A Critique and Ranking of Charges Found in the "Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry As Used in SCA"
by Lothar von Katzenellenbogen

	The Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry by Masters Bruce Draconarius and Akagawa Yoshio is probably the single most commonly available pictorial dictionary in use in the SCA. Unfortunately, it has some serious shortcomings.
	First, its drawings, while adequate as clip art for SCA arms are not particularly medieval in style. More seriously, some of the drawings in the Pic Dic are accepted as the standard for a given charge. SCA Heralds will occasionally return a device where a charge isn't drawn like the picture in the Pic Dic beccause "it isn't drawn right." Standardization is well and good, but medieval charges were never standardized to any centralized form and it is a mistake to think that they were.
	Secondly, the Pic Dic gets browsed by clients more often than it gets used by experienced heralds. Inevitably, a client browsing through the book will choose to resurrect some terrible charge that was registered once in the dawn of the Society and was quietly moldering in the SCA Armorial until Bruce and Yoshio dug it up. Surely this was not the intent of the authors.
	I hope to rectify these oversights by giving some information about how and when each charge was used (or how it might have been used) and by giving each charge a ranking based on how common it is in medieval heraldry. Each charge is ranked from one (extremely common in medieval heraldry) to ten (completely modern and unknown in medieval heraldry). These rankings are based on how frequently I have found a given charge in rolls of arms and armorials that I have studied, or, failing that, how likely it was to have appeared in medieval heraldry. Where I have had to judge how likely a charge was to appear in heraldry (in the absence of any actual medieval usage of the charge) I base my weights on how common the artifact was, when it was introduced, and who was likely to use it. As a general rule, an SCA invented charge or a non-European charge will be given a weight of 10. A hypothetical European charge will be given a rating of 8, 6, or 4 depending on it's visual complexity and my estimate of how suitable it is for use a a primary, secondary or tertiary charge.
	Charges that rely almost entirely on internal detailing to make them distinctive or which don't have a shape that is immediately identifiable if the charge is reduced to a small size are given high weights. Most animate charges have a weight of 6, since rare monsters and beasts were generally used as primary charges. I have also given most of the monsters found in heraldry books very high weights. With few exceptions the monsters used in "heraldry" were actually supporters and badges of 15th and 16th century English families. While badges and supporters are certainly related to heraldry use of a monster or beast in these contextsa doesn't necessarily mean that it was used as a charge on arms!
	I have also taken the liberty of giving ranks to charges that never seem to have been used in heraldry. Though medieval heraldry was conservative in many respects, it was creative in that it would occasionally incorporate odd native artifacts, plants or animals into heraldry. Inevitably these charges had personal significance to the family or were a cant on the family surname, but many of the allusions and cants are lost to us.
	It seems fair to not limit the range of heraldic charges used when recreating medieval style heraldry to just those artifacts that can be documented as heraldic charges. However, if you want to be strictly authentic, you should avoid any charge that is not explicitly listed as being found in Period heraldry.
	People who are familiar with my ranking system for designing medieval-style Anglo-Norman arms will already be familiar with my ranking system, however, the ranks assigned to charges in this article, while largely based on Anglo-Norman heraldry are not always compatible with it. For example, a charge like the Nesselblatt while a perfectly legitimate medieval charge, never appeared in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

	Finally, I must admit that these rankings are preliminary. While I have looked through a number of medieval rolls and scholarly secondary sources to get my rankings, my research has not been exhaustive. If anyone has conclusive proof that a charge I have given as being as "Hypothetical" or "Modern" was actually used in medieval European heraldry, I'd like to hear about it so that future editions of this article can be improved.

Abacus (10 or 8) - The Oriental Abacus wasn't known in Europe. It gets a ranking of 10. The European abacus is a hypothetical charge. It gets a ranking of 8.

Acorn (4) - The acorn was rarely found in Period heraldry, generally as a canting charge. It is found in German and English arms.

Alphyn (6) - The Alphyn was only found as the badge (no a charge on arms) of one English family. It's use in heraldry would be hypothetical and wouldn't occur earlier than the 15th century when the badge itself was created. The Alphyn is usable as a Primary or Secondary charge, preferably in the Rampant, or Passant positions.

Altar (6) - The Altar is a hypothetical charge in European heraldry. It would have been an unlikely charge if it had strong Pagan or Jewish overtones. The Altar is usable as a Primary or Secondary charge.

Amphisbaena (8) - The Amphisbaena was never actually used in Period heraldry, like many other creatures of its ilk, it is a beast from classical mythology which was incorporated into heraldry by a 
a Late-Period English heraldicist. It's use in heraldry would be hypothetical and wouldn't occur earlier than the 16th century when the charge itself was noted. The Amphisbaena is usable as a Primary, and only would only seem to be recognizable for what it is in the postures Statant or Passant.

Amphora (6) - The amphora seems to have not made it out of the Classical Era and appears to not have been rediscovered in Period. Furthermore, there are several different forms of amphora, so this charge is hardly representative of all Amphorae. However, given the likelihood that medieval potters devised some sort of tall, narrow-necked storage container with handles the "amphora" is suitable as a hypothetical charge in medieval heraldry.

Anchor (3) - The anchor is occasionally found as a Period charge either as a canting charge or as an allegorical symbol. Either form of the anchor found in the Pic Dic is equally likely, especially if the anchor is supposed to represent a Grappling Hook.

Angles (4 or 6) - Angles are found individually or in pairs in Period heraldry. Two angles interlaced fesswise seem plausible as medieval heraldry and would carry a weight of 6, a single angle would carry a weight of 4.

Annulet (1 or 2) - As noted, Annulets are ancient and common in heraldry. They have a wieght of 1, or 2 if there are two annulets linked in fess. The annulet was used as a cadency mark in Period, though the standard English cadency system wasn't systematized in Period.

Antelope (4) - The heraldic Antelope Passant or Rampant was occasionally found in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry. It carries a weight of 4 in that system, and a weight of 6 (as a hypothetical charge) in other systems of heraldry.

Anvil (6) - The anvil is very rarely found in Period heraldry. The most common medieval pattern of anvil was the "breadloaf" or square anvil with no horns at all, but the double horned anvil (what is mistakenly labelled a "bickern" in the Pic Dic") and single horned anvils were also known. The single horned anvil with a flat face seems to have been a Late Period or Out-of-Period creation. The Portable Anvil is also known in Period, but is an extremely rare and oddly shaped charge, which makes it less likely to have been used as anything but a primary charge. It carries a weight of 8.

Ape (6) - Apes and monkeys are rarely found in Period art and heraldry. They are found sejant, in their vanity, and passant. Their odd posture and relative complexity makes them suitable only as secondary and primary charges.

Apothecary Jar (4) - The Apothocary Jar is occasionally found in Period heraldry, especially the attributed arms of St. Martha. While the basic shape is the same, some variants have the body of the jar in an elaborate and attractive spiral form.

Arch (4) - Arches are occasionally found in Period heraldry, generally as a canting charge.

Arch, Triumphal (8) - This a charge from Antiquity. While triumphal arches survived into the medieval period, they were unlikely to have been used for heraldry, except possibly in areas where triumphal arches survived. The complexity and obscurity of the charge makes it only suitable as a primary charge.

Arm- Embowed (3) - Arms embowed are found in Period heraldry, and are just as likely to be armored or vested as unvested and fesswise as palewise. Period Arms Embowed seem to have been slightly more reflexed than the picture in the Pic Dic.

Arm, Cubit (3) - Cubit arms are occasionally found in Period heraldry. They ar usually bare and palewise by default.

Arrow (2) - Arrows are a reasonably common charge in heraldry.

Quarrel (3) - Quarrels are occasionally found in heraldry.

Arrow, Sheaf (3) - Sheaves of three arrows are occasionally found in heraldry.

Arrow, Fire (6) - While the fire arrow certainly could have been used in Period, it doesn't seem to have been used as a heraldic charge.

Arrow, Bird Blunt (3) - The blunt arrow or quarrel was occasionally used in Period.

Arrow, Elf-Bolt (10) - There are almost as many styles of paleolithic spear and arrow points as there were paleolithic cultures. As such, there is no one standard form for flint arrowheads. Furthermore, such a charge probably wouldn't have been recognized or used in Period heraldry and if it was, it would have quickly been rendered as a simple arrow head by compilers of rolls, since the "elf bolt" relies entirely on internal detailing to make it distinct from a simple pheon.

Arrow Notch (10) - This is a charge from Kamon. Since Japan had precious little contact with Europe in the Medieval period, and no charge from Japanese heraldry was used in Period European heraldry, even after contact, it's safe to say that this charge was unknown. If used as a charge for Kamon, it would be moderately common (3).

Astrolabe (8) - This charge was very rarely used in Period heraldry. Its shape and the fact that it relies entirely on internal detailing to make it substantially different from a roundel makes it only suitable for use as a primary charge.

Axes - In Period heraldry, for the most part, an axe, is an axe, is an axe. It is one of the flaws of SCA heraldry that it allows weird variants of weapons, most of which were never used in heraldry. Unaccountably, the Pic Dic does not list the Halberd (3) and the Pole Axe (3) under the heading of Axe, even though they are far more common than most of the other axe variants listed.

Axe (2 or 10) - The single-bladed battle-axe was the most common form of this charge in Period heraldry. It carries a weight of 2. The Double-Bladed Battle-Axe seems to be an invention of fantasy artists and should be avoided. It carries a weight of 10.

Axe, Adze (2) - This is a fairly typical representation of a battle-axe or felling axe in Period English or German heraldry.

Axe, Felling (4) - The bowed handle and non-bearded head makes this charge much more modern in appearance than it should be. Medieval axes tended towards straight handles and more flared heads. The "adze" shown in the Pic Dic is a fair representation of a Period axe.

Axe, Headsman's (10) This appears to be another fantasy charge. Most executioners in Period seem to have used a sword to behead their victims. In any case, an axe would be blazoned as an axe and drawn according to the artist's fancy rather than being given as a specific type.

Axe, Danish (4) - This is rare charge in Period heraldry. It seems to have been indistinguishable from a standard battle axe and is rarely mentioned by name.

Axe, Lochaber (4) - A real Lochaber axe doesn't look like this. The charge should be treated as a fanciful artistic variant on the battle axe.

Axe, Francisque (4) - Another weird battle axe variant with little Period usage to support it.

Axe, labrys (10) - This charge appears only in the art and artifacts of the ancient Cretan civilization which wasn't rediscovered by Europeans until the 19th century. It would have been unknown in Period heraldry.

Axel Bracket (4) - This charge is rarely found in German heraldry. Its simplicity makes suitable as a tertiary charge.

Badger (4) - This beast is always found statant in Period usage. It appears in the canting arms of Brock. The badger (or any other natural beast) was never incensed.

Bag, Collapsed (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry. Its odd form makes it hard to distinguish.

Bag, Money (4) - This charge is very rarely found in Period heraldry. It is occasionally conflated with the escallop which it closely resembles.

Bag, Pilgrims Purse (4) - Also called a scrip, this was a rare charge in Period.

Bag, Other (8) - Oddly shaped, special purpose bags like harp bags could have been used in Period heraldry. However, it is more likely that the thing that the bag contained would be represented on arms rather than the bag that contained it. The odd shape and extreme rarity of such items makes them unsuitable as anything less than a primary charge.

Bagpipe (6) - The period form is likely to have just one drone. It is very rare in Period heraldry.

Bagwyn (6) - The Bagwyn was only found as the badge (no a charge on arms) of one English family. It's use in heraldry would be hypothetical and wouldn't occur earlier than the 15th century when the badge itself was created. The Bagwyn is usable as a Primary or Secondary charge, preferably in the Rampant posture.

Balance (6) - Balances are a rare charge in Period heraldry.The hanging balance is more common in Period usage.

Barnacles (4) - Barnacles may be blazoned as open or closed. The open version has the two legs of the implement almost fesswise, so that the charge looks vaguely like a set of wings.

Barrel (4) - A charge occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Base (3) - This charge is far rarer in Period heraldry than in SCA heraldry. The exception to this rule is in Hungarian heraldry and late German heraldry where bases (and mounts and trimounts) are reasonably common, especially when a single animate charge (or plant) is placed on the field.

Ford (3) - This charge is far rarer in Period heraldry than in SCA heraldry. Period fords are always barry wavy argent and azure.

Basket (3) - This charge occasionally appears in medieval heraldry. The exact form can vary. Variants found in Period but not listed in the Pic Dic are the Fish Trap (4), and the Winnowing Fan (4).

Bat (4) - Another rare charge. The creature is always displayed.

Battering Ram (6) - Also an obscure charge. The odd shape makes it unsuitable for use as a tertiary charge.

Beacon (6) - A rare charge best known in heraldry as the badge of an English family. The peculiar, asymmetrical shape makes it unsuitable for use as a tertiary charge. In Period heraldry, the ladder is optional.

Bear (2) - A remarkably common beast. It appears in the postures rampant and passant in Period usage.

Beaver (6) - A very rare beast. The picture in the Pic Dic looks nothing like the Period example of the charge cited in the text. In spite of the suggestion found in Dennys' Heraldic Imagination, there is no evidence whatsoever that the beaver was ever depicted castrating itself in medieval heraldry. It was generally used as a canting charge.

Beehive (4) - Another rare charge. The Period form is always dome-shaped. The box-shaped version with removable supers is a modern invention.

Bell, Church (4) - The Period form has the hanger slightly larger.

Bell, Hawk's (4) - Another rare charge.

Bell, Hand (6) - A hypothetical charge.

Bell, Temple (10) - An Oriental Temple Bell would not have been used as a charge in medieval European heraldry. It would be a suitable, but hypothetical, charge for a Japanese Kamon.

Bellows (4) - The heraldic representations of bellows just show them from the side, since the outline is sufficient to identify them. The Pic Dic's attempt to show the bellows in trian aspect destroys the symmetry and elegance of a simple charge.

Belt (4) - Indistinguishable from a Garter which is a period charge. The Period form has the belt in annulo as shown in the Pic Dic.

Bend (1) - Incredibly common in Period heraldry of most times and places. A bend overall was a common mark of difference in Anglo-Norman style heraldry. In Period heraldry there was no real distinction made between a bend and a bend sinister.

Bend, Baton (2) - Occasionally used in Anglo-Norman heraldry. A Baton or Baton Sinister overall was sometimes used as a mark of bastardy, especially in French heraldry, though its use is not automatically indicative of bastardy.

Bend, Enarched (1) - This charge is fundamentally the same as a bend. I have found some evidence that the bend and the bend enarched were considered to to be distinct charges in Period, but more evidence to indicate that they were merely artistic variations of one another.

Bend, Bevilled (8) - This treatment of the bend is almost unheard-of in Period heraldry and should only be used on the simplest of arms.

Bend, Sinister (1) - All comments on bends apply to the Bend Sinister. It is worth noting that in medieval heraldry, almost no arms were deliberately designed with charges facing to sinister. Charges were placed to sinister only in "arms of courtesy" or when two different arms were marshalled together to improve the symmetry of an artistic design. Since medieval usage (especially early medieval usage) put heraldic designs on both sides of reversible items like horse-trappers and flags, designs which would normally be "proper" would always be seen as "sinister" when viewed from the obverse side. "Dexter" and "sinister" orientation are almost never noted in Period rolls of arms and were never counted as "differences" in Period heraldry.

Besom (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Billet (1) - This charge was very common as a seme charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry. It is slightly less common as an independent charge.

Boar (1 or 3) - A boar passant was common in Anglo-Norman heraldry. A boar rampant (3) is less common in Anglo-Norman heraldry, but common (1) in Germanic heraldry.

Bobbin (4) - There a literallly hundreds of different styles of bobbin lace bobbins, so no one style of bobbin can be taken as being the definitive heraldic representation of a bobbin. The charge must be considered hypothetical in Period heraldry.

Bog Beast (10) - This is one of the worst excrecences of SCA heraldry. The Pic Dic is largely to blame for the fact that there is more than one registration of this atrocity.

