really need to know for sure...

[glowstix]

thanks guys, swordmaster especially. and yes i did ask my coach and he basically said it came down to either top of the line FIE stuff which can't afford just yet and everything else. with the "everything else" there were too many choices on all the web sites so i sought the advice of you guys. i can't ask my club mates because i'm the only lefty so i can't try their weapons.

anyway, i got my first electric epee with an extra light guard and it feels pretty good. i'm not much of a beginner anymore(fencing for 14.5 months) but i am a newbie when it comes to electric fencing which leads to even more questions like:

1. what are the most common sources for weapon failure??
2. lets say i'm on strip and my touches stop registering, how do i know its the tip and not a broken wire along the blade itself or even the body cord??
3. are there any "quick fixes" for the common types of failures for weapons??

[Purple Fencer]

Hey Glowsitx,
If you are not total confussed by Sam's explaintion about the finer points of FOIL points, lets talk epee (I believe that is what this thread is all about, hmmm?)

Talk to them, if you can understand their English that is a good sign that they will understand what you are trying to tell them.

Better not try to talk to Stan, then!!

As a vendor, I take pride in every weapon that I build. It is my reputation on the line if you get a shody job, that is why I try to do my best.

Same here...and it's particularly true if you're a small outlet like me...I like to think I have a good rep with fencers in SoCal...I'd like to keep it that way...

[ShadowHuntr]

Hey Glowstix,



1. Do you prefer stiff epees, or do you prefer a weapon with a little flexibility. For stiff, I'd recommend you try Blaise Frere blades. Triplette sells them under the name "Triplette" and Uhlmann/Allstar sells them as well.

I am pretty rough on equipment. I am trying to phase out all of my crappy SG epees for maraging blades. I do prefer the stiffer blade for epee but i will admit (much to my discredit) that i have a tendency to strong arm when i lunge and can get strange bends. For example, I bent 2 of my SG's into (I kid you not) 90 degree upward bends towards the tip of the blade. Will those plades hold up?

[Swordmaster]

Glowstix,
Get a copy of one of Rudy Volkmann's books, What Goes Wrong and How to Fix It or The Big Book of Fencing that contains everything in the first book and a whole lot more. They are both available at www.Sword-Masters.com
This should explain many answers to the questions that you have with out you having to sort through the gibberish on a posting forum. If you come across a specific problem that you can't solve from one of these books, call me or someone who is an armorer, or post it here and see if you can get an accurate response.
Best of Luck!

[Swordmaster]

Was I wrong about what you were saying or did you just not like hearing the truth?

[Artisan]

For example, I bent 2 of my SG's into (I kid you not) 90 degree upward bends towards the tip of the blade. Will those plades hold up?

Those SG's will do that. I think they are forged from Dog Poo.

[telkanuru]

1. what are the most common sources for weapon failure??
2. lets say i'm on strip and my touches stop registering, how do i know its the tip and not a broken wire along the blade itself or even the body cord??
3. are there any "quick fixes" for the common types of failures for weapons??

1. For epee, I'd say the smaller shim failing at test.

2. Again, for epee. Ask the director to test it for you first. If you do not register a hit, then unplug your body cord and short the 2 close prongs on your guard. If this regesters valid, then your weapon is broken. If not, it's further down the chain. progress backwards shorting the 2 close prongs at every juncture with a piece of metal. When the apparatus regesters a touch, it's the item next up the string (ex. the body cord if the initial test dosn't regester, but the second one on the body cord/reel junction does).

3. Um... don't break the weapon in the first place. Get really good a disassembling the tips to fix weights and shims. Always carry a multimeter and be ready to use it at any time.