Allstar Death Mask

[drseudo]

Anyone know what this thing is? Whatever it is, it scares the pants off me.

[prototoast]

That is a coach's mask.

[fencerontheline]

It's awesome. Perhaps it is a coaching mask for saber, but I don't know.

[drseudo]

Yeah, I got that it was a coach's mask (it being black and all)... but those vertical crossbars are creeping me out. And why do they describe it as "Mask for german students fencing (fraternity)"?

[prototoast]

I don't speak/read german, so I can only help you with pictures!

[kalivor]

Yeah, I got that it was a coach's mask (it being black and all)... but those vertical crossbars are creeping me out. And why do they describe it as "Mask for german students fencing (fraternity)"?

Perhaps a coaching mask or practice mask for a menseur participant?

[telkanuru]

The 'fencing fraternity' makes me think back to the 1900s and 1910s (prewar), when facial scars were the cool things to have for young men in germany, so everyone got togeather at college frats and wielded their sabres poorly. I don't think that this still occurs. I could be wrong

[Aeric]

Maybe it's still an "in" thing with the Schlager groups.

[onesandzeros]

My guess would be with Kalivor

[Mergs]

Yes, the mensuer has come back in popularity with the younger germans. In '96 I was in Munich for an exercise with the Germans and Czechs and one of the young German Lts. had not one, but two scars. One of which was fairly (within a month) new. Actually it was pretty disturbing.

[gojujay]

The 'fencing fraternity' makes me think back to the 1900s and 1910s (prewar), when facial scars were the cool things to have for young men in germany, so everyone got togeather at college frats and wielded their sabres poorly. I don't think that this still occurs. I could be wrong

Still happens. One of the members of the board wrote an article on the Hanoverian Corps. Can't remember the link.

Not sabers, schlagers. Quite different. The mensur is an interesting rite of passage.

[R. Exnicios]

Yes, the mensuer has come back in popularity with the younger germans. In '96 I was in Munich for an exercise with the Germans and Czechs and one of the young German Lts. had not one, but two scars. One of which was fairly (within a month) new. Actually it was pretty disturbing.

Mergs is correct. (as always,

Imagine the look on the referees face if you showed up on strip with one of those

Cheers

[telkanuru]

Nevermind the ref, imagine your opponent's face. I stand corrected on the weapon, it was my history prof's words, and he dosn't know (or care) that there's a difference, apparently.

[Schiavona]

I LIKE IT!

Boy, that'd scare the crap outta the beginners.

[Artisan]

Mergs is correct. (as always,

Cheers

But I thought the point was to get the scars, and thus no mask is worn, only special goggles.

Look:
http://www.maya.com/local/senn/jpg/schlager.jpg
and:
http://www.war-correspondent.com/Mai...nity-main.html

Read an accoun of modern mensur fechten:
http://www.mail-archive.com/futurewo.../msg00267.html

[boing]

I LIKE IT!

Boy, that'd scare the crap outta the beginners.

as a new fencer, i can totally vouch for that!!! yikes

[damianip]

But I thought the point was to get the scars, and thus no mask is worn, only special goggles.

Look:
http://www.maya.com/local/senn/jpg/schlager.jpg
and:
http://www.war-correspondent.com/Mai...nity-main.html

Read an accoun of modern mensur fechten:
http://www.mail-archive.com/futurewo.../msg00267.html

However, I would guess that they practice with full gear on. Hence the "Mask for german students fencing (fraternity)" label

The scars are only to be "earned" in real combat.

You have to give those guys credit for sheer guts.

Paolo

[hpfencing]

It lok unsafe I think the lines across the mask will catch a tip...... It's scary!

[gojujay]

The actual mensur is done with heavy padding over everything but the face. They wear special goggles that cover the eyes and, I believe, the bridge of the nose. They stand very close to each other and are allowed, I think, four distinct moves or phrases (I could be wrong about this, I'm remembering from the article I mentioned in an earlier post). No body movement is allowed, strictly bladework. If you flinch, or duck, you lose, strike or no strike. I believe they only face the mensur three times in their time with the corp. Again I'm remembering this from ONE article, read a while back. The author's name was Green, I think (ain't old age fun! )

[npkeith]

There is also an entire chapter in Richard Cohen's By The Sword Yes, Mensur still happen. I did a little poking on the net, and if the free machine translator is right, a razor-sharp Glockenschlager (with a bell guard) or Korbschlager (with a wire basket) costs a couple of hundred Euros.