Bone (6) - A very rare charge in Period heraldry. Always represented as a long bone like a shin bone.

Book (6) - A charge that is far rarer in Period heraldry than in SCA usage. Period books are far more likely to be closed (showing their elaborate clasps and covers) than open, and are usually found in the arms of Universities.

Bordure (1) - A very common charge in Period heraldry. It was commonly used as a way of differencing arms, but wasn't exclusively used for such.

Boreyne (6) - The Boreyne was only found as the badge (no a charge on arms) of one English family. It's use in heraldry would be hypothetical and wouldn't occur earlier than the 15th century when the badge itself was created. The Boreyne is usable as a Primary or Secondary charge, preferably in the Passant posture.

Bow (3) - Straight and recurve bows are occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Crossbow (4) - Crossbows are occasionally found in Period heraldry, however, Period representations usually don't attempt to show the trigger arm.

Bow, Musical (6) - This is another hypothetical charge. It would probably have been just represented by a standard bow in Period heraldry.

Bowl (4) - This is one form of the Period bowl. In some heraldic representations the bowl is seen from above and is only distinguished from a roundel by the internal detailing.

Bowl of Hygeia (6) - A hypothetical charge from Greek mythology. In Period no association with pharmacists would have been implied.

Brazier (6) - Another hypothetical charge. The flames make it unsuitable as a tertiary charge.

Breadloaf (4) - A very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Bridge (6) - Also a rare Period charge.

Broach (6) - A rare charge from the arms of the London Company of Embroiderers.

Brooch (8) - The pennanular brooch seems to have dropped out of fashion about the time that heraldry was gaining popularity, so it doesn't appear as a Period charge. If the charge did appear it would probably have been blazoned as a round buckle.

Brooch, Celtic Triquetrum (10) - An SCA adaptation of a Pre-Heraldic motif.

Brooch, Moorish Hair (10) - Another folly from the early days of SCA heraldry.

Broom (6) - A very rare charge, possibly conflated with the Period bean cod which is nearly identical. The Period representations are much more stylized and symmetrical than the drawing in the Pic Dic.

Brush (6) - Functionally identical in outline to a spear. Its use in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Buckle, Arming (4) - Also described as a lozenge-shaped buckle. It is occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Buckle, Round (3) - Fairly common in medieval heraldry.

Buckle, Square (3) - This charge is found in Period heraldry, but it isn't described in the Pic Dic.

Bull (1) - Another common beast. It is usually found Passant or Rampant in posture. Also blazoned as an Ox.

Burnisher (6) - Another Period artist's tool whose use in Period heraldry is purely hypothetical.

Caduceus (6) - A charge from Antiquity that probably wasn't used in Period heraldry. If it was used in heraldry, it would have had no specific association with physicians.

Caduceus, Rod of Aesculapius (6) - A variant of the above charge.

Caltrap (4) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Calygreyhound (6) - This fanciful creature was only found as the badge (not a charge on arms) of one English family. It's use in heraldry would be hypothetical and wouldn't occur earlier than the 15th century when the badge itself was created. The Calygreyhound is usable as a Primary or Secondary charge, preferably in the Rampant posture.

Cameleopard (6) - Another hypothetical beastie in Period heraldry.

Candle (6) - Functionally identical to a Torch in outline. Its use in heraldry is extremely rare.

Candlestick (6) - Both prick and cup shaped candlesticks appeared in Period but the prick kind were far more common. Period candlesticks and candelabras vary considerably in form. The use of a candlestick in heraldry must be considered hypothetical.

Candlestick, Menorah (6) - Occasionally found in Period Jewish arms, otherwise unheard of.

Candlestick, Sconce (6) - Common in modern iconography, unheard of in Period heraldry.

Cannon (6) - The Pic Dic is completely incorrect here. Not only are hand cannons and cannons found in Period heraldry, but I've never seen any mounting for a cannon that looks anything like the picture in the Pic Dic. What modern people think of as a "cannon" is probably a representation of a 19th century field piece. Medieval cannons were handcannons (essentially a small, reenforced tube on the end of a pole) which are palewise by default.
	If a cannon is to be represented then it was just as likely to appear without its carriage as with its carriage. If just the tube is shown, then the default posture is likely to be palewise.
	If the cannon is supposed to represent an early gun then the boxlike frame shown in the Pic Dic might be correct. If the gun is supposed to represent a later form of cannon, then the carriage should follow the patterns used for artillery of the 16th century which were far bulkier than later gun carriages. Cannon of the Renaissance were longer and skinnier than the stylized cannon found, for example, on the badge of the U.S. Artillery Corps.

Canton (1) - A common charge. There is some evidence that a charged canton was not automatically considered a mark of pretense in Period heraldry, especially if the field was otherwise free of charges or if the canton was not charged.

Card Pique (2) - This is functionally identical in outline to the Linden Leaf which is fairly common in Period heraldry. The Card Pique is not a Period charge in its own right, though it was known in Period.

Cartouche (8) - An Oval-shaped shield was occasionally used to display arms, especially ecclesiastical arms, in Late Period. However, the Cartouche as a charge, is unheard of. Its odd shape makes it unsuitable as anything but a Primary charge.
	The picture in the Pic Dic doesn't look like a Period cartouche, which should be oval-shaped.

Castle (2) - A fairly common charge. Castles varied in the number of towers they had, but two or three towers seems to be the most common. The odd shape of the towers in the picture in the Pic Dic is an anomaly.

Cat (3) - Period cats probably represented wild cats as often as they represented the domestic sofa tiger. Cats are found passant, sejant, and rampant and are usually guardant by default. Occasionally you find a cat herissonny (6). The Pic Dic picture shows a nice, modern kitty cat, not a medieval beast.
	The cat "s'elongant" (10) and the "cat in its curiousity" (10) are cute, but are leftovers from the beginnings of SCA heraldry and are best forgotten.

Catapult (6) - These charges are very rarely found in heraldry. They are only suitable as primary or secondary charges because of their odd shape and extensive internal detailing.

Centaur (6) - A rare charge in heraldry. Centaurs are usually passant, and the human portion of the beast is usually drawing a bow. Very rarely, the human portion will be reversed so that he's firing back over the horse portion of his body.
	Female Centaurs are hypothetical charges. The Middle Ages were sexist times, and medieval heraldry was just as sexist as the rest of the culture. Unless there was some specific reason (usally symbolic or canting use) to use a female creature the male of the species is always the default in Period heraldry.

Centaur, Leonine Saggitary (6) - Unique in Period heraldry, but still lovely.

Chain (6) - The citation in the Pic Dic for Cheyndutt, is based on a citation in Joseph Foster's Dictionary of Medieval Heraldry which is wrong. (Foster appearantly based the drawing in his book on 16th century emblazons of medieval armorial rolls. Whether the mistake is Foster's or the original artist's, Foster didn't have the linguistic background to realize that the emblazon was in error. In medieval heraldry the "cheyne" was an oak tree, not a chain.) The chain as shown in the Pic Dic appears to have never been used as a Period charge. The costs given are based on its hypothetical usage.
	Ordinaries of chain rarely occur in Period heraldry, the most commonly cited example is the arms of Navarre. Ordinaries of Chain can be formed at a cost of the ordinary that they're based on plus 3 points. A cross and saltire of chain conjoined to an orle of chain that duplicates the outline of the arms of Navarre might be possible but it would have a weight of 8 and would be highly allusive to the arms of that kingdom.
	The Orle or Annulet of Chain appears to be an SCA invention. It has a weight of 6 since it could have been used as a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry. If it was used, then it certainly would have had no overt association with knighthood. In medieval heraldry, merely bearing arms was either a symbol of nobility or noble pretensions, medieval knights needed no further symbol to distinguish themselves from non-knights.
	Two annulets interlaced in fess (2) might be a more common way to represent links of chain in Period. There are also extremely rare (4) examples of period arms with three annulets interlaced which were taken to represent links of mail.

Chair (6) - Chairs varied in shape in Period and the folding chair shown in the Pic Dic is hardly representative. Representations of chairs and thrones in Period heraldry show the chair in some sort of trian aspect so that the chair looks like a chair, rather than a trestle. The picture in the Pic Dic should be avoided.

Camfron (6) - A very rare charge in Period.

Chape (6) - A field division that was unknown in English heraldry and was very rare everyplace else. It is grossly overused in SCA heraldry. When the chape field division appears at all, it is almost never charged. The exception is in Early Period or Germanic heraldry where sometimes the line of division "Per Chevron" will be drawn as Chape.

Chape Ploye (6) - Even rarer in Period than Chape.

Chausse (7) - Even rarer in Period than Chape Ploye. Used only for the simplest of heraldry.

Chausse Ploye (8) - Virtually Unknown in Period Heraldry.

Chess Pieces (3 or 6) - Only the chess rook was used in Period heraldry (3). The rest of the pieces could have been used, but are either fantastically rare or hypothetical (6).

Chest (6) - Another hypothetical charge. It would resemble a billet or delf without internal detailing, so it is only suitable as a primary or secondary charge.

Chevron (1) - A very common charge, especially in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Chevronels Braced (6) - An arrangment of charges unique to Anglo-Norman heraldry and very rare in that style. If this charge group is used, secondary or tertiary charges which detract from the impact of the primary charge group should be scrupulously avoided.

Chevron Inverted (6) - A very rare charge in Period. When it was used, it was either a single charge or as a group of two or three chevronels inverted. This charge never appeared with secondary or tertiary charges in Period heraldry.

Chevron Ecime (8) - Unknown in Period heraldry.

Chevron Couched (8) - Very rare in Period heraldry.

Chevron Enarched (1) - An artistic variation of the chevron in most cases.

Chevron Ploye' (8) - Very rare in Period heraldry.

Chevron Rompu (8) - Probably not used in Period heraldry.

Chevron Fracted (8) - Probably not used in Period heraldry.

Chevron Disjoint (8) - Probably not used in Period heraldry.

Chief (1) - Very common in medieval heraldry, but usually as a way of indicating difference. Charged chiefs with plain fields appeared very early on as independent (undifferenced) arms.

Chief Triangular (4) - Rare in Period heraldry.

Chief Enarched (1) - An artistic difference to the plain chief.

Chief Doubly Arched (10) - An SCA or modern invention.

Chief Triply Arched (10) - An SCA invention. The closest Period form would be a chief engrailed.

Chief Fillet (4) - Probably never used in Period heraldry.

Chimera (8) - This beast seems to have been an invention of heraldic tract writers and was never used in Period heraldry.

Chimara, German (8) - Rarely used charge in German heraldry.

Chimerical Monsters (8) - Most monsters of this sort should only be used as primary charges. They are, by their very nature, hypothetical charges.

Chisel (6) - A very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Churn (6) - A hypothetical charge.

Clarion (3) - A charge occasionally found in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Cloud (4) - The medieval cloud is occasionally found in heraldry. When it appears alone it is more likely to be drawn as a sunburst. The modern cloud (10) is, obviously, not Period.

Clove (4) - This charge is occasionally found in medieval heraldry. The Japanese Cloud (10) would not have been used in Period European medieval heraldry. In Kamon it would be a more common charge (4).

Cock (3) - Cocks are occasionally found in medieval heraldry.

Cock, Moorcock (3) - Moorcocks are occasionally found in medieval Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Cockatrice (6) - This charge was very rarely used in Period heraldry. The Greek form was probably not known or used in Period heraldry.

Collar (4) - This is a charge that is extremely rare as an independent charge in Period heraldry.

Columbine (4) - This flower is very occasionally met with in Period heraldry, especially in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Column (4) - This charge occasionally appears in Period heraldry (notably in the arms of the Italian Columna family). It should be thicker and squatter than the drawing in the Pic Dic. The shape of the capital can vary.

Column, Obelisk (10) - This is an artifact that existed before heraldry was invented and wasn't known to medieval people, given that medieval people knew almost nothing about the culture of Ancient Egypt. The revival of interest in things Egyptian and the recognition that Egypt was a distinct historical culture started in the 18th century.

Comb (4) - A charge occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Comb, Hair (10) - An SCA invention.

Comb, Wool (4) - A charge occasionally found in English heraldry. Indistinguishable from a Rake. In Period these artifacts are just as likely to be found palewise as fesswise.

Comb, Carding (4) - Another charge related to the wool trade occasionally found in English heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic completely obscures the hooks on the card. Period representations of this charge might draw the charge palewise and with a three quarters view to better show the hooks.

Comet (6) - A charge that very rarely appears in Period heraldry.

Compass (4) - No distinction would have been made in Period heraldry between a compass and dividers.

Compass Rose (8) - A charge that appears to have never been used in medieval heraldry. Compass roses appear in 16th century navigational charts, but do not seem to have been incorporated into the heraldry of the time, even in the arms of people who might be expected to use compass roses, like sailors or cartographers. Furthermore, compass roses are not listed in any Medieval or Renaissance roll of arms or heraldic encyclopedia and aren't even listed in mundane, modern heraldic dictionaries.
	Use of this charge is completely incompatible with any heraldry which pretends to be medieval in style, even though the charge was known late in Period and could have been concievably used as a charge in Renaissance heraldry. The Principality of Northshield make a grievous error when they adopted this charge for their arms.

Cotising (Variable) - I count cotising as a variation on the lines of divisions of ordinaries. Cotising was not that unusual for ordinaries with a plain line of division. It was rarer for ordinaries to be doubly or triply cotised or to be cotised when either the cotising or the line of division of the ordinary was complex. Cotising was most common in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Cradle (6) - A Period artifact that appears to not have been used as a Period charge.

Crampon (4) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Crane (4) - A charge occasionally found in Period heraldry, especially for canting arms. The Ibis is probably not Period charge, at least for Northern European arms.

Crequier (8) - A very early Period French or German charge.

Crescent (1) - A very common charge in Anglo-Norman and Iberian heraldry. Less common elsewhere.

Crescent, Pendant (3) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Increscent (3) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Decrescent (3) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Crosses - Crosses Fitchy are occasionally found in Medieval heraldry (add 1 to the basic cost of a cross to make the foot fitchy). Crosses Nowed or Quadrate are extremely rare and are generally found only in the arms of bishoprics or abbeys. (Add 7 to the cost of a cross to make it Nowed or Quadrate.)

Cross, Annulets Braced (8) - Another name for a cross of chain. Only known as a hypothetical charge based on the arms of Navarre.

Cross, Annulety (6) - Artistically indistinguishable from the Period Cross Pommely.

Cross, Avellane (10) - Not used in Period.

Cross, Alisee (10) - A Victorian invention.

Cross, Ankh (10) - A charge not known at the time when heraldry was in use. Heraldry was in use from approximately 1100 A.D. on. The Ankh faded as a common symbol ca. 100 A.D.

Cross, Barby (6) - A rare medieval charge.

Cross, Bottony (1) - A common medieval charge.

Cross, Bowen (8) - Functionally indistinguishable from "Five mascules conjoined in cross". The charge itself in not Period.

Cross of Calatrava (8) - Unique to two orders of Spanish knights in Period heraldry. Its use should be seen as a pretense to that order, use by the Kingdom of Calontir notwithstanding.

Cross of Canterbury (8) - Use of this cross seems to be limited to usage as a badge of Canterbury cathedral. There is no evidence that it was used elsewhere in Period heraldry.

Cross of Calvary (8) - A charge rarely found in Period heraldry.

Cross, Celtic (8) - This style of cross had gone out of style hundreds of years before heraldry was invented. It was probably not used as a heraldic charge.

Cross, Equal Armed Celtic (10) - Period Celtic crosses didn't look like this. This form of cross is a modern invention.

Cross of Cerdana (10) - An SCA invention.

Cross, Clechy (6) - A rare form of cross occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Cross of Cleves (6) - A variant on the Cross Flory.

Cross of Coldharbour (10) - An SCA invention.

Cross, Coptic (10) - Another pre-heraldic cross variant.

