Anyone know where to find or how to build well balanced Pistol Foils?

[flyingfencer]

I'm looking for an orthopedic foil that is balanced more like a french gripped weapon with the balance point right where the bell guard and blade meet.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I can get such a weapon or what the best combination of parts, blade, grip, bell gaurd might be to get this desired balance. Say Leon Paul's Flickmaster with an Uhlmann point and wiring, a large Uhlmann Stainless steel bell guard, and a large Visconti Grip?

Other suggestions?

[Artisan]

Add a russian grip to the mix. Drill out back end of grip and fill with depleted uranium for counterweight

[telkanuru]

Better yet, if you order it direct from russia, you can get it in depleted uranium. no drilling required. I personally prefer 'Mad Ivan's Nuclear Warehouse'.

The thing is that anything that will ballance the weapon will also make it heavier, negaing the benefit of the balance in terms of weight. I would say get the lightest parts you can find with a nicely ballanced blade, and you'll be set.

[CarlKnoch]

It's hard to get a french grip like balance with a weapon that's grip doesn't extend behind your hand.

[suregrip]

Custom blades to a particular fencer is something that comes with experience and experimentation. Dabble about and find out what you like and what you don't. Then put it all together.

[flyingfencer]

I guess what I'm looking for is some specific advise from other fencer's experience with blade and grip weights. To move the balance point down the forte to the bell guard I can do three things; use a lighter blade, use a heavier bell guard, and better use a heavier grip.

I've toyed around with measuring the weights needed. It looks like about 3 ounces at the end of the grip on my existing foil will bring the balance point to the bell guard.

So, I'm looking for suggestions for light weight blades, heavier bell guards, and heavier grips. If the overall weapon weight is similar to a french, I would love it.

Thanks.

[yeoldearmourer]

I can build you one using different parts from several manufactors to get the right feel for you After 30 years of playing with weapons I think I have the feel for it


Tim

[mifencer]

Originally Posted by flyingfencer

I'm looking for an orthopedic foil that is balanced more like a french gripped weapon with the balance point right where the bell guard and blade meet.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I can get such a weapon or what the best combination of parts, blade, grip, bell gaurd might be to get this desired balance. Say Leon Paul's Flickmaster with an Uhlmann point and wiring, a large Uhlmann Stainless steel bell guard, and a large Visconti Grip?

Other suggestions?

I don't think you really need to get 'heavier' handles or bell guards. Try bending the tang for balance -- that usually works for me. I use negrini visconti, an allstar titanium guard, and hex-nut for a pommel. Ask someone who has a lot of experience to help you out (so they can actual pick up the weapon).

[DHCJr]

Thank you mifencer. I hate keep on saying the obvious.

For flyingfencer: You DON'T want a weapon balanced right at the guard. You DO want a point heavy weapon. WHY? Try a coupe' with it balanced at the guard. You have to force down the tip. Listen to what mifencer said, a well balanced weapon will feel lighter, but will still be slightly tip heavy, so you can let gravity work for you.

[flyingfencer]

Sorry for obvious questions. I've fenced mostly epee in the past and use a french with the balance just a 1/4" up the forte. I do alot of pommelling. I love the balance and weight of my French epees compared to my pistol weapons.

A friend has recently pulled me back into foil fencing, and I'll be buying some new foils in the next month. My starting point has been to look for pistol weapons with a similar feel to the French that I've fenced for so long.

I've already tried a number of different weapons with different blades, Golubitsky-Pro, Flickmaster, Leon Paul maraging, Uhlmann maraging, and another unknown maraging with a variety of grips Russian, Visconti, Belgian, and German.

Most everyone's advice here seems to point towards lower weight over balance.

Thanks for your help!

[DHCJr]

Sorry, my comment may have seemed heavy-handed. What I was hoping you would understand was the difference between balance and balance. That statement may sound stupid, but it is to try to help you understand there is a difference between setting up a balance point and balancing a weapon for you.

When I fence, which is rarely, it is mostly Epee and mostly French and mostly pommelling. My favorite weapon is balanced (the second definition) specifically for pommelling. If you hold it normal, it FEELS heavier, then if you hold it at the pommel.

What this long disertation is for is to suggest you go to a good Armorer to balance the blade, before you put the weapon together. They will ask you to hold a weapon, do some parries, extensions and lunges. From that they will balance the blade for you. For someone else it might not feel right, but for you it will feel right.

[333]

The weight of two weapons are different, so you cannot stuck on the setting by balance point like golf club. You need to do more practise with the new weapon till you feel more confidence like in your epee game with your foil.

[damianip]

A key to getting a pistol gripped weapon to feel "balanced" is to get the cant and drop set properly. It makes a big impact on how easily the weapon lays in the hand.

Paolo

[Grey]

Well since everyone covered the balance issue, I did just say this.

1] A very evenly or well balanced weapon feels extremely light and therefore it is a problem when you use flicks or coupe (as mentioned) because of the fact that there is not enough weight on the blade itself to "cause" the arc during the transition ( F = MA, go figure the mass problem)

2] However, getting a blade slightly heavier by a really small margin (infact the term used should be "less light" rather than heavier) will achieve the effect that you want with the added advantage of allowing you the option of having a boost to your flick or coupes.

Last but not least, if you use thrusts and disengages more often than flicks or coupes, it is actually better to get a balanced french grip, or failing that, option number 1.