Substitutes in the form of arms shall be provided by the proctor, at the expense of the University;

These days they’d be painted blue. That’s how wooden drill rifles and other non-firing training equipment is marked in the military.
An alternative for paramilitary forces is all-red.
Here’s an example of “substitutes in the form of arms”
http://www.legear.com.au/ASP-Red-Gun-Training-Aid-Training-Weapon-s/537.htm
“The Red Gun Series is lightweight and readily distinguishable as a training weapon. In addition, the extreme detail and precision manufacture of these training devices allows their use in weapon retention and holster security drills.
All too frequently, law enforcement officers have been killed in a training environment with “unloaded” firearms. Red handled weapons can be confused with live firearms when held in the hand. Aluminum castings are heavy and cannot be distinguished from stainless weapons at a distance. The Red Gun Series is lightweight and readily identified as a training weapon.
In addition, the extreme detail and precision manufacture of these training devices allows their use in weapon retention and holster security drills. The red polymer and the manner in which they are reinforced allows them to withstand the daily abuses of the training environment.”
In 1824, such items as wooden blanks in the shape of muskets, wooden swords and so on would be used. Damage to such items would be easily repairable by a local carpenter – often by making a new one.
Certainly it would be both cheaper for a University, and much, much safer, to have such training substitutes instead of real firearms.

Substitutes in the form of arms shall be provided by the proctor, at the expense of the University;

These days they’d be painted blue. That’s how wooden drill rifles and other non-firing training equipment is marked in the military.
An alternative for paramilitary forces is all-red.
Here’s an example of “substitutes in the form of arms”
http://www.legear.com.au/ASP-Red-Gun-Training-Aid-Training-Weapon-s/537.htm
“The Red Gun Series is lightweight and readily distinguishable as a training weapon. In addition, the extreme detail and precision manufacture of these training devices allows their use in weapon retention and holster security drills.
All too frequently, law enforcement officers have been killed in a training environment with “unloaded” firearms. Red handled weapons can be confused with live firearms when held in the hand. Aluminum castings are heavy and cannot be distinguished from stainless weapons at a distance. The Red Gun Series is lightweight and readily identified as a training weapon.
In addition, the extreme detail and precision manufacture of these training devices allows their use in weapon retention and holster security drills. The red polymer and the manner in which they are reinforced allows them to withstand the daily abuses of the training environment.”
In 1824, such items as wooden blanks in the shape of muskets, wooden swords and so on would be used. Damage to such items would be easily repairable by a local carpenter – often by making a new one.
Certainly it would be both cheaper for a University, and much, much safer, to have such training substitutes instead of real firearms.