Cross, Counter-voided (10) - An SCA invention.

Cross, Couped (1) - A fairly common medieval variant of the cross.

Cross, Crosslet (1) - Very common, especially in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Cross, Four Ermine Spots (3) - An unusual charge in Period heraldry.

Cross, Estoille (10) - This is a Victorian invention.

Cross, Fillet (10) - This is indistinguishable from the Period Cross throughout. Medieval heraldry generally did not distinguish ordinary charges by the width of the charge though modern and SCA heraldry does so.

Cross, Fitchy (Varies) - Some variants of crosses, notably cross crosslets and crosses paty were fitched at the foot. The less common variants of cross were not.

Cross of Flames (10) - An SCA invention. In Period it would be described as a Cross Rayonee and would be extremely rare.

Cross, Flory (1) - A fairly common medieval cross type.

Cross, Fleuretty (1) - A variation on a Cross Flory whichis also found in Period heraldry.

Cross, Fourchee (3) - An odd type of cross rarely found in Period heraldry.

Cross, Formy (1) - Another common sort of medieval cross, especially common in Germanic heraldry.

Cross Fusily (1) - A Period representation of a Cross Indented.

Cross, Fylfot/Swastika (8) - A very rare cross variant with evil modern symbolism.

Cross, Gurgitee (10) - A Victorian invention.

Cross, Gringole (6) - A very old, but very obscure charge.

Cross, Hummety (6) - A very rare charge.

Cross of Jerusalem (8) - In Period this cross variant was unique to the arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Any device using this charge would be seen as alluding to those arms. Also, in Period, there was no one way of representing the Cross of Jerusalem. In the various medieval rolls of arms that I have looked at, the only constant design elements seem to be the Argent and Or color scheme and the motif of a large central cross surrounded by four or more smaller crosses. The exact type of crosses and the number of smaller crosses is variable.

Cross, Key (6) - A very rare cross variant. Almost identical to the Cross of Toulouse.

Cross, Latin (6) - A surprisingly rare cross variant.

Cross of Lorraine (6) - Another obscure cross type.

Cross of Lozenges (4) - A hypothetical cross variant.

Cross, Maltese (8) - A charge strongly associated with the Knights of Malta and rare in heraldry outside of that order. Any coat of arms which incorporate this charge would be seen as allusive to that order if not a pretense to the arms of the order.

Cross of Mascules (4) - A hypothetical cross variant based on Period examples of mascules conjoined in fess.

Cross Moline (4) - A rare type of cross.

Cross, Miller (4) - A variant on the Cross Moline that might be Period.

Cross, Moline Disjointed (8) - A charge that is unique in Period German heraldry.

Cross, Non (10) - An SCA invention.

Cross, Norse Sun (10) - A preheraldic cross variant. It would not have been used in Period heraldry since this symbol went out of use before heraldry came into use.

Cross, Nowy (8) - This cross variant is extremely rare in Period.

Cross, Parted and Fretted (8) - A very rare cross variant.

Cross, Patonce (6) - A rare charge variant.

Cross, Patriarchal (6) - A cross variant that very rarely occurs in Germanic heraldry.

Cross, Doubled (6) - A cross variant that very rarely occurs in Germanic heraldry.

Cross of Four Pheons (4 plus cost of charges) - This is not so much a charge as an arrangement of charges. This specific arrangement of charges is Period. Other similar charges might also be found conjoined in cross.

Cross, Pointed (6) - Another rare cross variant.

Cross, Pomelly (6) - A cross occasionally found in medieval heraldry.

Cross, Portate (8) - A charge very rarely found in Germanic heraldry.

Cross, Potent (4) - A fairly common cross variant in Period heraldry.

Cross, Quadrate (8) - Probably not a Period charge.

Cross, Quarter-Pierced (2) - This is identical to "Parted of 9 parts" or "Checky of 9 parts found in 14th and 15th century Anglo-Norman heraldry. The cost is for the field treatment.

Cross, Rayonnant (8) - This is a unique charge in Period heraldry.

Cross, Russian Orthodox (8) - There is no evidence that this charge was used in Period as a heraldic charge. It is acceptable mostly because it greatly resembles a hallmark or Polish runic charge.

Cross of St. Brigid (10) - This appears to be a pre-heraldic symbol.

Cross of Samildanach (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Cross of Santiago (8) - The use of this cross is restricted to one order of Spanish knights. Any device that uses it would be allusive to the badge of that order.

Cross, Star (8) - A modern invention, but one that could have been used as a hallmark or rune.

Cross, Stellata (10) - A Victorian invention.

Cross, Swallowtail (8) - If this cross was ever used in Period heraldry it was very rare.

Cross of Swords (4 plus cost of charges) - Charges of various sorts were occasionally arranged in cross in Period heraldry. This is an arrangement of charges rather than a documentable charge.

Cross, Tau (6) - A rare charge in Period heraldry.

Cross of Toulouse (8) - Almost unique to the arms of the Counts of Toulouse in Period heraldry. Any device using this charge must be considered allusive to the arms of Toulouse, though there are Period examples of this charge which are not associated with that County.

Cross, Tripartite and Fretted (8) - A very rare cross variant.

Cross, Ukrainian Sun (10) - Since the Russians and Ukrainians didn't seem to use heraldry in the European sense of the term in Period it is very unlikely that this charge was ever used in Medieval or Renaissance heraldry.

Crow (1) - A very common bird in all types of heraldry.

Crown (3) - Period heraldry made no distinction at all between types of crowns, nor were they restricted to kings, though kings are always represented as wearing a crown. The SCA's restrictions on who may bear a crown on their arms are completely bogus; commoners bore crowns on their arms in Period and kings bore devices that didn't have crowns on them. Unfortunately, 30 years of custom based on misinformation will guarantee that the crown will never be a charge allowed to just anyone.
	The typical SCA crown of three points is not the usual crown in Period heraldic art. The medieval crown that is most commonly seen in medieval heraldry looks more like the Ducal or Ancient crown. The rest of the crown types appear to be Victorian or at least Post-Period inventions.

Cuirass (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Cup (4) - The covered cup is Period, the goblet seems to be an SCA interpretation of this charge, though the goblet is a Period artifact. Period uncovered cups looked like (and were often blazoned) as Chalices.

Cup, Tankard (4) - This charge isn't found in Period heraldry, though the artifact itself certainly was known. Because of the simple outline this charge is suitable for use as a tertiary charge, hence its low weight.

Cup, Mazer (4) - This charge would probably be interpreted as being a Chalice in Period heraldry.

Cupping Glass (6) - This charge was known in Period, but wasn't used in heraldry. The form of the cupping glass found in the Pic Dic is not definitive. There were other shapes of cupping glass. (The Pic Dic also gets its medical history wrong here. A cupping glass was used as an adjunct to bleeding. The partial vacuum created drew blood out of a small wound which had previously been cut into the skin. It could also be used without bleeding to draw blood to the skin which was believed to have a theraputic effect.)

Cushion (4) - This charge is occasionally found in Period heraldry. The tassels should be bigger and the pillow should be plumper to better distinguish it from a woolpack.

Deer (Variable) - Deer in medieval heraldry are found statant at gaze (1), courant (1), salient (3) and rampant (1). They are also occasionally found lodged (couchant) (6). Hinds are always found trippant (6). Elk and reindeer are extremely rare in Period heraldry. Moose seem to not have been used in Period heraldry, but are certainly native to Northern Europe. Ungulates other than deer should have a weight of 6. Period heraldry did not always distinguish between deer trippant and deer passant either blazon is correct.

Delf (4) - This is a very rare charge in medieval heraldry. It is very similar to the Billet.

Die (6) - Dice are very rarely found in Period heraldry. In Period they could either be drawn in trian aspect or else edge on, though trian aspect was by far the more common position.

Distaff (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Dog (variable) - There were very few dog species used in medieval heraldry. The Talbot passant or rampant is reasonably common (2). The talbot sejant or couchant is rare (6). The greyhound courant, or rampant is occasionally found (1), a greyhound salient is less common (3). The Mastiff or Aluant passant or rampant (2) or salient (4) is rarely encountered.
	While specific breeds of dogs certainly were known in Period, they don't seem to have been blazoned explicitly by breed in Period blazons. It is more likely that they were blazoned as the nearest standard heraldic type of dog and the details were left to the owner of the arms or the artist. The only exception to this would be when the name of the dog formed a cant. Then the type of dog would have been specifically blazoned in order to preserve the pun.
	Period breeds of dog commonly used in Europe before 1600 could concievably have been used in heraldry. They carry a weight of 6. Out of Period breeds, or Period breeds not known in Europe like the Saluki or the Akita would have a weight of 10.

Dolmen (8) - Prehistoric edifices such as these were already ancient by the time that heraldry was invented. It is extremely unlikely that representations of menhirs were ever found in Period heraldry. However, since they were known in Period it is possible that they could have been used as a charge.

Dolphin (2) - Dolphins naint are fairly common in medieval heraldry. Dolphins huriant and uriant are far less common (4). Natural dolphins are unknown in Period heraldry (10).

Door (6) - Doors are rarely found in Period heraldry and are generally considered to be church doors. They are usually depicted as arched double doors within a door frame. The archetypical example of heraldic doors appears in the 15th and 16th century arms of Albrecht Durer. The doors form a German cant on the surname.

Dove (2) - Doves close are occasionally found in Period heraldry. Doves rising (6) are extremely rare. Doves migrant to base are a modern invention (10) which seem to be most closely associated with certain sects of evangelical Christians. A paraclete (a representation of the Holy Ghost) might be a Period symbol, but isn't found in Period heraldry.

Dragon (2) - Dragons passant and rampant (2) are occasionally found in Period heraldry, though they are more commonly drawn as a wyverns than as four-legged dragons. Period heraldry considered them interchangable. The hydra is extremely rare (8). Oriental Dragons (10) were not sufficiently well-known in medieval Europe to be included in the heraldic bestiary. The Dun Dragon (10) is an SCA invention and should be avoided.

Drop Spindle (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Drum (6) - This charge doesn't appear to have been used in Period heraldry. Non-European styles of drum (10) such as the doumbek (10) would not have been used in Period heraldry. Slap drums such as the tabor (8) and the tamborine (8) don't appear to have been used in heraldry either. Their odd shape makes them difficult to identify except as a primary charge and a case could be made for drawing both in trian aspect to better show off the frame.

Eagle (1) - The eagle displayed is the single most common bird in heraldry. Eagles rising (3) and preyant on babies or dragons (6) are also occasionally found in Period heraldry. An eagle close would be described as a hawk or falcon in Period blazon. Eagles volant (10), stooping (10), or migrant (10) don't seem to be Period.

Ear (6) - This charge appears not to have been used in Period heraldry, though it could have been.

Eel (6) - Eels are very rare in Period heraldry. They are always niant or huriant.

Egg (6) - Eggs don't appear to have been used in Period heraldry. They are virtually identical in shape to the Cartouche.

Elephant (6) - The elephant is occasionally found in Period heraldry. It may appear with or without a castle. The heraldic elephant has longer and thinner legs than the picture found in the Pic Dic and the ears are drawn a bit differently.

Enfield (6) - This charge only appears as the badge of an 15th century English family. It doesn't appear to have been used as a charge in heraldry.

Equatorium (8) - This is a late-Period astronomical instrument that appears not to have been used in heraldry. Unless it is drawn as a primary charge it is almost indistinguishable from a roundel.

Ermine (6) - The ermine and other members of the mustelid family such as the otter and weasel are almost unknown in medieval heraldry. They are always passant. The ermine used as the badge of the kingdom of Brittany was drawn as "an ermine ermine" rather than as a natural ermine.

Ermine Spot (4) - These charge are occasionally used as independent charges, when they are blazoned as ermine tails. Ermine (1) is reasonably common as a field treatment in Anglo-Norman heraldry, but is less common in other styles of heraldry. The ermine variants - counter-ermine (also known as ermines) (3), erminois (3) and pean (3) seem to be unique to Anglo-Norman heraldry and are rare even then. Ermined field treatments in tinctures other than the standard patterns are vanishingly rare even in Anglo-Norman heraldry (2+ cost of tinctures). They are unknown outside of Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Escallop (2) - Escallops are reasonably common in Period heraldry, especially Anglo-Norman heraldry. Escallops reversed (6) would be rare charges indeed and appear not to have been used in Period.

Escarbuncle (8) - This charge is very rare in Period heraldry and is never used as anything but a primary charge. The escarbuncle of chain conjoined to an orle of chain (8) is unique to the kingdom of Navarre. Any device using such a motif would be seen as alluding to those arms.

Escutcheon (4) - This charge is occasionally found as an independent charge, though it is also used as the basis for an escutcheon of pretense. Escutcheons used as simple charges were never charged.

Estoille (4) - This charge is rare in Anglo-Norman heraldry and is unheard of in other styles of heraldry. Continental heraldry used mullets of six or eight points to represent stars. Estoilles are interchangable with mullets in Period heraldry.

Eye, Human (6) - This charge appears to not have been used in Period heraldry.

Eye, Other (10) - This charge appears to not have been used in Period heraldry. If eyes were used as charges then the human eye would be the default and dragon's eyes, or cat's eyes or what-have-you would not have been used.

Eyeglasses (6) - Eyeglasses appeared in several forms in Period, so the illustrations in the Pic Dic are not definitive. Glasses also appear not to have been used in Period heraldry, though they certainly might have been, especially for corporate heraldry for guilds which made eyeglasses or lenses.

Falcon (2) - Falcons close are reasonably common in Period heraldry. Hoods and jesses are optional. Falcons rising (4) or stooping on a duck (6) are less common. Falcons volant or migrant are not Period (10).

Fan (6) - The folding hand fan is a late-Period import from the Orient. European fans were more-or-less paddle shaped. Hand fans appear not to have been used in European heraldry in Period. Winnowing fans are rarely found in Period heraldry, see my comments on Basket.

Fasces (6) - This charge might or might not have been used in Period heraldry, though the motif is derived from the Roman motif. In any case, the charge is extremely rare. The extensive internal detailing required to make the charge identifiable means that it is really only suitable as a primary or secondary charge.

Feather (4) - The heraldic feather was the ostrich plume which is most commonly associated with the arms and badge of the Prince of Wales. The feather (6) and the quill pen (6) don't seem to have been used in Period heraldry.

Fer-a-Loup (6) - This charge was occasionally found in Germanic heraldry. It is unknown in other styles. The picture in the Pic Dic doesn't do justice to the graceful shape of this charge. The blade should be much more rounded almost like a crescent with the handle within the horns of the blade.

Fess (1) - This was an extremely common charge in medieval heraldry. The drawing of the fess dancetty should be much broader. The fess hummety is far less common (4). Fesses gemel are also rare (4).

Fetterlock (6) - This was a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Fireball (6) - Another rare charge. Indistinguishable from the Grenade which might not be a Period charge distinct from the fireball.

Fireplace (8) - This is a charge that appears not to have been used in heraldry, though it certainly would have been known to European people The style of fireplace depicted in the Pic Dic is not typical of fireplaces in Period. Gothic fireplaces were large affairs with a straight, overhanging flue over a nearly open hearth. The recessed firebox and the mantelpiece are improvements more associated with the 18th century than the medieval Period.

Flag (6) - Pennons don't seem to have been used in Period heraldry. Banners occasionally appear and when they do they are usually charged, sometimes with a famous arms. Since there was never such a thing as a "banner of pretense" use of a charged banner in Period heraldry, while obviously allusive was not seen as being pretentious.
	The gonfannon was a very stylized charge in Period. Sometimes it consisted of little more than the hanging rings and the three dags.

Flag, Vexillum (10) - The vexillum is a pre-heraldic charge that is unlikely to have been used in Period heraldry.

Flame (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. Charges enflamed (except for lit candles and so forth) or charges on a flame are not Period (10).

Flask (6) - Flasks are extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Flauch (3) - Flaunches are not uncommon in later Anglo-Norman heraldry but are nearly unheard of in other styles of heraldry.

