The SCA covers a large time period and several types of combat are available.

The Association for Historical Fencing

The AHF is a governing body for tournaments in historical styles and the preservation of the dueling tradition.

The Italian Ancient & Historical Fencing Federation

This group was was founded to preserve the traditional teachings of the Art and the Science of True Fencing. FISAS (using the initials in Italiano) has been active in Italy since 1995. Maestro Andrea Lupo Sinclair has been teaching the main groups of fencing styles: Ancient, Historical, and Classical.

The International Master at Arms Federation

This is an organization of professional teachers of Historical and Classical fencing based on surviving traditions and historical documentation.

The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts

This group has been working on the period martial arts based on the manuals of different periods. Combat is geared towards full speed practice with padded weapons and period fencing with practice rapiers. Formerly known as the Historical Armed Combat Association (HACA).

Sword Forum International

Although not exactly an organization per se, the Forum is an e-magazine and discussion list of all things sword-related. Of particular interest is the discussion group on historical swordplay.

Tattershall School of Defence

The School is a nonprofit corporation that was founded to meet the needs of the history-oriented fencing community. The School exists to teach, preserve, and support the art of the Historical fencing period (15th, 16th, and 17th centuries) as well as the Classical fencing period. All Western styles are studied and Masters and peers from several martial arts communities contribute and participate.

The Order of the Seven Hearts

St. Martin's Academy of Medieval Arms

Academy members study medieval combat treatises as well as interpret and practice the techniques methods described by the period masters for viable martial arts and historical study. They put on demonstrations for museums, historical interest groups, schools, and other practitioners. Instruction focuses on Fiore Dei Liberi's Fior di Battaglia — including I.33, Ringeck, Vadi, and Jeu de la Hache.

The Mid-Atlantic Society for Historic Swordsmanship (MASHS)

This Maryland-based group is devoted to the research, re-creation, and practical application of historic European swordsmanship and western martial arts. They focus on medieval weaponry (long sword, sword and buckler, rapier), renaissance sword arts, and later period dueling swords (smallsword, dueling sabers).

Academia della Spada

This Seattle-based group teaches the art of fence specific to the duel of honor in Renaissance England. Techniques are drawn exclusively from extant fighting manuals from the era and practiced on the field as a living martial art. The instruction is focused on rapier, back sword, long sword, and unarmed combat techniques.

The Chicago Swordplay Guild

This group has been teaching and practicing historical swordplay for some time now. Greg Mele and Mark Rector are both involved in this group as well as others of similar intent.

Del Tin Antique Arms

Fulvio Del Tin inherited the business from his father and has built a reputation in the manufacture of historic arms. Darkwood Armory imports the Del Tin Practice and Bated rapier blades made to the appropriate specifications.

New World Arbalest

David Watson, a fencer of note in his day (and still likely to ring your bell if you ever get invited to his backyard fencing practice), is probably the foremost expert on medieval and renaissance crossbows. His bows are all shooting bows, though they are certainly nice enough for a formal display.