I don't think that these are changes that occurred all at once. I know for a fact that the
USFA (& FIE, I'd imagine) rules specify that guards must be round and of a certain size, but
I've seen modern (mid 20th c.) guards that are oval or rectangular, and I think that they
were manufactuered up until the 50s, and so, probably used at least that long.

Threaded pommels probably became common with modern mechanization, ie: the
availabilty of cheap, reliable screws, taps & dies. I have some foils from the 20s (with
figure 8 guards, by the way) that use both threading & hammering. The pommels are held
in place by a small nut placed behind the pommel & screwed tight (tang & nut are
threaded, the pommel isn't), and then the tip of the tang is hammered over the nut.
I'd guess that the shift from hammered to screwed pommels was a gradual one. I can't
think of a way that that might affect the fencing action, so it's likely that the rules left that
alone, and I'd say it was a matter of convenience.

Has anyone made an historical study of the FIE/USFA rules, or is old enough to remember
back that far?

Cheers,
Jeff

--- In classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <c_holzman@h...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Anyone have any clue as to when peened on pommels on fencing weapons
> disappeared? Did the threaded pommel immediately become the norm?
> I seem to remember seeing a couple of two part pressfit looking
> pommels in a box of old pommels some years ago, but couldn't figure
> out what kept the halves together - Also, when did the figure eight
> foil guard get dropped from usage, and was it a mandated change in
> the rules, or was it a choice migration to the current little round
> guards, that later became required? help, anyone?
>
> Thanks.
>
> chris



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