Fleam (4) - This is an extremely rare charge.

Fleece (6) - This is another very rare charge. It is most commonly associated with the badge of the order of the Golden Fleece.

Fleur-de-Lys (1) - An extremely common charge in Period. In Iberian heraldry it was not unknown to have bordures "azure, seme de lys Or" possibly as an allusion to the arms of France. In Italy families which supported the Papal faction (nominally supported by the King of France) - the Guelphs - used a "chief of France" ("Azure, seme de lys Or" or "Azure, three fleur de lys Or") as their symbol. Other non-French arms used some variant of a gold fleur-de-lys on a blue field without it being seen a a pretense to the arms of France.
	The picture in the Pic Dic barely touches the variety of ways in which the fleur-de-lys could be drawn in Period. Virtually any recognizable fleur-de-lys shape can be found in Period heraldry.

Flute (6) - Flutelike musical instruments appear in medieval heraldry.

Foil (Variable) - Trefoils (1) are common, Quatrefoils are rare (3), Cinquefoils are occasionally found (2), Sextoils (4) and Octofoils (4) are extremely rare. In medieval French heraldry a stylized Sextfoil called an Angemme (6) was rarely found. In Iberian heraldry the stylized Sextfoil or Octofoil is used interchangably with the heraldic rose.

Foil, Shamrock (10) - In Period heraldry this would be drawn as a trefoil.

Fork (6) - Eating forks, hay forks, pitchforks, dung forks are all found in Period heraldry.

Fountain, Heraldic (3) - This charge is occasionally found in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Fountain, Natural (6) - This charge doesn't appear to have been used in Period heraldry, though it was known in Period.

Fox (2) - Like the dog and the wolf, the fox was reasonably common in Period heraldry. It could be shown courant, salient, or rampant. Rarely it was blazoned as courant stealing a goose (7).

Fret (2 plus cost of tinctures) - Fret and Fretty were interchangable in Period. Very occasionally, the bottom legs of the fret were extended so that they crossed and touched the dexter and sinister base to form a sort of ethel rune.

Fretty (2 plus cost of tinctures) - Fret and Fretty were interchangable in Period.

Frog (6) - Frogs and toads were always drawn tergiant in Period heraldry, any other posture is a modern SCAbomination.

Fruit (Variable) - Turnips (6), Garlic (6), Strawberries (6), Pears (3), Hazel Nuts (3), Pomegranates (3), and Cherries (4) were all been used in Period heraldry. Natural Pineapples (10), and Oranges (6) were not.
	Natural pineapples are a New World fruit and could not have been known before 1492. Even after the discovery of the New World, there is no evidence that New World plants or animals were ever used in Renaissance heraldry.
	Oranges were known in Europe and grew naturally in the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula, they were exported as luxuries to countries with cooler climates. However, the modern varieties of citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc.) were not well distinguished (since they are all variants of the same species of plant) and they certainly did not have their modern forms. Oranges or lemons were much more likely to be represented in medieval heraldry (if they were ever represented at all) as simple roundels Or rather than as modern oval-shaped lemons or day-glow orange oranges.

Fruit, Ash Key (4) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Fruit, Pine Cone (3) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. In Period blazons it is called a pineapple.

Fruit, Grapes (6) - This charge is very rare in Period heraldry. Usually the grapevine and poles are depicted instead of just a bunch of grapes.

Fruit, Apples (4) - Apples are rarely depicted in Period heraldry. They usually form a cant on a name.

Furison (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. It can appear fesswise or palewise by default.

Fusil (10) - Fusils did not exist as an independent charge in medieval heraldry. Use the lozenge instead.

Game Board (8) - Backgammon and Nine Men's Morris Boards rarely occurred in Period heraldry. Due to the extensive internal detailing game boards should not be used as anything other than a primary charge.

Garb (2) - A common charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Gate (6) - A rare medieval charge. The gate depicted in the Pic Dic is not necessarily representative of medieval gates and looks more modern than medieval.

Gate, Gateway (6) - Another rare medieval charge. A gateway would be elaborately towered and masoned with a portcullis in medieval heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic looks more like modern Graphic design than anything that was ever found on a shield in Period.

Gemel (Variable) - This isn't a charge so much as a treatment of an ordinary. A fess, bend, bend sinister, or pale can be gemelled. (Add 1 to the wieght of the ordinary).

Gendy Flower (10) - An SCA invention.

Gillyflower (4) - A charge rarely found in medieval heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic puts too much emphasis on the slipping and leaving of the flower rather than the flower itself.

Gittern (8) - This charges wasn't used in medieval heraldry, though the instrument was known in Period.

Glove Puppet (8) - This charge was very rare in Period heraldry found in one 15th century German roll of arms. It has to be used as a primary charge to make it distinct from a demi-man statant affronty.

Goad (6) - This charge appears to not have been used in Period heraldry, though it was known.

Goad, Ankhus (10) - This charge would not have been known to medieval Europeans.

Goat (2) - Goats rampant (clymbant) and salient are not uncommon in Period heraldry.

Gore (8) - This charge does not appear to have been used in medieval heraldry, though it was documented as a hypothetical charge. It is unsuitable for use with any device that isn't field only heraldry.

Gusset (8) - This charge might or might not have been used in Period heraldry. They are unsuitable for any device that isn't field only heraldry.

Gout (2) - Goutes were common in medieval heraldry.

Griffin (1) - Griffins rampant or passant are reasonably common in medieval heraldry. Assyrian Griffins (10) were unknown in medieval Europe, since the famous Assyrian city of Ninevah (the source for the best known representation of Assyrian Griffins) was destroyed in antiquity and was lost until it was rediscovered by archeologists in the 19th and 20th centuries.
	The Keythong (6) is only found as the badge of a 15th century English family. Its use in heraldry is hypothetical.

Grillage (4 plus tinctures) - This is a rare variant of Fretty found in English heraldry.

Grozing Iron (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry found only in the 16th century arms of the London Company of Glaziers..

Gurges (8) - This charge was extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Gyron (8) - Another extremely rare charge.

Hammer (4) - The picture in the Pic Dic is wrong. The default heraldic hammer in Period heraldry is more likely to be the armorer's hammer. However, the armorer's hammer is drawn incorrectly. It should be a raising hammer. The top of the head should be slightly rounded, the bottom of the head should be flat, and the faces should be symmetrical and slightly angled inwards. The hammer shown in the Pic Dic is more like a cobbler's hammer than an armorer's hammer.

Hammer, Chasing (6) - This tool isn't found as a charge in Period heraldry wasn't used in Period heraldry. The tool itself was only used by jewellers and engravers, hence the higher weight.

Hammer, Mallet (4) - Mallets are found in Period heraldry.

Hammer, Sledge (4) - The sledge hammer was never used in Period heraldry, and the head pattern is far more common in modern tools than in Period ones. Period heraldry probably used the Mallet to represent the sledge.

Hammer, Cross Peen (4) - This is a Period shape for a hammer.

Hammer, Ball Peen (4) - This is pattern of hammer appears to be modern, though it could concievably have been used by armorers or jewellers.

Hammer, Stone Throwing (10) - This is a prehistoric charge. Medieval hammers had metal heads. Medieval heraldry would not have used a charge extrapolated from archeological digs. Renaissance heraldry would not have used a charge representative of the "savages" newly discovered in America.

Hammer, Thor's (10) - This is a pre-heraldic charge. Organized, public worship of Thor died out before heraldry was invented.

Hammer, War (4 or 10) - The medieval war hammer was a graceful weapon with a small ridged face, a top spike and a back spike. It looked sort of like the picture on the right in illustration 337 in the Pic Dic. The hammer on the left is the invention of modern fantasy artists who have obviously never hefted any tool larger than a claw hammer. The implement on the left is not a hammer. It is a cinder block on a stick (10). Medieval men-at-arms did not use cinder blocks on sticks as weapons. Period heralds would not have recognized the cinder block on a stick as a hammer.

Hammer, Dulcimer (6) - This charge was never used in medieval heraldry, though such a charge could have been used.

Hand (3) - Hands apaumy were occasionally found in medieval heraldry. They were very rarely found adversant, but since the difference is solely a matter of internal detailing the costs are the same. Gloves are also found in Period heraldry. They are identical in outline to hands except for tassels descending from them.

Hand, Clenched (6) - Clenched fists don't seem to have been used in Period heraldry. The clenched fingers make it much harder to make out the charge.
	
Hand, of Benediction (6) - This charge was extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Hand, Gauntlet (4) - Gauntlets occasionally appear in Period heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic is wrong. Gauntlets are usually show adversant to better show off the fact that the gauntlet is indeed a gauntlet. Medieval finger gauntlets never completely encased the fingers in metal (otherwise the articulations of the finger lames wouldn't work, and the wearer's grip on his weapon would be poor).

Hand, of Fatima (10) - This charge might have been used in Islamic art, but it wouldn't have been used in European heraldry.

Hand, of Glory (10) - A hand enflamed is not a Period charge. However, a hand issuant from flames (8) is a charge found in a unique instance in English heraldry.

Handgun (8) - The musket doesn't appear to have been used as an independent charge in Period heraldry.
	The pattern of of musket drawn in the Pic Dic is 17th century at best and shows either a flintlock or a wheellock musket, both of which were extremely rare in Period. The "gun" that modern people think of didn't evolve from the hand cannon until the late 15th century. Renaissance weapons have a very distinctive shape. The barrel was slightly longer, the butt was slightly more flared, and the angle at which the butt met the barrel was slightly different. A matchlock gun which would have been the most common sort of long gun in Period wouldn't have a trigger. The "trigger guard" was actually a lever that lowered the lit match into the primer pan.
	The pistol is a just-barely-Period charge found in a unique instance in English heraldry. The pattern of pistol shown in the Pic Dic is also 17th century. A Period shaped pistol would have a less acute angle between the stock and the butt and the stock would terminate in a distinctive knob at the end of the butt.

Handgun rest (8) - The gun rest evolved at the end of the 15th century As far as I know it was never used in Period heraldry.

Harp (4) - Harps are occasionally found in Period heraldry. Harps used as charges in medieval heraldry were slightly more stylized than the harp shown in the Pic Dic. They wouldn't have been turned to show the sound box as the shape of a harp in profile is distinctive enough on its own.

Harpy (6) - This charge was extremely rare in Period heraldry. The Frauenadler (6) is always displayed and is crowned in the arms of Nurenburg. The Sirin Harpy (10) is a non-European monster and would not have been used in Period heraldry. (Russia didn't develop heraldry until Peter the Great imported it from France in the late 17th century.)

Hat - Period forms of cap found in Period heraldry include the Bohemian cap (6) (like a "robin hood" cap with a high crown which curls forward like a Phyrgian cap and ends in a tassel), Doge's Caps (6) (which presumably look like those worn by the Doge of Venice, though the charge is found in English heraldry), Hat Bands (6), and generic hats.

Hat, Cap of Maintenance (4) - This charge was rare in Period heraldry and seems to be associated with Anglo-Norman heraldry. There is no concievable reason why it should be associated with the order of the Pelican in SCA heraldry, since it had no specific associations with any knightly order in Period.

Hat, Jews (4) - This charge was, not surprisingly, fairly common in Jewish medieval heraldry. The charge was rarely used on the arms of gentiles, especially in German heraldry.

Hat, Mitre (4) - This charge was usually associated with ecclesiastical heraldry in Period.

Hat, Cardinal's (6) - This charge was extremely rare in Period heraldry. It is occasionally found in Period as a crest to the arms of Cardinals, but seems to have almost never been used as a heraldic charge.

Hat, Fool's (10) - This charge was never used in Period heraldry and might not even be medieval! Representations of medieval jesters show them wearing jester's hoods.

Hat, Flat cap (6) - This style of cap developed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It might have been used used in late Period heraldry.

Hat, Phyrgian (6) - This charge was very rarely used in Period heraldry.

Hat, Cap of Mercury (8) - There is no evidence that this charge was ever used in Period heraldry, though it could have been used as a charge.

Hautbois (4) - This is a Period charge. It was extremely rare in English heraldry.

Head, Animal and Bird (Variable) - Heads have the same cost as the whole animal in its most common posture plus 1 point. Thus, heads of lions and wolves cost 2 points, but heads of weasels cost 7 points.
	Heads always appear in the posture that best displays them. Birds heads are never affronty (except for owl's heads which always are), boar's heads and wolf's heads are always seen from the side, foxes masks and bull's heads are always seen from the front, and so forth. The exception is the lion's heads which may appear affronty or in their default posture.
	Heads of animals may appear either erased or couped. Heads that are seen from the side by default (especially boar's heads and bear's heads) may be couped close for a cost of 1 extra point. Heads of humans are always couped. Heads of birds are always erased to better show the feathers of the bird.

Head, lion-jessant de lys (6) - This is an extremely rare charge found in the arms of one English family. It appears to be a variant on the Fleur-de-lys, rather than on the lion's head. The lion's head may be reversed at no extra cost. Heads of other beasts were never jessant de lys and the practice is modern (10).

Head, Human (Variable) - Period heraldry used Moor's heads (2) which could either be affronty or seen from the side, Saracen's Heads (2) which were always seen from the side to better emphasize the beard and turban, King's Heads (3) which were always crowned, and Queen's Heads (3) which were shown either as a head or a bust, but which were always vested. Turk's Heads (4) are occasionally found in Hungarian heraldry and in Germanic heraldry, usually as a secondary or maintained charge. Infant's Heads (or busts) (4) are extremely rare. A charge unique to Welsh heraldry is the boy's head with a serpent entwined around his neck (6)

Head, Human Savage (3) - Savage's (or Wodehouse's) Heads are occasionally found in Period heraldry. They may be viewed from the side or affronty.

Head, Human Maiden (3) - Maiden's heads always show affronty. They are occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Head, Human Saint (4) - Saints Heads while not found in Period heraldry certainly could have been used as a charge.

Head, Seraph (6) - This charge was extremely rare in Period heraldry. It isn't really suitable as a tertiary charge due to its odd shape and the overlapping wings.

Head, Cherub (4) - This charge might have appeared in Period heraldry. It's simpler shape makes it suitable for use as a tertiary charge.

Head, Medusa (6) - This is a charge that was known in Period but was never used in Period heraldry.

Head, Demon (8) - Medieval demons and devils took on a tremendous variety of forms, so the picture of the demon in the Pic Dic should not be considered definitive. A demon or a demon's head would have been an extremely unlikely charge in Period heraldry. Medieval people took their religion seriously, so not surprisingly demons and devils almost never appear as charges in medieval heraldry. Additionally, medieval heraldry wouldn't have used a demon as an embodiment of evil. Frogs or dragons were used as symbols of devilish powers in Period heraldry.

Head, Monster (Variable) - The cost of a monster's head is 1 point over the cost of the monster in its cheapest form.

Heart (3) - Hearts used in Period heraldry might include a bit of the aorta sticking out of the top, so that the heart looked a bit like a linden leaf.

Hedgehog (3) - Hedgehogs were occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Helm (3) - Forms of helmet found in Period heraldry include the bascinet, the close helm, the morion, and the tilting helm. They appear in the position that will best display them.

Helm, Barrel (10) - This might be the default for SCA heraldry, but it's just wrong. The picture in the Pic Dic is a picture of an SCA helmet. No helmet in medieval heraldry looked like this. The helmet is also not a barrel helm. A barrel helm didn't have a domed top. and it didn't have the flared back plate. Medieval barrel helms looked like the helms in the Manessa Codex. They weren't used as a charge in heraldry as far as I can tell. A medieval barrel helm would be a perfectly acceptable charge. The "barrel helm" in the Pic Dic is an SCA invention.

Helm, Chapel de Fer (3) - This is a Period style of helmet. The exact form varied considerably, ranging from something that looked vaguely like a WW I doughboy's tin hat to an elaborate creation that looked like a vair bell in shape. The picture in the Pic Dic doesn't do justice to the artifact and looks more like a flying saucer. The chapel de fer is a Period charge.

Helm, Morion (3) - This is a Late-Period charge. Though morions are most closely associated with the Spanish Conquistadors, the morion was standard issue military equipment in the 16th and early 17th century. Every army from Sweden to Sicily used morions.

Helm, Winged (10) - This is an SCA invention which was probably inspired the costuming for Wagnerian operas which was in turn based on 19th century misinterpretations of Norse and Celtic archeological finds. Even if the Vikings did use horned helmets (and they didn't) the charge would be pre-heraldic. The only examples of domed skullcap type helmets with horns are ceremonial Celtic helmets which date back to the Bronze Age. If there were ever any winged helmets from this era, they have not survived and they would have been unknown in the heraldic Period.
	However, the tournament helm with wings for a crest (8) is possible as a Period charge. Tilting helms had elaborate crests, which sometimes included wings (either two or one) which were attached to the top of the helmet with a torse and mantling. Since this artifact was so closely associated with the tournament and heraldry, it is logical that such a charge would be used as a charge on arms. If such a charge was used, it would be shown in the position that best displays the wings.

Helmet, Horned (10) - This is another charge that owes its existence to 19th century romance rather than historical fact. At least ceremonial horned helmets have been found at archeological sites, so they have some basis in fact. Notwithstanding that, the horned skullcap is not a Period charge.
	The horned tournament helm (6) is a Period charge which is found in Germanic heraldry. The helmet is displayed affronty to better display the horns which are long S-shaped affairs that issue from the top and sides of the helmet.

Helmet, Greek/Roman (10) - The picture in the Pic Dic shows a stylized Roman Centurion's helmet. Such helmets disappeared from use 600 years before heraldry was invented and weren't identified as a distinctive sort of helmet until the 17th century. Medieval representations of Romans had them dressed in essentially contemporary garb and armor with a few fanciful additions to distinguish them as being Ancients rather than contemporary figures. A medieval artist or herald would never have concieved of drawing an accurate representation of an ancient artifact, even if he had a model to look at.

Helmet, Norman (10) - The nasalled spangenhelm went out of fashion just as heraldry was coming into fashion. It would not have been used as a charge in medieval heraldry.

Hide (4) - Hides are occasionally found in Period heraldry. They were drawn as a stylized charge which had simple, geometric outlines, rather than as a Rorschach blot.

Hippogriff (6) - This monster doesn't appear to have been used in Period heraldry.

Hobby Horse (6) - This is a Period artifact which could have been used in Period heraldry, though it never was.

Hoe (6) - This is a Period artifact. Its use in heraldry is hypothetical.

Honeycombed (10) - This field treatment is an SCA invention.

Hood, Monk's (6) - Hoods are rarely found in Period heraldry. The hood shown is not necessarily unique to monks. The hood was a standard fashion accessory for both men and women from the middle of the 13th century until the end of the 14th century. It was worn as a practical (if unfashionable) garment until the 16th century.

Hood, Jester's (8) - Jester's hoods are a hypothetical charge. Period jester's hoods were as likely to have asses ears as horns.

Hood, Executioner's (10) - This appears to be an SCA invention.

Hood, Teaching Master's (6) - This is identical to the "monk's" hood. While the garb of medieval scholars was distinctive, their hoods weren't necessarily the thing that marked them as scholars.

Hood, Falcon's (8) - This charge is virtually impossible to identify for what it is, unless you have a blazon to work from. The picture in the Pic Dic isn't clear and tries to include too much detail. A Period representation of the artifact would be seen in profile and wouldn't include all the confusing internal detailing.

Horn, hunting (2) - This charge is fairly common in Period heraldry, especially in Scottish heraldry.

Horn, Drinking (6) - Drinking horns were far less common in the heraldic period than they were in the centuries before heraldry was invented, but they still were used at the time when heraldry was in use. Their use in heraldry is hypothetical. The legs of the drinking horn shown in the Pic Dic are too short for the drinking horn to be functional and the palewise default seems odd for an artifact that normally sits fesswise.

Horn, Shofar (6) - A unique instance of a charge that looks like a Shofar is found in Czech heraldry, though it is probably not blazoned as such. Because of its strong associations with Judaism the shofar might be an acceptable hypothetical charge in Jewish heraldry, though it does not seem to have ever been used.

Horn, Spiral Hunting (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry. Straight trumpets (6) are a documentable charge in English heraldry.

Horn, Unicorn's (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in medieval heraldry, though it might have easily been mistaken as a candle.

Horn, Ram's (6) - Another hypothetical charge in medieval heraldry.

Horn, Attire (3 or 2) - A rare charge in English heraldry, a fairly common one in Germanic heraldry (2).

Horn, Massacre (3) - A not uncommon charge in Scots heraldry. Optionally, the massacre shows a bit of the stag's skull.

Horn, Bull's (4 or 3) - A rare charge in English heraldry, an uncommon charge in Germanic heraldry. The bell-shaped tips are optional, the horns can terminate in normal, pointed tips.

Horn, Helmet (10) - This is a Japanese charge, not a European one. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Horn of Plenty (8) - The concept of the Cornucopia was known in Period but the object wasn't used as a heraldic charge. The complexity of the food issuing from the end of the horn makes the charge hard to make out as anything smaller than a primary charge.

Horse (2) - Horses rampant, courant, and passant are fairly common in Period heraldry. The picture of a horse in the Pic Dic is incorrectly drawn since the horse is neither statant or passant.

Horseshoe (3) - Horseshoes are not uncommon in Anglo-Norman heraldry. They don't seem to have appeared in other styles of heraldry.

Hourglass (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. The internal detailing of the glass makes it difficult to use as anything but a secondary or primary charge.

Hrassvelg Monster (10) - This is an SCA invention. The cobra was not a breed of snake native to Europe, so it's head would not have been incorporated into a hypothetical monster in European heraldry.
Another SCAbomination.

Human Figure, Maiden (6) - The maiden in the picture doesn't appear to be wearing clothing from any recognizable medieval time Period. If she is wearing a cotehardie then her underdress shouldn't show under her skirts and her kirtle should be different. If she was a heraldic charge then her hands wouldn't be splayed out as if she was modelling a dress and she wouldn't have tippets since that makes it slightly harder to identify the charge.
	Not surprisingly human figures in Period heraldry wore contemporary dress unless they were stylized charges, though even European figures tended to become slightly stylized (generally in the costume that was current when the arms were granted) after a while. If you use a human figure in your heraldry, you should choose an accurate costume for some time and place where heraldry was used and stick with it.

Human Figure, Saracen (6) - In Period heraldry Saracens tended to have longer, pointed beards and either a torse or a large turban.

Human Figure, Savage (6) - This was a rare charge used in a few English and Scottish arms. The club is option may be carried as shown in the illustration in the Pic Dic or it may be carried over the shoulder.

Human Figure, Wild man (6) - This charge might be interchangable with the Savage in Period heraldry, it is rarely found in English and Scottish heraldry.

Humanoid Monster, Angel (6) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry.

Humanoid Monster, Standing Seraph (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period heraldry. The internal detailing of the set of wings that cross the body make it unsuitable as anything less than a primary charge.

Humanoid Monster, Fury (8) - This charge is hypothetical in Period heraldry and wouldn't have been used as a charge until the Renaissance was well underway. The internal detailing needed to show that the figure is female and has snakes instead of hair means that the charge is unsuitable for use as anything but a primary charge.

Humanoid Monster, Saytr (6) - A "satyr" with the hind legs of a horse or goat and the body of a man is occasionally found in Period heraldry, perhaps as a misdrawn Saggitary or Centaur. One Period example of the charge has the creature in profile drawing a bow.

Humanoid Monster, Demon (6) - This charge seems to be unique to the arms of Brussels in Period heraldry. It is important to note that in the arms of Brussels, the "demon" is Satan and he is being overthrown by St. Michael (The full blazon is Gules, St. Michael statant affronty armored maintaining a shield and a spear hafted of a cross Or overthrowing Satan fesswise in base sable.).
	The representations of demons in period art show them in a variety of forms often with secondary faces with large mouths full of pointed teeth in their bellies and knees. They might or might not have had bat wings, spiky tails, or elaborate horns. The picture of the demon in the Pic Dic can hardly be considered representative of the type.

Ink Bottle (6) - Like any bottle or jar in Period the shape of the ink bottle was not standardized, so the picture in the Pic Dic can't be considered definitive. The charge certainly was known in Period, but it's use in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Ink Bottle, Ink Pot (6) - The use of this charge in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Insect (6) - Insects found in Period heraldry are the flea (6), the fly (6) the gadfly (6), and silk flies (6), and earwigs (6). The grasshopper (6) was used as a crest of a Period English device but it's use in Period heraldry as a charge is hypothetical. The ant (6) is mentioned in heraldry texts but I haven't been able to date it to Period. Virtually any insect that is easily identified by its shape alone and which is native to Europe could concievably have been used in Period heraldry. Due to their rarity and the internal detailing needed to make them distinct, all insects have a weight of 6.
	Insects are always shown in the position that displayed them best, so they are usually seen from the back and are usually blazoned as tergiant or volant en arriere depending on whether or not they have wings. The one exception to this rule is the grasshopper which is best seen from the side and which is not blazoned in any particular posture. Insects in postures for mammals or birds (10) are an SCA invention and are responsible from some really ugly heraldry that does ill-credit to the SCA.

Insect, Butterfly (6) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry and seems to be unique to French heraldry.

Insect, Bee (6) - Bees are very rare in Period heraldry. They are always volant en arriere.

Insect, Spider (6) - This charge seems to be unique to a single French device in Period.

Insect, Scarab (6) - Beetles are known in Europe and were occasionally used in Period heraldry. Egyptian Scarabs (10) use an artistic motif that went out of fashion 1500 years before heraldry was invented and which wasn't rediscovered and popularized until the 19th century.

Insect, Scorpion (6) - This charge was very rarely used in Period heraldry, and only in Southern European countries that had scorpions as native species. Since the scorpion was a sign of the zodiac it was known in Northern Europe, but Northern European artists (who didn't have models or experience to work from) drew the symbol for Scorpio as anything from a lobster to a fanciful lobster-like monster.

Iris (4) - This flower very rarely appears in Period heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic should emphasize the flower more and make the stem and leaves symmetrical.

Jerkin (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. The Jerkin emerged as an independent article of outer dress in the mid to late 15th century and was called a doublet. A jerkin-shaped piece of armor emerged in the early 14th century and was called a brigantine if it was a coat of plates and a surcoat if it was a padded garment worn over armor. The brigantine had a distinctive pattern of rivet heads on the surface of the garment where the iron or horn plates had been fastened to the cloth. The surcoat had obvious quilting.The sleeveless leather doublet with pierced work and dags along the bottom is a 16th century fashion and might or might not have dags or padded rolls at the shoulders.
	The drawing in the Pic Dic shows a garment which is distinctive to no known style of clothing found in Period. It also doesn't have any discernable way of opening it up to allow a wearer to put it on. (Doublets always opened to the front. Surcoats and Brigantines either opened to the side or the rear to better deflect thrusts to the chest.)
	If you use a jerkin on your arms you should draw it as a garment wearable by humans that was known in Period.

Jewelry (6) - Cut gemstones are a very late Period invention. Jewellry prior to about the 16th century only used cabachons. If it is your intent to design heraldry for a pre-1500 persona then you should avoid this charge. 
	Due to the internal detailing needed to distinguish a gemstone from a delf or a similar charge, the cut gemstone is not suitable as anything less than a Primary charge.
	Jewellry used in Period heraldry included round buckles (2), lozenge-shaped buckles (2), square buckles (4), garters in annulo (6), crowns (4), Gothic brooches or cloak clasps (6) and finger rings (4).
	Pre-heraldic jewelry such as torques (10), boar's tooth necklaces (10), arm rings (10), or pennanular brooches (10) would not have been used in Period heraldry. Likewise Jewelry from non-European traditions (10) such as Chinese hair combs, Aztec lip labrets or African ear spools would have been unknown in Period heraldry and would not have been used.
	Jewelry that has an odd shape or which relies on extensive internal detailing to make it distinctive, such as earrings (6) or necklaces (6) are hypothetical chargees and should only be used as primary charge.

Jew's Harp (6) - This is a very rare, but Period charge.

Juggling Club (10) - This appears to be a 19th or 20th century invention.

Key (4) - Period keys have their wards to base. The exact shape of the handle is up to the artist. Occasionally double warded keys (4) appear in Period heraldry. The Ring of Keys (6) doesn't seem to have been used in Period heraldry., though it certainly could have been.

Keyhole (10) - There are two problems with the use of charge in Period heraldry. First, the exact shape of the keyhold for any given lock was a matter of the locksmith's fancy. Standardized, factory-made mechanisms were created 200 years after the end of the SCA's Period. Secondly, medieval heraldry never used any regularized area of negative space as a charge in and of itself. After all, a keyhole is empty area of a lock where the frame and tumblers of the lock aren't present. This is completely alien to medieval art and iconography. An abstract concept in medieval art had to be represented by something tangible. Saints had haloes to show that they were saints. The Holy Ghost was represented as a very tangible haloed dove or an angel. Evil was represented by a dragon or a devil. Following this logic, medieval art would have used a lock or key to represent the concept of the keyhole, rather than just the keyhole itself.

Keystone (6) - This charge appears not to have been used in Period heraldry. It is acceptable as a hypothetical charge.

Knife (Variable) - Medieval heraldry did not seem to use the remarkable variety of knives that SCA heraldry recognizes. A knife (2) was a straight, single-bladed object that was slightly curved back at the tip. They are found in the canting 14th century arms of Knyvet. Skinning knives (4) with a wide blade and a tip that curls back to form a point that is perpendicular to the handle are a much rarer charge. They are associated with St. Bartholemew who was martyred by being skinned alive. Broken knives (10) or Non-European varieties of knives (10) were not used in Period heraldry. It is concievable that specially shaped craft knives (6) used in various trades would have been used as distinct charges, however due to their odd shapes and rarity they should only be used as primary charges.
	I have found one Polish example of arms with a sword hilt (with the blade sheared off at the forte of the blade) but I haven't been able to date it to Period. It would be a hypothetical charge (6) indistinguishable from a knife hilt.

Knife, Calligrapher's (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry, like most other calligrapher's tools.

Knife, Cinquedea (10) - Medieval heraldry didn't distinguish between styles of military knives or swords.

Knife, Half Moon (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry. See Fer de Loup.

Knife, Dirk (10) - Medieval heraldry didn't distinguish between styles of military knives or swords.

Knife, Kindjal (10) - Medieval heraldry didn't incorporate knives from non-European traditions.

Knife, Kris (10) - Medieval heraldry didn't incorporate knives from non-European traditions.

Knife, Leatherworker's Head (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry.

Knife, Pruning (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry.

Knife, Skean (6) - This charge might be close enough in shape to an eating knife that it would have been recognizable as an independent charge in Period heraldry. This does not mean that the skean dhu would have been explicitly recognized as a class of eating knife though.

Knot (Variable) - Most knots described in heraldry texts were used as badges by 15th and 16th century English families. The use of a knot as a Period charge (as opposed to use as a badge) is unknown in Period heraldry, except for the stylized Hank (4) of wool, cotton or bowstrings which is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. Also worth mentioning is the Love Knot (4) which appears as a badge of King Wenceslaus of Bohemia in the 14th century. It looks like a strip of cloth worked into a circle and tied at the ends with a square knot so that the ends of the cloth hang free.
	Extremely simple, symmetrical knots have a weight of 4. More complex knots have a weight of 6.

Knot, Bourchier (4) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Bourchier family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Bowen (4) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Bowen family in 15th century English heraldry.


Knot, Savoy (4) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Counts (later Kings) of Savoy.

Knot, Henage (6) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Henage family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Hungerford (6) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Hungerford family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Lacy (6) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Lacy family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Stafford (4) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Stafford family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Wake (4) - This is a hypothetical charge. It is used as a badge by the Wake family in 15th century English heraldry.

Knot, Trefoil (4) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Quatrefoil (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, of 4 Loops and Four Tassels (4) - This is a hank. it can be used to represent cotton thread, wool thread, or a cluster of bowstrings. It is a Period charge for English heraldry.

Knot, Masthead (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Belt (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Hangman's Noose (4) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Ligature (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Weaver's (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Knot, Donnelly (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Knot, Fidelis (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Knot, Mascule (10) - This is an SCA invention only in that the mascules are interlaced. Arrangements of mascules conjoined in a similar fashion are found in Period heraldry, notably in the arms of Rohan in France. In Period heraldry, arrangements of mascules conjoined are occasionally found.

Kraken (6) - Squid have been used as food since antiquity in Southern Europe. It is possible that a squid or kraken could have been used a a charge in the arms of some Southern European or Norse family.

Kraken, Octopus (6) - Like Squid, Octopi have been eaten since antiquity in Southern Europe. Because of this the octopus could have concievably been used in Period heraldry, especially the heraldry of Southern Europe.

Krummhorn (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Label (4 or 1) - A label in chief overall (1) is always seen as being the mark of difference used by the first son in Anglo-Norman heraldry, and to a lesser extent Iberian and Italian heraldry. As such any device using a label overall is automatically claiming pretense to a device.
	Labels as independent charges (4) appear very rarely in Period English heraldry and are called files. They may appear bendwise or fesswise. Obviously no other charge can be used on a device that uses a label as an independent charge, lest the label be seen as a mark of pretense.
	Labels routinely broke the rule of tincture, and could appear in gules or azure on a dark tinctured field of non-identical tincture in Anglo-Norman heraldry. Labels could also be charged. Among English and French royalty it was not uncommon for members of the immediate royal family to all difference the arms of the kingdom with a label of a different tincture or charged with different tertiary charges.
	Labels do not appear to have been used in Germanic or Hungarian heraldry.

Label, Couped (2) - The label couped is extremely rare as a brisure in Period heraldry. There is no evidence that it was ever used as an independent charge.

Ladder (3) - The default ladder in medieval heraldry was the scaling ladder with hooks at the top. It can have a single pole with rungs piercing it and a hook at the top, or it can have two uprights with rungs joining the uprights. The default ladder in the Pic Dic was known in Period, but wasn't used in Period heraldry.

Ladder, Scaling (3) - This is a highly stylized form of a scaling ladder found in German heraldry. Less stylized forms of the scaling ladder were used in Italian and Anglo-Norman heraldry. The most famous example of the scaling ladder is found in the canting arms of Scala in Italy and dates to at least the 14th century.

Lamp (6) - The oil-filled bowl with a wick is a Period charge. The Arabian Lamp or Greek Lamp (10) is a Pre-Heraldic (or Non-European) charge that was revived in 19th and 20th century academic heraldry. It is not a Period charge.

Lantern (6) - The lantern is rarely found in Period heraldry. The exact form of the lantern is left to the artist, since there were a variety of Period lantern forms.

Leaf (Variable) - There are a variety of leaves found in Period heraldry. The form shown in the Pic Dic is closest to the Ash leaf (2) or Laurel leaf (4) in shape. Other types include the Oak (2) , the Linden (2), the Fig (4), the Holly (4), the Hazel (3), and the Seeblat/Water leaf (3).
	Other sorts of leaves that are easily distinguishable by their shapes and which are native to Europe might have been used in Period heraldry. If they have a very simple outline and are easy to recognize then they have a wieght of 4. If they are less easy to recognize then they have a weight of 6.

Leek (6) - The use of this charge in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Leg, Human Couped (4) - Legs are occasionally found in Period heraldry. They differ from Hose only in that hose have loops at the top of the stocking where points were presumably attached.

Leg, lion's erased (3) - Lion's jambs appear occasionally in Period heraldry, especially Anglo-Norman heraldry. Lion's jambs may be inverted or placed in fess at no extra cost.

Leg, eagle's couped a la quise (3) - Eagle's legs always appear couped a la quise. They may be reversed or placed fesswise at no penalty. They are much more likely to be erased than couped in Period heraldry, contrary to the picture in the Pic Dic.

Letter (4) - Both Greek and Roman letters appeared in Period heraldry, though the only Greek letters to appear were the Alpha and the Omega because of their Christian symbolism.

Level (6) - This is a very rare charge in medieval heraldry. The A Frame level is a hypothetical charge.

Lighthouse (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Lightening Bolt (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Lightening Flash (10) - This is an SCA invented charge.

Lightening, Japanese (10) - This is a Japanese charge. It would not have been known or used in Period heraldry.

Lily (2) - This is a fairly common charge in Period heraldry.

Lion (1) - Lions Rampant, Passant, Passant Guardant, and Salient are extremely common (1), Lions Sejant or Courant (3) are rare. Lions Couchant, Sejant Erect, or Sejant Affronty (6) are extremely rare. Lions Dormant (8) are vanishingly rare in Period heraldry.

Lion, Bicorporate (8) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. When it was used, it was always a single primary charge on a simple field. It looks like two lions combattant sharing a single head guardant.

Lion, Natural Leopard (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Lion, Natural Tiger (10) - This charge was never used in Period heraldry.

Lion, Ounce (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. The Cougar (10) is a New World animal and would not have been used in medieval heraldry.

Lion, Tricorporate (8) - There are two forms of the lion tricorporate in Period heraldry. The type shown in the Pic Dic is the best known. The other variety is found in a unique device from 15th century English heraldry and has a lion passant in chief, a lion rampant, and a lion salient all sharing a single head. In both cases the charge was always a single primary charge on simple, plain-tinctured field.

Lion-Dragon (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry.

Lotus (10) - This is a non-European flower and would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Lozenge (1) - This is a common charge in Period heraldry.

Lozenge, Fusil (10) - This charge was never used independently in Period heraldry.

Lozenge, Rustre (10) - This charge is an invention of heraldic treatise writers. It appears to never have been used in real heraldry.

Lozenge, Napkin (10) - This is a charge used in Islamic heraldry, not European heraldry.

Lozenge, Mascule (2) - This is a reasonably common charge in Period heraldry.

Lucy (2) - This was a fairly common charge in Period. The Period form of the charge was much simpler and more stylized than the Picture in the Pic Dic.

Lure (4) - This was a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Lute (6) - The lute is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. A case could be made for turning the lute slightly to the side so that the distinctive dome-shaped sound box would be visible.

Lyre (4) - This charge is occasionally found in Period heraldry, Period heraldry used a more stylized version of the Lyre so the difference between a Lyre and a Cithara would be moot.

Mace (2) - This is a reasonably common charge in Period heraldry. The exact shape of the head could vary. The form on the right is fairly typical for Period. Another form of mace has straight flanges (as opposed to wedge-shaped flanges) on the head.

Mace, Morgenstern (6) - The morgenstern (or morning star) seems to never have been used in Period heraldry. It is included as a hypothetical charge.

Mace, Civic (4) - The civic mace is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Mail (10) - Even though it was common as armor all through the Middle Ages, mail doesn't appear as a heraldic charge. Armored arms or legs always appear clad in plate armor. Human figures in armor are usually dressed in plate armor, though of course early heraldry shows armed human figures clad in mail when it was the dominant form of armor.
	Pieces of mail such as mail shirts, coifs, mail gauntlets or chausses, or ordinaries made of mail don't ever seem to have been used in Period heraldry, presumably because such a charge relies entirely on internal detailing to be identifiable as mail and the internal detailing is so complex that all identifiability is lost at any distance.
	The use of three annulets conjoined (6) appears to have been a medieval representation of links of mail. It occurs in a a unique example in Anglo-Norman heraldry.
Mailly (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Mandrake (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Man Serpent (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. 

Manticore (6) - This is a hypothetical charge. In Period heraldry it would probably be indistinguishable from the Man Tyger.

Man Tyger (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Martlet (1) - This charge is very common in Anglo-Norman heraldry and is rare in other styles of heraldry. A martlet isn't a martlet unless it is close. The tail on the charge in the Pic Dic is unusual. Normally martlets didn't have such elaborate tails.

Mask, Comedy or Tragedy (10) - The stylized masks of comedy and tragedy are a Greco-Roman invention which died out with those cultures and which don't appear to have been rediscovered in Period.

Mask, Domino (6) - This charge was known in Period, but was never used in Period heraldry.

Mask, Commedia dell'arte (6) - Commedia dell'arte developed in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries. Use of masks from the Commedia might have occurred in Late Period heraldry from cultures where Commedia was known, but it is unlikely that they would have been distinct from ordinary human heads.

Mask, Pierrot (6) - The Pierrot Mask is another mask associated with the Commedia dell'arte. It's use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Masoning (4 plus cost of tinctures) - Masoning independent of detailing of a charge made out of masonry (such as a wall or castle) is extremely rare.

Match, Slow (6) - Use of this charge in Period-style heraldry is considered hypothetical.

Maunche (2) - This charge is occasionally found in Anglo-Norman heraldry. It is unknown outside of Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Mermaid (6) - Mermaids are occasionally found in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry, though their human halves are drawn affronty. Melusines (6) are more common in Germanic heraldry.

Millrind (3) - The millrind was a rare charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry. It was unknown in other styles of heraldry.

Millstone (4) - The millstone occasionally appears in Period heraldry, especially in canting arms. The square hole in the center of the millstone and the millrind must be especially pronounced to emphasize the difference between a millstone and a roundel. The internal detailing shown in the picture in the Pic Dic is optional.

Mirror (6) - A charge that looks very much like a mirror is found in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Moon, in its plenitude (6) - This is a Period charge. It must be drawn distinctly to distinguish the internal detailing from an ordinary roundel.

Moon, Increscent (3) - The face is optional, especially in Anglo-Norman and Iberian heraldry. The charge is Period.

Mortar and Pestle (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Mount (2) - This is treated as a variant of the Base. It is especially common in Germanic and Hungarian heraldry (1).

Mountain, Heraldic (4) - This charge (usually of 3,5, or 6 hillocks) is reasonably common in Italian heraldry (3) it is rarer in other styles of heraldry (4).

Mountain, Natural (4) - This charge occasionally occurs in all styles of heraldry, especially later styles.

Mouse (6) - Mice may appear statant or courant in Period heraldry. The posture of the mouse's tail in the Pic Dic might not be correct.

Mustache (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Mullet (1) - One of the most common charges in Period heraldry and easily the most common charge in SCA heraldry. In Anglo-Norman heraldry, mullets of five points were most common. In Germanic heraldry, mullets of six or eight points were most common. In Iberian heraldry, the mullets could be of six, seven, or eight points.
	Four favorite charges in the SCA are not Period, they are the mullet of four points (10), the mullet of greater and lesser points (10), the mullet with one or more elongated points (10), and the Compass Star (10). The Rivenstar (10) is a variant on the Compass Star and is an SCA invention.
	Mullets of interlocking charges (10) are also an SCA invention, with the exception of the Star of David (6) which consists of either a mullet of six points voided and interlaced or two triangles voided interlaced.
	The Pentacle of 5 points (a mullet of five points voided and interlaced, it may optionally be inverted) (6) is also found in Period heraldry. It is justly banned in SCA heraldry because of its modern associations with Satanism and the occult.
	It is worth noting that in Period the Pentacle was a Christian or Jewish symbol not a Pagan one. Even overlooking the historical impossibility that there could have been organized religions based on the Greco-Roman, Celtic, or Norse Gods in the heraldic Period, it would have been utter madness for a practicing pagan to publically display his religious affiliations at a time when the Catholic church was at the zenith of its temporal authority. There is also no evidence that the Pentacle had any associations with the occult beyond those found in the Jewish tradition of the Kabbalah until the 19th or early 20th century when Alistair Crowley, Frazier, and Gardner looted traditional Jewish mysticism to create their own magical traditions. Even then, the pentacle didn't become synonymous with Paganism until it was adopted as a symbol in Post-World War II America. The upshot of this is that any "pagan" in Period would not have advertized his faith on his arms, and that even if he did, he wouldn't have thought of the Pentacle as the symbol of his religion.

Mushroom (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Musical Note (10) - Musical notes were certainly used in Period, but abstract symbols of this sort don't seem to have made it into heraldry. Elaborate runic arms evolved in Poland and Germany and occasionally alchemical symbols were used in heraldry, but musical notes don't appear to have been used. It is likely that medieval symbolism would have demanded either a musical instrument or an animal or bird known for its musical singing rather than the abstract symbol from a musical score.

Nail (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. The passion nail is the most common type.

Needle (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. It must be drawn as a primary charge if there is any hope of distinguishing it as a needle (as opposed to a staff or arrow or some other long, skinny charge).

Nefr (10) - This is a charge found in Ancient Egyptian art. Since the Egyptian revival dates to the 19th century, this charge would not have been known or used in the heraldic Period.

Nesselblatt (8) - This is an extremely rare charge in Germanic heraldry. It is unknown in other styles of heraldry. All known devices with nesselblatts on them consist of just a plain tinctured field and the nesselblatt. There are no overall charges.

Net (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry as a distinct charge from Fretty. The high degree of internal detailing requires that it be drawn large.

Norse Beasts (10) - This style of art had gone out of fashion several hundred years before heraldry came into fashion. Heraldry would have used Gothic style art, not early Norse style art, so this class of charges would have been unknown in Period heraldry.

Oar (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. The shape of the oar need not be drawn as in the Pic Dic, there are other patterns of oars that existed in Period.

Opinicus (6) - This is another of those odd English monsters found only in badges or crests of 16th century grants of arms. Its use as a charge in heraldry is hypothetical.

Orb (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Orle (2) - This is an uncommon charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry and is unknown in other styles. Charges arranged in Orle (2) either with or without a central, single primary charge are uncommon in that style and unheard of in other styles.. The double tressure (4) is rare in Anglo-Norman heraldry and does not appear elsewhere.
	The double tressure flory counterflory (6) is not unique to Scotland but certainly would be allusive to the arms of the King of Scotland.

Orm (10) - This is a variant on the Norse Beast with the added drawback that it appears to be an SCA invention.

Ostrich (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. The horseshoe is optional. Ostriches always appear statant or passant.

Owl (4) - Owls are rare charges in Period heraldry. They always appear close guardant. The owl in the Pic Dic is a representation of the North American Great Horned Owl which is a New World species. Owls in European heraldry have a rounder face, larger eyes and they don't have "ear tufts" (they look more like the American Screech Owl than any other commonly known species).

Padlock (4) - This is a rare charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Pale (2) - This is an uncommon charge in Period heraldry. It is the least common ordinary after the saltire and the pall respectively.

Pale, Offset (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. It should be used only in the most simple designs.

Pale, Bevilled (6) - This is a hypothetical treatment of the Pale in Period style heraldry.

Palette, Artist's (6) - This is a hypothetical charge.

Pall (6) - This is the rarest of the ordinaries, it is very strongly associated with ecclesiastical heraldry.

Pall, Inverted (8) - This variant of the Pall is even rarer than the usual variety of the charge.

Pall, Hummety/Shakefork (8) - This variant of the Pall is unique to Anglo-Norman heraldry and is extremely rare.

Pall, Pallium (6) - This charge was always associated with ecclesiastical heraldry in Period.

Panpipes (6) - These are a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Pantheon (6) - The Pantheon is found as a supporter to the arms of one English grant of arms. Its use as a charge in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Panther (6) - The English panther is found as a support to the arms of one English family. Its use as a charge in Period heraldry is hypothetical. The German panther is a very rare Period charge.

Papellony (4 plus cost of tinctures) - This is an extremely rare field treatment in Period heraldry. It may be drawn as Papellony or Scaly since both versions represented the same field treatment in Period.

Pavillion (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Pavillion, Yurt (10) - This is a non-European charge and would not have been known or used in Period heraldry. It suffers from the added disadvantage of being hard to distinguish as a tent of any sort unless you know what the charge is.

Peacock (4) - The Peacock in the Pic Dic is blazoned as in his pride, but peacocks may also be shown passant close (what the SCA calls pavonated) with their tails dragging along behind them.

Pegasus (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. In Period it seems that only one Pegasus was ever represented (presumably since Pegasus was a unique mythological beast).

Pelican (6) - This was a very rare charge in Period heraldry. In Period it doesn't seem to have ever been restricted in usage or ever associated with any particular knightly order.

Pen, Quill (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. It is much more likely that a feather in Period heraldry would be a Plume.

Pen, Reed (6) - This charge is virtually impossible to distinguish as a writing utensil. It is certainly a Period artifact but its use in Period heraldry is justifiably hypothetical.

Penbox (10) - This is a charge from Arabic heraldry, not European heraldry. The internal detailing is optional, though the basic shape of the illustration in the Pic Dic is correct. In Arabic heraldry it is always fesswise.

Penguin (10) - This is a Non-European bird that was only discovered a bare 28 years before the end of Period. These two factors guarantee that it would have never been used in Period heraldry.

Penner and Inkhorn (6) - This is a very rare charge. Due to its odd, asymmetrical shape, it is best used as a Primary charge.

Pheon (2) - This is a fairly common charge in Anglo-Norman style heraldry. It is unheard of in Iberian heraldry.

Pheonix (6) - This charge is a very rare charge in Period style heraldry. Like most unique mythological creatures, it doesn't seem to have appeared in multiples in Period heraldic designs.

Pick (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Pile (2) - A single pile, two piles or three piles (optionally conjoined in base) are reasonably common in Anglo-Norman heraldry. Piles issuant from base (5) are rare and are always found in conjunction with one or more standard piles (The high cost includes the cost of at least one standard pile). One, two, or three piles issuant from dexter or sinister chief or dexter or sinister base are rare in Anglo-Norman heraldry (5 points). Piles issuant from dexter or sinister (5) are found in Germanic heraldry. Piles used in Anglo-Norman heraldry may be optionally tipped with trefoils or fleur-de-lys for a cost of 2 points extra.

Pile, Ploye (10) - This is an SCA invented charge. See Chausse Ploye.

Pipe (6) - This is a very late Period charge. Its use in heraldry is hypothetical.

Pipe, Hookah (10) - This charge is non-European and cannot be dated to Period. It could not have been used in Period heraldry.

Piping Beast (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Pitcher (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Pithon (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Plumetty (4 plus cost of tinctures) - This is an extremely rare field treatment in Period heraldry.

Point (4) - The use of the dexter or sinister point is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. A base point is virtually identical to a base (2).

Pole-Arm (4) Halberds and Pole Axes are found in Period heraldry. The tremendous variety of medieval pole arms was not reflected in Period heraldry and it is very likely that a pole arm would have been simplified to either a spear, halberd, or pole-axe in Period emblazons.
	Non-European pole arms (10) such as the naginata or Pre-heraldic weapons (10) would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Pole Cannon (6) - This is a Period charge.

Polygon (4) - Triangles (4) are a Period charge. Pentagons (6), Hexagons (6), and Octogons (6)are concievable as hypothetical charges. Irregular polygons (10) and Polygons over eight sides (10) are probably not Period. Irregular polygons would be almost irreproducable via blazon and they would contrary to medieval notions of geometry and mathematics. Polygons over eight sides would probably be reduced to roundels.

Pomegranate (3) - The pomegranate is found in Period heraldry.

Popinjay (3) - The popinjay is always found statant close in Period heraldry. The picture in the Pic Dic makes the bird look more like a falcon than a parrot.

Portative Organ (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Portcullis (4) - This charge is occasionally found in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Pot (4) - This is a rare charge in all styles of heraldry except for Iberian heraldry, where it is common (2). The legs of the cauldron should be more pronounce and the handle should rise above the pot if it is depicted at all. Optionally, the cauldron can have a flat bottom and/or handles on each side.

Press (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. The exact form of the frame and the vat is left to the artist since fruit presses varied in form.

Pretzel (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Printer's Ball (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. It must be drawn large to make it distinct from a candleholder or a mushroom inverted.

Prints (10) - Representations of footprints or handprints are completely alien to medieval heraldry. Medieval symbolism demanded "positive representations" not "negative representations". Thus, medieval heraldry always represented the thing itself, not the negative impression made by the thing. The Period way to represent a pawprint was to have a paw on your arms.

Prow, Drakkar (10) - Period citation in the Pic Dic notwithstanding, there is no evidence that this charge was ever seen as a charge in its own right in Period heraldry. The Pic Dic's evidence for use of this charge comes from a part of a charge taken from a town seal. This is a bit like justifying a horse's tail as an independent charge by pointing out that is is part of an equestrian charge on a medieval seal!
	By the time heraldry came into use, the Scandinavian raiders of the 8th through 11th centuries were a spent force and the Normans had been thoroughly integrated into English, Irish, French or Sicilian culture. It is unlikely that an elaborately carved prow for a Drakkar would have been used in early heraldry, since the style of art that produced carved prows was several centuries out of date by the time that heraldry had begun and the cultures that produced heraldry were not the same cultures that produced drakkars or carved prows.
	Furthermore, unless a drakkar prow was distinctive as a prow (i.e. attached to a longship) then it would have been interpreted as an animal's head of some sort in Period blazons or emblazons.

Prow, gondola (10) - There is no evidence that gondolas ever had such elaborate prows in Period and Period illustrations of Venetian gondolas do not show them with elaborate prows. Even if they did have elaborate prows, it is unlikely that the gondola prow was ever used as a charge outside of areas where gondolas were used. Because of this the gondola prow cannot be considered a charge which was known in Period heraldry.

Pruning Hook (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. The head of the implement should be drawn larger to better emphasize its function.

Psaltery, Bowed or Pig-Snouted (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. Due to the extensive internal detailing needed to distinguish the charge, this charge isn't suitable for use as anything less than a primary charge.

Quadrant (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Quill of Yarn (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry.

Quintain (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical. The exact form of the artifact could vary.

Quiver (6) -  This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Rabbit (3) - Rabbits could appear salient, rampant, courant, or couchant. Three rabbits rampant in pall conjoined at the ears (8) and rabbits rampant playing the bagpipes (8) are curiousities of Period English heraldry.

Rainbow (6) - The rainbow is an extremely rare charge in medieval heraldry.

Recorder (4) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry, but several similar instruments including the pan pipes, the trumpet and the hautboy are found in Period heraldry.

Ribbon (10) - While this charge certainly would have been known in Period, there is no good way to draw it as an independent charge so that it is indentifiable as a ribbon. Medieval symbolism would not have portrayed an artifact that isn't immediately identifiable and which didn't have a definite form. They would have represented a ribbon either as an ordinary or as a knot or else they would have incorporated it with some other charge to make its nature immediately obvious. A ribbon in the form shown in the Pic Dic is the equivalent of a random pile of cloth or a stack or haphazardly stacked metal plates for armor.

Ring (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. The form shown in the Pic Dic is essentially correct in form. Most medieval rings were very simple affairs with cabachon cut stones.

Rivet (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. The shank of the rivet drawn in the Pic Dic should be longer.

Roc (10) -  The Roc is a bird from non-European legend. It would not have been used in Period heraldry. Furthermore, the only thing that distinguishes a Roc from an ordinary eagle rising is the elephant in its talons.

Rock (6) - This is an extremely rare Period charge. It must be drawn large to make it obvious as a rock. This limits its usage to primary charges.

Rocket (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Rose (1) - This is an extremely common charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry but it is less common in other styles. In some types of Iberian heraldry the "Rose" is highly stylized six petalled charge with rounded petals tapering to meet at a single central point with no central seeding. Roses are very rarely slipped and leaved (6) in Anglo-Norman heraldry. The Double Rose (6) seems to be an English invention originally created as a badge of the Tudors.

Rose, Garden (10) - The garden rose was only known to Europeans very late in Period and it was never used in Period heraldry. Since the standard heraldic rose was seen as being synonymous with the garden rose medieval people would have used the heraldic rose in heraldry.

Rose, Kendal Flower (10) - This charge is an SCA invention.

Rose, Mamluk rosette (10) - This is a non-European charge.

Roundel (1) - This is a common charge in virtually all styles of medieval heraldry. It is almost never charged though and should not be indiscriminately used as a background to display another charge.
	The fountain (3) is a rare charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry.

Roundel, T'ai Chi (10) - This is a non-European charge.

Roundel, Enchancre (10) - This charge is an SCA invention.

Rudder (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Sackbut (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Saddle (6) - The "tournament" saddle shown in the Pic Dic is difficult to distinguish as a saddle. The use of a normal saddle in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Saddle, Camel (10) The camel saddle (10) is a non-European artifact and would not have been used in medieval heraldry.

Salamander (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Salt Cellar (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period style heraldry.

Saltire (1) - This charge is one of the rarer ordinaries but is still common enough in Period heraldry.

Saltire, Couped (2) - This is a relatively common charge in Period heraldry, especially in Iberian heraldry where it is quite common (1).

Saltire, Cross of St. Julian (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Saw (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. Both frame saws and straight saws are found in Period heraldry.

Scabbard (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Scale, Dragon's (10) - This is a Japanese charge, not a European one. It would not have been used in medieval European heraldry.

Scaly (4 plus cost of tincture) - This field treatment is indistinguishable from a variant of Papellony in Period heraldry.

Schnecke (8) - This charge is unique to Germanic heraldry and was always used on arms that consisted of just the schnecke in a plain tincture on a field of a plain tincture.

Scroll (6) - Curled pieces of parchement or paper are a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. Scrolls as an ancient form of book (10) are an artifact that went out of fashion centuries before heraldry was invented and would not have been used in Period heraldry.
	Simple motto scrolls (1) are a not uncommon maintained charge.

Scythe (6) - Scythes are a Period charge.

Scythe, War (6) - War scythes are a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Sea-Horse (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Sea Horse, Natural (10) - This beast doesn't appear to have been known to Europe and doesn't appear to have been used in Period heraldry.

Sea Lion (6) - This charge was very rare in Period heraldry.

Sea Lion, Natural (6) - The sea lion (10) is a New World animal and would not have been known or used in medieval heraldry. The Seal (6) is a hypothetical charge in Period heraldry.

Sea-Dog (6) - This charge must be considered hypothetical in SCA heraldry since it was used as a crest for an English family rather than as a charge on their arms.

Sea-Monster, Sea Dragon (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. Animals and monsters with an immediately identifiable upper half may be turned into sea animals for a cost of 4 points above the cheapest cost for the monster, most of these monsters must be considered hypothetical in Period style heraldry. Sea monsters are always erect.

Sea-Serpent (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Sea-Serpent, ondoyant emergent (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Seeblatt (4) - This charge is reasonably common in German heraldry. It is indistinguishable from a heart in Anglo-Norman styles of heraldry. The trefoil shape within the seeblatt can vary.

Semy (Variable) - Semes are reasonably common in Anglo-Norman and Iberian heraldry and are a very rare in other styles. The cost of a seme is 1 plus the cost of the tinctures and the charges for common semes and 3 plus the cost of the tinctures and the charges for semes of rare charges. Two different types of charges may alternate on a seme for a cost of 4 extra points.
	Common seme charges in Anglo-Norman heraldry are crusily (0 usually cross crosslet, cross crosslet fitchy, or couped), goutty (1), billets (1), roundels (1), trefoils (1), fleur-de-lys (1), mullets (2), annulets (2), eagles displayed (3) and lions rampant (3).
	Common seme charges in Iberian heraldry are saltorels (1), roundels (1), cauldrons (1), castles (2), lions rampant (2), escutcheons "Azure, five plates in cross." (3), and wolves passant (3). Iberian semes always appeared on a charged bordure, never on the field itself.

Senmurv (10) - This is a non-European monster. It would not have been known or used in medieval heraldry.

Serpent (Variable) - Serpents may be ondoyant, glissant or erect (2). They are less commonly found nowed (4). Serpents involved (6) don't seem to have been used in Period heraldry and are included as a hypothetical charge. Serpents coiled to strike (10) are a modern invention. Three snakes interlaced in a triangle (8) is a peculiar motif found in a few Welsh arms.
	The Rattlesnake (10) is a New World beast and would not have been used in Period heraldry. The Cobra (10) and the Python (10) are Non-European beasts and would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Serpent, Musical Instrument (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Shackle (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry.

Shave, Currier's (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry.

Shears (6) - Shears are a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Shears, Scissors (6) - Scissors are an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry.

Sheep (2) - Sheep and lambs are found statant. Rams are found passant or rampant. Sheep are more common in Anglo-Norman heraldry than in other styles.

Sheep, Pascal Lamb (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry.

Shell, Whelk (4) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Shell, Snail (4) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Shield, Target (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Shield, Kite (10) - The kite shield was going out of fashion just as heraldry was coming into fashion. The kite shield would have been replaced by the escutcheon or heater shield, just as the heater shield replaced the kite shield.

Shield, Madhu (10) - This is a non-European artifact.

Ship, Galley (6) - This is a reasonably common charge in Period heraldry.

Ship, Drakkar (6) - This type of ship was known as a longship in Period heraldry.

Ship, Caravel (6) - This type of ship was unknown in medieval heraldry as were other later Period styles of ship. Its use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Ship, Ark (6) - The use of this charge in Period heraldry is hypothetical.

Ship, Dhow (10) - This is a non-European type of ship. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Ship, Gondola (6) - This is a specialized and rare type of ship which was confined to the waters of Venice. It's use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical. Its exact form can vary. It's elaborate prow appears to be a post-period invention.

Ship, Knor (6) - This charge is almost identical in shape to a Boat.

Ship, Wa'a (10) - This is a non-European type of ship. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Shoe (4) - Shoes, boots, and slippers (4) are hypothetical charges in Period style heraldry. Sandals would be interchangable with Pattens (6) which are a Period charge. The Pic Dic is incorrect in stating that Period shoes did not have lefts and rights. Archeological evidence from digs in London, Amsterdam, York and elsewhere proves that they did, but the heraldic difference would be infinitesimal.

Shuttle, Weavers (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Shuttle, Weavers, Stick Shuttle (6) - These are hypothetical charges in Period style heraldry. It is possible that they are a Pre-Heraldic charge.

Sickle (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Silkie (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Simurgh (10) - This is a Non-European monster. It would not have been known in Period heraldry.

Sitar (10) - This is a Non-European charge.

Skeleton (6) - Only human skeletons were known in Period heraldry. Animal skeletons (10) would not have been used.

Skold (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. The exact form of the charge is wildly variable.

Skull (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. Animal skulls (10) would not have been used.

Slea, Weaver's (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Sling (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. It must be drawn extremely carefully to be identifiable as a sling.

Sling, Slingstaff (6) - The staff sling is a very rare Period charge.

Slip (3) - Slips of various types of plants are occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Snaffle-Bit (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Snail (6) - This creature is very rare in Period heraldry. The snail is always seen from the side to better display it.

Snowflake (10) - This charge was never used in Period heraldry and snow was never represented as elaborate individual flakes in Period art. Furthermore, the escarbuncle is virtually identical to the snowflake so any design with a snowflake would have been quickly converted to an escarbuncle in Period design.

Spade (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Sparks (3 plus cost of charges) - Sparks were a very rare charge in early French heraldry and they don't appear to have ever appeared in other styles. Sparks only appear as a seme.

Spear (3) - Spears and lances both appear in Period heraldry. The Boar Spear, Javelin, and Pike are virtually identical to standard spears and wouldn't have been seen as independent types in Period heraldry. The Billhook is a pole arm, not a spear. The Javelin is a carefully designed throwing spear, not just a "sharpened stick".
	Broken lances (6) are occasionally encountered in Period heraldry. They are the only sort of broken weapon that I have been able to conclusively date to Period. Since lances were closely associated with the tournament and breaking lances was a desirable event in many forms of tournaments (since the spear would only break if it scored a solid hit on the opponent) it is likely that they are the only form of medieval weapon which would be depicted as being broken.

Sphere, Terrestrial (8) - This is a very late Period charge that relies upon extensive internal detailing to make it distinct from a roundel. It's use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Sphere, Armillary (8) - The use of this artifact as a charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Sphere, Celestial (8) - The use of this artifact is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Sphinx, Greek (6) - The use of this monster is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Sphinx, Egyptian (10) - The Egyptian sphinx at Giza was buried under sand until the 19th century and the culture of the Ancient Egyptians wasn't recognized as an independent style of art by Europeans until the early 19th century. This charge would not and could not have been incorporated into Period style heraldry.

Spiderweb (8) - This charge is so rare and so complex that it should be used only as a single primary charge on a simple plain-tinctured field.

Spinning Wheel (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Spoon (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry. The shape of the handle and bowl could vary considerably in Period.

Spoon, Spurtle (4) - This charge is virtually identical to a spoon and would have been drawn as such in Period heraldry. It's use in heraldry is hypothetical.

Spoon, Ladle (6) - This is hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Spur (6) - The spur is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. They appear palewise and are seen from above in Period heraldry.

Square, Carpenter's (6) - This charge is very rare in Period heraldry. In Period heraldry the arms of the square are equal so the square appears to be a "chevronel couped".

Squirrel (6) - This beast is rare in Period heraldry. The sejant erect posture is default.

Staff, Default (4) - This is not the Period default for a staff. The Period default was the ragged staff.

Staff, Ragged (4) - This charge is occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Staff, Palmer's (6) - The charge is rare in Period heraldry. The hook on the staff should be drawn larger so it is more obviously.

Staff, Club (8) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention, though wildmen are shown carrying similar sorts of clubs in Period heraldry. The Period equivalent would be the ragged staff, but the club is a concievable hypothetical charge.

Staff, Crook (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry.

Staff, Crozier (6) - This charge is extremely rare in Period heraldry and is usually associated with ecclesiastical heraldry.

Staff, Herald's (10) - A Period herald's staff wouldn't have ribbons and an elaborate tip. Period herald's staves were simple, smooth rods like the "default" staff. The artifact shown looks like a May Pole not a herald's staff.

Staff, Crutch (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Staff, Jester's Bauble (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Staff, Wand (4) - This charge is identical to a slip.

Staple (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Star of David (3) - This is a variant of the Mullet. It is reasonably common in Jewish heraldry and is vanishingly rare in other styles of heraldry.

Stirrup (4) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. The stirrup leathers should be drawn symmetrically and the stirrup should be drawn in profile.

Stream (10) - This is a Japanese charge, not a European one. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Sun (3) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry. The face is optional. Suns may have either alternating staight and wavy rays or all straight rays. They were never eclipsed (10). Roundels with complex lines such as engrailed or indented around the edges (10) are an SCA invention.

Sunburst (6) - In Period usage the rays of the sunburst could be issuant from the top or bottom of the cloud.

Swallow (4) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry. It is virtually indistinguishable from a martlet. The volant posture seems to have been the default.

Swan (3) - Swans are typically rousant. Swans naint (6) are much rarer.

Sword (2) - Along with the mullet, the sword ranks as the most common charge in SCA heraldry. The sword was far less common in Period heraldry and Period heraldry never recognized the wretched multiplicity of sword types that SCA heraldry does. In Period, heraldic swords consisted of swords (2), scimitars (3), and seaxes (3). Knives (3) were recognized as an independent charge.

Sword, Broken (6 or 8) - The one example of a broken sword that I have been able to find comes from an undated "heraldicized" Polish runic device. I interpret this to mean that broken swords are hypothetical (6) for Polish heraldry and probably unknown (8) in other styles of heraldry. This charge is best avoided in any case.

Sword, Fracted (10) - There is no evidence that swords ever appeared Fracted in Period heraldry. It is concievable that swords might be fracted since lances appear fracted, but it is very unlikely. Breaking your lance against a foe in tournament was seen as a good event and was a sign of martial prowess. Breaking your sword in a tournament was always a bad event since swords were expensive to replace and you were left unarmed at a bad time. Medieval people certainly wouldn't advertise the fact that they were too cheap to buy good weaponry or unlucky in battle by putting a broken sword on their arms! If they wanted to advertise victory over a given foe then they wouldn't show the foe's broken sword. Instead, they would use a symbol of their own prowess or a charge taken from their opponent's arms. In some cases, they might even appropriate a defeated foe's arms and use them as their own!

Sword, Claymore (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry. Even if it was, it would have been limited to Scottish heraldry.

Sword, Curtana (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry.

Sword, Estoc (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry.

Sword, Gladius (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry. Furthermore, it represents a blade that went out of use centuries before heraldry was invented.

Sword, Greatsword (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry.

Sword, Rapier (10) - This charge would not have been recognized as an independent variant of sword in Period heraldry. Furthermore, the rapier is a late Period artifact and wouldn't have appeared in heraldry until the late 15th or early 16th century.

Sword, Falchion (6) - It is just concievable that this charge would have been seen as an independent style of sword in Period heraldry as distinct from the Scimitar or Seax. Its use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Sword, Flamberge (6) - It is just concievable that this charge would have been seen as an independent style of sword in Period heraldry. Its use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Sword, Katana (10) - This is a non-European variant of sword. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Sword, Ken Blade (10) - This is a non-European variant of sword. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Sword, Tachi (10) - This is a non-European variant of sword. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Sword, Scimitar (4) - This is a stylized heraldic charge. It is occasionally found in Period heraldry.

Sword, Seax (4) - This is a stylized heraldic charge very rarely found in English heraldry.

Sword, Shamshir (10) - This is a non-European variant of sword. It would not have been used in European heraldry.

Sword of Damocles (8) - This charge is just possible for Period style heraldry, since it is a very well-known classical allusion that was known in Period. It is a hypothetical charge though and should only be used in the simplest of devices.

Sword of Hoflichskeit (10) - This is an SCA invention which incorporates two non-Period perversions of the mullet.

Tablet (6) - Mosaic Tablets a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. The form of the tablets is attested to in Period art.

Tablet, Weaver's (6) - This charge is identical to some representations of dice in Period heraldry and would have been seen as being identical to that charge.

Tail, Lion's (6) - The lion's tail is occasionally found as an independent charge in medieval heraldry. Foxe's Tails (6) are a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. Dragon's tails (10) don't appear to have ever been used in Period style heraldry. Yak's tails (10) are non-European charge that would not have been used in European heraldry.

Tail, Orm's (10) - This is an SCA invention. It is indistinguishable from the Period spear head.

Tarask (8) - This charge is an SCA invention, but is roughly based on a monster from European mythology so it could have been hypothetically used in Period style heraldry.

Teazel (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry.

Theow (6) - The use of this monster is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. It is found as the badge of single 16th century English family.

Thimble (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Thistle (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry and is almost unheard of in Scottish heraldry due to its use as a royal badge.

Thunderbolt (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Thyrsus (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Tierce (6) - The use of this charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Tongs (4) - Tongs are rarely found in Period heraldry.

Tongue (10) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention. Medieval heraldry never seems to have used "minor" body parts of creatures (such as tongues, ears or teeth).

Tooth (10) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention.

Tooth, Tusk (10) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention.

Tooth, Human (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period heraldry.

Tooth, Wolves' Teeth (8) - Groups of 3 or 4 wolves' teeth issuant from dexter or sinister (or both sides) are very rare in Period German heraldry and are unknown in other styles of heraldry. Devices using wolves' teeth should consist of just the wolves' teeth on a simple plain tinctured field.

Torch, Enflamed (6) - The stylized torch doesn't appear in Period heraldry. Instead torches look more like ragged staves enflamed at the tops. They are very rare in Period heraldry. the stylized torch is a hypothetical charge.

Torch, Cresset (6) - This wouldn't have been seen as an independent variety of torch in Period heraldry. It is possible that it would be used as an independent charge, especially if it formed a cant on a surname.

Torch, Rushlight (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Torii (10) - This charge is a Japanese charge, not a European one it would not have been used in European heraldry. In Kamon it is more common (3).

Torque (10) - The torque went out of fashion centuries before heraldry was invented. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Tower (2) - Towers are fairly common in Period style heraldry. They may be enflamed (4), but not ruined (10).

Tower, Domed (10) - There is no evidence that Period European towers ever looked like this.

Tower, Spired (2) - A spired tower is indistinguishable from a standard tower in Period heraldry.

Tower, Siege (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Tree (2) - Decidious Trees of various sorts are fairly common in Period heraldry. Palm trees (6) are extremely rare, as are Pines (6). These last two types are only found in Iberian heraldry and don't look like the standard modern representations of those types of trees.

Tree, Blasted and Eradicated (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Tree, Stump Eradicated (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Tree, Hurst of Firs (8) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. Hursts of decidious trees (8) are rarely found in Period heraldry. They may optionally have a stag or wolf issuing from them at no extra cost. They may also appear on a mount for no extra cost. They always appear on a simple plain-tinctured field with no other charges.

Tricune (10) - This is a pre-heraldic charge. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Trident (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. It is identical to the pitchfork or fork.

Trident, Ukrainian trident head (10) - While this motif dates to Period, there is no evidence that it was ever used in Period heraldry given the limited contact between the Ukraine and areas of Europe that used individual heraldry.

Trillium (10) - The trillium is a New World plant. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Triquetra (6) - The triquetra is a Period design motif that appears to have never been used in Period heraldry. Its use in Period style heraldry is hypothetical and it would be blazoned as a knot.

Triskelion, of Armored Legs (8) - Triskelions of armored legs or arms (which may or may not be armored) very rarely appear in Period heraldry. They are generally used as single primary charges on plain-tinctured fields.

Triskelion, Arrondi (10) - This charge doesn't appear to have been used in Period heraldry or medieval art.

Triskelion, pommetty (10) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention.

Triskelion, gammadion in annulo (10) - This charge appears to be an SCA invention.

Trivet (6) - Trivets in Period heraldry may either be drawn in perspective or in stylized top view.

Trivet, Tripod (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Trowel (6) - This charge is very rare in Period heraldry.

Trumpet, Straight (6) - This charge is very rare in Period heraldry.

Trumpet, Spiral (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Tub (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry.

Tub, Bath (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. Medieval style baths looked quite different from the picture in the Pic Dic.

Turtle (6) - This beast is very rare in Period heraldry. Turtles are always tergiant by default.

Tyger (4) - This monster is very rare in Period heraldry. It can be rampant or passant regardant in its vanity (6).

Tyger, tiger - natural (10) - This is a non-European animal. It would not have been known or used in Period heraldry.

Unicorn (3) - This charge is rampant by default in Period heraldry.

Vair-Bell (4) - This charge occasionally appears as an independent charge in Period heraldry.

Vair (2) - This is a very common field treatment in Period Anglo-Norman heraldry and is extremely rare (6) in other styles of heraldry.

Vair, Ancient (2) - This is an early representation of vair. It is indistinguishable from the conventional representation of vair.

Vair, potent (4) - This is a rare, but Period variant on standard vair.

Vajhra (10) - This is a non-European artifact. It would not be used in Period heraldry.

Valknut (10) - This is a pre-heraldic charge. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Vase (6) - This is a very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Vegetable Lamb (8) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. It's complexity and the need for extensive internal detailing to make the sheep visible makes it unsuitable for anything except a single primary charge on a plain tinctured field.

Vetu (6) - This field treatment is very rare. The corners of a vetu field were never charged (10). The central part of the field is almost never charged either.

Vetu Ploye (8) - This field treatment is even rarer than standard Vetu. It is even less likely to be charged than standard vetu.

Viol (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Wagon (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. The Wagon is a Period charge in German heraldry. It is a stylized charge with a simple frame seen from above attached to four wheels which are seen in profile. 

Wagon, Pageant (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Wagon, War (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Wall (6) - Walls are fairly common in Period heraldry, especially German civic heraldry. Usually they have elaborate gates and towers and are typically masoned They are always issuant from base and throughout.

Water Bouget (4) - This is a rare charge in Anglo-Norman heraldry. It is not known in other styles of heraldry.

Wave (10) - This is an SCA invention.

Wave, nami (10) - This is a non-European charge. It would not have been used in Period European heraldry. Kamon regularly used it (3).

Well (6) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Well, Japanese Well-Frame (10) - This is a non-European charge. It would not have been used in Period European heraldry. It was occasionally used in Japanese heraldry (6).

Whale (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Whale, Narwhal (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Wheel, Wagon (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wheel, Catherine's (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wheel, Cog (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wheel, Water (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. It is interchangable with the Cog wheel.

Whip (6) - This is an extremely rare charge in Period heraldry. The whip depicted is a scourge. The drover's whip (8) appears to have never been used in Period heraldry and is hypothetical.

Wind (8) - The use of this charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Windmill (4) - This is very rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wing (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wing, German - wielding a sword (6) - This charge is unique to Germanic heraldry. It is not found in other styles.

Wing, Vol (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wing, Conjoined in Lure (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. It is indistinguishable from a vol.

Winged Monster (Variable) - Bat-winged animals (except for bats, demons, and a few other exceptions) (10) never existed in Period heraldry. No monster in Period heraldry ever had butterfly wings (10) either. Winged monsters may either be rampant, salient, or passant by default. Any animal may be given bird wings for a base cost of 4 points above its standard cost in the cheapest posture. Wings are always elevated and addorsed by default.
	Winged Fish (8) appear in Period heraldry in one unique German example, they are bendwise in the example that I have found.
	Winged Reptiles (10) - do not appear in Period heraldry, except for winged snakes which are called pithons (6).

Winged Monster, Lion of St. Mark (6) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry. It is passant guardant by default. Analogous charges are the Bull of St. Luke (a winged, haloed bull passant) (6), the angel of St. Matthew (a winged, haloed human figure in robes statant affronty), (6) and the eagle of St. John (a haloed eagle displayed occasionally bearing a motto scroll with the words "Sts. Johanes" in its talons.) (6).

Winged Monster, Winged Stag (6) - This charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry.

Winged Monster, Bat-Winged Boar (10) - Bat-winged animals (except for bats, demons, and a few other exceptions) never existed in Period heraldry. No monster in Period heraldry ever had butterfly wings (10) either.

Winged Monster, Winged Dolphin (8) - The use of this charge is hypothetical in Period style heraldry. Any hypothetical winged fish would a similar cost.

Wolf (1) - Wolves rampant, passant, and salient were reasonably common in medieval heraldry.

Woolpack (4) - This is a rare charge in English heraldry. It is unknown in other styles of heraldry.

Wreath, Laurel (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry. The arrangement of a charge inside a Laurel wreath (10) is an SCA invention.

Wreath, Chaplet of Roses (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry. In Period the chaplet of roses had no special association with any knightly order or social class. Its restriction to queens and ex-queens in the SCA is completely at odds with historical practice.

Wreath, Garland (4) - This is a rare chrge in Period heraldry.

Wreath, Chaplet - Graminy (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Wreath, Crown of Thorns (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wreath, Torse (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Wreath, Joscelyn (4) - This is a rare charge in Period heraldry.

Xonecuilli (10) - This is a non-European motif. It could not have been known until after 1492. It was never used in Period heraldry, nor could it have been until late in Period.

Yale, Bedford (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. It was used as a supporter to the arms of one 15th century English family.

Yale, Beaufort (6) - This is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. It was used as a supporter to the arms of one 15th century English family.

Yoke (4) - This charge is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry.

Ypotryll (6) - This monster is a hypothetical charge in Period style heraldry. It was used as a badge of one 15th century English family.

Zil (10) - This charge is a non-European charge. It would not have been used in Period heraldry.

Zither (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Zither, epinette des Vosges (6) - The use of this charge in Period style heraldry is hypothetical.

Zule (4) - This charge is rare in Period heraldry.